Comparing Beowulf And Grendel's Mother

Another part of the text which is evidence to Grendel not being the monster he is made out to be, is the relationship dynamic between Grendel and his mother, and also his mother’s actions after his death. The actions of Grendel’s mother are not those of a monster, but those of any normal woman who has children. After her son was killed (murdered and then part of his body was taken as a trophy), she just wanted to seek revenge. “But now his mother/ had sailed forth on a savage journey,/grief-racked and ravenous, desperate for revenge.” (1276-1278). Grendel’s mother displayed the emotions of complete sadness and despair over her son; it seems more of a human response rather than that belonging to a monster. Considering that the bond of a mother and son is supposed to be the strongest bond of all, her actions after his death are in a way justified. It is easy to see that the character of Grendel is much more than just a monster through his mother’s subsequent actions of taking down Grendel’s arm from hanging in Heorot, and feuding (in her own way she was trying to feud, to obey the code as it was in this time. When she went to Heorot to seek her revenge, she did not

During the period when Grendel was young, he was very innocent. Grendel would play above ground in his newly discovered world, and he would explore. At this time in his life Grendel seemed closer to his mother than as he grew older. This was a time before Grendel had any real evil in his heart. I believe the start of Grendel’s evilness was caused by his fight with a bull leading to his first encounter with humans. Grendel was trapped between trees while wild bull was rampaging beneath him. At that moment Grendel said, “I understood that the

Grendel's Mother - She is a woman with character. She is a beast with claws who fights pretty well. She is vicious and ill-tempered. All she wants is to avenge the death of her son killed by Beowulf. Sometimes she is called a Troll-wife. She dwells at the bottom of a mere in a cave.

One aspect of Grendel that is alike in both stories is the way he acts. In Grendel the monster kills many people. He does it very brutally too. "Enough of that! A night for tearing heads off, bathing in blood. Except, alas, h has killed his quota for the season. Care, take care of the gold-egg-laying goose! There is no limit to desire but desire's needs." This was Grendel's law. He does not take pity on any human. From his point of view, the humans deserved this and they were going to get it. These actions are the same in Beowulf

Grendel’s mother is portrayed in a negative and objectified image. First, she has a sexual appeal. Grendel’s mom wears no clothes; her skin is gold, which covers her body. She is half woman and half monster. She has a promiscuous look that draws in attention from the opposite sex. In addition, she has a sexual attitude. Right when Beowulf enters the

The battle between Beowulf and Grendel's mother has its similarities and differences as well. Throughout the movie, clues are given about Grendel’s mother when encountering mysterious hands breaching the water while

Grendel of course only knew revenge for what God did to him so it’s ironic and coincidental that his mother seeked revenge for him also. Whether she won or not she stood up and battled like any mother would do. She didn't care how popular Beowulf was she did what it it took to feel some sense of happiness for her son.

Due to Grendel’s lack of support from his mom, Grendel becomes a really aggressive man or monster towards women. Grendel’s mother was not a mother figure to him when he is younger. When Grendel would get into trouble or for instance get stuck in a tree, his mom would not be there for him to save him (Gardner 18). He would cry and yell for his mother to be there (18). He described himself as heartbroken. Heartbroken as if his mom would not come to his aid. He states, ‘“Please, Mama!’ I sobbed as if heartbroken” (19). Grendel seems to feel sorry for his mom though. He describes her as a “long-suffering hag”, “life-bloated”, “fat”, and “sick at heart” and the list goes on (10). Grendel recounts his

Consequently, Grendel’s mother was furious once she found out her son had been killed. She blamed Hrothgar and the entire village, but she later found out Beowulf slaughtered Grendel. For example, “Grendel’s mother sad heart, and her greed drove her from her den on the dangerous path of revenge. When Grendel’s mother was coming up with a plan she thought about taking Grendel’s head back so Beowulf could get credit for killing him. It was too late for Grendel’s mother, she already made her decision, she wanted to kill Beowulf too. Hrothgar

In addition, Grendel’s mother plays a big role in the novel and the relationship between Grendel and her seems complicated. In Grendel, Grendel calls his mother mean names such as fat, but Grendel does love his mother. The only reason why he can not show her any affection, she does not speak the same language he does. This explains why she stared into his soul at often times because it was her way of showing him affection. She would also do things like smother him in her and although he did not like it, he took it because he knew this was one of her few ways of showing him she loved him.

She loves Grendel as if she was any other mother. Grendel describes his mother as a “life-bloated, long-suffering hag” (Grendel 11), with his view of a teenager, he feels she is too controlling at some points. But he also knows she loves him very much after saving him from humans who think he is some sort of spirit. Her love is shown as Grendel sees her, “it was my mother, she came roaring down like thunder, screaming like a thousand hurricanes, eyes as bright as dragonfire” (Grendel 27). Though Grendel’s Mother is represented as a monster, there are also several human aspects to her and her influence over Grendel shapes what he is to

Grendel’s mother would do anything for him which is why this represent loyalty. Loyalty is valued in the Anglo-Saxon society because one should go to the moon and back for someone else in their tribe and Grendel’s mother represents

Nevertheless, this is Beowulf's poem; the mother is just another monster in a heroic epic. Other writers will have to enhance her tale. Grendel’s mother is all the opposite to peaceweavers and hostesses: she is comfortable and satisfied using violence to solve their disputes and she doesn’t welcome anyone that comes into their houses. She can be considered violent and cruel because she rather makes use of weapons and her physical strength rather than using words or marriage to influence other people, just like Wealhtheow or

Grendel’s mother, likewise, exhibits evil completely. Grendel’s mother is furious when she hears about her son's death and promises revenge. She kills the king’s most trusted advisor and sends the Danes back into a panic. Beowulf swoops in to save the day and shows his strength and courage again. Grendel’s mother is bigger and more villainous than Grendel, so the fight is not as easily won for Beowulf.

Grendel's Mother, then, appears as the face of vengefulness. This fault is not so common a powerful occurrence as guilt; emerging only when faced with grief and loss and the desire for retribution. Grendel's Mother is described as having “scavenged and gone her