... Cain's sins, he is a "creature of evil " (line 120) and very destructive. He is always portraying himself as very beastly and frightening. But if Grendel is so scary, why does he need to go and inspect the protection of the hall before he attacks? If he was as powerful as he pretends to ... confident and knows their strengths, they will often move at a steady pace when attacking because they dare their opponent to try to stop them. Considering that Grendel moved swiftly, it shows that he is not confident that he could defend himself if the danes were to wake up. Another interesting part ...

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• Grade Level: High School

... remains anonymous, may feature the same cast of characters, but the portrayal of these characters varies greatly between these two stories. In the epic Beowulf, Grendel is portrayed as a heartless, monstrous being who takes joy in terrorizing the Danes, while Beowulf is portrayed as a valiant warrior from the Geatlands, ... who saves the Danes from this horrifying monster. However in Grendel, the titular character is shown as a childish, nave being who kills because of his own emotional turmoil, and Beowulf is shown as a cold, ... murderous man who not only wants to kill Grendel, but wa...

• Word Count: 789
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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... and their exile was bitter, shut away from men; they split into a thousand forms of evil--spirits and fiends, goblins, monsters, giants." (Lines 43-49). Grendel has swift, hard claws, and enormous teeth that snatch the life out of his many victims. This "shadow of death" not only kills; he drinks the blood of ... his prey. His forefather, Cain, was also known for this hellish act and just as Grendel is an outcast, so Cain was cast out of the Garden of Eden. To the Danes, the worst crime a person could commit was the crime killing one's ... (Lines 2-3). The mead Hall, Herot, was a symbo...

• Word Count: 652
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• Grade Level: High School

... nature of humans that is so well concealed by a fazade of self-adulation and nobility. Though deemed an evil monster by the humans, Grendel observes the sinister characteristic of humans through religion. They preach peace and prosperity yet their own practices disprove their principles. In a ritual, for ... these actions is perpetuated by the fact that the priests think highly of their hypocritical position, yet the villagers are completely indifferent. When Grendel wrecked the sacred images of the Scyldings? gods,no one was especially bothered? (128). Only the priests, however,lamented...

• Word Count: 886
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• Grade Level: High School

... is a natural human quality, which is easy to feel sorry for even though this quality is attributed to a monster in the poem. I don't believe Grendel deserves any sympathy because he is acting on the ego driven emotion, jealousy. 7. Unferth tries to ruin Beowulf's glory by telling everyone Beowulf lost a swimming ... religion. Their Pagan beliefs are shown by the way they praise with rewards of gold and other material things of value. For example when Beowulf defeats Grendel; "Halfdanes son presented Beowulf with a gold standard as a victory gift." This act was a Pagan tradition. The narr...

• Word Count: 2142
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• Grade Level: High School

... was deserting him, his claws Bound fast, Higlac's brave follower tearing at his hands."(line 464-466) Beowulf's unusual and courageous method of killing Grendel demonstrates his bravery and physical strength. Before, Unferth had taunted Beowulf about his foolish bravery but when he and all the rest of the Geats saw ... that Beowulf's strength and power were worth boasting about, they were humbled. To prove Beowulf was powerful, he hung Grendel's arm, claw, and shoulders from the rafters of the meeting hall."No Dane doubted The victory, for the proof, hanging high From the rafters ... d...

• Word Count: 793
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... 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
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• 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
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• 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
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• 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
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• Grade Level: High School

... Danish king, builds an army, and constructs the enormous and beautiful hall known as Herot. The hellish, demonic, and evil monster known as Grendel, is awakened by the annoying noise of building and soldiers living in Herot. He enters the hall when the soldiers are sleeping and attacks killing ... , and did so for twelve years. Meanwhile, in Geatland, a courageous warrior known as Beowulf hears of King Hrothgar's troubles and vows to kill Grendel. Beowulf sails to the Danish shore with fourteen of his bravest men. Upon landing, Wulfgar, Hrothgar's herald, rushes to his king urging him to...

• Word Count: 913
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• Grade Level: High School

... The Broken Heart). The first representation of the theme of revenge in Beowulf, is shown in the relationship between Grendel and the Danes. The continuous cycle of revenge is begun by the evil beast Grendel. Grendel descends from the biblical Cain, who committed the first murder by killing his brother out of vengeance for not ... being the favored one by God. Grendel holds great despite for the Mead Hall the Danes have built in which ceremonies and parties take place long into the night. He ... greaten his legacy through battle, thus the Danes send him to gain their revenge on the monste...

• Word Count: 756
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... 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
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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... a reviser or interpolator" (Klaeber 1). These engrained elements Klaeber speaks of are strongly found in the battles of Beowulf and the three antagonists of the poem, Grendel, his mother and the dragon, whereas each battle represents the struggle between good and evil. Early in the poem, Beowulf appears as if an agent of ... God to "calm the turmoil and terror" (282) caused by Grendel's evil among the Danes. Beowulf, who is referred to as the "prince of goodness" (676) is symbolic of all that is pure and innocent while ... out of hell [who] began to work his evil in the world" (100-101)...

