Beowulf Function Essay

Name: Vera Ruhlmann Date: September 20th Mr. Wixon British Literature Beowulf Describe Herot. In the story Beowulf, Herot is a good and peaceful leader. Herot is the son of Cain and the brother of Grendel.

slime,” which is a allusion to the story of Cain and Abel. Henceforth Grendel was born into evil. Grendel was born as a monster into exile, his life was cursed because he was a offspring of Cain. According to the Bible, all of Cain’s decedents were punished by God because of him killing his brother. He was jealous of his brother because God accepted Abel's offering and not his. Therefore, Cain was thrown out of his family's land, and was an outcast. This is symbolic because Grendel is jealous of the joy of Hrothgar's people. This causes him to do evil or wrong by killing the people.. Thus Grendel symbolizes a lonely, jealous outcast like Cain. Not only is he evil in the inside but his eyes reflect his evil nature. "Grendel's eyes burn with a gruesome light". This shows that Grendel not only sees evil, but he yearns for it.

The embodiment of envy. In the epic poem Beowulf, Grendel exemplifies envy therefore he is discontent with the happiness of others. The infusion of Biblical ideas helps form Grendel's character. As a relative of Cain, the first person recorded in the Christian Bible to murder another, Grendel is perceived as a monster. “On the kindred of Cain the Lord living ever awreak’d the murder of the slaying of Abel. In that feud he rejoiced not, but afar him he banish’d, the maker, from mankind for the crime he had wrought,” (108-111). Since Grendel’s ancestor is Cain, Grendel has been banished from the earth. Making Grendel a hell born creature with human emotions and instincts. With Grendel comes the allusion of Cain killing Abel given the time period. Grendel kills the celebratory warriors of Herot because they exuded happiness. Cain killed Abel because he felt God gave Abel more attention. Grendel’s emotions brought him to envy, so he, like his ancestor before him, killed another. Unlike Cain, Grendel killed thirty men every night for twelve years, devolving his monstrous character into an immoral character.

When Cain killed Able, he ignited the eternal flame of a cursed family. From Cain's blood came "the curse of his exile and sprang ogres and elves and evil phantoms and the giants too" (Beowulf. Pg. 35), darkness entailed is legacy and evil embodied his future. Grendel is a descendant of Cain, so he shares Cain's exile from all that is good and light. Cain may have been the first displaced person after Adam and Eve, but he was not the last. Grendel shares his ancestor's punishment, he is exiled not only from whatever land or wealth he would have had if he were "human", but he is also abandoned by God and all who followed and indulge in his faith and grandeur. It is this abandonment that causes Grendel to destroy and murder. "The treasure seat, he was kept from approaching; he was the Lords outcast" (Beowulf pg.36), since he cannot approach the throne of the Lord like the rest of mankind, he chooses to attempt to destroy it. He has no love for God and his children if he can not be with them "hand in hand". However, unlike Cain and his parents, Grendel is doomed from

“No better king had ever lived, no prince so mild, no man so open to his people, so deserving of praise.” This is an ultimate description of the heroic events of Beowulf, an old Anglo-Saxon poem about a warrior who battles and destroys three horrifying monsters. Although written long ago, the emotions expressed within this work, emotions of bravery, valor, and ethics still speak to us centuries later. The anonymous author of the poem convinces us through the masterful use of various literary elements that emphasize its meaning and message. Conflict, imagery and setting are three literary elements that contribute to the effectiveness of the poem.

The story of Cain, and the murderous rage he inflicts on his brother Abel is one that many remember because of the curse Cain receives from God. After lying to God about killing his brother, Cain can no longer live a fruitful and successful life. He and his descendants are cursed to misery and torment for his transgression. Grendel, one of the unfortunate descendants of Cain, is a prime example of biblical allusion in Beowulf. “He was spawned in that slime, / Conceived by a pair of those monsters born / Of Cain, murderous creatures banished / By God, punished forever for the crime / Of Abel’s death” (19-23). This description of Grendel attaches a stigma to him without giving him any real characteristics. Before he has even

Grendel’s invasion of Herot symbolizes the destruction of peace and safety, and the imperfections within the society. The twelve years Grendel had haunted Herot, “Herot stood empty, and stayed deserted for years” (145-146) were also the twelve years Hrothgar and his kingdom suffered. Nevertheless, when Beowulf finally eliminated Grendel, readers see a different side of Herot, “Golden tapestries were lined along the walls, for a host of visitors to see and take pleasure in” (995-996), the glory and grandeur was restored, all with the slaying of Grendel – an outcast of society.

