individual. Evil is typically perceived as the dualistic opposite of good. While many characters in literature throughout history are conceived as evil‚ two distinct characters stand out from the rest; Macbeth in Shakespeare’s definitive tale Macbeth and Grendel in the legendary masterpiece Beowulf. These two literary figures both exemplify traits of gullible ambition‚ avaricious guilt‚ and true wickedness. The two pieces of literature depict the terrible effects that these traits‚ as well as many others
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and his acts towards bringing justice and peace to the Scandinavian society by eradicating Grendel. The original manuscript (700-1000A.D.) and the modern film (2005) reveals significant differences between the characters’ traits and descriptions‚ an important quotation‚ descriptions of places‚ motives‚ a character’s presence and events that have taken place. Thus‚ this modern adaptation‚ Beowulf and Grendel‚ of an ancient text‚ Beowulf‚ is significantly flawed as any modern adaptation of an ancient
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either of the two‚ good or evil. In the story Beowulf good and evil are portrayed in a very black and white manner. There are two main characters representing both‚ one good and one evil. The good character being Beowulf and the bad character being Grendel. Their reputations‚ the manner in which they use their strengths and their surroundings define the good and evil characters alike. A lot of times your reputation will say more about you than you ever could. In this story the characters reputations
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Gardner chose to display the philosophical idea of existentialism in his novel‚ Grendel. Grendel‚ the main character‚ shows proof of supporting these ideas. Existentialism related to the basic idea of individualism‚ in which each individual is an isolated being too which is cast into an alien universe. In this literary theory‚ it is believed that the world possesses no inherent human truth‚ value or meaning. Existentialists believe that there is no god and no heaven‚ and Gardner uses this belief
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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
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Out from the marsh‚ from the foot of misty Hills and bogs‚ bearing God’s hatred‚ Grendel came‚ hoping to kill 395 Anyone he could trap on this trip to high Herot. He moved quickly through the cloudy night‚ Up from his swampland‚ sliding silently Toward that gold-shining hall. He had visited Hrothgar’s Home before‚ knew the way— 400 But never‚ before nor after that night‚ Found Herot defended so firmly
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of what a hero is occurs between the Anglo-Saxton tale Beowulf and John Gardner’s Grendel. Beowulf in Beowulf is a hero for he defeats evil and restores order to and for the common people. Unferth in Grendel however is unsuccessful in his campaign against evil‚ but like the man who emerges empty handed he is by no means any less of a hero. For heroism‚ as demonstrated in the Anglo-Saxton tale Beowulf‚ is altered in Gardner’s Grendel to convey the idea that intentions define a hero as opposed to actions
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his house with his 5 year old son‚ and he tries to find a place to stay‚ but the only place he could find was the bathroom at the bus station. Also Chris makes sure that his son eats before he eats‚ he buys his son breakfast and a candy bar. Chris Gardner has made good decisions for his family throughout the movie. The first thing that he did was went out to look for a better job. When he found what he wanted to do he put his
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monster is made by men‚” a philosopher once wrote. In “Grendel” and “Beowulf” a monster named Grendel is doomed by his environment; unable to communicate with humans and built like a beast Grendel appears as a monster to men. The portrayal of Grendel as a hero differs in the novel and the epic‚ but they both portray Grendel as a monster in terms of society. The novel and the epic differ in Grendel’s role as character and hero. In Gardner’s story Grendel represents an anti-hero‚ so he has a heroic sense
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The Battle with Grendel Summary: As the Danes slumber‚ another sinister monster trudges toward Heorot. It is Grendel’s mother‚ who is also dammed to spend eternity in the dark moors. She has passed the day mourning for her dead son‚ and she comes to Heorot seeking vengeance for his death. When she bursts into Heorot‚ the warriors awake and grab their weapons. She is not as strong as her son is‚ but she still is strong enough to devour one warrior and snatch the arm down from its place on the
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