While taking an exciting tale of a battle between a monster and a hero, in the epic poem Beowulf, the numerous descriptions of good versus evil run vividly throughout the story creating powerful images of evil. To create the most malevolent images, the poet describes Grendel in a variety of ways portraying Grendel as a direct representation of what the Anglo-Saxon society deems the highest level of evil as.
Allowing Grendel to embody full evilness, his mysterious background brings more fear and credibility to his evil than just his actions alone. Depicted by the poet as a member of "Cain's clan," (9) Grendel's biblical and spiritual history holds significant value. More specifically in his genealogy, Grendel lives as a product of Cain after Cain became "outlawed" by the "creator" (9) for the killing of his brother Abel. As a result of this messy background, the extent of the powers and evils that he possesses could have an unknown magnitude for he thrives as a direct decedent of the creator of evil. Also, Grendel does not know of any other ways beyond evil for he "dwelt for a time among the banished monsters." (9) Never experiencing or witnessing good, Grendel remains ignorant to the idea that good exists. As a result, after all his killings, he "never showed remorse." (11) This idea that Grendel knows of only evil creates fear to all the Anglo-Saxon people, for Grendel does not care who he kills. Whether it be an old man or a powerful warrior, he remains relentless without any sympathy or regret for who he kills. Unaware of good, and impartial to other's death, Grendel's mind functions on only a malignant level. .
The power and force of Grendel, in addition to his intentions, create a clear idea of what the Anglo-Saxons fear. After his first attack, all the people know that "Grendel's powers of destruction were plain." (11) With his primitive mindset, his sole purpose lies in the death and pain of others.
Grendel: Predestined to Evil? ... The poet seeks to present Grendel as pure evil. ... Grendel also has a choice and he picked evil's side. ... Grendel fights for the violators of God's rules because he is evil. ... Grendel chooses to act in an evil way because he believes that nothing but serving evil can make him feel good. ...
When he hears the music of the harp, he just howls in pain, which was an automatic reaction of evil. When Grendel attacks the mead hall and eats everyone in it, he has no reason for doing this, he basically does it because he is purely evil. ... The slime gives a sense of evil that was the essence of Grendel. ... In Beowulf, Grendel only knows how to be evil. ... Grendel has no explanation for his anger; it is simply a means of pure good and evil. ...
Grendel Final 1. ... Just her very essence promotes goodness in other people where as Grendel the spawn of evil, feels himself being influenced by her, but since he knows he is evil, he fights back the feeling. Grendel chooses not to kill because doing so would have condemned him to being solely evil, which is exactly what he is trying to fight against. 2. ... This sparks Grendel's interest, because this is the first time someone has said that maybe he's not the true evil, but in fact man is. ... The story would like to lead you to the conclusion that man is the true evil, but ...
Evil" theme. ... In the human eyes, anything described as a monstrous beast must be, without a doubt, evil. ... In order to glorify themselves, they need something even more "evil- than they are. ... That Grendel is trying find a way to adapt to the life, which the men of the world had given him in, with the Dragon's evil influence. ... Grendel defines the humans as the "evil ones- simply by bringing out the true nature of humanity. ...
In the story, I personally think the author uses Grendel as a symbol of what is evil and immoral. ... In the story Beowulf the author makes three main points to show that Grendel is indeed a symbol of immorality, where Grendel comes from, the terrible description of Grendel's killing, and Grendel's loneliness and isolation to the world. Grendel is the embodiment of all that is evil and dark. ... Evil can not stand God being glorified, just as the praising of God by the Danes angered Grendel. ... The author clearly makes a symbolic impression on the reader by using Grendel as ...
Grendel "Nothing was changed, everything was changed." ... Grendel went to visit the dragon to seek advice after hearing the Shaper's song. ... Grendel is angry and upset with the dragon because of this. ... Grendel's awe of the Shaper became hatred and the Shaper's song began to enrage him. Because the Shaper's song had originally told him that he was evil and feared, Grendel was "filled with doubt and distress, loneliness, shame." ...
Though deemed an evil monster by the humans, Grendel observes the sinister characteristic of humans through religion. ... (133), indicating the evil nature in which the priests envision their gods. ... When Grendel wrecked the sacred images of the Scyldings? ... The villagers see the irony in their religious leaders, and they are wise enough to realize that the apparent contrast between good and evil that the priests emphasize is tainted by the evil nature of thegood? ... and Ork, Grendel's priest friend, 'sat shaking his head in dismay?...
(Gardner 150) These are the words of the infamous Grendel from the novel, Grendel, by John Gardner. ... This is exactly how Grendel learns. ... The Dragon, not caring at all about Grendel as a person, helps Grendel develop his nihilist ideas. ... For example, if Grendel were not there, some other evil would be tormenting the humans. ... Red Horse was Hrothulf's counselor who believes that all political systems are evil and preaches violence for the sake of violence. ...
This was now the start of Grendel's evil in the community. ... Grendel, having this appearance of repugnance, was perceived as an evil monster making him an outcast to the Danes. ... The fight with Grendel displays more of Beowulf's strength saying, "The captain of evil discovered himself in a handgrip harder than anything he had ever encountered in any man on the face of the earth. ... His subsequent fight with Grendel's mother turns him into a truly evil figure"(Yang p 5). ... Each character displays a sense of evil....