Many readers of the poem Beowulf may find it difficult to distinguish the 'good' kings from the rest – indeed, almost every man who holds a throne in the epic is named at one point or another to be 'good'. By examining the ideals of the time period as identified by the 'heroic code', it becomes clearer that a truly 'good' king is one who generously distributes treasure and weaponry to deserving retainers to honour courage and strength displayed in battle and to encourage the defense of the kingdom (Intro). When Beowulf ascends the throne of the Geats, the heroic traits of courage and strength for which he was so highly praised as a warrior do not serve well in making him a good king. Indeed, by exhibiting the traits of a thane, that is, by

A. Grendel is impatient with the music and celebration of Hrothgar’s men; his home is a hell on earth; he was born in slime; his parents are the children of Cain, who were exiled by God; he is family to “a thousand forms of evil,” who angrily fight against God.

Have you ever wanted to kill your brother due to jealousy? Or kill people just for pleasure? Cain and Grendel have . Cain is the son of Adam and Eve. He is known for killing his brother Abel. He originated from the Bible from the book of Genesis. Grendel is a bloodthirsty monster who eats humans just for pleasure. He is also a descendent of Cain. He originated from the story of Beowulf, a Pagan Anglo-Saxons tale that was later re-written by Christian monks.

In the epic poem Beowulf, which is more prominent … Free will or fate? Burton Raffel conveys that free will is more prominent for the key characters in this poem because on various occasions, the key characters acted on pure instinct, according to the particular situation at hand. Likewise to how Beowulf made his decision to travel to the Danish shores to take care of the menacing Grendel. Beowulf himself, decided to go across the Danish shores and take care of the havoc that Grendel had brought upon Herot; this was under his own free will and was not destined. Raffel translates how Beowulf’s heroism comes into play when he hears about the turmoil in Herot.

Beowulf Today The Anglo Saxons were a group of Germanic people who were the origins of Great Britain, back in the early 5th century, lasting until the 11th century, until they evolved into a different peoples giving a foundation for Britain that is seen later on in the following hundreds of years. These people were incredibly proud, and held very strong beliefs relating to their religion, camaraderie, and strength. Anglo Saxons were pagans, meaning that they had practiced a non-Christian religion; usually some form of polytheism, and this gave them a basis for their beliefs. They also had a very strong sense of camaraderie, moreso seen in the idea of comitatus, which is a strong sense of loyalty between a lady/lord and their subjects.

In the epic poem, Beowulf, translated by Seamus Heaney, it is said, "Behavior that's admired is the path to power among people" (Beowulf 5). That being stated, it is very apparent throughout the entirety of the story. The main character, Beowulf, quickly comes to a position of power once defeating multiple atrocities and executing numerous heroic deeds. The people in the city admire Beowulf and abide to his ways; but once offered kingship, he declines. Throughout the epic poem, it is obvious that Beowulf would rather be a hero than a king because of the individual representation that comes with it, the rewards, and the self-reliant aspect.

After a long journey, you find yourself in uncharted territory. As you scout the area, you notice a small village off in the distance. Upon approaching this settlement, you are greeted by some armed townsfolk. They attack you without warning, and take you to a large hall in the center of town. There, you see many men parading around in an intoxicated stupor, showing off their trophies and talking of their success in past battles and wars. They eat with bare hands, ripping at the food and drinking until they can no longer handle themselves, finding a home on the open floor. The hall is dressed with weapons of war, from shields to swords and everything in between. The women are wrapped in chains, fulfilling their only purpose of serving the

The lord “vented his rage” on the men he drank with and went as far as to murder his own friends (1713-14).