... is said to be a savage beast, who returns with "blood dripping behind him, back / To his lair, delighted with his night's slaughter" (lines 39-40). Grendel terrorizes the people of the land, ripping men apart with his brute strength. He is a cold, merciless beast who is completely devoid of ... compassion for others. Grendel's evil nature is explained by the absence of God in his life: " He [Beowulf] never / Dared to touch king Hrothgar's glorious / Throne, protected by God - God, / Whose love Grendel could not know." (lines 82-85). Finally ... near; down / To hell he would go" (lines 48...

• Word Count: 794
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... . While many pagan influences appear in the poem, Christian overtones dominate. Many of the characters exhibit Christian characteristics. Beowulf 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 poem of living right, of loyalty, and of being a good leader can all be seen as traits of Christ. Just as Beowulf exemplifies Christ, Grendel mirrors Satan. Beowulf and Grendel represent the Christian beliefs of good verse evil. Grendel is referred to as a ...

• Word Count: 1145
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• Grade Level: High School

... Old English literature" (Brittany). As people from Denmark and Sweden invaded England they brought several of their stories and legends to England. Beowulf is the oldest English epic that was neither written in England nor written about England. The epic was originally passed from person to ... is "a story of dreams and legends, of a community threatened by evil of supernatural monsters, supernatural weapons and supernatural heroes" (Pera). "[The] Beowulf poet manages to include a great deal of radiation in his poetic style, especially through the use of thesis and antithesis; he also mak...

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... Shepherd of evil, guardian of crime,/ Knew at once that nowhere on earth/ Had he met a man whose hands were harder;"(Beowulf 432-434). Fate allowed Beowulf to overcome Grendel's strength. Beowulf had a much stronger grip then Grendel would ever have. In addition to the previous quote, Grendel realized, "Now he discovered-once ... the afflictor/ Of men, tormentor of their days-what it meant/ To feud with Almighty God:"(Beowulf 490-492). Grendel realized that he had it easy with the other warriors because they could not fight back. Once Grendel grasped the hand of the warrior ... sent fr...

• Word Count: 638
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• Grade Level: High School

... noble man from the captivating town called Locksley where he helps people and trys to stop the evil prince John from taking over the thrown. Beowulf on the other hand is a lot more different. Beowulf is a Viking that dose not have a main place to live in the story, he just lives in various Viking villages. His duties as ... a Viking are to get himself his honor back and to help other Vikings. Do the stories Robin Hood and Beowulf have anything in common? Yes they do, and the first thing that is quite common between both of the stories is hubris that both Robin of Locksley and ... Beowul...

• Word Count: 801
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• Grade Level: High School

... the forces of good and evil, the vital elements of a cultural representation, and the overall appearance that it appears larger-than life. In the epic, Beowulf, the reader first learns of the many traits that the poem possesses by considering the three most important traits and trying to give the reader an idea ... poem being larger-than life is the great strength that is expressed throughout the poem. To be strong, to be courageous, and to be heroic, Beowulf had to show his strength through the many obstacles that stood in his way. The great strength that is shown through the characters ...

• Word Count: 1097
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• Grade Level: High School

... super hero idol such as Batman. Around the 700's, perhaps it was not too unusual then, to hear the voice of a child glorifying the character Beowulf. "Beowulf" is an epic poem, about a heroic character that saved the city of Harot. During the night Grendel would ambush townsmen in the mead-hall for ... devices help Batman through his crime fighting filled life. Besides the use of weaponry, the way they present themselves to the public is also different. Beowulf is displayed to the public as a hero. He takes on no false disguise or identity to hide himself from the people around him. Batm...

• Word Count: 936
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• Grade Level: High School

... been many different characters throughout history and one of the most highly esteemed and recognized is Jesus Christ in the Christian faith. The epic of Beowulf represents an amalgamation of the culture of the dark ages and the traditions of Christianity all intertwined to reveal how one gladiator possesses the merits ... of loyalty, courage, and faith while he endeavors to combat against the forces of evil. The character of Beowulf himself in the epic Beowulf is representative of Christ in that he acts as a deliverer to the people of Herot by redeeming them from the evils of ... themse...

• Word Count: 1019
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... of good versus evil is evident in the story but one 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 ... Parks 4). He was a powerful monster, living down in the darkness/ Growled in pain, impatient (lines 1-2). Beowulf comes as a God sent deliver to cleanse Herot (Goldsmith 85). Beowulf represents the good while Grendel represents the evil. Beowulf is here to save the people of Herot while Grendel is here to t...

