Comparing Beowulf And Grendel's Mother

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In an era saturated with stories of powerful warriors, one character goes unrecognized in the modern understanding of what it means to be a hero. A warrior is supposed to be loyal, strong, and brave. Grendel’s Mother in the story Beowulf is no exception. Beowulf is an epic tale that was passed down through word of mouth and translated by Christian monks. It follows the story of a man who defied the odds and defeated the monsters that haunted the kingdom. The story is told through the lens of the protagonist Beowulf, who defeated a creature named Grendel. According to his mother, a new monster lurking in the swamps, was reckless, evil, and out for blood. In reality, Grendel’s mother was not motivated by a desire to murder. Her seemingly reckless actions were only …show more content…

Just as a soldier is loyal to their general, Grendel’s Mother is loyal to her son. Grendel’s Mother encapsulates what it means to be strong. She has a strong body that was unable to be sliced by an incredible warrior (line 478). As they were fighting in the lake, Beowulf realized that he might lose the battle. For the first time his helmet “failed him; for the first time in years/Of being worn to war it would earn no glory” (line 183). Beowulf noticed and recognized her immense strength. Even with his previous experiences as a warrior, her strength was unparalleled to what he had experienced before. The value of bravery was evident in Grendel’s Mother’s battle with the fabled warrior Beowulf. After Grendel’s mother killed Aeschere, Hrothgar’s trusted advisor, she went back to her swamp. As she was recuperating from the journey, Beowulf “leap[t] into the lake [and did not] wait for anyone’s answer”(line 450). The lake was Grendel’s Mother’s home and Beowulf burst in unannounced. Beowulf was the man who killed her son, and his strength was known throughout the

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