The Themes Of Good Versus Evil In Beowulf

In Beowulf, the clash between good and evil is the poem's main and most significant focal point. Although the epic poem Beowulf utilizes many characteristics of Christian themes, the violence in the poem relates to paganism. By exploring the characteristics of “good vs. evil” such as Cain, Grendel and Beowulf, this paper will explore the elements of Beowulf in such a light.

Beowulf a New Telling by Robert Nye was very interesting but not altogether satisfactory and one of the very interesting parts was the memory that stirred in Grendel’s heart but one of the unsatisfactory parts was the ending and the conclusion I can draw about the features of the work is that Beowulf a New Telling by Robert Nye is a thrilling tale about Beowulf who is trying to rid the land of the Danes and the land of the Geats of evil. There were also many relationships between light and darkness (good and evil) in people but the main one was in Beowulf. For example, in chapter 6 on page 40, Beowulf has elements of lightness when he says, “light holds you, Grendel. Light has you in its power. You, who have shunned the sun, meet me, once stung by bees that drank the sun. There is honey in my veins, Grendel, a liquid sunlight that can kill you quite.” This contrasts with his elements of bad in chapter 11 on page 76 when he says “By my own bad, please don’t think of me as some saint. That would make me as monstrous as Grendel, though in the other direction. Majesty of all the Danes, sweet Wealtheow, you see before you a hero who has come through many kinds of high adventures only to foul of his own weakness.”

Whether you are arguing with your siblings, with a stranger at a baseball game, during a debate, with your parents or children, you are fighting for what you believe is right. You perceive yourself as the “victim” in the situation by trying to justify your reasoning behind the argument. Some people may perceive you as the good or as the evil because they believe that you have done nothing wrong, you were being perverse or fighting for the wrong reason. The epic poem Beowulf, is a super-eminent literary example that represents the good and evil in the characters and what they are fighting for. In this fictional poem, in which the author is unknown, the protagonist Beowulf encounters three major battles with a monster named Grendel, Grendel’s Mother, and a dragon. Each character is fighting for a certain reason and believe their reason is more dominant. The two audiences that view the characters as good or evil is the Danes and the narrator. Since the characters in the poem believe they're justified in their actions, they prove to not be all evil or all good. In fact, they should be judged based on the rationale behind their actions to fight.

Good and Evil in Beowulf       In Beowulf, the conflict between good and evil is the poem's main and most important aspect. The poet makes it clear that good and evil do not exist as only opposites, but that both qualities are present in everyone. Beowulf represents the ability to do good, or to perform acts selflessly and in help of others. Goodness is also showed throughout this epic as having the ability to cleanse evil.

In the epic poem Beowulf, there is an obvious distinction between good and evil. The hero and his foes play roles that are commonly associated with Anglo-Saxon literature. The lines are clearly drawn and expressed in the poem. As the story moves, the reader cannot mistake the roles being played, based on the characterizations in the epic, one recognizes each character for their purpose and place.

The theme of Beowulf had the good vs.evil theme to the story when the monster is Grendel is the monster and his mother also a threat to herot and Beowulf is the hero to solve the problems of Grendel is making. Beowulf is the hero in the story and Grendel is the villain. Beowulf is the faced with many trials throughout the story with unferth and the Grendel.

Beowulf: A New Telling, written by Robert Nye, is a book for adventurers who want to experience a time of good and evil. Beowulf came from an Anglo Saxon Poet around 700 AD in the Medieval time period. It was formed from an old English heroic epic poem. Beowulf: A New Telling was told in around 600 AD. Beowulf: A New Telling shows, if you know your strengths and your weaknesses, you will be able to conquer anything.

Beowulf is an epic Anglo-Saxon poem, which tells a story of a hero who is destined to defeat several monsters in order to save a kingdom from peril. The underlying meaning is good versus evil with good always prevailing in the end. The theme of good versus evil was portrayed through the characters and events. Beowulf is the good guy fighting against evil. Beowulf is not just one person fighting against the evils of the world. In many cases, he is fighting for humanity’s sake.

In the epic poem Beowulf, the struggle between good and evil reveals its omnipresence in even the oldest of tales. The many allusions and symbols throughout the story relate to Christianity and other Pagan beliefs. By looking at them, it becomes apparent that the author of Beowulf believed that the constant war between good and evil is not only fought by the common man but also in the ranks of their highest esteemed rulers and warriors, and even in their dreaded nightmares where monsters lurk and wait for the death of man. Beowulf was written during the budding of Christianity in England, when it was newly forming. In the story there are obvious references to Christian rituals.

The book Beowulf A New Telling had a very distinct way of telling whomever the reader may be that the goodness in people did, and will always overpower the evil of the world. This book would have a very big impact for people going through their own battles right now. Beowulf uses what he knows best, himself, and his goodness to defeat impossible challenges and tasks that no one thinks can be done, but he always proves them wrong.

Many stories have good vs evil themes, but Beowulf is the one that is most commonly known.

It is only light that can extinguish darkness. In Beowulf translated by Burton Raffel, Beowulf is the main character the helps extinguish the darkness darkness of Herot. Another main character is grendel, he is the monster that has ruled Herot for a while. Once Beowulf heard about Grendel he decided it is his mission to save the people of Herot from Grendel. With this in mind, the theme of Beowulf is good versus evil and its effects upon society.

Beowulf is the brave epic hero. The evil characters are Grendel, Grendel's mom, and the Dragon. Grendel is the main villian. There are many examples of darkness in the poem. The setting of Grendel's home is described as hell on earth.

In Heaney’s Beowulf, Beowulf has to fight three large forces of evil that terrorize the citizens and himself in order to restore the balance between good and evil.

The battle between good versus evil, or the darkness versus the light. Throughout both stories it is clear which characters are either good or evil; however, in the movie many of the characters throughout Beowulf have a different representation when compared to the poem. These ideas are shown throughout the poem the movie, as the plots and storylines developed it is clear who are protagonists and antagonists are. The battle between good versus evil has set teams. However, from the reading it is clear these characters are morally ambiguous. If even the hero Beowulf has flaws, certainly the rest of the characters do as well. For example, in the parts of the poem, like lines 142-151, Beowulf describes Hrothgar’s amazing nature and ability to be a wise king and renowned leader, but in the movie the representation of Hrothgar is extremely flawed when compared to Hrothgar of the poem. Throughout the movie Hrothgar is depicted as a drunkard and an unwise king, not only that, but one of the many themes of Beowulf is also shown and that is history repeating itself. In a shocking turn of events Hrothgar ends up being Grendel’s father, a further testament to his ambiguous behaviors; however, when he tasks Beowulf with slaying Grendel’s mother, Beowulf repeats his wrongdoings. This a stark contrast in comparison to the poem versions of these characters, and in a sense represents the society of today where morally ambiguous