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

... mother and a Dragon. Throughout the epic, many themes are used to construct a certain profundity to the characters and the story. Some of these themes seen in Beowulf include Wealth , Honor, Christian vs Paganistic ideas , etc. However, the epic's most important theme, is the conflict between virtue and evil. This idea of ... the story's representation of evil, and the concept of the epic hero. The representation of virtue vs. evil is very clear in the epic. Beowulf is the main illustration of good because of his ability to perform unselfish acts in aid of others. As we can see, goodness...

• Word Count: 711
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• Grade Level: High School

... "grief-racked and ravenous, desperate for revenge" (1278) due to the murder of her son. After Grendel's mother "avenged her son and wreaked desctruction" (1278), Beowulf must descend into "some other world" (1349) to find her. This other world seems to parallel the lakes of Hell, infested with "writhing sea-dragons [ ] ... she welcomed the Geat and thanked God for granting her wish that a deliverer she could believe in would arrive to ease their afflictions" (625-628). Beowulf, as Christ, acts as a sacrificial lamb by giving up his own life in order to save his people. Klaeber writes, "We...

• Word Count: 824
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... was also measured in terms of honor, fame, and accomplishments. Hrothgar, king of the Danes, is one example of the Anglo-Saxon measurement of importance in Beowulf. In Canto 1 the story teller describes his wealth and importance, not as mounds of gold or jewels, but instead as his ability to "[lead] the ... , but more importantly, he earns honor raising him to the level of an archetypal hero. Grendel, on the other hand, is the total opposite of Beowulf. He has no wealth, no honor, and he in infamous as an evil killer. This lack of wealth and honor defines Grendel as a symbol of ... depth...

• Word Count: 1009
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• Grade Level: High School

... and fused it with Christian beliefs to create a poem that would still interest the people of the time while showing them the Christian ways. The Beowulf poet was put to the task of successfully blending these religious beliefs in an effective plot that appealed to his audience. Therefore, I agree with John ... then there is little reason to read it as a survival from the heathen age that came to be marred by monkish interpolations" (137). Although Beowulf most likely began as a pagan epic, it eventually was expanded to include Christian elements. Drawn from the Bible and some fictional t...

• Word Count: 1142
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... monsters crowded around me, continually attacking. I treated them politely, offering the edge of my razor-sharp sword," (265-294). However, the poet suggests that his boasts are symbolic of Beowulf's personal insecurity. Beowulf seems afraid of defeat and faliure. His boastful remarks are reminders to himself of his invincibility. In this poem, the poet is both critical and praising of the Anglo ... nature's fickle notions and uncertainty in the belief in the divine. Additionally, the main character's attributes and conflicts would classify him as a "messiah," an archetypal pattern. Lik...

• Word Count: 719
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• Grade Level: High School

... looms overhead like overcastting all joyous events. Every day new news unfolds and we are brought closer to the brink of war. This war is similar to Beowulf's battle with the dragon. In line 651 of the text, the line says "But war could have followed. Its breath came first....". Although we may ... win this war it may be our last just like Beowulf. War causes lifelong grief and strife between countries and will ultimately destroy us all. War must be combated in both the mental and physical realm. One ... the values that promote well being in our society. We must attack racism at its roo...

• Word Count: 774
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... the 'monsters'". While Grendel, Grendel's mother, and the dragon are indeed portrayed as evil and violent foes, there are parts within Beowulf that can also lead a reader to believe that the "monsters" may not be so monstrous after all. This ultimately evokes traces of ... Danes is Grendel, textually described as "a fiend out of hell a grim demon haunting the marches, marauding round the heath and the desolate fens" (Beowulf, line 100 – 104). The author also provides us with a moral description, explaining how Grendel is "merciless malignant by nature, he never showed ... and ago...

• Word Count: 1275
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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... to protect mankind from evil, to use his powers to rescue his family and friends from evil circumstances, and to earn immortality via his heroic tendencies. Beowulf, an Anglo-Saxon hero, has all three characteristics. His quest is to restore Herot, due to the mass destruction caused by the monster Grendel, the ... won the battles fought in the Almighty's name. This comitatus instilled fear into all of his opponents, even if they showed no sign of it. Just Beowulf's touch would make a mortal man want to die. God gave him strength like no other man. He was strong enough to carry Grendel's...

