What Characteristics Does Grendel Have That Make Him Particularly Terrifying To The Danes?
Areesha Moazzam
English 12
Period 3
BATTLE WITH GRENDEL
THINKING THROUGH THE LITERATURE: QUESTIONS
Pg: 44
1. Comprehension Check What characteristics does Grendel have that make him particularly terrifying to the Danes?
One characteristic that Grendel has that makes him particularly terrifying to the Danes is that he comes to Danes with an attitude of “hoping to kill anyone he could trap on his trip to high Herot” (235-236). He also has a very loathsome appearance that one may not relish to look at, such as “his eyes gleamed in the darkness” (248-249) that “burn with a gruesome light” (249-250). His intentions were also very terrifying that brought death to the Danes, he always “intended to tear the life from those …show more content…
bodies” (254) of the warriors in the mead hall during the night. The monstrous creature’s “mind was hot with the thought of food” (255-256). His way of killing was also very sudden and painful, he “snatched at the first Geat he came to, ripened him apart, cut his body to bits with powerful jaws, drank the blood from his veins and bolted him down”(262-265). Not only are his ways of killing ferocious and terrorizing but his personality can also send the jitters up the spine. He is “a powerful monster” (1) and “impatient” (1). So he gets angry very easily for the most unusual and unfair reasons, like when he killed the men in the mead hall in Herot just because he didn’t like that “the music rang loud in that hall” as the warriors celebrated after a very long time after war. Every time the warriors wake up from their sleep, there is blood all over the hall: “in the morning, this mead-hall glittering/ With new light would be drenched with blood, the benches/ Stained red…” (218-220). Thus, those are Grendel’s characteristics that make him a terrifying creature to the Danes. 2. What impressions of Beowulf do you have after reading this part of the poem?
The impressions that I have of Beowulf are that he is probably the strongest, brave and most courageous heroes that I may have ever read about in English literature. The monster Grendel, who was unbeatable for a very long time and “the sharpest and hardest iron could not scratch at his skin, for that sin-stained demon had bewitched all men’s weapons, laid spells that blunted every mortal man’s blade”(323-326). Finally, the hero Beowulf came to Herot, who was the only one brave enough to even confront the fiend even after “he heard how Grendel filled nights with horror”(112) he still “ commanded a boat fitted out”(313) to go help the Danes in Herot. Beowulf has the guts to confront a formidable opponent like that and he even succeeds in the end of the battle, he “had killed Grendel” (352). One other thing about the character of Beowulf is that he fights fair because since Grendel doesn’t use any weapons, he doesn’t either: “the monster’s scorn of men/ Is so great that he needs no weapons and fears none. / Nor will I” (167-168). I also find him a person who is very proud of himself because to show his victory, he hung Beowulf’s arm up for everyone to see what great accomplishment he had made: “The victory, for the proof, hanging high / From the rafters where Beowulf had hung it, was the monster’s/ Arm, claw and shoulder and all”(356-358). Therefore, he could be a gaudy person at particular points of the tale. 3. What do you think causes Grendel to attack human beings? * His relatives and ancestors * His actions and attitudes * The Danish warriors’ reactions to him
Basically, Grendel attacks humans for one reason.
He, a descendant of Cain, has been exiled into darkness: “Conceived by a pair of those monsters born/ Of Cain, murderous creatures banished/ By God, punished forever for the crime/ Of Abel’s death” (20-23). Therefore, as a foe of God, Grendel is angered at the fact he cannot exist in light. Given that he cannot enact his revenge upon God himself, Grendel enacts his revenge upon God's people. Other reasons why he may attack humans is that the text also specifically says that he can't stand the noise of the "harp’s rejoicing"(4) in the mead hall. Grendel is perhaps attacking because the joyful camaraderie reminds him each day of his own isolation -- owing to his connection to the Biblical Cain. He is described as child-like. Young children will lash out when they are frustrated or don't like what is going on. If a noise is too loud, they might just cry, but they might hit the person making the noise. Of course, children don't react this way out of violence or evil, but rather out of a lack of self-control. Grendal is both child-like and evil. He is unable and unwilling to control himself. His reaction to the joyful noises he hears in the hall begins as a lack of self-control and continues as an evil act of anger and vengeance against the
people. 4. Why do you think Beowulf offers to help a tribe other than his own, in spite of the danger?
Beowulf offered to help a tribe because Beowulf was known to the Danes as a hero of the Geats. Beowulf also had a friendship with the king of the Danes. He was known to be the “the strongest of the Geats-greater/ And stronger than anyone anywhere in this world” (110-111) and because of this reputation that he had, he had to maintain it. By defeating Grendel, it really boosts up his reputation, even greater than before. Although the people loved him before, after killing Grendel, it will be like he has killed their ultimate fear, which will make the people of Danes love even more. Beowulf was the one that had “ended the grief, the sorrow, the suffering/ Forced on Hrothgar’s helpless people” (353-354). Another reason that Beowulf had offered to help a tribe other than his own, in spite of danger is because he owes Hrothgar a favor for helping his father: “and because. Of the reception your father found at our court/ Edgetho had begun a bitter feud….I bought the end of Edgetho’s/ Quarrel….your father swore/ He’d keep that peace. My tongue grows heavy/ And my heart” (192-208). Hence, the two major reasons that Beowulf had done this are because of his reputation and the favor he owed to Hrothgar on behalf of his father.
