...Inner evil is something that everyone struggles with. Are the things I do evil? Does what I do make me evil? Can evil be misread? All of those are questions asked but the answer has yet to be found. Just because someone doesn't give a homeless person money, are they evil? When a good person kills an un-innocent person, are they evil or did they do it for a good reason? These are just things that people struggles with on a daily basis. Can you recognise that good maybe evil, or will it remain evil is evil and good is good? In Beowulf, all across the land people were talking about a horrible beast who, at night, rises from the depths of hell to kill innocent men while they lay in slumber. In lines 19-22 Grendel is described as, “murderous creatures…”...
Words: 773 - Pages: 4
...In the anonymously written epic poem Beowulf, Beowulf’s meaningful status as a hero and his ability to display honor in what he does is due to the fact that he is heroically able to exhibit the virtues of loyalty, courage, and friendship. The exceptional loyalty and faithfulness of Beowulf is shown through his allegiance to Hrothgar, king Hygelac, Wiglaf, and to the Geats. In fact, Beowulf is heroically willing to sacrifice himself if it means that he “[proves himself] / [...] and [fulfills] his purpose” of killing Grendel and assisting Hrothgar. (636-37). Along with his loyalty, Beowulf’s bravery is a quality that underlies the entire story, as it is a guiding virtue that ends up saving Hrothgar and his people. Beowulf’s fatalistic view of life and death is what makes up his courage in the face of danger, and it is a code of honor that Beowulf evidently takes very seriously....
Words: 547 - Pages: 3
...Good Vs. Evil In Beowulf, the conflict between good and evil is the poem's main and most important aspect. The poet makes it clear that good and evil doesn’t exist as only opposites, but that both qualities are present in everyone. Beowulf represents the ability to do good or to perform acts selflessly and in help of others. Goodness is also showed throughout this epic as having the ability to cleanse evil. Even though evil is presented by Grendel, Grendel's mother, and the dragon, who are filled with a desire to act against people and ultimately destroy them, even pride, a human quality, is presented in Beowulf as a sign that evil exists. This story might even be considered a classic because it mainly talks about the old fashion good vs. evil, hero vs. villain. Beowulf and the three monsters show the significant difference between good and evil, and why god will always prevail. At the beginning of the play, one reads about Grendel, who is a man eating monster who is feared by everyone. Grendel represents sin and evil throughout the story in various ways. Evil is first shown by the monster Grendel when, “Suddenly then the God-cursed brute was creating havoc: greedy and grim, he grabbed thirty men from their resting places and rushed to his lair”. (Beowulf 120-124). Grendel lives in the darkness and has absolutely no remorse on human life. This shows a very big quality of an evil being and how the Anglo-Saxons viewed evil in forms of monsters. Evil is also thought to be greedy...
Words: 1649 - Pages: 7
...viciously gallant epic Beowulf, Steve Baron’s capricious film Merlin, and Niccolo Machiavelli’s enlightening treatise The Prince all portray the struggle between good and evil, teach morals, and convey what it takes to be a superior king. Merlin has successfully brought up King Arthur to become a virtuous man and a worthy king who is exceptionally capable of fulfilling Machiavelli’s guidelines. For example, Machiavelli states in “Concerning Things for Which Men, and Especially Princes, are Blamed” from The Prince that “…a man who wishes to act entirely up to his professions of virtue soon meets with what destroys him among so much that is evil.” Merlin taught Arthur integrity and goodness. King Arthur takes this wisdom to build the perfect kingdom “devoted to peace and charity” (Merlin). Arthur is the first king without egocentric intentions. Even in his last battle, King Arthur puts his morals before his own life. His desolation proves his righteousness. Rather than leaving his people afraid, his death leaves his people with hope of a better place and rebirth. In life and death, King Arthur ruled his nation. Beowulf brought riches to his people, defended his people, and essentially devoted his life to his people, which made him an ideal prince in the eyes of Machiavelli. For instance, Machiavelli states in The Prince that a ruler should “have no other aim or thought, nor select anything else for his study, than war and its rules and discipline.” In Beowulf, war is glorified and...
Words: 717 - Pages: 3
...From the book “From Beowulf” I will be talking about how Beowulf and Grendel are alike and different. Grendel and Beowulf are the two main characters in the book. Beowulf in the book is like a hero. Grendel is the demon, monster in the book. Meanwhile, they both are very powerful. However, I will be telling you things about both, Beowulf, and Grendel and how they both relate to each other, but yet are the opposite of each other. Beowulf was known as a great warrior, but also as a hero. Beowulf was very handsome, and had big muscles. He was a young prince who had gathered his men to sail over the sea to the Danes. He went there because he heard how evil Grendel was and wanted to help. Beowulf was very brave and had confidence in himself. He...
