... important figure in not only the role and message with which he provides the thanes, but also the important understanding and relationship he has with Grendel. In this society, the Shaper has an important impact on both Grendel and the people. In one sense, the Shaper is a sort of savior. He brings new hope to the king as well as to the ... still continues to admire and respect the Shaper. He is devastated when the Shaper dies because the Shaper was the only one that ever touched Grendel. Though he tended to overlook it at times, Grendel knows that "...all the (Shaper) said was ridiculo...

• Word Count: 563
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... individualization, but what about monsters? Can monster possess distinctiveness? In the epic poem Beowulf, three monsters have the pleasure to show different personalities. They are Grendel, Grendel's mother, and the dragon. Grendels thoughts of revenge fueled his rage against Beowulf but he didn't have the courage to back it up. "Instantly that ... man in the regions of earth, in the whole world, with so strong a grip. He was seized with terror."(pg. 17) One day Grendel meets his match named Beowulf. After all the years of terrorizing the community he became over confident. He thought th...

• Word Count: 948
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... the strength of thirty [men] in his mighty handgrip" (Bloom 11). Early proof of Beowulf's extraordinary strength is evidenced by his dismemberment of Grendel's limb, the fight in the cave under water, and the magic sword (Klaeber xiv). Beowulf partook in many supernatural battles and events. ... The demeanor of Beowulf is considered a main fantastic element. When Beowulf fights Grendel and Grendel's mother, he is immortal. Then, suddenly, he becomes mortal and falls to the dragon (Klaeber xxiv). In Beowulf, marvelous elements are ... . W.P. Ker, a nineteenth-century critic, asserts the ...

• Word Count: 1070
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... the blink of an eye, until Hrothgar beckons Beowulf to save his people once again. His superhuman skills are first apparent when he goes to find Grendel's mother, in her underwater cave. Normal humans do not possess the stamina or athletic ability to swim to the bottom of the ocean, but to Beowulf ... thinking is wrong. He quickly realizes his sword is useless, and is left weaponless against a more than experienced opponent. Upon realizing his bare hands are no match against Grendel's mother, he discovers something, "He saw, hanging on the wall, a heavy/Sword, hammered by giants, strong/...

• Word Count: 1010
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... has a Christ-like behavior in his good-heartedness and charity. Beowulf understands the plight of the Danes that are being oppressed by the evil monster Grendel just as Christ knew of the oppression of the Jewish people. Both set out on a venture to save their people. To free themselves from ... the monster, the Danes need a savior, and Beowulf, through his desire to disperse their suffering, comes to save them. When Beowulf battles Grendel, he exhibits a sense of fairness when he refuses to use a weapon. The idea throughout the poem of living right, of loyalty, and of being ... a timele...

• Word Count: 1145
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... and there he came upon them"(35, line 115-119). It was a collective fear for Grendal; it was not just one person who feared him. Grendel's superhuman size, strength, and hostility much resembled the popular fictional idea of Satan. "Malignant in nature, he never showed remorse"(35 line 137). In line ... mate to me, a true mentor, my right hand man-(61, line 1334-1336). This time when Beowulf attacks he must use a weapon, a sword, to slay Grendel's mother. This fight is described as a much more difficult battle. In line 1534, the epic speaks about how a great man like Beowulf must contin...

• Word Count: 924
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... discerning actions complement him as he ends up victorious in his battles against Grendel, Grendel Dam, and the dragon. A large portion of the poem is centered on a monster named Grendel, who terrorizes the great Danish mead hall of Herot. After Grendel had feasted on the Danes for twelve long years, the warriors give up ... earth Had he met a man whose hands were harder" (l 326-327, 33). The greatest attribute of Beowulf is shown when he tears off the arm of Grendel as he does not need to use any weapons at all to defeat "hell's captive" (l 363, 34). Only Beowulf could have accomplished...

• Word Count: 795
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... is the victor over the other. Good prevails over evil in Beowulf, and it is evident in the fights between Beowulf and Grendel, Grendel's mother, and the dragon. Before a person can see that good prevails over evil, they must see what is evil and what is good. The ... like her son, she too chooses to be evil and is not this way because she is too obtuse to realize her actions. The strife with the Grendel kin is part of the uncompoundable feud between God's people and the race with Cain (Goldsmith 82). This is a battle between good and evil. In ... the end Beowulf slaughters her with her...