• Word Count: 863
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... to protect mankind from evil, to use his powers to rescue his family and friends from evil circumstances, and to earn immortality via his heroic tendencies. Beowulf, an Anglo-Saxon hero, has all three characteristics. His quest is to restore Herot, due to the mass destruction caused by the monster Grendel, the ... won the battles fought in the Almighty's name. This comitatus instilled fear into all of his opponents, even if they showed no sign of it. Just Beowulf's touch would make a mortal man want to die. God gave him strength like no other man. He was strong enough to carry Grendel's...

• Word Count: 863
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... many references and images of good and evil that are trough out this story that was intended for a 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 ... sent brave warriors to fight Grendel but to no avail. The Danes were not successful because they were part of the corrupted society and that is why Beowulf, the outside interference, comes in and in one battle kills the descendent of Cain. Then the second brawl, with Grendel's mother, show...

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

... these qualities in two of the main characters of the story. The epic tells the story of a hero, a prince named Beowulf, who rids the Danes of the monster Grendel, a descendent of Cain, and of his exploits fighting Grendel's mother and a Dragon. Beowulf, as a conquering hero, destroys all the monsters in the sea as well as the giants. He has done this for ... purpose in life. The theme of good vs. evil that is present in the story of Beowulf, has become the classic foundation of many modern stories today. Beowulf and Grendel represent the ultimate struggle of good and evil. Grendel tries...

• Word Count: 357
• Approx Pages: 1
• Grade Level: High School

... ,'there is a constant struggle between good and evil. This poem is an early example of the phrase,Bad guys never win.? Examples of this theme include: God versus Cain, Beowulf versus Grendal, and Beowulf versus Grendal's mother. The first battle between God (good) and Cain (evil) is actually an allusion from the bible. This story of Cain is used to compare God ... 's feelings of Grendal, a descendant of Cain. The book states, "?Since Cain had killed his only / Brother, slain his father's son / With an angry sword. God drove him off, / outlawed him? (Beowulf, 1261 - 1264). Cain killed his ...

• Word Count: 333
• Approx Pages: 1
• Grade Level: High School

... strength. He displayed his might in the challenge against Breca in which his "sword had killed nine sea monsters. (172)" The strength of Beowulf is also shown when he slays Grendel. He is faced with a daunting challenge, but in true hero form he accomplishes the task quickly ... is a fearful moment. He faces his fear and accomplishes the task at hand with serenity and composure. This courageous characteristic that Beowulf possesses would uphold today's heroic standards. Beowulf would be a successful hero in modern times because he saves lives by destroying evil. Any person who saves live...

• Word Count: 404
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• Grade Level: High School

... comes upon are goodness overcoming evil, creation of birth, and human behavior. God's influence of goodness overcoming evil is stated in The Coming of Beowulf. Beowulf declares, "God must decide who will be given to death's cold grip". The interpretation of this statement is God will decide who will triumph in battle ... . Goodness being Beowulf or evil being the evil monster Grendel. Creation of earth comes across the reader during The Coming of Grendel. The Christian monk describes the creation ... trees. The influence of God on human behavior is acknowledged at the end of The Battle w...

• Word Count: 272
• Approx Pages: 1
• Grade Level: High School

... of English literature. There are many ways to evaluate this piece of literature in its various levels, beginning with level one, the story literally. The story of Beowulf is that which is similar to many stories and epics. It is a classic story of a kingdom that finds themselves in trouble from a monster that is ... that the writer uses many literary devices to enhance the language, and make it more interesting. One of the most obvious device used by the writer in Beowulf is alliteration. There are many examples of this technique throughout the story, let me list a few: line 243, "the sea...

• Word Count: 627
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... is one of the things that drove Grendel to his madness. Two examples from the listening include "the crowd was happy," and "Beowulf's doings were praised." Beowulf is praised for protecting Herot, leading the crowd to be happy. Sorrow is displayed directly in the book, "the living sorrow of ... Other examples of savagery include, "showed no remorse," and "ruthless killings." The final theme was Good vs. Evil. This was seen several times throughout Beowulf. A direct quote would be, "hail to those who will rise to god." This just shows appreciation for god and for good. Other examples of...

• Word Count: 697
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School