Wendy Hennequin titled, We’ve Created a Monster: The Strange Case of Grendel’s Mother, we are presented with evidence of Grendel’s character outline which consists of being “…a noble and brave opponent and even as a somewhat sympathetic character” (Hennequin, 3). *Throughout the poem Beowulf, Grendel’s character has been constructed as Beowulf’s antagonist, but does not “depict her as a monster or even a villain in the modern sense of the word” (Hennequin, 3). Grendel’s mother had no choice but to be vicious because that was the only way to receive respect from a man in an age where most women were raped, beaten, or traded for land. She cares about her son, which is naturally expected from any mother, and because to her knowledge, she was in fact a great mother to her son, undoubtedly because she didn’t know any differently. Simply because Grendel’s mother doesn’t meet the required ‘expectations’ and criteria of a typical old English women, and sine she doesn’t behave and present herself like Wealtheow, Hygd, or Hildeburh, she’s referred to as a monstrous figure. With this being said, Grendel’s mother’s character has the intentions of being interpreted as a monster with merely no…
Beowulf: Archetypes Beowulf, has numerous archetypes ranging from the battle between good versus evil, light versus dark, the hero and the outcast. The main character, Beowulf, is the hero of the epic on a journey to defeat an evil incarnate. Travelling with Beowulf on the quest is King Hrothgar and his men which represent the light. The task at hand is to kill Grendel, representing darkness as well as an outcast, which ultimately brings peace back to the land. Throughout this journey, Beowulf will prevail against many enemies in the battle between good and evil, even though they get stronger as the quest continues.…
In this passage, it clearly states that she lies on a lake and that she clearly wanted revenge. In the poem, Beowulf and Grendel’s mother battle each other, but in the movie, rather than getting to a battle Grendel’s mother seduces Beowulf for a son since he had killed his only son, Grendel. Grendel’s mother quoted “ Beowulf, You killed my son. Give me a son, Brave thane.” While she was saying that to Grendel, she was touching Beowulf all over his body and then she started kissing him. Perhaps maybe in the Anglo Saxon, they didn’t want to describe any intimate happening between Beowulf and Grendel’s mother. But in the modern days, it’s fun to imagine things that may happen between the…
Throughout the epic, the idea that good conquers evil is constantly reinforced. However, these who are labeled as evil have motives that are not highlighted as greatly and as a result the antagonists’ deaths always seem to be just. In contrast to Beowulf’s heroism and the innocence of the people, those in the story are laced as good have committed cruel actions that lead to the “demon's’” revenge.…
Beowulf also has the character trait of bravery. He goes before all others when things go bad. He would rather risk his own life, than to see someone else risk theirs. He asked a favor to the ruler…
Grendel telling the story makes readers feel sympathetic towards him . In the epic of Beowulf, Grendel was a monster who was pure evil but in this, he is almost childlike which makes the reader pity him. When he was being attacked by humans, "he bellowed for his mother” just like how a child would call out for his mom when he is hurt.…
When compared to the typical woman that appears in Beowulf, Grendel’s Mother proves to be far different. In a culture where women are generally used to settle feuds through marriage, Grendel’s Mother alludes to a more protective and vindictive female figure. “He [Grendel] died in battle...and now this powerful other one arrives, this force for evil driven to avenge her kinsman’s death,” (1337-1340). By beginning a feud in the name of her son, Grendel’s Mother, who is not even given a name, is labeled as the opposite of an ideal…
In the poem, there are three monsters. They each represent qualities that good humans should not have, while Beowulf can represent some of the qualities we should want. The first of the three monsters is Grendel. Grendel was an outcast in the Dane society. “He had dwelt for a time/ in misery among the banished.” (l. 104-105) He is a descendent of Cain, therefore expected to be evil. And when King Hrothgar…
We’ve grown quite a lot through time with technology, architecture, and even through our ideals. In the Beowulf the epic (Heaney 2000), we see right and wrong through the eyes of the past and it is strange to say the least. The author wrote this for their intended audience, meaning they were reflecting the cultural values of the ancient Anglo-Saxons. In the movie, Beowulf and Grendel (Gunnarsson 2005), we see changes from the original work that seems to match to modern ideas of right and wrong. Two characters, Hrothgar and Grendel, one who was a man of the light and kin of the dark respectively, were changed to match the ideals we hold today into completely different people that we had known them to be.…
The theme of Beowulf had the good vs.evil theme to the story when the monster is Grendel is the monster and his mother also a threat to herot and Beowulf is the hero to solve the problems of Grendel is making. Beowulf is the hero in the story and Grendel is the villain. Beowulf is the faced with many trials throughout the story with unferth and the Grendel.…
In times before printed books were common, stories and poems were passed from generation to generation by word of mouth. From such oral traditions come great epics such as England's heroic epic, Beowulf. In Beowulf, the monster Grendel serves as the evil character acting against the poem's hero, as shown by his unnatural strength, beast-like qualities, and alienation from society.…
Grendel was descendent of Cain, who heartlessly murdered innocent Danes because he felt shame for himself. When he heard of the Dane’s problem, Beowulf quickly left to go help the Danish. Although he did have backup, he started a battle with Grendel and chose to do this with no armor or weapons. Nevertheless, Beowulf would still be crowned the winner, as the arm of Grendel would symbolize his trophy. Beowulf would continue to attempt to kill Grendel’s bitter mother and a dragon, who thought the Geats had gone against him. The victory with the dragon would prove to be his last, as it took a lot out of him.…
Grendel’s Mother never a problem, to the people till they killed her son. Grendel’s death caused his mom to act out in anger and sadness. Although, the people in the poem killed her son, she is seen as an evil monster for defending her son. In the poem, Beowulf, the strong female role, Grendel’s Mother, is looked down upon for standing up for her son.…
The hero Beowulf is a king and Danish warrior, also known as “The Geat” (Line 639),Prince of Goodness (676), Weather-Geat (697), The hero, and Kinsman. Hrothgar, King of Heorot have a variety of alternative in the work, as Lord of the Shielding (663), friend of the people (427-428), Helmet of Shielding (456), The King of Glory (665) and Divine Lord(685). The terrible monster Grendel an evil being known as the captain of evil (749), powerful demon (86), the shadow stalker, monster. Grendel’s Mother is an evil character who encourages the atrocities committed by his son Grendel and Wiglaf, Beowulf’s nephew known as man of worth, Shield warrior, Prince of the Scylfing, is finally the King…
The three reasons I believe Beowulf is an epic hero is because he crossed a parlous sea, killed a man-eating monster named Grendel, and killed Grendel’s mother for a village he had nothing to do…