• Word Count: 722
• Approx Pages: 3
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... Danes where in the hall where they drank and had a good time. After that they were all a little tipsy and they went to sleep. After that this monster Grendel comes into their hall and kills thirty men with ease. The Danes were terrified so the sailors that sailed to Sweden told what had happen back in Denmark. Beowulf had ... heard the story and agreed to fight this Grendel. Beowulf took fourteen of his men back to Denmark to fight. So Beowulf and his men make it back to the Danes to help them out with ... had gone and wanted to go after her. He put on his armor and went in after her. H...

• Word Count: 819
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... various sources causes the characters to portray more Christian characteristics. Seamus Heaney uses both Biblical and Paganistic views throughout the story to describe certain things. Grendel is Biblically and Paganistically described in this excerpt: So times were pleasant for the people there until finally one, a fiend out of hell, ... began to work his evil in the world. Grendel was the name of this grim demon haunting the marches, marauding round the heath and the desolate fens; he had dwelt for a time in misery ... by traveling to Geatland to help rid his people of a threatening mo...

• Word Count: 1162
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... of Diomedes, Obtain the girdle of Hippolyte, obtain the cows of Geryon, Steal the apples of Hesperides, and finally capture the Cerberus. Beowulf has to kill Grendel's mom, Grendel, and the dragon in the land of the Geats. They never lost a battle in their lifetime. In the story of Beowulf the author says that " ... that he has never lost a battle. Beowulf is attacked in the middle of the night by Grendel. Gredel grabs him with his claw but Beowulf wakes up and tears his claw, arm, and shoulder completely off. Grendel goes back to the swamp but leaves his claw behind. Beowulf tells every...

• Word Count: 1010
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... monsters of Beowulf, translated by Seamus Heaney, are not real, but fictitious creatures representing evil because of their attacks on the Anglo-Saxon societies. Grendel, his mother, and the dragon are the imaginary creatures that originate from Cain, which causes Beowulf, the Geat hero, to come to the ... shapes their future. They all also defy the Anglo-Saxon values, which encompasses comitatus (brotherhood), loyalty, honor, duty, generosity, fame, strength, and unity. Grendel in reality could symbolize a group of outcast males jealous of Hrothgar and his thanes. Described as "the Lord...

• Word Count: 1062
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... adult life and into his old age. As a young man, Beowulf becomes a legendary hero when he saves the land of the Danes from the creatures, Grendel and his mother. Later, after fifty years pass, Beowulf is an old man and a great king of the Geats. A monstrous dragon soon invades his ... days, and also afterward, when the sons of God had relations with the daughters of men, who bore children to them" (Holland Crossley, 15). Many of Grendel's appellations are unquestionable epithets of Satan such as "enemy of mankind," "God's adversary," "the devil in hell," and "the hell slave." His actions ...

• Word Count: 1694
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... murderous son of Adam and Eve. "Conceived by a pair of those monsters born of Cain, murderous creatures banished by God."" (lines 20-21) Grendel began attacking Herot and eating men, a hideous act of evil. By contrast, as soon as Beowulf heard of the trouble that was facing Hrothgar, ... a leader of men."" (line 174-176) This shows that Beowulf came from a good family, and it is in direct contrast to the evil roots of Grendel. Grendel comes from evil and becomes an evil monster, and Beowulf is from a brave and noble family and becomes a crusader for good. The theme of this poem ... , go...

• Word Count: 711
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... pagan culture. In the beginning of the story, Beowulf hears about the many killings that plague the Danes and how an unknown monster, later referred to as Grendel, is coming about and causing havoc at Heorot Hall. The story says, "So times were pleasant for the people there/ until finally one, a fiend out ... outlawed/ and condemned as outcasts" (34-35). But now that Unferth stepped into the mead-hall, it is like a door that has been opened for Grendel to come through and unleash his evil upon the society of the Danes. He only terrorizes the mead-ha! ll because this is where the Shields ...

• Word Count: 1092
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... , and the bleeding sinews deep in his shoulder snapped, muscle and bone split and broke. The battle was over, Beowulf had been granted new glory." Beowulf's second battle is against Grendel's mother. Beowulf is asked by Hrothgar, the king of Herot, to kill the vicious beast. Beowulf continuously tries to defeat the monster. He attempts to pierce her skin and stab ... her with the sword, but no man-made object can kill a creature as horrid and evil as her. Finally, Grendel's mother gets Beowulf on the floor in her grip and with a dagger full of dripping blood tries to stab him, but Beowul...

• Word Count: 663
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... the world. He was a great warrior, and everybody had faith in him to fight any evil. Beowulf had gone all the way to Herot to kill Grendel because he had killed many citizens of Herot. Yet, the main motive for Beowulf to go all the way to Herot was to receive fame from their citizens ... . "" Beowulf, being the strong epic hero he is, could easily kill Grendel with a sword, but what would be the difference between him and any warrior? Beowulf wanted the cheers and applauds from the people, and that is why, ... These words made the people of Herot certainly think of Beowulf as an epic he...

