Similarities Between Beowulf And Grendel - 1433 Words

After reading the novels Beowulf and Grendel, I was interested in how the stories told from different perspectives were influenced by the religion. Beowulf is the hero and savior from all the monsters and Grendel is one of the monsters slain by Beowulf. From a religious standpoint Beowulf is written very focused on religion; like Beowulf acknowledges that God is the reason he is able to slay all of the beasts. On the other hand we have Grendel; he believes that the world is how he defines it. Beowulf was written as an anti-paganism poem, and Grendel was written to tell people the world is what you make of it and of yourself, but be careful to not cross the limits. Grendel isn’t as full of religion, but the emphasis of free-will versus†¦show more content†¦His first fight is against Grendel, the wrecker of Hrothgars mead hall. He defeats the terrible beast with his bare hands. His next fight is against Grendels mother, who avenged her son’s death by killing one of Hrothgar’s men. For the next 50 years Beowulf is king of the Geats, until the dragon is awaken. Beowulf meets his demise when he is bitten in the neck while battling the dragon, but he still manages to slay the dragon in the process. It is told that this was the end for the Geat people, soon they would be taken over by a more powerful clan. But did these events actually happen, or are they just symbols for people to look up to and remember? There is no actual evidence that Beowulf did any of these things. All we know is that Beowulf was probably an actual king whose stories were embellished for generations so that its hard to tell fact from fiction. The monks could’ve been the ones to embellish it to make it do what they wanted. During this time period the monks were trying to convert the pagans into Christians. By getting the pagans to read and relate to a historic old warrior and hero it would have been easier to get them to convert. This is why throughout the nov el of Beowulf we consistently see the reference to the almighty God, as seen on line 2858, â€Å"What God judged right would rule what happened to every man, as it does to this day† (Heaney). Throughout the story the monks cast Grendel and the other monsters as paganism, andShow MoreRelatedCompare and Contrast: Beowulf and Grendel Essay604 Words   |  3 PagesThere are many similarities and differences between the movie Beowulf and Grendel, to the poem. Major differences between the movie and the poem would be Grendel himself. In the poem, he is described as an evil monster born from two demons. In the movie, Grendel is actually human, but known as a troll to the warriors and Danes. The poem doesn’t give the background of Grendel or show how the Danes killed his father and the possible reason of his revenge, like in the movie. If the witch, Selma, wasRead MoreSimilarities Between Beowulf And Spiderman Bear1397 Words   |  6 Pagesbut that he used those powers to he lp others. Beowulf was described as a strong person known by many who defeated many conflicts. Although he had this strength is didn’t necessarily make him a hero. What made him a hero was when he helped others with their problems, like the Danes with Grendel. Although Beowulf and Spiderman bear some minor similarities, the differences between them are clear. In order to understand what the differences and similarities in traits mean, we have to understand the valueRead MoreThe Similarities Of Beowulf And Sense And Sensibility1345 Words   |  6 Pagesare still similarities, if you are willing to look for them. Even stories from different eras and literary movements are going to have similarities. 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While there are some similarities that connect the book and story together there are overall more differences that separateRead MoreEssay on Good vs Evil in Beowulf1568 Words   |  7 PagesIn Beowulf, the clash between good and evil is the poems 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 characteristi cs of â€Å"good vs. evil† such as Cain, Grendel and Beowulf, this paper will explore the elements of Beowulf in such a light. The Anglo-Saxon poem, Beowulf, was originally told orally then later was written down anonymously in the Old English languageRead MoreSimilarities Between Heroes And Monster In Beowulf743 Words   |  3 Pageshero or monster in a real-world sense might seem absurd, however, looking at people who have risked their lives, or devastated the world proves their existence. 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Grendel is the descendantRead More Point Of View In Grendel And Beowulf Essay1242 Words   |  5 Pages Contrasting points of view in Grendel and Beowulf significantly alter the reader’s perception of religion, good and evil, and the character Grendel. John Gardner’s book, Grendel, is written in first person. The book translated by Burton Raffel, Beowulf, is written in third person. Good and evil is one of the main conflicts in the poem Beowulf. How is Grendel affected by the concepts of good and evil? Grendel is an alienated individual who just wants to be a part of something. His desire to fit inRead More Analysis Of Grendel And Beowulf Essay1228 Words   |  5 PagesView in Grendel and Beowulfnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Contrasting points of view in Grendel and Beowulf significantly alter the readeramp;#8217;s perception of religion, good and evil, and the character Grendel. John Gardneramp;#8217;s book, Grendel, is written in first person. The book translated by Burton Raffel, Beowulf, is written in third person. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Good and evil is one of the main conflicts in the poem Beowulf. How is Grendel affectedRead MoreThe Epic Of Beowulf By William Shakespeare953 Words   |  4 PagesBeowulf is one of the most well known pieces of literature in history. Written between 700 and 1000 AD, this poem has captured the minds of scholars, historians, and readers across the globe. However, despite the fact that it has been passed down for numerous centuries, perhaps one of its most fascinating characteristics are the intriguing battles that Beowulf, the protagonist, takes on. Throughout this epic poem, Beowulf takes on many battles, all of which are practically unwinnable. Each battle