A monster is by definition a person or creature who excites horror by wickedness, cruelty, etc. Many of the characters in Beowulf could by definition be considered a monster. Grendel, Grendel's mother, the dragon all do monstrous acts that could be considered vile and evil. Even the great hero Beowulf commits to at least one of seven deadly sins himself. However at the time and place of where this book is set many things we would consider unacceptable and nearly savage where glorified and where part of the culture. They lived in a much more cruel and unforgiving age where war was a way of life. Heroes with unbelievable skill and power were looked to as gods. For they brought the money to their kingdoms and protected the well being of the commoners …show more content…
However just because she is a descendent of cain doesn't necessarily means she has evil within her own heart. Grendel and Grendel's mother are both still people which means that they weren't born with evil hearts. So Grendel's mother may have never been evil even tho she should not have condoned to the evil tasks her son committed. But it was her son and she and her son where the only ones who lived together, because they are both descendants of cain they were cast out of society. She couldn't really do anything about Grendel's acts if or if not she agreed with them because she is his mother and mothers no matter what kind of creature, monster, animal, or person mothers instinctively love and take care of their own. This is also why i think that Grendels mothers act of seeking vengeance for her son getting killed is not a monstrous act. Grendel's mother deeply loved and cared for Grendel just as any mother and was just as sad and hurt when her son was killed as any mother would be say for instance if their son got beat up at school, or was murdered in gang related violence. So i do not believe that Grendel's mother is a true monster. But there's still debate that the dragon is the true monster of Beowulf. However my disclaimer for this is that the dragon unlike Grendel and Grendel's mother is not a person it is a dragon one of the many mythical creatures that we hear of in stories such as this. But the thing that most people forget about mythical creatures like this is that they are animals they do not have feelings the same as people. So the dragon hoarding and protecting its treasure is simply instinct that is apart of his nature. Just as if you tried taking an alligator's eggs and it sees it you may no longer have an arm left. So even tho a dragon is way bigger and more dangerous than an alligator its animal instincts can not be overlooked as evil
Knowing about Grendal and Grendal’s mom will help to better understand Beowulf. A long time ago there was a man Cain; Cain killed his brother out of jealously. As a result monster were
For ages, humanity has always told stories of the classic struggle between man and monster. The battle between Beowulf and Grendel is a prime example of this archetype, but is Grendel only purely a monster? In his article “Gardner’s Grendel and Beowulf: Humanizing the Monster”, Jay Ruud makes a point that Grendel is a hybridization of both monster and man, particularly in John Gardner’s novel Grendel. In the poem Beowulf, Grendel is depicted as a purely evil monster who terrorizes Hrothgar and his people, but the novel provides a more humanistic backstory to the fiend. Throughout the novel, Grendel tells of his internal struggle between his thoughts of filling the role of the monster versus attempting to make amends with the humans. This conflict
In literature, monsters are often used to symbolize characteristics in humans. In the poem Beowulf, monsters are used to symbolize destructive behavior in humans. In the case of Hrothgar and Beowulf, their pride causes them to become selfish. Pride often makes people lose focus of their priorities and that can make their selfishness get out of control, and lead to destructive behavior.
The epic poem Beowulf was the first ever poem wrote down on paper in English. In this poem Grendel has been attacking Hrothgars kingdom for 12 years. Every night Grendel goes to the mead hall and eats 30 men. Beowulf hears of the troubles and decides being the epic hero he is that he will take care of the problem himself. So he and 14 other men get on a ship and travel to where Grendel is. When he gets there he does not want to seem to Hrothgar that he thinks Hrothgar can’t handle the problem alone. So using one of his heroic qualities he gives a speech about how it is for his pride and his reputation. One night when he gets there he acts asleep as Grendel comes into the mead hall. Beowulf ceases Grendel and tears his arm off. Beowulf cannot use weapons because Grendel cannot be hurt by weapons due to a spell that was put on him. One Beowulf takes his arm he hangs it on the wall. This upsets Grendels mother and she comes to defend her son. She takes his arm back to her layer where Beowulf follows. When he gets there he kills her with he own sword. The story ends with Beowulf being killed by a dragon which he also kills.
