In Grendel, a brave warrior speaks of heroism and states, “Except in the life of a hero, the whole world’s meaningless” (89). Yet in Grendel, the antagonist actually provides more quality to life tha

Unferth, the failed hero, also said, “The hero sees values beyond what is possible… it makes the whole struggle of humanity worthwhile” (89). Grendel, an isolated and cynical bearish beast, watches a kingdom blossom with seeds of violence and repression. Over time, Grendel loses hope for all humanity until the story’s protagonist, Beowulf, arrives. Despite Grendel’s fear that Beowulf will eventually end his life, Grendel respects Beowulf for reminding him that there is value in humanity. As the kingdom watches Beowulf and Grendel’s legacy, it becomes apparent that Grendel is heroic in an alternate context. His reign of terror provides an indefinite shadow of mortality for the kingdom. Grendel awakens the people’s lives by showing them that death is inescapable. So Beowulf may be a hero because he saves lives, but Grendel is a hero because he gives meaning to life. Beowulf did the impossible by killing Grendel and Grendel did the impossible by providing substa

Some topics in this essay:
Gardner Grendel’s, Kenneth Beck, Grendel Grendel, Beowulf Grendel’s, , Despite Grendel’s, lives grendel, society people heroes, hero values beyond, “the hero values, convention outstanding understated, outstanding understated achievement, outstanding understated, values beyond, understated achievement, value life, 89 grendel, hero values, death inescapable, convention outstanding, “the hero,