Similarities And Differences Between Beowulf And Grendel

Grendel’s mother, a swamp-hag, comes to the mead-hall seeking revenge for the death of her son. She murders one of Hrothgar’s most trusted advisers, before running away back to the swamp. To avenge the death of the trusted advisor, the company travels to the murky swamp, where Beowulf dives straight into the water without hesitation. Beowulf then begins to fight Grendel’s mother in her underwater lair. He kills her with a sword that was made for a giant, and then he ends up finding the corpse of Grendel. Beowulf decapitates Grendel’s head to bring back to Hrothgar as another trophy. After Beowulf has defeated Grendel’s mother, the Danish countryside now find themselves free of its treacherous monsters. This is a great battle for Beowulf because he has now saved the Danes, and he has revenged them. The Danes were obviously overjoyed by Beowulf’s victory once again, and this time his fame was spread across the kingdom. Beowulf had a lot of pride for his past victories, so winning these great battles have backed up his prideful spirit and

There was a central theme that was referenced throughout the movie and the poem. However, The theme for the movie was that history would repeat itself while the theme for the poem was good versus evil as well as how kings and thanes should act. In the poem, The main theme that was present was how kings and thanes should act, and in line 691, it was said that, “None of his comrades/Came to him, helped him, his brave and noble/Followers; they ran for their lives, fled/Deep in a wood. And only one of them remained, stood there, miserable, remembering,/As a good man must, what kinship should mean.” On the other hand, the theme for the movie was that history was doomed to repeat itself. This is because Hrothgar was the first person to be seduced by Grendel’s Mother, then Beowulf was the one to follow in Hrothgar’s foot steps. Lastly, the movie ended with Wiglaf holding Grendel’s Mother’s cup while he was staring at her in the

In Gardner’s Novel “Grendel”, the idea of being a hero look at being the inner hero not just a hero on the outside.

The “Monstrous ogress” was “savage in her grief,” and her actions become even more beastly than her sons (Beowulf 1258-76). Women in this Germanic Warrior society were meek, so the actions of Grendel’s mother greatly contrast with the typical behavior of a woman in this time period. Grendel’s mother’s gruesome actions are beastly in nature, but her emotions of outrage and grief for the murder of her son are human. Once again, Beowulf’s victory of the savage monster shows the overall theme of good winning against evil.

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. In the epic poem it says, "Grendel's one thought was to run from Beowulf, flee back to his marsh and hide there" (Beowulf 314-315). This quote explains that the people at Meadhall believed that Grendel was startled by the way the people responded back on his attack. This makes the readers think that Grendel was not confident enough to take the people at Meadhall down because of his fearful view. In this attack from Grendel, in the novel he not viewed as if he was terrified but in the epic poem he was, however, this part of the stories was then lead by his

Grendel in the novel is different from the Grendel shown in the epic poem Beowulf because Grendel shows a different side of himself. Grendel in the novel is much more complex, whereas in the epic poem, he is much more epic and destructive. However, in both the novel and the epic poem, the reader is able to see how short tempered he is in both. This helps the reader get a better insight of how Grendel actually feels throughout the novel rather than the way he is perceived in the poem, because it takes into perspective on how he lives his life and feels throughout the entire war.

Within this paper, there are two different pieces writing that will be compared. Those writings are The Epic Poem of Beowulf and A Hero’s Journey Archetype. This paper will be discussing this question: How does Beowulf follow the Hero’s Journey Archetypes?

Grendel was known to have attacked innocent soldiers, however; Beowulf attacks, and kills Grendel whereas, his mother will soon take out revenge on his killer.

Throughout John Garder’s novel and the poem Beowolf the reader can tell that Grendel is a complex character that does not relate much to anyone else in the novel or the poem. Grendel in Garder’s novel is also different compared to the Grendel in the poem Beowolf by many different standards. Grendel in Garder’s novel is more a complicated character then the Grendel in Beowolf because the novel is set in first person point of view, the reader can have a deeper understanding of Grendel in the novel, and there is more modern philosophy in Grendel the novel.

She then tries to avenge his death by brutally killing many men of Herot. She, like her son, causes much distress for the kingdom. On lines 441-445, citizens of the kingdom as of Beowulf’s help. The quote says, “Our only help, Again, lies with you. Grendel’s mother Is hidden in her terrible home, in a place You’ve not seen. Seek it of you dare! Save us.” (pg. 52) Beowulf is very aggravated by what Grendel’s mother is doing therefore, he travels to kill her too. A mighty and dangerous battle between Beowulf causes great confliction for the epic hero. During the time, it had seemed that Grendel’s mother was about to win victory over Beowulf. That is until Beowulf used his mighty sword, killing Grendel’s mother. The fact that Beowulf is willing enough to kill Grendel’s mother shows how determined he is to be classified as a

Grendel breaks into the hall. Moreover Grendel eats one of the Geat soldiers. Then Beowulf stops Grendel from eating him. Lastly Beowulf defeats Grendel to protect the Danes. “[Grendel] grasped at a strong- hearted wakeful sleeper- and was

In the movie and epic poem Beowulf there were many similarities and difference that was noticed. Beowulf was not a true as he was in the movie. However in the epic poem he was more honest and he kept his word. For example, when Beowulf doesn’t tell the truth about defeating Grendel’s mother, but in the poem he actually defeated her. On the other hand it was interesting to see the poem come to life and it made it easier to understand the concept of the story.

In the halls of Heorot, an evil presence terrorizes its people. An evil presence known as Grendel. Grendel is assumed to be a descendent of Cain, who is destined to be evil. Even though he is full of corruption, he is a lonely creature who seeks companionship by killing the people of Heorot. Every one in the castle is terrified of Grendel as well as the King’s warriors. There is only one man that is not afraid to confront this enormous beast, Beowulf. Beowulf is fearless and eventually rips the arm off of Grendel and brings it upon King Hrothgar. The people are overjoyed and feast in the great hall. Grendel’s mother however is furious about the death of her son. Beowulf kills Grendel’s mother with his sword. After retuning home, Beowulf has

What do all great works of literature have in common? All impressive literary works have hugely contrasting alienated characters, usually portrayed by the villains, and heroic characters. These two distinct characters may not get along well, but they both work together to highlight the underlying themes woven in the story. Alienated characters reveal the things a society values and desires by embodying characteristics that go against these wants. On the other hand, heroic characters highlight these morals and aspirations by exemplifying them. In the epic poem Beowulf passed on by the Anglo-Saxons, the alienated character of Grendel and the heroic character of Beowulf underscore the values, assumptions, and morals of the Anglo-Saxon culture.

Beowulf has lasted since around between five hundred to a thousand Current Era. Beowulf story has lived on through people telling the story and it being written. Beowulf was a strong, intelligent, kind, caring, brave, and noble man. The story has lived on because of the accomplishments of Beowulf. The story would not be told today if Beowulf had not killed those horrible creatures.