• Word Count: 1329
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... . Throughout the poem there are several challenges that Beowulf has to confront. The first is the battle with Grendel, a horrific monster, because he has been terrorizing the Geats. Beowulf defeats Grendel in the battle but has to face another one with Grendel's mother who wants to get revenge for the death of her son. Beowulf finally defeats ... Grendel's mother. In the third battle Beowulf has to fight a dragon that has wreaked havoc on the Geats society due to a servant that had stolen a golden ... In the poem "Beowulf", Beowulf illustrates various ways of how to live rightly. The fi...

• Word Count: 1101
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... . Throughout the poem there are several challenges that Beowulf has to confront. The first is the battle with Grendel, a horrific monster, because he has been terrorizing the Geats. Beowulf defeats Grendel in the battle but has to face another one with Grendel's mother who wants to get revenge for the death of her son. Beowulf finally defeats ... Grendel's mother. In the third battle Beowulf has to fight a dragon that has wreaked havoc on the Geats society due to a servant that had stolen a golden ... In the poem "Beowulf", Beowulf illustrates various ways of how to live rightly. The fi...

• Word Count: 1101
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... gather to drink, receive gifts from their lord, and listen to stories sung by the scops, or bards. But the jubilant noise from Heorot angers Grendel, a horrible demon who lives in the swamplands of Hrothgar's kingdom. Grendel begins terrorizing the Danes every night, killing them and easily defeating their efforts to fight back. The Danes suffer many years of fear, danger, and ... 's plight. Inspired by the challenge, Beowulf sails to Denmark with a small company of men, determined to defeat Grendel. Hrothgar accepts Beowulf's offer to fight Grendel. During a feast, one which Beowulf is ...

• Word Count: 350
• Approx Pages: 1
• Grade Level: High School

... . Every job I did, I gained more fame and fortune. My life was surrounded by death and murder. One day I heard about an evil monster named Grendel that was terrorizing a town named Herot. They needed me to kill Grendel and save the town and were offering a very reasonable price. I would be saving hundreds of people by killing the monster, but how evil the client ... to Herot. After the details of the business transaction were negotiated with King Hrothgar, my men and I slept in the hall where Grendel would surely return. I lay waiting for an opportunity to kill the monster with my bare h...

• Word Count: 605
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... . Like Jesus and Moses, Beowulf, the epic hero, comes at a time of need and chaos in Herot, thereupon ending the chaos and destruction by killing Grendel and his mother. He comes after "twelve winters of grief," (62) and avenges evil by "[purging] Herot clean," (508). Just as Moses who was ... Beowulf's life imply that the battle against evil is unending. Symbolically the three battles are fought with evil: one with Grendel, one with Grendel's mother, and the third with the dragon. Grendel is decidedly evil because he "was spawned in that slime, conceived by a pair of those monsters born...

• Word Count: 719
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... havoc on King Hrothgar's mead-hall in Herot. Beowulf and his men are called over from the land of the Geats to help defend the mead-hall against Grendel. After he defeats Grendel and Grendel's mother he returns to his untimely death. Beowulf exemplifies several characteristics of the heroic code such as fair fighting, equal weapons, and showing loyalty to the ones he ... his feet are afraid to go shows his dedication to fighting fair. Beowulf gives up his weapons to fate and God to decide if he shall be the victor over Grendel, Grendel's mother, and the dragon. Some might say that he is...

• Word Count: 613
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... Danes, yet he convinces them of his strength and courage with stories of his past adventures. Soon the men resort to sleep and await the arrival of their enemy. When Grendel arrives, after consuming one of the warriors, he approaches Beowulf who, to his surprise, is not asleep and actually fights back! Beowulf, with extreme bravery, struggles against the monster, tearing ... off his arm. However, this is not the end of the battle between man and beast, for Grendel"'s mother avenges her son"'s attack and snatches up Hrothgar"'s favorite warrior and her son"'s arm. To rid the town of this...

• Word Count: 536
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... fatal death. Determination is the firmness of purpose. Beowulf shows examples of his strong determination over and over. For example, when Beowulf "heard how Grendel filled the nights with horror"(197) he becomes determined to go and set sail to meet the king to gain glory and fame. "Would sail ... determination. Beowulf volunteers willingly and quickly, calls for a boat to meet the king as soon as possible in order to go after Grendel. Without any hesitations, Beowulf did not expect any dangers, let alone death, but rather glory and fame. This attribute of willpower is seen ... suddenl...

• Word Count: 1088
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School