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¶ … Beowulf, Grendel, and Grendel's Mother Monstrous?
To be monstrous is to be something other than human, but monstrous means more than extraordinary; it is a term with a bad or evil connotation, so that those who are monstrous are not only outside of the realm of the average human being, but also outside of it in a negative way. In the novel Beowulf, one encounters three different characters who have some characteristics one would consider monstrous. These three characters are Beowulf, Grendel, and Grendel's mother. However, the three characters receive very different treatment in the book. Beowulf is considered the hero, despite having some of the very same traits as two of the monsters in the book, notably Grendel and Grendel's mother. What makes him a hero while the other two characters are monsters? Understanding this distinction not only helps explain the story of Beowulf, but also gives interesting insight into human definitions of good and evil.
Grendel is the original villain in Beowulf, and, given that he is described physically as a monster, one assumes that he is monstrous. He is described as "the evil creature,...
His original home is called a "lair" (Breeden). He is both a descendant of Cain, who is the first known murderer, and described as so evil that he is unable to sit on the throne, even after moving into the hall (Breeden). Moreover, the text specifically describes him as a monster. "He was of a race of monsters / exiled from mankind by God-- / He was of the race of Cain, / that man punished for / murdering his brother. / From that family comes all evil beings-- / monsters, elves, zombies. / Also the giants who / fought with God and got / repaid with the flood" (Breeden). However, while Grendel is described as a demon, a monster, and a descendant of a monstrous bloodline, whether his monstrosity is metaphorical or actual is actually not made clear in the poem. However, his deeds, such as cannibalism, reveal him to be monstrous, even if his form is human. Everyone fears him, he kills without discretion, and he kills without using armor or weapons.
While Grendel himself may be characterized as a monster by his deeds, his mother defies such easy characterization. While is it undisputed that she attacks Beowulf after…
References
Breeden, D. (Trans.). The Adventures of Beowulf: An adaptation from the Old English.
Retrieved April 23, 2012 from Lone Star Technologies website: http://www.lnstar.com/literature/beowulf/beowulf5.htm
While she is also monstrous and outcast, Grendel's mother is nonetheless also a sympathetic and emotional creature to a much greater extent than her son. The dragon that attacks Beowulf contrasts with Grendel's mother, in that his motivation is purely material. A further contrast is that the dragon's revenge attack is levelled at opponents that are disproportionate to his extreme power. Grendel's mother in turn was a single, female creature
Beowulf When the Beowulf poet describes his hero fighting evil, it is important to understand that the poem expresses a specifically medieval Christian conception of evil. Although scholars have debated and argued over whether these Christian passages which justify the fighting through defining the poem's monstrous antagonists as "evil," the passages as they exist in the text of Beowulf seem like straightforward moral glosses upon the action which occurs in the
Beowulf and Grendel's Mother Among the most enduring examples of English literature in existence, the anonymously penned epic poem Beowulf has been translated from Old English to hundreds of languages during the course of the last ten centuries. The heroic tale of Beowulf, the great warrior king of the Geats who comes to the aid of his fellow monarch Hrothgar when their kingdoms come under attack from the feared monster Grendel,
. Beowulf is an example of the perfect hero. He is selfless, in that he sacrifices his safety to save other people. He is also lonely, ironically as lonely as Grendel in his own way, as he waits for the monster he must kill alone in the hall. However, Beowulf is also tied in a network of social obligations to his lord and king, as he only agrees to fight Grendel
Beowulf and Treasure In the epic poem Beowulf, the hero is one born to wealth and raised to wealth. This position, rather than making him weak, has allowed Beowulf to become respected in his community as a man of generosity and, because of his skills as a warrior, immense courage. To this extent, the reader sees Beowulf engaging in acts of bravery and of generosity towards his fellow men. Contrast this
Those with issues to overcome are always more heroic. Hector also becomes a hero when, after at first running from Achilles, he eventually stands up to him and dies a heroic death. The Iliad is primarily a war epic. In your opinion, is the Iliad condemnation of the it could easily be argued that the Illiad glorifies war, as much of the poem is spent portraying the warriors as brave