thought. An excellent example of a hero in Anglo-Saxon literature is Beowulf. The first heroic characteristic that Beowulf possesses is honor. Honor is showing a sense of integrity in one’s actions. When Beowulf went to the land of the Danes to kill Grendel‚ he did it not because he wanted money‚ but because he wanted to help out the Geats. Beowulf felt as if it was the right thing to do since he had been successful in past deeds‚ which he proudly says in lines 321-322‚ where he says‚ "They had in remembrance
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is the cause of most human misery‚ and prevents peace on earth. In John Gardner’s book Grendel‚ the retelling of the ages old story Beowulf‚ further blurs the line between good and evil. Circumstance and perhaps a confused view of reality allow the monster‚ Grendel‚ to conceivably defend his evil beliefs. In order to better understand evil‚ using Grendel as a guide‚ I intend to attempt to justify it. Grendel is born a neutral being‚
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represents bravery‚ family values‚ and heroism. All of these traits are vital to the Anglo-Saxon culture. Beowulf‚ the protagonist of the epic poem‚ shows bravery in many situations. One way bravery is shown is when Beowulf fights Grendel without any armour. “ Find Quote” This quote shows Beowulf’s bravery because Beowulf was willing to fight a monster that everyone was afraid to fight by himself. Next in order‚ Beowulf shows bravery again when he’s fighting Grendel. “ Quote Here”. I chose this quote
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In Beowulf‚ kings‚ heroes are pursuing to establish their reputations. Beowulf desires the personal glory‚ that is the main reason why he would like to go to Denmark to kill Grendel and its mother. Before the battle‚ Hrothgar said: “Never since I took up targe and sword have I at any instance to any man beside‚ thus handed over Heorot‚ as I here do to you.” (26) And after Beowulf won the battle‚ Hrothgar said to Beowulf that
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powerful and wise‚ so whenever conflict arose it was expected for the male society to handle it. When Beowulf heard about Grendel’s attack on the Danes he felt obligated to go above and beyond to help them. He knew that he was capable of defeating Grendel and he wanted everyone to see that he was a true hero. Every situation that was of importance in the poem was focused on the male society. Excluding Grendel’s mother‚ if the women in Beowulf were
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Heorot himself—he is clearly not the sort of great warrior whom legend will remember. While boasting is a proper and acceptable form of self-assertion‚ Unferth’s harsh words show that it ought not to be bitter or disparaging of others. Rather than heroism‚ Unferth’s blustering reveals pride and resentment. Later‚ Unferth’s gift of his sword for Beowulf’s fight against Grendel’s mother heals Unferth’s breach of hospitality‚ but it does little to improve his heroic status. Unlike Beowulf‚ Unferth is
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the monster Grendel with his bare hands by ripping off his arm. When Beowulf is fighting Grendel’s mother‚ who is wanting revenge for her son’s death‚ Beowulf is able to kill her by slashing her neck with a giant’s sword that can only be lifted by a person as strong as Beowulf. When Beowulf chops off her head‚ he carries it from the ocean with ease‚ but it takes four men to lift the head and carry it back to Herot mead-hall. This physical strength is a key trait to Beowulf’s heroism‚ but also depicts
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mentioned earlier‚ a kenning is “a descriptive phrase or compound word that substitutes for a noun” (Allen‚ et al. 34). Many kennings are peppered throughout the text; for example‚ the “shepherd of evil” and the “guardian of crime” (31) both refer to Grendel. These descriptions give interest when hearing the story told. Furthermore‚ orally-told stories such as Beowulf use techniques like alliteration. The Poetry Foundation explains alliteration as the repeated sounds of stressed consonants‚ typically
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portray Grendel in a fair manner. One of the main characters in the epic poem is called Grendel. Grendel is a monster who lives in a cave with his mother. He hates his mother and thinks that he is the most intelligent species and no one else’s life has meaning. Grendel in the epic poem is portrayed as a monster who only kills and cannot think for himself. John Gardner‚ an author of the book Grendel felt like the epic poem was one sided and Grendel did not get to share his side. In the book Grendel Gardner
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demonstrates his unrelenting desire for fame by the slaying of the monster Grendel‚ keeping his composure to stay calm without being nervous or scared. Beowulf “[began] to remove his iron breast-mail‚ / took off the helmet and handed his attendant/ the patterned sword‚ a smith’s masterpiece” (Beowulf lines 44). His next expression of seeking heroic fame comes with the defeat of Grendel’s monstrous mother. Further proof of Beowulf’s heroism and glory is acknowledged when he “cuts the corpse’s head off” (Beowulf
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