How Are Grendel And Grothgar Described As Polar Opposites

Beowulf Reading Check:
This Reading Check is meant to assess your understanding of Beowulf. You are expected to use your text to answer the questions and provide quotes to support your answers. Please answer each question in at least two complete sentences and include an MLA line citation from Beowulf for each answer. (An MLA citation for Beowulf includes line numbers, but does not include an author's name). Attach your answers to this document and then upload the completed Reading Check to this assignment link.

1. How are Grendel and Hrothgar described in ways that suggest a Christian tone?

Grendel and Hrothgar are described as polar opposites of each other. Grendel is described as a demonic beast in his introduction. Demons typically represent
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6. What makes Wiglaf stand out as a character? What is his reward?

Wiglaf stands out as a character because he most likely represents the perfect sidekick to the reader. He possesses a “relic of Eanmund” (89. 11), which indicates that he was a fortuitous warrior who was greatly trusted by his family or superior prior to meeting beowulf. He speaks of Beowulf's behalf and implores his cowardly comrades not to give up on Beowulf. Excerpt from the text:

“Who gave us these ring-treasures, that this battle-equipment,
Swords and helmets, we’d certainly quite him,
Should need of such aid ever befall him:
How we have forfeited our liegelord’s confidence!” (89. 31-34)

Wiglaf receives a golden ring, his gold-flashing helmet, collar, and war mail for his loyalty. Beowulf giving the ring to Wiglaf also indicates that Wiglaf possibly is now the King of the Geats.

“The bold-mooded troop-lord took from his neck then
The ring that was golden, gave to his liegeman,
The youthful war-hero, his gold-flashing helmet,
His collar and war-mail, bade him well to enjoy them:” (95. 56-59)

7. What role does wyrd play in
In terms of motivation and damage, how does the dragon differ from Grendel?

The reason why Beowulf attacked Grendel and his mother was because they were a danger to society and so unholy that they could not touch the throne within Heorot. Beowulf walks out of both skimishes relatively unharmed and is hailed as a hero. In contrast, the Dragon was wronged because Beowulf's slave had stolen from him. As a result of this indecency, the Dragon is awoken from his slumber and burns the Geats' lands. While Beowulf fought the Dragon on the premise of protecting his people, the Geat slave still wronged the Dragon in the first place. It was not as holy of a mission as defeating Grendel, so therefore he lost and was fatally poisoned. In summation, the Dragon was relatively innocent and represented the Christian deadly sin of Greed, whereas Grendel was clearly evil and an abomination before their God. Beowulf's reason to kill the Dragon was not as pure and holy as his motivation to kill Grendel and his mother. Below is an excerpt that illustrates the severity of the damage that the Dragon inflicted upon him:

“The latest of world-deeds. The wound then began
Which the earth-dwelling dragon erstwhile had wrought him
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To burn and to swell. He soon then