The World versus Grendel Essay - 449 Words

The World versus Grendel I noticed that there was a switch in emphasis on the Christian notion of god rather than the pagan ideals of multiple gods as we saw in earlier stories. In this world of early Christianity, as well as in the stories where pagan gods were worshipped, there is favoritism, and most importantly a â€Å"just† victor and this is attributed to god’s favoritism upon the hero. In this case, Beowulf defeated -Grendel not only because Grendel was â€Å"evil,† but also because â€Å"Beowulf was granted/ the glory of winning.† (Lines 817-818) In this story, Grendel is cursed from the beginning and he has no chance of being a useful contributing member of a society that does not accept him, so in turning away from god, he became a†¦show more content†¦Maybe if Grendel had been invited to partake in the jubilation at the mead hall, he would not have been so focused on destroying it. There is repeated emphasis on the â€Å"Almighty Father,† and the â€Å"Heavenly Shepherd,† which greatly contrasts with the epithets assigned to poor Grendel. When anything good happens, it is attributed to the divine, and proper thanks must be given, but not in the form of a sacrifice as we saw in earlier â€Å"heathen† examples. My point that Grendel’s pre-destined path of evil is proven in lines 1260-1276 where we learn the history of the bible story Cain and Abel, and see where Grendel’s roots lie. â€Å"And from Cain there sprang/ misbegotten spirits, among them Grendel, / the banished and accursed†¦ (Lines 1265-1267). Once again I feel sympathy for Grendel because it seems he did not have a choice but to be the â€Å"enemy of mankind.† (Line 1275) Good could never come from these people of Cain because they fell from the grace of god, but it appears that Grendel never directly did anything to deserve this fate, he was a victim of circumstance and was trapped in his monstrous position. Grendel did not kill Abel, yet he suffers for Cain’s behavior. If Grendel were truly such a monstrous and evil beast, he would have done more damage toShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Grendel And The Epic Of Beowulf 1294 Words   |  6 Pagesdefinitions may not be so indubitable as John Gardner takes a hero and villain to a whole new level in his novel, Grendel. Throughout the years of novels and short stories, heroes and villains have been constructed as strictly good versus evil, but what if there is good in evil and evil in good? Grendel and the epic, Beowulf, revolve around this idea of heroes and villains and good versus evil. Gardner’s twist on the stereotypical hero leads to the true definition of a hero being changed as he createsRead MoreTheme Of Good And Evil In Beowulf859 Words   |  4 Pagesstory of a hero who is destined to defeat several monsters in order to save a kingdom from peril. The underlying meaning is good versus evil with good always prevailing in the end. The theme of good versus evil was portrayed through the char acters and events. Beowulf is the good guy fighting against evil. Beowulf is not just one person fighting against the evils of the world. In many cases, he is fighting for humanity’s sake. Beowulf is the epic hero of this poem. 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From a religious standpoint Beowulf is written very focused on religion; like Beowulf acknowledges that God is the reason he is able to slay all of the beasts. On the other hand we have Grendel; he believes that the world is how he defines it. Beowulf wasRead MoreJustice Vs Evil In Beowulf976 Words   |  4 PagesBeowulf is a precious ancient Poem that vividly illustrates scenes that the Christian Gods religion influences the Germanic Society, and the Christian religion converts the Pagans belief people into Christian belief. In the Poem, justice versus evil refers to light versus dark; the justice mind hero Beowulf always win battles with evil min d monsters because the Almighty God judges the justice stands with victor, and judges the hell is the destination of evil doings; the Almighty God blesses Beowulf withRead MoreEssay on Beowulf study guide1576 Words   |  7 PagesEcgtheow, has come to fight Grendel. Hrothgar promises Beowulf treasure if he can defeat the monster. 2) In the beginning of â€Å"Beowulf,† King Hrothgar’s hall has been deserted for twelve years. In a short essay, tell why the hall has been deserted. Be sure to include specific examples from the text. What happened to those who ventured into the hall during those 12 years? What was the cause of this? At what time of day did these events take place? Explain. A. A. The monster Grendel is the reason for theRead MoreAnalysis Of Grendel s Grendel 977 Words   |  4 Pages From the novel Grendel (Gardner, 1971), Grendel is one of the three antagonists along with his mother and the dragon. Grendel has the combination of human and beast; he emerge in a society that mocks and threats him these scenes features racism and class level in the nineteenth century. Grendel is an individual who pleased to coexist with humanity, but also the murderous brute who kills for no reason. Grendel hears noises from the meadhall as he scramble through the woods. The twelve years of warRead MoreBeowulf: the Pagan Christian Epic Hero1569 Words   |  7 Pagesdeaths cold grip† (Norton, lines 174-175).    He knows that God has already created an ending to this battle with Grendel, and he is lavished with peace. He shows true Christian character, bravery, and faith in the manner in which he fights his battles. Beowulf exhibits Christ-like behavior through his good heart and charity. Beowulf understands the Danes oppression by the evil monster Grendel; just as Christ knew of the oppression of the Jewish people. Both set out to free and save their people fromRead MoreComparing Beowulf And The Middle Of Good And Underhandedness1521 Words   |  7 PagesCommonly we see a clash of good versus fiendish in motion pictures, books, society, and for this situation, an epic sonnet. This theme is utilized so regularly in light of the fact that it relates to such a large number of aspects of genuine life. The epic lyric Beowulf is a case of this on the grounds that the saint of the story has a progressing clash with the insidious scalawag, Grendel. In Beowulf, the contention in the middle of good and underhandedness is the lyric s fundamental and most criticalRead MoreCharacter Of Grendel And Beowulf999 Words   |  4 PagesMost readers find it hard to understand and sympathize with the antagonist of a story. When most think of Grendel, they p icture evil and mayhem. However, this is because of the one sided portrayal provided by the novel Beowulf. By having another piece of writing that identifies the other side to the character that was not addressed, it allows the reader to see a different point of view and connect with the overall story even more; this is especially important in significant parts of the story. Both