Words: 384 - Pages: 2
...him, the lake itself like a fiery flame.” The story of Beowulf is of a hero saving innocent people from monsters by killing them. Beowulf is an Anglo-Saxon epic; it is a story about heroism, honor, glory, goodness and the fight against evil. The hero of the story is warrior Beowulf. Beowulf has to fight three evil monsters throughout his life in the story. Beowulf, the hero and main character of the story had to fight a giant monster, Grendel with his bare hands, Grendel’s mother with a giant’s sword, and a fire-breathing dragon. He is the strongest amongst all men. His fuel for fighting these monsters is the unending thirst for glory; glory he could die for, glory that a lord seeks. His heroic abilities were present from the start. Beowulf’s character is described as if he were god. Beowulf is a form of god descended from the sky to send the demons to their final destination, hell. Beowulf’s resume includes killing sea monsters and giants. This clearly depicts the fact that he is a man with great power. Throughout the epic, Beowulf has been characterized as a supreme and divine man, a god in form of man. The quote from the epic ”a brilliant light burned all around him”, a phrase from The Battle with Grendel’s Mother, clearly means that the divine light is shone upon Beowulf to protect him and destroy evil. The powers only god could have. The clear light represents life, glowing, and guiding lord Beowulf find evil. It guides the all-powerful find his way and support life...
Words: 1030 - Pages: 5
...IN the story Beowulf, there are three monsters he would have to fight Grendel, Grendel's Mother, and the Dragon. In addition the monsters in this story represent a great evil like the Devil for instance, and Beowulf has to get rid of this evil for his people. Furthermore in the story Beowulf it states "In Herot , a mighty prince mourning the fate of his lost friends and companions, knowing by its tracks that some demon had torn his followers apart" (Beowulf 34). this shows that Grendel came to Herot and killed many of Hrothgar's worriers. Similarly, in the middle of the story Beowulf goes on to fight Grendel's Mother, and she represents a greater evil than Grendel himself. With this in mind "so she reached Herot, where where dense slept as...
Words: 256 - Pages: 2
...The plots of Beowulf reveal how society changes culturally as time progresses. The epic poem initially begins as a story symbolizing Pagan ideas and beliefs. As time advances, the epic poem gradually evolves into a story involving Christianity. The latest variation of Beowulf tackled various issues society encounters in our modern world. Overall, Beowulf is an ever-changing epic. Elements of Paganism is seen numerous times throughout the epic poem. Many examples of Paganism is seen in Beowulf’s character. Beowulf’s character is written as a hero. In Pagan society, heroes fight or go to war for fame or to be remembered when they meet their death. This was Beowulf’s purpose for volunteering to leave Geatland to venture to Denmark to end evil. Many characters possess superhuman strength. Beowulf and Grendel are prime examples of characters with superhuman strength. Beowulf displays his abilities when he swims underwater for hours without gasping or oxygen. Grendel displays his superhuman abilities with his incredible strength as he murders Danish soldiers. The symbolism of Good vs Evil displays with Grendel and Beowulf’s gruesome duel. Within the many examples of Paganism, Christian aspects also appear in Beowulf. An example of Christian faith in the poem is when Beowulf and his troops arrive in Denmark to battle Grendel, the group thank God for the safe ride to Denmark. A major example is Beowulf’s character. Beowulf’s heroic personality and decisions consider him to be a God-like...
Words: 493 - Pages: 2
...literature, and his name was Beowulf. There are three overarching characteristics of the Anglo-Saxon heroes within the epics written of the time, and those are the hero’s boast, the hero’s superhuman abilities, and lastly the hero’s selflessness and bravery. I believe that the Anglo-Saxon characteristics of an Anglo-Saxon hero are shown through Beowulf, and he displays his glorious boasts, his amazing superhuman abilities, and his heroic moments of bravery and selflessness, because of his efforts shown in the text against his times of opposition. Anglo-Saxon heroes were known for their infamous boasts, Beowulf being a prime example of such. In the beginning of The Coming of Beowulf, Beowulf arrives before the king of the Danes, Hrothgar, and as such he must prove himself worthy to take on the task of defeating Grendel. Beowulf boasts of his accomplishments to that very king. Beowulf speaks of himself defeating the race of giants and driving five into chains, diving into the ocean at...
Words: 859 - Pages: 4
...The Universal Theme of Beowulf: Good VS. Evil Dragons, witches, ghosts, aliens, or just ordinary folks: in most stories there’s a good force and an evil force that battle each other. This one of the most commons themes in literature and has been all throughout history. The universal theme Good versus Evil is presented in Beowulf, in which good always wins. “With envy and anger an evil spirit/endured the dole in his dark abode”(I, 35-36) Grendel, one of the main characters of Beowulf, is described as angry and jealous. This creates in him the spirit of evil. He is also described in, “till one(Grendel) began/ to fashion evils, that fiend of Hell./ Grendel this monster grim was called,/march-reiver mighty, in moorland living,/ in fen and...