English 12
Period 3
BATTLE WITH GRENDEL
THINKING THROUGH THE LITERATURE: QUESTIONS
Pg: 44
1. Comprehension Check What characteristics does Grendel have that make him particularly terrifying to the Danes?
One characteristic that Grendel has that makes him particularly terrifying to the Danes is that he comes to Danes with an attitude of “hoping to kill anyone he could trap on his trip to high Herot” (235-236). He also has a very loathsome appearance that one may not relish to look at, such as “his eyes gleamed in the darkness” (248-249) that “burn with a gruesome light” (249-250). His intentions were also very terrifying that brought death to the Danes, he always “intended to tear the life from those …show more content…
bodies” (254) of the warriors in the mead hall during the night. The monstrous creature’s “mind was hot with the thought of food” (255-256). His way of killing was also very sudden and painful, he “snatched at the first Geat he came to, ripened him apart, cut his body to bits with powerful jaws, drank the blood from his veins and bolted him down”(262-265). Not only are his ways of killing ferocious and terrorizing but his personality can also send the jitters up the spine. He is “a powerful monster” (1) and “impatient” (1). So he gets angry very easily for the most unusual and unfair reasons, like when he killed the men in the mead hall in Herot just because he didn’t like that “the music rang loud in that hall” as the warriors celebrated after a very long time after war. Every time the warriors wake up from their sleep, there is blood all over the hall: “in the morning, this mead-hall glittering/ With new light would be drenched with blood, the benches/ Stained red…” (218-220). Thus, those are Grendel’s characteristics that make him a terrifying creature to the Danes. 2. What impressions of Beowulf do you have after reading this part of the poem?
The impressions that I have of Beowulf are that he is probably the strongest, brave and most courageous heroes that I may have ever read about in English literature. The monster Grendel, who was unbeatable for a very long time and “the sharpest and hardest iron could not scratch at his skin, for that sin-stained demon had bewitched all men’s weapons, laid spells that blunted every mortal man’s blade”(323-326). Finally, the hero Beowulf came to Herot, who was the only one brave enough to even confront the fiend even after “he heard how Grendel filled nights with horror”(112) he still “ commanded a boat fitted out”(313) to go help the Danes in Herot. Beowulf has the guts to confront a formidable opponent like that and he even succeeds in the end of the battle, he “had killed Grendel” (352). One other thing about the character of Beowulf is that he fights fair because since Grendel doesn’t use any weapons, he doesn’t either: “the monster’s scorn of men/ Is so great that he needs no weapons and fears none. / Nor will I” (167-168). I also find him a person who is very proud of himself because to show his victory, he hung Beowulf’s arm up for everyone to see what great accomplishment he had made: “The victory, for the proof, hanging high / From the rafters where Beowulf had hung it, was the monster’s/ Arm, claw and shoulder and all”(356-358). Therefore, he could be a gaudy person at particular points of the tale. 3. What do you think causes Grendel to attack human beings? * His relatives and ancestors * His actions and attitudes * The Danish warriors’ reactions to him
Basically, Grendel attacks humans for one reason.
He, a descendant of Cain, has been exiled into darkness: “Conceived by a pair of those monsters born/ Of Cain, murderous creatures banished/ By God, punished forever for the crime/ Of Abel’s death” (20-23). Therefore, as a foe of God, Grendel is angered at the fact he cannot exist in light. Given that he cannot enact his revenge upon God himself, Grendel enacts his revenge upon God's people. Other reasons why he may attack humans is that the text also specifically says that he can't stand the noise of the "harp’s rejoicing"(4) in the mead hall. Grendel is perhaps attacking because the joyful camaraderie reminds him each day of his own isolation -- owing to his connection to the Biblical Cain. He is described as child-like. Young children will lash out when they are frustrated or don't like what is going on. If a noise is too loud, they might just cry, but they might hit the person making the noise. Of course, children don't react this way out of violence or evil, but rather out of a lack of self-control. Grendal is both child-like and evil. He is unable and unwilling to control himself. His reaction to the joyful noises he hears in the hall begins as a lack of self-control and continues as an evil act of anger and vengeance against the
people. 4. Why do you think Beowulf offers to help a tribe other than his own, in spite of the danger?
Beowulf offered to help a tribe because Beowulf was known to the Danes as a hero of the Geats. Beowulf also had a friendship with the king of the Danes. He was known to be the “the strongest of the Geats-greater/ And stronger than anyone anywhere in this world” (110-111) and because of this reputation that he had, he had to maintain it. By defeating Grendel, it really boosts up his reputation, even greater than before. Although the people loved him before, after killing Grendel, it will be like he has killed their ultimate fear, which will make the people of Danes love even more. Beowulf was the one that had “ended the grief, the sorrow, the suffering/ Forced on Hrothgar’s helpless people” (353-354). Another reason that Beowulf had offered to help a tribe other than his own, in spite of danger is because he owes Hrothgar a favor for helping his father: “and because. Of the reception your father found at our court/ Edgetho had begun a bitter feud….I bought the end of Edgetho’s/ Quarrel….your father swore/ He’d keep that peace. My tongue grows heavy/ And my heart” (192-208). Hence, the two major reasons that Beowulf had done this are because of his reputation and the favor he owed to Hrothgar on behalf of his father.