The symbol chosen to be the subject of this analysis will be Grendel’s claw and head, the parts of the ogre that attacked Heorot. The claw, or arm, of Grendel was obtained by the hero Beowulf when he ripped it off the monster after the clash between the two. The head of Grendel was obtained by Grendel’s mother, who is only known by that alias, when she ripped it off the corpse of Grendel when Beowulf entered her lair due to his task of slaying her. The head was also used as a sort of trophy to show that Beowulf had slain both Grendel and Grendel’s mother. The two body parts of Grendel seem to also cause a bit of controversy within the epic, mainly on how our protagonist, Beowulf sees it, against the way Grendel’s mother sees them. Beowulf and the Scyldings kept the claw above in the door in Heorot where the ogre Grendel lost his arm as an achievement over a monster that was seen as godlike and impossible to kill. The mother of Grendel, however, saw this as a human’s way to boast about a kill by defiling the body of son and mocking it causing her to attack Heorot, thus causing the second task for Beowulf. …show more content…
As for the head of Grendel, there wasn’t much of a conflict when it came down to it, but it did show something strong about Beowulf.
When Beowulf entered the cave where Grendel’s mother dwelled, there was so much treasure surrounding him, and he ignored it all to set his eyes on the task he was given, thus showing a human’s strong will to complete a mission. This moment is to prove Grendel’s mother wrong in her assumption about humans having boastful natures and are only out for themselves. Though this statement is true for some, Beowulf contradicts it by hunting down the ogre’s mother, and not taking the treasure to ensure the safety on those in
Heorot. The body parts of Grendel are major symbols in Beowulf, so important that they practically made a whole new story within the epic. The claw of Grendel was seen as both a trophy, and evidence of the human’s prideful nature. The head represented the human’s will to achieve whatever task to ensure the safety of others.
This can be used as a symbol for the relationship between a person’s good side and evil side. The good side (the humans) attempt to exile the bad side (Grendel) and live in peace, but every once in awhile, the evil side will reappear and triumph for a while. Until a person reaches true morality and goodness (Beowulf) and can destroy the evil, this relationship will continue to occur.
These attacks in Heorot, gain the notice of the famed Geat, Beowulf. Eager for another chance to prove he is the best warrior, he sets off for Hrothgar's kingdom. Hrothgar and his people are seeking vengeance for the loss of many warriors, and others. Beowulf informs the king of his intentions in: “ I have suffered extremes and avenged the Geats (their enemies brought it upon themselves; I devastated them.). Now I mean to be a match for Grendel, settle the outcome in single combat.” (Beowulf. L422-426). After foolishly losing some men to Grendel, he does indeed manage to rip his arm off. Consequently, the monster dies from his wounds. So ends the gruesome reign of the horrible Grendel. Unfortunately, they did not know about the
as men. She has been sleeping down in her dark and dingy cave below the world
One night, as Grendel was sleeping soundly in his home in the swamplands, he was suddenly awakened by the sound of music. The music angered Grendel because he had been up late the night before entertaining his monster friends and was in need of his beauty rest. So he headed out the front door and headed to see what the commotion is all about.
For example, “ Hanging high/ From the rafters where Beowulf had hung it, was/ the monster’s/ Arm, claw and shoulder and all” lines 833-836 (page 49). Therefore this describes that Grendel’s claw was hung from underneath Herot’s roof signifies the bravery victory towards Beowulf. The hanging off the claw analyzes is a form of victory to show the town what had happened to the monster.
The battle with Grendel’s mother differ from the battle with Grendel because when Beowulf fought with Grendel he used no weapon “my hands alone should fight for me” line 174. On the day of the battle, when Grendel saw Beowulf he was scared for the first time “ Grendel's one thought was to run from Beowulf, flee back to his marsh and hide there.” line 278 But when Beowulf fought with Grendel’s mother, at the beginning Beowulf was fighting for his live “ For the first time in years of being worn to war it would earn no glory” line 484 Beowulf was losing , she was to fast and “no sword could slice her evil skin.” He needed his weapons fight for him, and Grendel’s mother was not scared of his strength as Grendel
Beowulf went to the dark lake where she had been dwelling. He was suited up with a helmet, armor, together with his own sword. However, he then found it to be useless against the mother. While in the battle hall, Beowulf spotted a superior sword on the wall. With this sword, he ended the life of Grendel’s mother. After this battle, Beowulf took Grendel’s head as a “trophie”.
