Beowulf and Grendel Literary Analysis
The story Beowulf shows many literary analysis about the characters. Beowulf is an epic story because of how the story plays out until the ending. Also Beowulf the character shows many characteristics of an epic hero. However the story of Beowulf has a bad side and Grendel(Monster) is labeled as the Antagonist of the story. By using these literary analysis terms you can understand what the author beliefs in or even knowing how events happened during the lifetime of the writer. Therefore in the story Beowulf we can tell that the author made Beowulf like an Epic hero because of how he acts in the story by being a strong, bold man that cares about the people.
Beowulf:
Throughout the story Beowulf shows many characteristics of an epic hero with bravery, friendship, loyalty, and being intelligent. An example of how Beowulf shows his bravery is, “So Beowulf chose the mightiest men he could find, The bravest and best of the Geats, fourteen in all, and lead them down to their boat(Epic 1: 119-122).” This example shows how brave he was because he was the leader of all the Geats. Beowulf shows he is a hero also by his friendship when he is talking to the king Hrothgar. Next king Hrothgar says, “Still death taking more and more, but the table, Beowulf, a banquet in your honor; Let us toast your victories, and talk of the future(Epic 2: 222-224).” King Hrothgar shows great joyfulness for Beowulf’s across the sea and considers Beowulf a good friend. Beowulf also shows his friendship by reaching out to save the people from the evil of the monster Grendel. Next Beowulf shows his loyalty by repaying everyone in the kingdom after his battle with Grendel and later he protects his fathers kingdom by fighting the dragon alone. An example of this is, “ And with his shield at his side, and a mail shirt on his breast, Strode calmly, confidently, toward the tower, under the rocky cliffs: No coward could have walked there(Epic 6: 689-691)!” This shows that Beowulf will do anything to protect his country even though it might be an impossible feat. And finally throughout the story Beowulf is always showing intelligence. The way that Beowulf shows his intelligence is, “ Then he stepped to another still body, clutched at Beowulf with his claws, gasped at a strong hearted wakeful sleeper and was instantly seized himself, claws bent back as Beowulf leaned up on one arm(Epic 4: 427-431).” Beowulf is showing his intelligence here because he is pretending to be asleep, so he can have the upper hand. Also Grendel doesn’t know that Beowulf has superhuman strength.
Grendel
Now in the story of Beowulf, Grendel is just one of the three monsters he meets. Grendel is portrayed as an Antagonist of the story Beowulf. There are many ways why Grendel is a Antagonist, but some characteristics that make him the Antagonist for the story of Beowulf are strength, monster, coward, hell and invincible. Next an example of his strength is, “ He slipped through the door and there in the silence snatched up thirty men, smashed them unknowing in their beds, and ran out with their bodies(Epic 1:3638).” This show that Grendel has great strength and only Beowulf can defeat this evil monster from destroying Herot. Then another characteristic of Grendel is that he is invincible to pain. An example of his power is, “ They could hack at Grendel from every side, trying to open a path for his evil soul, but their points could not hurt him, the sharpest and hardest iron could not scratch at his skin, for that sinstained demon had bewitched all men’s weapons, laid spells that blunted every mortal man’s blade(Epic 4: 479-485).” Therefore this is why Beowulf must stop Grendel before he destroys Herot and the king Hrothgar. Next Grendel is a big coward in the story because of this. “ Then, when darkness had dropped, Grendel went up to Herot, wondering what the warriors would do in that hall when their drinking was done(Epic 1: 30-33).” This tells us that Grendel is afraid to attack in the daytime and wants to attack everyone when they are asleep. And finally Grendel is depicted as an evil monster from hell that was born from Cain. The example of this is, “ 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(Epic 1: 19-23).”
Throughout the story, Beowulf is an epic hero, but the things he does is what makes him probably one of the best. Beowulf is always helping people out and protecting them and makes the people feel like they have a good sense of security. And Grendel is a monster raised from Cain. Grendel is one of the toughest monsters Beowulf meets, but he is a coward and not that smart at times which leads him to his downfall. Like when he walks in on Beowulf and gets his arm ripped off from Beowulf’s strength in his hands. However because of all that Beowulf does from helping people and protecting his kingdom I think that Beowulf is or is one of the best epic heroes. If Grendel wasn’t such a coward when it comes to fighting then I think Grendel would have been the toughest monster Beowulf faced and would have a good chance of killing Grendel.