Why do some people believe Beowulf is a monster rather than a hero? Maybe it is because of his outrage on defeating the monsters or maybe his show of arrogance. That arrogance gave Beowulf the pride and confidence he needed to kill the non-heroic monsters, Grendel and his mother. A hero fights fair, as Beowulf did that, naked without weapons. I truly believe it was for the good of his people. Beowulf is a protector and that
Despite her evil actions, it is evident that there is less malice in her than Grendel and she is less of a symbol of pure evil than he is. For example, her attack on Heorot is somewhat appropriate and could be considered honorable by the standards of warrior culture, as it marks an attempt to avenge one’s son’s death. In fact, the motive for her attack is similar to Beowulf’s motive for his attack on her: avenging the death of a loved one. One of the most interesting aspects of Grendel’s mother’s attachment to this vengeance-demanding code that the warriors follow is that she is depicted as not entirely alien or monstrous. Her behavior is not only comprehensible but also justified. In other ways, however, Grendel and his mother are indeed portrayed as creatures from another world. One aspect of their difference from the humans portrayed in the poem is that Grendel’s strong parental figure is his mother rather
An innocent, joyless, outcast lurks in the depths of the earth. He is feared by all due to his violent behavior and thirst for humans. Stories about this monster stretch across lands, intriguing the one and only Beowulf. In this notorious Epic, Beowulf, translated by Seamus Heaney, Grendel is the Frankenstein of this poem, the Joker of this time period, the Lord Voldemort of this book. Basically, Grendel is the villain and when there’s a villain there’s a hero. Our hero today is Beowulf, who challenges Grendel and he trounced not only Grendel but Grendel’s mother as well. Not only are Grendel and his mother villains but they also played the role of being the outcast/scapegoat. Symbolically they play the role
...cannot be called a monster. The translator of the version of Beowulf that was read was not very accurate because it failed to show that Grendel’s mother was a ‘Lady.’ Also, as stated before, translated versions of original texts are always recreated, which means that Grendel’s mother could actually be a queen-like figure instead of being depicted as a monster. Lastly, the intentions of Grendel’s mother were not used to harm anyone but because of her maternal role. She was in a situation similar to Hildeburh’s. Also, she did what she felt was right as a mother, just like Welthow did. The only reason Grendel’s mother can be identified as a monster is because she has a relation with the monstrous Cain, which she cannot be blamed for. All in all, Grendel’s mother had every right as a mother kill a Dane, which is not monstrous. Therefore, she cannot be called a monster.
Every woman has a future job down the line called motherhood. As we go through school we learn that we can choose it or it can choose you. We also learn that sometimes we have to understand what it means. “Motherhood is a great honor and privilege, yet it is also synonymous with servanthood. Every day women are called upon to selflessly meet the needs of their families. Whether they are awake at night nursing a baby, spending their time and money on less-than-grateful teenagers, or preparing meals, moms continuously put others before themselves.” This is a quote by Charles Stanley a pastor. He is like any man who talks about God’s word and elaborates on things we don’t understand. For instance, how Eve decided every women’s fate by eating the apple. We decided our own fate no matter what Eve did. That is where Grendel’s mother did what any mother would do to avenge the death of her son. She felt that if she didn’t do what anything she would eventually fall apart. Grendel’s mother decided that she had to hide herself and her son Grendel from the world. As we look at this story we try to find a connection to real life situations for instance, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
There are three prominent monsters in the Beowulf text, Grendel, his mother, and the dragon. While the dragon proves to be the most fatale of foes for Beowulf, Grendel and his mother do not simply pose physical threats to the Germanic society; their roles in Beowulf are manifold. They challenge the perceptions of heroism, a sense of unrivalled perfection and superiority. Moreover, they allow the reader to reconsider the gender constructs upheld within the text; one cannot help but feel that the threat that these monsters present is directed towards the prevalent flaws in Beowulf’s world. Moreover, what makes these monsters is not their physical appearance; it is what they embody. Both Grendel and his mother have humanlike qualities yet their monstrous appearance arises from what their features and mannerisms represent. The challenge they pose to societal paradigms makes them far more terrifying to our heroes than any scaled flesh or clawing hand. These monsters provide the ‘most authoritative general criticism […] of the structure and conduct of the poem’. Their presence provides contrast and criticism of the brave society (Heaney 103).
The clash between good and evil has been a prominent theme in literature. The Bible presents the conflict between good and evil in the story of Adam and Eve. Many authors use the scene in the Bible in which the snake taunts and tempts Adam and Eve to take a bite of the apple of knowledge to demonstrate the frailty of humankind. John Gardner provides these same biblical allusions of good and evil in his novel, Grendel.
as men. She has been sleeping down in her dark and dingy cave below the world
While the classic battle between good and evil forces is a major theme of the medieval epic Beowulf, one may question whether these good and evil forces are as black and white as they appear. Scholars such as Herbert G. Wright claim that “the dragon, like the giant Grendel, is an enemy of mankind, and the audience of Beowulf can have entertained no sympathy for either the one or the other” (Wright, 4). However, other scholars such as Andy Orchard disagree with this claim, and believe that there is “something deeply human about the ‘monsters’” (Orchard, 29). While Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon are indeed portrayed as evil and violent foes, there are parts within Beowulf that can also lead a reader to believe that the “monsters” may not be so monstrous after all. In fact, the author of Beowulf represents the “monsters” within the poem with a degree of moral ambivalence. This ambivalence ultimately evokes traces of sympathy in the reader for the plight of these “monster” figures, and blurs the fine line between good and evil within the poem.
Grendel's mother, unknown to the Danes or Geats, is plotting to avenge the death of her son. After the celebrations are over in Heorot and everybody is asleep, Grendel's mother appears out of her dwelling place, the swamp.
The author of Beowulf demonizes Grendel by depicting him as being purely a monster as compare to John Gardner who depicts Grendel not as a savage monster but as an intelligent being who has human like qualities and characteristics. In the traditional story Grendel is depicted as a blood-thirsty fiend driven by his greedy animal instincts. ...