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... 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
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• Grade Level: High School

... the Geats, the most. In the land of the Danes, there was a disturbance in King Hrothgar's hall, Heorot. The legends of a vile beast named Grendel were true. Grendel's treachery caught the attention of people far and wide including poets. After discovering of what has happened in the land of the Danes, Beowulf was the one ... brave soul who decided to do what he can to save the great hall. Prior to his arrival, Grendel attacked once more looking to feast on innocent lives. However, Grendel was surprised by the strong and cunning Beowulf, who had clutched his hands to the beast's arm. With...

• Word Count: 521
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• Grade Level: High School

... seven nights, he had also stopped to kill nine sea creatures in the depths of the ocean. Beowulf is also strong enough to kill the monster Grendel, who has been terrorizing the Danes for twelve years, with his bare hands by ripping off his arm. When Beowulf is fighting ... his peoples welfare before his own. Beowulf's uncle is king of the Geats so he is sent as an emissary to help rid the Danes of the evil Grendel. Beowulf risks his own life for the Danes, asking help from no one. He realizes the dangers but fears nothing for his own life. After Beowulf had ... must! (18)" He is aware o...

• Word Count: 723
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... , he selflessly puts the welfare of the Danish people ahead of his own life. He risks his life to fight a monster, Grendel, who is notorious for his strength and slayings. "Not even the sharpest of swords could have cut/ It [Grendel's hand] through, broken it off the monster's/ Arm and ended its life, as Beowulf/ Had done armed only with his bare ... hands" (Beowulf, 987-990). Using only his own bare hands, Beowulf rips off the arm of Grendel and gives him many powerful, fatal blows. Grendel runs away from Heorot, the hall of the Danes, to die in the forest. Beowulf shows himself stronge...

• Word Count: 631
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• Grade Level: High School

... wisdom grant the glory of victory to whichever side he sees fit" (683-688). An excellent display of the warrior code, Beowulf and Grendel are to fight barehanded displaying the embedded pride and courage that ennobles Beowulf throughout his life. Bold courage and personal ability will determine Beowulf's outcome ... as much as fate dictates it in his match against Grendel. As much as Beowulf is an avenger for the Danes, Ghost Dog is also an avenger for the Mafia. Ghost dog, as played by ... edge of swampy lake decorated with the severed head of Aeschare. Beowulf's impetuousness and val...

• Word Count: 1160
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... very positive ways, much of which include defending and saving others. The first battle Beowulf must endure is against Grendel, the horrible monster attacking Hrothgar's soldiers. While fighting, the monstrous Grendel is surprised and: "Knew at once that nowhere on earth had he met a man whose hands were harder ... exemplifies his trait of incredible courage is when he travels to Heron to help Hrothgar, although the danger of fighting the incredible and unknown monster Grendel is great. The reason he did go is because: "My people have said, the wisest, most knowing and best of them, th...

• Word Count: 897
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... amazing physical strength. He fought in numerous battles, and he returned victorious until his death. He uses his strength to kill the monster, Grendel, who has been terrorizing the Danes for twelve years. With his bare hands, Beowulf rips off the monster's arm leaving him to die. When Beowulf is fighting ... Grendel's vengeful mother, he is slays her by slashing her neck with a Giant's sword that could only be lifted by Beowulf. After cutting her head ... put his people's welfare before his own. Beowulf's uncle, King of the Geats, sends him as an emissary to help rid the Danes of the ...

• Word Count: 473
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• Grade Level: High School

Is Beowulf An Epic Hero? In Beowulf, Hrothgar, King of the Danes, is aided by Beowulf. Grendel has been attacking Hrothgar's hall, herot, and killing men and woman at night for twelve years. Beowulf kills monsters and helps people. An epic hero is someone who is strong, ... to be brave, and Beowulf fits that description perfectly. Swimming in the ocean for seven days battling monsters along the way, he goes on search for Grendel. Being called out by King Hrothgar, he finds Grendel and battles him, ripping off his arm leaving him to bleed to death in his cave. Bravery is in Beowulf's blood. W...

• Word Count: 292
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... challenges Beowulf claims. He harasses Beowulf about his swimming match with Breca (506-528). But he doesn't challenge Beowulf because he is concerned that Beowulf is not capable of defeating Grendel, he simply jealous of the attention that Beowulf is getting. Beowulf, with confidence, accuses Unferth of being drunk (But it was m! ostly beer that was doing the talking 531-532 ... ...

• Word Count: 390
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... 1 "And so it remained: for twelve long winters the lord of the Danes was sorely afflicted with sorrows and cares; then men were reminded in mournful songs that the monster Grendel fought with Hrothgar for a long time, fought with fierce hatred committing crime and atrocity day after day in continual". In our times we also face evil whether it's terrorists, rapists ... ...

• Word Count: 577
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• Grade Level: High School