Words: 533 - Pages: 3
...story “Beowulf” is a heroic tale about the battle of good and evil. Beowulf represented good and those he battled represented evil. Beowulf was a knight that fought evil creatures to protect the land and people. Beowulf traveled from his home to help a king named Hrothgar to defeat some evil beings. In the end Beowulf dies but he was a hero because of his endurance and victory in each of his battles. This work displays a mixture of Anglo-Saxon paganism and Christianity ideas. The concept of Anglo-Saxon paganism was expressed in this poem through pagan rituals and traditions. In pagan cultures they honor their leaders but also certain items as well. Beowulf shows great respect and honor for a sword, Hrunting, that he used when battling Grendel’s mother. Another example a pagan custom expressed in this poem would be the funeral pyre. A funeral pyre is a form of cremation, a big fire is started on an alter and a ritual is followed to burn the body. There were many elements throughout this poem that reflected Christianity. Throughout the poem Beowulf prays to and acknowledges his God. It was obvious he looked to and depended on a higher power. Before his battle with Grendel he prayed to God and asked that God grant victory to whoever deserved it. Beowulf consulting God showed he had faith and that he depended on God to help him through his situations. In the Christian faith God is the ultimate power and provider of everything that we need. Seems that Beowulf realized...
Words: 354 - Pages: 2
...The key character in the poem Beowulf, is a heroic and a legendary character whose actions are embodied to the Anglo-Saxon culture. As a hero he has the accepted and the most ideal characteristics that are accepted in the Anglo-Saxon culture. The tale revolves around these characteristics to make up an epic tale. Beowulf is moulded to possess the virtues, traits and beliefs that were highly respected and requires in the Anglo-Saxon culture. Therefore, is displayed to have these virtues in his own actions and words during different circumstances in the tale. Reading Beowulf brings out lots of similarities with many pieces of literature from the Ancient Greek and the Modern literature. The Beowulf carries is similar to many Greek dramas that focused on a protagonist who was turned out to be a tragic hero. There was an element of belief in the gods who had super- human powers and had unique and ultimate special skills of their own, and overcame unsurmountable problems. However, in Beowulf, there is no Greek or Roman gods, but there are other supernatural beings defined as monsters that exist and are difficult to win over. Beowulf is extra-ordinarily strong, agile, and super intelligent. He is portrayed as one who overcomes many obstacles and was able to kill Grendel and his mother and the others in the sea. In addition, the wide character list and meaningful names is similar to those of other types of literature of the early eras. The story of Paradise lost opens in hell. Satan...
Words: 2659 - Pages: 11
...and evil are not exact opposites of each other. Topic sentence/Detail: In the poem Beowulf, Grendel and Beowulf perform actions that make them a hero or villain. Thesis: The difference between Grendel and Beowulf is one is evil and the other is good. Similarities between Grendel and Beowulf are both feel satisfied after they fight someone and win and in the end they both accept their deaths. Body 1: Good and evil Topic sentence: A difference between Beowulf and Grendel is that one is a hero and the other is a monster. Beowulf defeats Grendel to end years of suffering in Herot hall. Grendel is the monster who eats men in Herot hall for 12 winters. Quote 1: For example lines 37-38 Grendel “snatched up thirty men, smashed...
Words: 686 - Pages: 3
...reader’s perspective of their writing.Diction is one of the many that authors use as it can be used to convey words in a more detailed way.In Beowulf the author utilizes diction to create more descriptive phrases that shows the juxtaposition between good and evil. In view of authors,there are many thoughts that come to mind that have a part in the expression of their theme.To interpret their views many different styles are used,with a big one being literary devices,through The use of literary devices the author can provide a more powerful insight of their theme.Diction is one of the ways the author can use to express their message by their choice of words which establishes imagery into their writing.In Beowulf the author utilizes diction to emphasize the imagery and to convey the meaning behind the text. The quote “A powerful...
Words: 503 - Pages: 3
...The story Beowulf is about a courageous warrior and his battles against evil. The tale of Beowulf inspires as it takes the audience to the land Herot where King Hrothgar’s wealthy mead hall is attacked by Grendel who is a monstrous descendant of the biblical outcast, Cain. The mighty warrior, Beowulf, travels from his home land to defeat the beast and the beast’s mother who tries to avenge him. Beowulf prevails against the demon monster and his wicked mother because of his heroic manner and determination against evil. More disputes with tumultuous threats against his people arise. Beowulf strikes triumph over the evil forces because of his unwavering honor and bravery. The tale of Beowulf is portrayed in a motion picture film and a book written in modern english. There are many differences and little similarities between the movie and the book. This epic piece of literature has lived on through many ages because of the examples of selflessness, courage, leadership, and loyalty....
Words: 720 - Pages: 3
