...“Beuowulf” the audience is able to see how he grows in wisdom about himself and about the world with each monster he faces. Beowulf is a hero who battles three different monsters, Grendel, Grendel’s mother and the Dragon. Each monster he faces represents different meanings to him. In times of battle, Beowulf experience many hardships and victories. Grendel is a strong evil water-monster who went to Herot Hall and slaughtered many of Hrothgar’s men. When Beowulf is called to fight Grendel he depicts himself as a man with no fear. Beowulf knows that he is a young strong warrior and is the only one who has the strength to defeat this evil monster. He accepts the challenge and announces that he will fight barehanded which concludes that he is fully confident in himself. He announces, “I have also heard the thrust of a weapon no threat to his threws. Thus I foreswear my sword and strong shield. Instead I shall grab and grapple with Grendel, fighting for life with that fearsome foe” (Gardner 40-41). Beowulf proves his expertise to defeat Grendel by keeping Grendel’s arm. As described, “ As a token of triumph, the troop leader hung the shorn-off shoulder and arm by its hand: the grip of Grendel swung from the gable!” (Gardner 48). Fighting Grendel with just his bare hands and keeping Grendel’s arm as a prize proves that Beowulf has developed into a confident young hero. After Grendel’s death, his mother was enraged and wanted revenge. She went to Herot and kills Aeschere, one of King Hrothgar’s...
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...evil, incredibly stupid, enjoying my destruction” (Page 174). In the novel Grendel by John Gardner, the main character, Grendel, acts as a monster who is jeopardizing the King Hrothgar’s town. The novel is told by Grendel himself. With Grendel as the narrator, the audience is able to understand his thoughts and the events that he goes through. By Gardner choosing to have Grendel narrate the story, the reader is able to see into his life, grasp his thoughts and feelings, and understand why he turned into the monster he is. As Grendel tells the story, the audience is able to see the events that he takes place in and understand why he makes the choices that he does. Grendel telling the story firsthand lets the reader follow his life from childhood, to when he becomes a monster. Grendel evolves greatly through the story as his opinions on certain things change. He acquires a more advanced way of narrating and writing through the novel. He also includes things like the thoughts of other characters, for example, when he's comparing humans to animals saying the deer “sees all life without observing it” (Page 8). His narration changes the storyline and the view of things from that of Beowulf. If the novel were to be told by another character, the reader would not get a clear...
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...example of a great Anglo-Saxon hero. He has the courage to face the monsters without fear of death. He did what others cannot do. Beowulf willingly sacrificed himself for his people. Beowulf was a hero because he saved people by killing monsters. Beowulf was not only brave but was physically stronger than normal. He heard that there was a monster that killed people in Heorot. He vowed to kill the monster for King Hrothgar. Beowulf was the strongest, mighty warrior of Geatland. He fought to bring glory to him and his people. Beowulf showed great courage when Grendel could not. Grendel attacked Heorot at night because he was too much of a coward to fight Beowulf in the light. When Grendel charged in to kill Beowulf, Beowulf’s counterattack by grabbing Grendel’s hands by his bare hands and took Grendel by surprise. Grendel bled out and died (page 47) and Beowulf kept Grendel’s hand as a trophy. King Hrothgar threw a feast for Beowulf’s victory over killing the demon that haunted Heorot....
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...Beowulf The Monster Heroes are praised for their great deeds, their incredible abilities and for fighting for what is right. Rarely mentioned are the attributes that are considered to be wrong or evil. In the epic, Beowulf, the protagonist is depicted as a hero who defies the odds and defeats multiple monsters while at the same time saving various peoples from further harm. Beowulf portrays the typical characteristics of an epic hero; confidence that edges on the side of cocky, an undying loyalty to those close to him, and a bravery that could be matched by no other soul. His heroism combined with his many personal victories results in much praise from the people of his kind. Those in opposition of him did not see him as a hero but rather as an enemy; one who carried out actions similar to a ‘monster’. Although he may demonstrate the traits of a heroic person, Beowulf can also be similarly paralleled to each of the powerful monsters that he slays, namely Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the Dragon. Beowulf expresses many similarities to the monster who wreaks havoc on the mead hall of King Hrothgar. The creature, Grendel, makes his home in the swamps that are not too distant from the grand hall Heorot. (I, 104) Grendel continuously causes much fear and suffering, to a point where the great hall that the king had built “stood empty” (II, 145). Similarly, Beowulf causes terror among the monsters of the sea. He vanquishes copious amounts of water beasts, and in doing...