Beowulf is a hero that shows honor respect and courage. In lines 710-1007 is where the battle with Grendel happened. Thinking of the destruction that he will get, Grendel bursts into Heorot. Grendel tears the door from its hinges with his hands and quickly becomes a Geatish warrior while Beowulf carefully looks around. When Grendel reaches out to pick Beowulf up, he is surprised to find his arm gripped with a strength than he never knew could even happen. Confused and frightened Grendel doesn’t want to run back to the safety of the swamplands. He tries to escape, but Beowulf wrestles him down to the ground. The crash around the hall, making noise on the walls and smashing the mead-benches. Grendel begins to panic in pain and fear; the sound
The supernatural has an important role in Beowulf. Because Beowulf exhibits supernatural in some way, but always seems to come back to religion at the end. Beowulf 's society examins its people through their actions; honor, heroism, courage, and evil. As Beowulf faces three adversaries (Grendel, Grendel 's mother and the dragon). He show 's that he can never be defeated because he has enormous strength and Godly power. Though the bible connects Cain to Beowulf, Beowulf 's author establishes Grendel 's mother as definitive evil, which reveals that she could have been Eve in the story.
The only human brave and strong enough to defeat Grendel was the powerful Geat, Beowulf. Grendel watches Beowulf and his band of Geats land their ships on the shores of Hrothgar’s kingdom. Grendel observes Beowulf speaking to the coastguard, and notices that Beowulf’s eyes are “slanted downward, never blinking, unfeeling as a snake’s”(135). Grendel’s observations about Beowulf’s destructiveness are proven true as he engages in mortal combat with the Geat. When Beowulf takes hold of Grendel’s arm, Grendel feels as if Beowulf’s “fingers are charged like fangs with poison”(148). After this battle, Grendel’s arm is pulled off at the socket, and he retreats to his cave to die.
An interesting comparison to this quote and the one previously mentioned, “She had snatched their trophy, / Grendel’s bloodied arm […]”, is the mention of hands. This reference shows the readers that Grendel’s mother’s actions were truly out of revenge, as she could have killed anyone, but she specifically killed one of Hrothgar’s closest ‘friends’. At this point in the poem, Grendel’s mother has disrupted whatever sense of stability, peace and happiness the other characters are feeling: “Rest? What is rest? Sorrow has returned” (l. 1322). This quote truly highlights the impact of Grendel’s mother’s revenge on this poem. It is evident that the mood of this poem has completely changed after the attack and that the people of Heorot are no longer in the same state of mind as they were a couple of hours previously. This sudden withdrawal of happiness in the poem is emphasized through the repetition of the word “rest” in Hrothgar’s
Beowulf was a true hero, in the eyes of many, through said traits. He fought a number of battles and was triumphant in all, except his last battle. Beowulf possessed the skills and power necessary to kill Grendel, the monster who had been terrorizing the Danes for over a decade, with his bare hands. While fighting, Beowulf detached Grendel’s arm from his shoulder, which was later hung up as a trophy. Beowulf eventually put an end to Grendel’s life, and naturally, Grendel’s mother had pursued Beowulf. Although Grendel’s mother was an even deadlier monster than her son, Beowulf once again proved his abilities by slaying her, as well. He slashed her neck with a sword that carried unbearable weight. Afterwards, he carried her head with only his own arms, while it took the a...
At the feast Beowulf states he will fight Grendel not only alone but also unarmed. This shows his courage and honor because he does not want any of his men to get hurt and Grendel does not use weapons. When Grendel arrives to the mead hall that night, he is met by the strongest warrior in the land. Beowulf and Grendel wrestle inside the mead hall where the strength of Beowulf prevails when he rips the monster 's arm off its body. The injured monster retreats back to his mother 's house in the swamp where he ends up dying. As a symbol of the victory against Grendel, Beowulf hangs the arm on the wall for all the Danes. To celebrate the heroic actions of Beowulf the Danes hold a celebration where they give thanks by giving many gifts to the Geats. The battle with Grendel is just the first challenge the brave and courageous warrior
Beowulf looked over on the wall next to them and saw a magnificent sword hanging on the wall adorned with beautiful carvings, it was blessed with magic. No normal man could ever have lifted that sword, but Beowulf was no normal being. He waited for the right moment to go and retrieve the sword, and when he found the perfect opportunity and he ran straight towards the wall. He pulled the sword down with great force and began running towards Grendel’s mother. Beowulf took in a deep breath as he leaned back and heaved the sword forward. Beowulf had sliced straight through Grendel’s mother’s scaly neck, blood began to pour everywhere and he heard her bones cracking as the sword passed through her.
After Beowulf tore off Grendel’s arm, he then hangs it from the rafters of their town, Herot. When Grendel’s mother see’s his arm, she becomes angered, so in result she begins attacking Herot. After the attack, she claims Grendel’s arm, then returns back to her home. Once again, it is up to Beowulf to defeat her. When Beowulf is called to defeat Grendel’s mother, he begins putting on his armour, and grabbing his sword, just as the typical hero would.