Grendel In Beowulf
An epic poem should include a hero, a large setting and a supernatural being or god-like image.
Grendel, has similar characteristics with Cain in genesis 4:1-6. The familiar story explains how Cain was jealous and showed hatred towards his brother Abel. This was the same way with Grendel, how he hated the people in Heorot and the Danes. “Conceived by a pair of those born Of Cain, murderous creatures banished By God, punished forever for the crime of Abel’s death.” (Beowulf 105-107). Grendel on the other hand, had a cursed life which made him do evil things. It is important to connect monsters to the story of Cain and Abel because, it shows how good and bad do not co-exist and it also shows how bad cannot win over good. The biblical story affects …show more content…
To me Grendel, the evil monster in Beowulf tries to destroy Heorot to show that he is full of strength. So, by slaughtering the Danes in Heorot from a biblical perspective, he was trying to make the men quit their undisciplined drinking because the hall was mainly used by men for meetings and partying. “The monster’s thoughts were as quick as his claws: He slipped through the door and there in silence snatched up thirty men, smashed them.” (Beowulf 120). Here one can see that he killing the men in heorot shows that he is very quick to anger and full of hidden grief. Grendel who was known as the “outsider” symbolically made the Danes the “outsider”, and this defeat makes the Danes feel ashamed.
At the end, before Beowulf’s final challenge, Beowulf must defeat his enemy but before that he boast about how he fears nobody and everyone is under his beck and call. “I’ve never known fear; as a youth I fought in endless battles. I am old, now, But i will fight again, seek fame still, if the dragon hiding in his tower dares to face me.” (Beowulf 2510-2514). By boasting, i think Beowulf tries to instill fear into his enemies. It is important for the central hero to boast so that when he conquers he will be highly victorious and praised above his
Grendel, has similar characteristics with Cain in genesis 4:1-6. The familiar story explains how Cain was jealous and showed hatred towards his brother Abel. This was the same way with Grendel, how he hated the people in Heorot and the Danes. “Conceived by a pair of those born Of Cain, murderous creatures banished By God, punished forever for the crime of Abel’s death.” (Beowulf 105-107). Grendel on the other hand, had a cursed life which made him do evil things. It is important to connect monsters to the story of Cain and Abel because, it shows how good and bad do not co-exist and it also shows how bad cannot win over good. The biblical story affects …show more content…
To me Grendel, the evil monster in Beowulf tries to destroy Heorot to show that he is full of strength. So, by slaughtering the Danes in Heorot from a biblical perspective, he was trying to make the men quit their undisciplined drinking because the hall was mainly used by men for meetings and partying. “The monster’s thoughts were as quick as his claws: He slipped through the door and there in silence snatched up thirty men, smashed them.” (Beowulf 120). Here one can see that he killing the men in heorot shows that he is very quick to anger and full of hidden grief. Grendel who was known as the “outsider” symbolically made the Danes the “outsider”, and this defeat makes the Danes feel ashamed.
At the end, before Beowulf’s final challenge, Beowulf must defeat his enemy but before that he boast about how he fears nobody and everyone is under his beck and call. “I’ve never known fear; as a youth I fought in endless battles. I am old, now, But i will fight again, seek fame still, if the dragon hiding in his tower dares to face me.” (Beowulf 2510-2514). By boasting, i think Beowulf tries to instill fear into his enemies. It is important for the central hero to boast so that when he conquers he will be highly victorious and praised above his