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...Dan Gallegos October 20, 2014 Ms.Delgado While the classic battle between good and evil forces is a major theme of the medieval epic Beowulf, one may question whether these good and evil forces are as black and white as they appear. Scholars such as Herbert G. Wright claim that “the dragon, like the giant Grendel, is an enemy of mankind, and the audience of Beowulf can have entertained no sympathy for either the one or the other”. However, other scholars such as Andy Orchard disagree with this claim, and believe that there is “something deeply human about the ‘monsters’”. While Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon are indeed portrayed as evil and violent foes, there are parts within Beowulf that can also lead a reader to believe that the “monsters” may not be so monstrous after all. This ultimately evokes traces of sympathy in the reader for the plight of these “monster” figures, and blurs the fine line between good and evil within the poem The first opponent Beowulf must face in the land of the Danes is Grendel, textually described as “a fiend out of hell … a grim demon / haunting the marches, / marauding round the heath / and the desolate fens” (Beowulf, line 100 – 104). The author also provides us with a moral description, explaining how Grendel is “merciless … malignant by nature, he never showed remorse” (line 135-137). As we can see here, the author’s physical and moral portrayal of Grendel is rather unforgiving. We also resent Grendel further once we learn that...
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...Christianity in Beowulf Although there are constant battles between religions about which religions’ values and practices are correct, one thing is clear in all religions: the contrast between good and evil. Take for instance the Christian faith: in the Christian faith, a good man is someone who is virtuous, and has passion for what they believe in, and follows the bible but an evil person is someone molded by corruptions, including sins and vices. The Christian faith depicts evil through monsters such as demons and serpents, and their impacts in their tales. In the poem Beowulf, Beowulf’s fight against the monsters represents a fight between the Christian concepts of good and evil. The first depiction of good and evil in the poem can be seen in the battle between Beowulf and Grendel. Often times, biblical allusions are used as a means to describe characters Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon. This is illustrated in Andy Orchard’s criticism of the poem, when he states, “As for Beowulf, there seems no getting rid of the poet’s clear references to the biblical tales of Cain and Abel” (Orchard 131). Grendel’s depiction of a demon is derived from these tales in the text when it reads: Grendel, who haunted the moors, the wild marshes, and made his home in a hell Not hell but earth, He was spawned in that slime, conceived by a pair of those monsters born of Cain, murderous creatures banished By God, punished forever for the crime of Abel's Death (14-17). In this passage, Grendel...
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...“A brilliant light burned all around 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...
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...Beowulf is an epic poem written in Old English encompassing the mythical tale of the eponymous character of Beowulf. The tale includes his heroic struggles with monstrous beings such as Grendel, Grendel’s Mother, and an avaricious dragon. The primary of those, beast Grendel, serves as the protagonist of a philosophical novel of the same name, Grendel. Written by Anglo-Saxon Scholar John Gardner, the novel presents the fictitious tale of Grendel in the world of Beowulf as he struggles to find meaning and purpose in its life. Grendel is a bastard of man and monster. Yet, he feels himself separated from both. This lust and yearning for purpose sets out on his adventures. His purpose is to find purpose. Now, naturally Grendel is monstrous, but...
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...definite penchant for destructive acts toward humans. They each have their own reasons for their evil deeds. The dragon wreaks havoc because his treasures are stolen, Grendel's mother is seeking revenge for the mutilation and death of her son, and Grendel eats people because the inhabitants of Heorot sounded like they were having too much fun in their great hall. People accept bloodshed and strife as part of life unless it comes from an outside source. They see warfare against other humans as politically necessary and often glorious, but if any non-humans try to take part in the action, they deem this horrific and unnatural....
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...Beowulf: What Makes Him a Human In Beowulf, the hero Beowulf possesses great strength, which gives him the ability to defeat vicious monsters throughout the story. His strength is not compared with any man, but only with the monsters he faces in battle. Although he possesses a seemingly un-human-like strength, Beowulf is separated from the monstrous by his caring, honorable nature, his ability to think rationally in every battle he enters, and the fact that God is on his side. Beowulf’s caring nature for his people and everyone around him are crucial aspects of his personality when it comes down to whether he is a monster or not. Although Beowulf can be looked at as arrogant and boastful, his honor and love for his people is undeniable. In passage 1 included in this essay (2177-83), Beowulf is described as a man who acts with valor: “Thus Beowulf bore himself with valour; / he was formidable in battle yet behaved with honour.” (2177-78). These lines show that Beowulf is an honorable man in the eyes of many, and that he is highly respected especially in terms of battle etiquette. He never takes advantage of the power he possesses, and he will never enter battle with a man who is drunk because it would be an unfair battle: “and took no advantage; never cut down / a comrade who was drunk, kept his temper…” (2179-80) This shows the aspects of Beowulf’s character that men highly respect because he would rather fight a man who is fully capable of fighting, not one who is at a...