The story Beowulf shows many literary analysis about the characters. Beowulf is an epic story because of how the story plays out until the ending. Also Beowulf the character shows many characteristics of an epic hero. However the story of Beowulf has a bad side and Grendel(Monster) is labeled as the Antagonist of the story. By using these literary analysis terms you can understand what the author beliefs in or even knowing how events happened during the lifetime of the writer. Therefore in the story Beowulf we can tell that the author made Beowulf like an Epic hero because of how he acts in the story by being a strong, bold man that cares about the people.
Beowulf:
Throughout the story Beowulf shows many characteristics of an epic hero with bravery, friendship, loyalty, and being intelligent. An example of how Beowulf shows his bravery is, “So Beowulf chose the mightiest men he could find, The bravest and best of the Geats, fourteen in all, and lead them down to their boat(Epic 1: 119-122).” This example shows how brave he was because he was the leader of all the Geats. Beowulf shows he is a hero also by his friendship when he is talking to the king Hrothgar. Next king Hrothgar says, “Still death taking more and more, but the table, Beowulf, a banquet in your honor; Let us toast your victories, and talk of the future(Epic 2: 222-224).” King Hrothgar shows great joyfulness for Beowulf’s across the sea and considers Beowulf a good friend. Beowulf also shows his friendship by reaching out to save the people from the evil of the monster Grendel. Next Beowulf shows his loyalty by repaying everyone in the kingdom after his battle with Grendel and later he protects his fathers kingdom by fighting the dragon alone. An example of this is, “ And with his shield at his side, and a mail shirt on his breast, Strode calmly, confidently, toward the tower, under the rocky cliffs: No coward could have walked there(Epic 6: 689-691)!” This shows that Beowulf will do anything to protect his country even though it might be an impossible feat. And finally throughout the story Beowulf is always showing intelligence. The way that Beowulf shows his intelligence is, “ Then he stepped to another still body, clutched at Beowulf with his claws, gasped at a strong hearted wakeful sleeper and was instantly seized himself, claws bent back as Beowulf leaned up on one arm(Epic 4: 427-431).” Beowulf is showing his intelligence here because he is pretending to be asleep, so he can have the upper hand. Also Grendel doesn’t know that Beowulf has superhuman strength.
Grendel
Now in the story of Beowulf, Grendel is just one of the three monsters he meets. Grendel is portrayed as an Antagonist of the story Beowulf. There are many ways why Grendel is a Antagonist, but some characteristics that make him the Antagonist for the story of Beowulf are strength, monster, coward, hell and invincible. Next an example of his strength is, “ He slipped through the door and there in the silence snatched up thirty men, smashed them unknowing in their beds, and ran out with their bodies(Epic 1:3638).” This show that Grendel has great strength and only Beowulf can defeat this evil monster from destroying Herot. Then another characteristic of Grendel is that he is invincible to pain. An example of his power is, “ They could hack at Grendel from every side, trying to open a path for his evil soul, but their points could not hurt him, the sharpest and hardest iron could not scratch at his skin, for that sinstained demon had bewitched all men’s weapons, laid spells that blunted every mortal man’s blade(Epic 4: 479-485).” Therefore this is why Beowulf must stop Grendel before he destroys Herot and the king Hrothgar. Next Grendel is a big coward in the story because of this. “ Then, when darkness had dropped, Grendel went up to Herot, wondering what the warriors would do in that hall when their drinking was done(Epic 1: 30-33).” This tells us that Grendel is afraid to attack in the daytime and wants to attack everyone when they are asleep. And finally Grendel is depicted as an evil monster from hell that was born from Cain. The example of this is, “ 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(Epic 1: 19-23).”
Throughout the story, Beowulf is an epic hero, but the things he does is what makes him probably one of the best. Beowulf is always helping people out and protecting them and makes the people feel like they have a good sense of security. And Grendel is a monster raised from Cain. Grendel is one of the toughest monsters Beowulf meets, but he is a coward and not that smart at times which leads him to his downfall. Like when he walks in on Beowulf and gets his arm ripped off from Beowulf’s strength in his hands. However because of all that Beowulf does from helping people and protecting his kingdom I think that Beowulf is or is one of the best epic heroes. If Grendel wasn’t such a coward when it comes to fighting then I think Grendel would have been the toughest monster Beowulf faced and would have a good chance of killing Grendel.