Beowulf Essay Grendel s Mother - 1852 Words

Colin McDaniels Dr. Kim Beowulf Paper – Grendel’s Mother In the poem Beowulf, the most evident theme is the importance of the Germanic heroic code. The heroic code was what made Beowulf so famous and god-like during his renowned life. The code is displayed in the opening lines of the poem and continued to show up throughout the duration of the poem. Heroism is often painted with a protagonist, which causes some acts of heroism to be overlooked when an antagonist follows the heroic code. Throughout the poem, there are many acts of heroism displayed, but many people overlook the way that Grendel’s mother followed the Germanic heroic code. Grendel’s mother follows the Germanic heroic code by showing courage, strength, and honor as Beowulf does throughout the poem, something that is frowned upon in the Anglo-Saxon culture. The bible says, â€Å"You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust† (Matthew 5:43-45, English Standard Version). This is the opposite of the way that the Germanic heroic code suggests how to treat an enemy. The heroic code states that one should get revenge through bloodshed, or wergild, while the Christian belief is to give forgiveness to our enemies for their wrongdoings. The Germanic heroicShow MoreRelatedGood vs. Evil in Beowulf1456 Words   |  6 PagesGood vs. Evil in Beowulf Beowulf is longest and greatest early Anglo-Saxon poem which was composed in England sometime in the eighth century AD by a literate scop. This poem was created in the oral poetic tradition. This poem is considered as an epic because it is a long narrative poem which composed in an elevated style, dealing with the glories of hero (Tolkien 24). The setting of this epic is the six century in Denmark and southern Sweden. The protagonist, Beowulf is a noble warrior representsRead MoreAnalysis Of Grendel And The Novel The Land Of Stories 1051 Words   |  5 Pagesthe classic Beowulf, Grendel, is revealed to be a tortured beast who is targeted by a religion crazed society. As stated by Chris Colfer in his novel The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell â€Å"A villain is just a victim whose story hasn’t been told,† yet for many this lesson falls on deaf ears (9). For many Grendel is a thing of nightmares, a beast straight from hell that no villain can match. But when the so ciety that villainizes Grendel is examined more closely one realizes that Grendel is really justRead MoreBeowulf, The Epic Hero1373 Words   |  6 PagesJoyner December 12, 2015 Beowulf, The Epic Hero In Anglo Saxon times, Beowulf is considered a well known epic hero. â€Å"Epic heroes are literary characters from ancient mythology and other stories, which were written down in the form of long, narrative epic poems. The hero is the main character, or protagonist of the poem†(Epic Hero: Definition, Characteristics Examples.). The epic hero usually battles for accomplishments to a set of tasks to complete important goals. Beowulf is described as an epicRead MoreBeowulf : The Epic Of Beowulf1027 Words   |  5 Pages To begin, Beowulf the poem has a unknown author, Beowulf is an epic poem. In Beowulf he is challenged by the murderous monster Grendel, Grendel is eating and slaughtering Hrothgar the King of the Danes men and people, the king needs Beowulf s help in defeating Grendel, Beowulf ends up killing the monster and is now tormented by the monster s mother that is much larger, she is no match for Beowulf and he kills her as well, lastly it is Beowulf’s last batt le after he has been king of Geatland forRead MoreBeowulf Essay : Battle Comparison1266 Words   |  6 PagesBeowulf essay: Battle comparison In the poem â€Å"Beowulf† the protagonist encounters three enemies of large proportions: Grendel the serpent, Grendel’s Mother, and a Dragon. All these creatures pose a large and terrifying threat that need a special protagonist to fight what the land’s strongest warriors could not accomplish. Before monks wrote this fabled tale in the form of a poem, Beowulf captured the attention of its listeners and teach them lessons about their cultural society and how to act inRead MoreThe Selection And The 2005 Film Beowulf And Grendel1371 Words   |  6 Pagesselection and the 2005 film Beowulf and Grendel. These differences include how the creators of the selections from the two societies use certain aspects to attract the attention of the audiences during their respected times in history and how the characters are portrayed in each works. In the epic poem of Beowulf it is evident that the religion displayed throughout the text is Christianity due to the number of biblical allusions presented throughout the text. For instance, Grendel was the name of thisRead MoreGrendel And Beowulf1838 Words   |  8 PagesBasic Essay Plan Thesis: I propose that the distinction between hero and villain is limited, as the people in Beowulf are the reason for the heinous acts committed by monsters. Both human and monster alike greet each other with violence, making one no better than the other, leading to the belief that the portrayal of the monsters is unfair in order to glorify and justify the violence of humankind. Introduction: The introduction will establish my stance on who I believe the real monsters are inRead MoreTragedy And Epic Of Beowulf2267 Words   |  10 Pagesthat poetry, tragedy and epic needs to have in order to make it such. The poem Beowulf is a wonderful example of a brilliant piece of poetry, originating from England, tells of the great warrior Beowulf and his battles with Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and finally his last battle with the dragon that terrorizes his city and leads to his death. Considering Beowulf’s death while fighting the dragon, should the poem, Beowulf, be thought of as an epic or a heroic tragedy? According to Aristotle, â€Å"TragedyRead MoreA Critical Appraisal of: Beowulf and Gilgamesh Essay examples1640 Words   |  7 PagesA Critical Appraisal of: Beowulf and Gilgamesh There are many differences and critical comparisons that can be drawn between the epics of Beowulf and Gilgamesh. Both are historical poems which shape their respected culture and both have major social, cultural, and political impacts on the development of western civilization literature and writing. Before any analysis is made, it is vital that some kind of a foundation be established so that a further, in-depth exploration of the complex natureRead MoreRole Of Women During The United States1082 Words   |  5 PagesStephanie Vissering British Literature 1 Professor Stanley September 27, 2014 Critical Analysis Essay: Role of Women The role of women in the United States has changed dramatically in the last couple of decades. For one, women have taken on responsibilities outside the home, such as joining the paid workforce. While women made up only about one third of the workforce in 1969, women today make up half of the paid workers in the US. Women are also stepping up to lead the country as well as making