Comparing Grendel's Mother In Sir Gawain And The Green Knight

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Women usually do not play an important role in stories from the Old English period. This was not true in the poem of Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Both use women in more than just a minor role. Those roles are marginal nonetheless, but the women still play a big part. Grendel’s Mother in Beowulf shows off the power of a woman by fighting in a major battle with Beowulf himself. She is shown as a supernatural creature that is as powerful as a man. Grendel’s Mother is used as a symbol to promote equality between both sexes.
The character of Grendel’s Mother is shown in a negative way. Grendel’s Mother does only serve as marginal character to fulfill the value of vengeance that is so important during the Anglo-Saxon era, but her role is extremely valuable. She comes up in the story after her son Grendel was slayed by Beowulf. She is out for revenge and instead of getting it on the person who killed her son she attacks Heorot. Grendel’s Mother reacts in a way that any Mother would react if her son was murdered. However, I believe that she should have gone after only the murderer and not an innocent man from Hrogthar’s kingdom. Grendel’s Mother follows …show more content…

She is shown as a demon who is capable of terrorizing anyone at any time. Her power is shown through the battle that Beowulf has with her. Grendel’s Mother is a supernatural being because first of all she cannot be killed with a normal sword. Second of all she can match Beowulf blow for blow. This type of power is very uncommon especially for a woman in this time period. Third of all, the sword used to kill Grendel’s Mother melts due to her blood. The sword “melted as ice does.” The main reason a supernatural creature like Grendel’s Mother is used is because Beowulf is not a normal mortal man. Beowulf possesses power that is supernatural and the author of this poem had to create supernatural creatures in order for Beowulf to have

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