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...from the audience. Some authors, however, use traditional images in new contexts challenging the audience's perception of those iconic characters. Authors often argue that characters can have different meanings and symbolism in different cultures and different times. The best example of these new meanings is seen through the writing about iconic monsters in different time periods. From the analysis’ of Beowulf and Grendel: The Truth Behind England’s Oldest Legend by John Grigsby and Grendel by John Gardner, the character of Grendel in both books is the symbolic meaning of how society is afraid of the unknown. When people are confronted with an unfamiliar circumstance, it is human nature to twist the unknown into something frightening and unacceptable....
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...speeches, and the actions of the hero determine the fate of a nation or group. The Danes struggle with Grendel’s terrorizing on Herot nightly for twelve winters. The Danes were so petrified of Grendel that they abandoned the great hall for the time that Grendel reigned terror on them. Beowulf hears about the complications the Danes are having and sets out on a voyage across the sea to profit from the fame and fortune for his people. Beowulf slaughters Grendel and Grendel’s mother before returning to his homeland; Geatland, where he resides until he is crowned the king. Fifty years later, a dragon plagues the Geats when a cup is stolen from his lair and given to Beowulf. He kills the dragon at the expense of his own life. These all assist to deem this poem as one of epic tendencies and lead on to the conclusion of Beowulf being the greatest epic ever written. The superhero qualities present themselves in many ways. One of the broadest honorary elements is when Beowulf shows off greater endurance than any other human as he “Swam along / The sea paths” (lines 514-515) against Brecca while “Crea / tures / [sic] Who sleep deep in sea stirred / into life.” The most challenging part was not the actual swim but when the “Monsters crowded around [him] / continually attacking.”(559-560). Unlike an ordinary human, Beowulf had the strength remaining to fight these monsters after swimming across an ocean. Another example of Beowulf’s superhuman strength is his ability to hold...
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...Jacquelyn A. Gutierrez Ms. Margaret Annen AP English 23 November 2013 Compare/Contrast Beowulf Movie & Book When you read a book, then soon after watch the movie, the first thing you check for is what are the similarities and differences in both. The book allows you’re imagination to run wild, while the movie gives you the director’s or author’s perspective on a literary piece. The book and movie have a vast amount of details that set them apart. Among the similarities found in both the book and movie are that they both include the same characters. The majority of characters and their attitudes in the movie are almost identical to that of the book. In addition, in Beowulf’s battle against Grendel, he rids Grendel of the vicious beast’s arm. The Danes are then overjoyed with the defeat of the terrorizing monster they cringed from for so long and celebrate with an abundance of mead and drunken slurs. They then hang Grendel’s slaughtered arm for all to see as a form of a victory flag. Finally, Beowulf is responsible for the death of both Grendel and his vengeance-filled mother. The many differences that contrast both are found in the portrayal of Grendel and Beowulf’s fathers. In addition, the way the outcome of the plot ends and the manners in which the dragon presents itself. The similarities are slight compared to the differences, but they still play a vastly crucial role in comparing the composition of the book to the movie. The differences of both are...
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...The mood of any piece of writing is a crucial part of how the reader reacts and interprets to what the author is attempting to covey. Without a proper mood throughout a story, the reader can easily become confused about what they are reading in relation to what they are feeling. In order to transmit the correct mood to the reader, the author’s use of language is a key factor. In Beowulf, uses of words or phrases contribute to providing the correct mood to the reader while they interpret the story themselves. The emotion of happiness can be given to the reader with the proper use of language. Happiness is an emotional everyone has felt at at some point in their lives. The triggering of this joyful emotion could bring the reader to a memory...
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...Unlike Ralph, he is a monster. Grendel is aware that he is different, but as a child, is somewhat thoughtful, and fascinated with a village of knights led by a man called Hrothgar. He doesn’t understand why people kill each other and just leave the bodies, he hates how wasteful they are. The humans make it clear to him that they don’t want him around; he grows colder and develops anger towards Hrothgar. To supplement Grendel’s growing hatred, he stumbles upon a dragon in the forest. When Grendel is frightened, the dragon tells him,”Now you know how they feel when they see you” (Gardner 59). The dragon tells Grendel to stop fighting his instincts, and be the monster he is meant to be, because while humans may define themselves as non-monstrous, but when the monster leaves, they are left to play the part of the monster themselves. The dragon also tells Grendel that the shaper that once made Grendel fascinated by the human race sings tales of lies. The dragon does slightly change Grendel’s perspective; maybe because Grendel thought that is what the dragon saw in his future, maybe it is because Grendel knows that the dragon has already gone through the same torture he is experiencing now, or maybe it is because the dragon was the first being besides his mother that wasn’t scared of him. The other difference the dragon made in Grendel’s life, was giving him the ability to be unharmed by weapons, which further alienated Grendel...
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