... he heard each day / the din of revelry ring through the hall" (l. 57-59). Grendel's territory is invaded and he responds by ravaging and destroying all the thanes in Hrothgar's mead halls. It is Hrothgar's pride that stops him from retreating and relinquishing the land he captured, even while Grendel "[Slays] thirty spearmen asleep in the hall" (8.82). The thanes in the ... mead halls will not retreat either, not because that feel that they could stand and fight successfully against Grendel, but largely because they believe" "Death is better for every earl / Than life ... shame!" (l. ...

• Word Count: 1018
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... monsters and beasts and lives an unimaginable life. Beowulf's life is centered on courage, honor, strength and integrity, and honor among warriors, most of whom hang out in the local mead hall and drink alcohol all day. On the other hand, Lanval is centered on a hero, but not a hero of Beowulf's kind. Lanval is a knight. His most noticeable characteristic is that ... and other knights to make his tale more interesting. Another difference is that in the period in which Lanval speaks, there are active court systems. Instead of hanging around in mead halls, knights of Lanval's day spend th...

• Word Count: 590
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... his cousin, the king, sent Beowulf, the second heir to the thrown, to slay Grendel the beast (127-130) in order to shed light and life back onto Danes" beautiful mead-halls (142-144). The hero must be of grand proportions and possess super-human courage in order to be able to perform outstanding deeds. Beowulf perfectly exemplifies this characteristic of an ... fought the supernatural demon single-handedly with only his bare hands. This epic hero did this noble deed for no personal gain but to purge all evil from the mess halls in Danes (166) in hopes to salvage what merriment is left. ...

• Word Count: 811
• Approx Pages: 3

... fight him, I challenged him, and told him that no matter the outcome of the fight, I would be remembered as a great hero. Songs would be sung about my heroic deeds in mead halls throughout the land, and I would be a model of greatness. The monster merely laughed and continued to mock me as he had done before at Herot. I actually understood his miserable speech ... ...

• Word Count: 1047
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School