Monsters In Beowulf

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Monsters have been created for many years. The word “monster” most likely comes from the Latin word, monstrare which means “to demonstrate” or “to warn”. All monsters are different, just like the monsters created in the epic Beowulf. The poet uses these different monsters to create this story about a guy named Beowulf who kills these monsters to save his people. The question is how does he use these strangely odd monsters to create such a powerful story?
The three strong and powerful, unique monsters that the poet uses are called, Grendel, Grendel’s mom, and the dragon. The poet starts off the reading by describing Grendel. The way he describes Grendel is he is a powerful monster who lives deep in the darkness and that he is very ambiguous. The poet never fully reveals that Grendel is a bad monster but he throws out hints that Grendel is one. For example, on page 34 and 35th stanza Beowulf states “The monster’s thoughts were as quick as his greed or his claws: He slipped through the door and there in silence, snatched up 30 men.” (Beowulf) This states that he captures the men just so he can eat them, but he never says fully that he …show more content…

The way he describes her in Beowulf is she is a very strong and fierce woman, that she can fight out 30 men. In the beginning of Grendel’s mother’s reading, he describes her in a way by writing about one of her battles that she has defeated. The poet later then describes the way she lives, she lives in a dark place of a forest in water. For example, on page 46 and 429th stanza the poet states “Growing out over their lake are all covered with frozen spray, and wind down snakelike roots that reach as far as the water and help keep it dark.” This helps describe the place that Grendel’s mother lives in. Grendel’s mother may have been a little bit stronger than Grendel but that never stopped Beowulf from fighting. He may not have been able to fight her as easily but he never gave

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