Fate was a major factor in the life of pagan cultures of any time period. This is well documented in the epic poem Beowulf, in which a pagan warrior wins because it is his destiny to win, not because of any free will. This is amply demonstrated throughout the text. For instance, in line20, the text states “then Scyld departed at the destined hour.” This is but one of many examples that demonstrate the role …showed first 75 words of 662 total…

…showed last 75 words of 662 total…and Norse religions state, or a subconscious level, as in our own modern culture. Great writers from across the world have written on the topic of fate, but Seneca described the pagan idea of fate best when he said “What must be, shall be; and that which is a necessity to him that struggles is little more than a choice to him that is willing.” This is the idea of fate in Beowulf. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **Bibliography**