Although Sauron from Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King and Grendel from Beowulf and the Fight with Grendel are both evil monsters, major distinctions between them makes Sauron more monstrous. Firstly, Sauron’s destructive power is greater than Grendel’s destructive power. Sauron rules over an army of orcs and mighty mystical beings. Using the army, Sauron establishes his destructive power in two major instances; the assault on Gondor and the final battle at the black gate. During both conflicts, Sauron’s army causes major casualties to the armies of men. Grendel, although powerful, causes destruction on a significantly smaller scale. Grendel has proficient fighting abilities and great strength as he manages to easily tear Hondscio apart limb by limb. However, he is easily subdued and defeated by Beowulf. Since …show more content…
Sauron brings immense destruction to middle earth throughout the film. Particularly, his army was able to sack the city Gondor killing men, women and children. Grendel haunts Heorot keep, devouring people within the hall after dusk. Grendel’s presence made the people of Heorot live in fear ever since the hall was built. Furthermore, Grendel is able to devour Hondscio during Beowulf’s attempt to defeat Grendel. Since Grendel’s accomplishments only affected the lives of a few people, Sauron’s destruction of thousands of lives makes him more monstrous. Lastly, Sauron’s motives for destruction are more malicious than those of Grendel’s. Grendel’s motives for assaulting Heorot keep are those that match his animal instincts; to search for food. In contrast, Sauron’s motives are purely evil as he desires total domination of Middle Earth. His motives are evident when he attempts to overtake middle earth, starting with Gondor. Since Sauron’s motives for destruction are completely malicious while Grendel’s may simply be animal instinct, Sauron’s purely evil motives make him more
What conventions make an epic tale? The conventions of an epic tale consist of allusions, archetypes, foils, symbols, and parallels. The Natural, starring Robert Redford as Roy Hobbs shows the same use of the conventions of a classic epic tale as the story of Beowulf. The conventions of an epic tale are strewn throughout the movie, and are utilized thoroughly throughout the plot.
Beowulf killed Grendel to protect others from his wrath and save future lives. Gilgamesh killed Humbaba for no other reason than showing that he could. I feel that Gilgamesh is more of a monster than Humbaba because Humbaba only killed to protect a sacred forest. Gilgamesh killed him just because he was capable. This factor makes Beowulf and Gilgamesh two very different people in my opinion.
Up until the end of Chapter 7, Grendel’s actions are influenced by the dragon. He believes nothing matters, there is no good or bad, and everybody eventually dies. The people of Heort know Grendel as a monster and a killer and he lives up to his reputation.
It could be argued that he kills people who are at the hall because they are all having fun and socializing, but he isn’t able to do that so he punishes those who can. Readers see both sides of Grendel in his backstory because he is evil, but he is not evil for no reason, like
Both authors paint a grotesque picture of their creations and how they both desire to destroy beauty; Aesthetic Iconoclasm, that is shared between the two figures. However, both authors present their monsters separate to one another in philosophy; with Grendel being a mindless savage and the Monster being more contemplative and questioning the nature of its own creation. ‘Monster’ characters have always been a target of both folk tales and pagan myths since the dawn of humanity, the very concept of a monstrous creature harkens back to the primal fear instinct of facing a dangerous predator that presents a danger to humanity. Grendel from Beowulf is the perfect example of this hysteria and
Beowulf vs Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon all represent a creature from hell and Beowulf is a god-like warrior who ends up slaying evil. “Like a man outlawed/for wickedness, he must await/the mighty judgement of God in majesty” (Beowulf 976 - 978). This quote talks about Grendel and his demonic soul. Beowulf points out that he is an evil creature and no creature ever to exist is powerful enough to smite God. Once Grendel dies, Grendel will be in God’s hands and Grendel will regret ever being evil or committing any evil action to anyone or anything on Earth.
(Lindsey 1). Nevertheless Grendel also got what he deserved as well. Grendel had no worries reason being he was the most feared and undefeated monster in Denmark. (Beowulf 44). Until the courageous warrior Beowulf heard of the tragedy that was happening.
With a description like that it is not hard to imagine Grendel’s homeland as a dark, desolate place where no joy or love can be found. Grendel is jealous of the people of Heorot because they have all that he does not, joy, happiness and love, this is where his aggression stems from which attributes to his jealousy. Grendel grew up around nothing but monsters so it is easy to infer that what he is truly yearning for is human acceptance and he knows deep down that he will never receive it, so that is why he is so angry. Like many people, Grendel lets his anger get the best of him and he attacked the mead hall. Anger ran through his veins for about 12 years, he did not give the people of Heorot a break, instead he wreaked havoc come nightfall.
Early in the novel, Grendel listens to the Shaper and says “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” (Gardner 51). Grendel believes the words of the Shaper and is overcome with sadness at the truth in it. In most cases, truly evil characters take pride in being viewed as threatening figures. Grendel, on the other hand, is ashamed and does not wish to be viewed as a dark figure.
This is the beginning of Grendel falling directly into the role that the dragon said he would need to fill. Grendel’s murderous tendencies completely reflect the monstrous side of his personality and the more he kills the more he grows insane, separating from rational, humanistic thought. “I am swollen with excitement, bloodlust and joy and a strange fear that mingle in my chest like the twisting rage of a bone-fire... I am blazing, half-crazy with joy” (168). It is clear that, by the time Beowulf arrives, Grendel has embraced the fact that he is required to be evil, despite the fact that he previously claimed he would oppose that destiny.
Grendel in the novel displays the idea that he is far more superior than mankind. He mentions, "I am swollen with excitement, bloodlust and joy and a strange fear that mingle in my chest like the twisting rage of a bonfire" (Gardner 167-168). Grendel knows that that the people fear him because he is different and he uses that to his advantage. The "Monster", Grendel, seems to be fascinated in attacking Meadhall and is not frightened at all. Although he is brave in the novel, Grendel in the epic poem is described in being scared and weak on the attack at Meadhall.
Grendel represent the dark side of humanity that have simply lost. Whereas, the dragon is truly a monster that human simply can’t relate at
Beowulf slayed them because he believed it was his duty. No one could defeat these monsters like he could. There had to be a reason Beowulf fought these monsters because he never did it for himself. He put others ahead of himself because he believed it was his moral obligation to. When he fought Grendel he had to defeat him to balance good and evil.
Grendel is one of the most important enemy he faces and the battle is significant because it
In the poem Beowulf, there is a contrast between good and evil. This distinction is presented through the monsters Grendel and his mother, in parallel to the hero Beowulf. The themes of evil and monstrosity are therefore used in the story, as a way to create the notion of Grendel and his mother as monsters. Beowulf therefore appears as a character representing good. Although Beowulf shows traits of abnormal power, like Grendel and his mother, his motifs are interpreted differently.