Pain And Suffering In Beowulf

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Beowulf is an Anglo-Saxon epic poem written in England sometime between the 8th and the early 11th century and the author was an anonymous Anglo-Saxon poet. It is one of the oldest long poems written in old English. The epic poem Beowulf follows an epic hero named Beowulf from Geatland. He comes to the aid of Hrothgar, king of the Danes, when his great hall Heorot is under attack by a monster known as Grendel. After Beowulf defeats Grendel, Grendel’s mother looks for revenge by attacking the hall. Beowulf and Grendel’s mother battled it out in a secret underground lair, where she is defeated. After being victorious in Heorot, Beowulf returned home and later became king of the Geats, but after fifty years Beowulf and his kingdom are under attack …show more content…

The theme is revealed through the use of imagery. In the quote the narrator is talking about Grendel and his suffering as he listens to the people in halls of Heorot, tell stories of god, “A powerful monster, living down in the darkness, growled in pain, impatient as day after day the music rang loud in the hall…” (Beowulf 1) The author uses imagery to describe the pain and suffering, Grendel faces as he listens to the people of Heorot celebrate and tell stories of god and the creation of the world. Because of this Grendel seeks revenge on mankind by attacking Heorot, for mocking him through their success, joy, glory and favor in the eyes of god. The author uses imagery to help describe Grendel, Grendel’s mother and the dragon’s pain and suffering to further understand why they want revenge. Their revenge reveals their effect on …show more content…

The theme is revealed through the use of plot. In the quote the narrator speaks that after the celebration in Heorot for Beowulf, Grendel’s mother snuck into Heorot and killed Hrothgar’s closest friend, “That night however, Grendel’s mother kidnaps and kills Hrothgar’s closest friend and carries off the claw that Beowulf tore from-her child.” (Beowulf 15) The author use plot to develop the storyline of Beowulf. We see that when Grendel’s mother takes revenge on Heorot for her son Grendel who was killed by Beowulf, it calls for Beowulf to now take revenge on Grendel’s mother for attacking Heorot. This plot leads to a ripple of events that call for revenge and the death of another person. This sets the story in motion and reveals how Grendel’s revenge effects

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