Beowulf: Themes and MotifsBeowulf is the most important work of ancient English literature and well deserves this distinction. Throughout the epic, the Anglo-Saxon storyteller uses numerous elements to give a certain depth to the characters. Some of the important elements of Beowulf's characters are the themes of wealth and honor, the Bible and paganism, and man versus nature. Many of the characters in Beowulf are, as in most epics, defined by their status. But, in addition to status, Anglo-Saxon culture also adds an element of honor. For the Anglo-Saxons, a person's importance, as well as their wealth and status, was measured not only in monetary terms, but also in terms of honor, fame and achievement. Hrothgar, king of the Danes, is an example of the Anglo-Saxon measure of importance in Beowulf. In Canto 1, the storyteller describes his wealth and importance, not as mounds of gold or jewels, but rather as his ability to "[lead] the Danes to such glory." and as his tendency to “In battle, [leave] the common pastures untouched and take no lives.” » By this demonstration of compassion towards the commoner who does not fight in battles, Hrothgar proves the full extent of his honor and therefore the extent of his wealth and status. Beowulf, the hero-prince, also proves his true wealth and status through his actions as defender of the Danes. As he fights and defeats Grendel, Beowulf gains fame and wealth from his companions and the Danes, but more importantly, he gains honor by elevating him to the level of an archetypal hero. Grendel, on the other hand, is the complete opposite of Beowulf. He has no wealth or honor, and he is infamous for being an evil killer. This lack of wealth and honor defines Grendel as a symbol of evil and corruption. In addition to using honor and wealth to define a character's character, the storyteller(s) incorporated alternating biblical and pagan motifs into the epic poem. The original epic was obviously paganistic due to the time period of its creation. But, over time, rewriting and alterations of the manuscripts by various sources, including religious monks, gave the figures slight Christian characteristics. These Christian themes became very important in the epic to add an element of depth that would not be possible in modern times due to the loss of Anglo-Saxon culture and beliefs..