... stress man's "felt-needs" rather than obedience to God, the Puritans saw everything good, meaningful, and beautiful as deriving from the goodness, plan, and image of God. It was a matter of attitude. "The whole creature is resigned... to the obedience and glory of its maker, said one Puritan. When a man resigns himself to God, he is freed to live his whole life to God ... their people to be. He is "the winner of fights, the arch-warrior" (1311) who places faith in the idea that "the Divine Lord in His wisdom" will "grant the glory of victory to whichever side He sees fit." (685-687) Beo...

• Word Count: 1257
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... that when he fights an enemy like Grendel or Grendel's mother he will achieve immortality as the victor or the loser. He has the power of twenty men in his arm alone and his leadership skills are superb. Beowulf is a hero in the eyes of his fellow men through his amazing physical strength. He fought in ... him, because he gave them something to live for. Beowulf had a band of mighty men, willing to die for their leader, and this in turn gave Beowulf much power. This gave him confidence and helped give him courage to finish off the ravenous beast Grendel. With everything Beowulf had in his...

• Word Count: 1723
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

... for Grendel's mother, allowing Wealhtheow to assert herself in the interest of her husband and children, and revealing masculine fear of feminine power. The author creates Wealhtheow to embody the role of a traditional Anglo-Saxon woman, and he presents this role as the only appropriate one for Wealhtheow to fulfill. She ... mother, he says, "No help was Hrunting with hell's sorcery / that battle-sharpened blade could not bite monster-flesh&emdash; / then the great Wielder Glory-King of all / gave me a wonder-blade granted to my sight / a huge giant-sword hanging by the wall. / I reached...

• Word Count: 1587
• Approx Pages: 6