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Beowulf Theme Essay

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Beowulf Theme Essay
Jessie Hunt
Mrs. Joines
English IV
1­9­15
Light and Dark
Beowulf is one of the oldest existing poems in the English Language. Beowulf is a very symbolic poem that exhibits good versus evil. The main theme demonstrated in Beowulf was
Good vs. Evil. Beowulf represented someone who was good while Grendel represents someone evil. Beowulf desired being good and wanted glory and fame. He wanted to be the strongest and heroic warrior by doing good things for people. He also represented good because he tries to protect people. Beowulf goes out of his way to protect people and he is a hero because he risk his own life for the good of others. Grendel represents evil because he kills innocent people for food.
Grendel is described as a vicious monster that is an offspring of everything that is evil. Grendel is established as being evil because he is a descendant of Cain, the first murderer. He is evil because he kills for his own selfish needs and hurts people for no reason at all. Grendel represents darkness, pain and terror in people.
Good vs. Evil is also demonstrated when he was old and decided to fight the dragon by himself and die in a glorious way.
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