monster Grendel, who is truly an evil entity. Only an epic hero with strength, courage and confidence is able to defeat this mighty foe. This hero’s name is Beowulf. He displays all of these throughout the epic. Beowulf’s first epic hero trait is confidence. Beowulf displays confidence when he talked to Unferth in the great hall Heorot. Beowulf said, “…but he will find me different. I will show him how Geats shape to kill/ in the heat of battle” (601-603). Here Beowulf says that Grendel would not
and strength that the lieutenant without much delay takes the army to Hrothgar to make a reason to slay Grendel. As Beowulf meets with Hrothgar, Beowulf is blunt in saying that he will slay Grendel. Beowulf slays creatures before and has not yet met his maker. The honor of Beowulf is shown when he states he will use nothing but his own hands and strength to fight the beast, Grendel. Grendel had killed dozens of Hrothgar’s men and scared the kingdom into keeping away from their Herot, which is
tell all of these things because he defeats Grendel and his mother, but he is also brave enough to try and fend off the dragon. These battles came along because of the actions of other people being the noise that Hrothgar’s people make during their celebration, and from the man stealing the cup from the dragon. “As now warriors sang of their pleasures: so Hrothgar’s men live happy in his hall”(ll. 14-15). These actions of celebration are what cause Grendel to attack. The people had been celebrating
Beowulf as an Epic Hero Beowulf is the epic hero in Anglo-Saxon poem. He possesses characteristics of honor, pride, braveness, exhibiting these in his battles with Grendel, Grendel’s Mother and the Dragon. Beowulf proves the theme that leaders should use their strength for the good of all society. Beowulf called on a quest to defeat the supernatural beast that causes hell in the famous land of Danes. When Beowulf first set foot on Danish shores he shows the characteristics of pride by boasting
and symbols, herein lies the three evils that Beowulf exemplified: Physical, moral and metaphysical. The Physical evil Grendel is the most formidable personification of physical Evil. The author precisely precisely portrayed, Grendel lives “in a hell not hell but Earth.” They have not found even the smallest understanindg of Grendel’s physical
He has no faith in Beowulf. He also believes Brecca is better and that Beowulf won’t be able to defeat Grendel. “You’ve been lucky in your battles, Beowulf, but I think/ Your luck may change if you challenge Grendel,/ Staying a whole night through in this hall,/ Waiting where that fiercest of demons can find you” (“Beowulf” 258-261). Unferth says this these after talking about how Brecca won the battle between
Goodness Prevails In Beowulf the theme of Good vs Evil is the most important aspect of this story. Beowulf represents good and Grendel represents evil. Grendel is an ancestor of Cane who thrives on killing and destroying all that is good. Beowulf is the good who is destined to defeat evil. We see how evil and good clash with the fights Beowulf partakes in. In the end, Beowulf prevails by cleansing evil with his bravery, strength, and goodness. Beowulf represents the good in the story. He
time of new, filled with religion and Christian beliefs; “He told of an ancient feud between two brothers which split all the world between darkness and light. And I, Grendel, was the dark side, he said in effect. The terrible race God cursed” (Gardner 51). The stories told about religion are so powerful that he shapes the mind of Grendel into this evil creature God cursed. The dragon’s description of the shaper tells how the Danes need him for more than just entertainment but also for stability and
Throughout his battles with Grendel and his mother, Beowulf shows that beyond a doubt he is the strongest warrior in the land, yet he displays serious flaws in his character that could have cost him that title. Beowulf is very strategic; the weapons he uses, the location in which he battles even the monsters he chooses to battle are all chosen to prove himself to be the best. In his first battle with the monster Grendel, Beowulf easily and confidently defeats his enemy, yet in this battle with the
respected within the Geats community. Being able to lead people is a characteristic many heroes must have, according to the poem Beowulf is a “leader beloved and long he ruled in fame with all folk”. Beowulf showed these leadership skills by fighting Grendel in order to defend the Danes who