Pagan Tradition in BeowulfBeowulf is steeped in a pagan tradition that depicts nature as hostile and the forces of death as uncontrollable. Blind fate chooses victims at random; man is never reconciled with the world. Beowulf ends in failure. There is some truth to this conclusion, but for the most part, someone who hasn't had a life well lived most likely described it. Beowulf is steeped in pagan tradition, but not one that depicts nature as hostile. The setting at the beginning is described as “…these beautiful plains bounded by the oceans, then proudly placing the sun and the moon to shine on the earth and light it…” (8). This doesn't seem hostile to me; on the contrary, what is described creates an image of delight. “The corners of the earth have been beautified by trees…”(11) it is said. As I read these words, the last thing that comes to mind would be hostile. The forces of death and blind fate choosing victims at random may have some truth, but fate is a very controversial thing. “…He caught thirty men and unknowingly crushed them in their beds…”(37) It may seem as if fate had decided who would die, but that was probably not the case. Grendel, “…slipped through the door…”(36) and grabbed anyone he could lay his hands on. He most likely went in and killed the first thirty sleeping closest to him. He probably didn't sneak up on all these men at the risk of waking them up and starting to massacre on that side. What if, while he was massacring the group, they had woken up? He would then have been trapped in the mead hall and would surely have died. I guess Grendel is smarter than that. It was not fate that decided who died that night, but simply those who slept near the door. Making smart decisions and thinking can control your destiny, if there is such a thing. Beowulf did not end in failure. How could a man known as a hero and a king be considered a failure? He can't. After defeating Grendel's mother, he became king of the Geats and was admired by his people. He was showered with gifts as was said. “…Laden with the gifts given to him by Hrothgar…” (p. 34, prologue) He lived in peace for fifty years before having to face the dragon; fifty years of peace and prosperity to rejoice in.