Contrasting Beowulf’s Battles With Grendel (and His Mother) and the Dragon

serve the king and save the Danes, who appear to be senselessly slaughtered. He may have been drafted into the contest, but he undertakes the task as his own.

THE MONSTERS OF BEOWULF AND THEIR FUNCTION

through numerous means, especially contrast and comparions. Grendel is shown to be totally without honor and is wild. "Grendel, who haunted the moors, the wild marshes, and made his

Beowulf as Christian and Christian Elements in the Poem “Beowulf”

overall situation and conflict between the pagan and Christian religions which existed in England at that time. The heavy Christian influence in the poem however, is reflected in the Christian

Beowulf and Grendel/Then and Now

Grendel is the stuff of pure myth. He is the amorphous evil that has no shape, yet is deadly. The monsters sole purpose is to provide a worthy adversary against

Beowulf & Odysseus/Ancient Heroes

inhabitants of England with the Christian influence that were undoubtedly added by the unknown poet who set the oral epic to paper. Nevertheless, despite the additions of Christian influence, the

Comparative Analysis of Grendel and the Dragon in the Medieval Poem, “Beowulf”

was the devil incarnate: "At the dawning, as day was breaking, / the might of Grendel to men was known; / then after wassail was wail uplifted, /

Beowulf v. Odysseus/Who is the most attractive?

great mead-hall Heorot, which is ruled by Hrothgar. Section VIII of the poem pictures Beowulf addressing the assembly and bragging extravagantly about his own brave, skill and heroism. He says,

Beowulf & Aeneas

Aeneas is bound by the heroic values of a warrior class. However, while Aeneas first inclination is to fight the invading Greeks, he is presented with portents and powerful visual

Christianity in Beowulf

in defending his people. It is a story that has its origins in pagan culture, but it was recorded by a Christian scribe (Saupe 97). Therefore there are "overlays" that

Beowulf as a Christ-like Figure

pagan elements. The world pictured in Beowulf is dominated by warriors, men who placed their faith primarily in two things -- their leader (their "thane") and in "wyrd" (a

13th Warrior/A Beowulf Retelling

of King Hrothgar in defeating a man-eating monster, Grendel, who is terrorizing his people and killing his warriors each night. There is, likewise, a similar threat to King Hrothgars people.

Revenge and the Law in Beowulf and Njal’s Saga

and Njals Saga (written in the thirteenth century) - revenge and the law are the primary themes that link each tale. They reveal much about the pagan era and

Beowulf

also showing caution, at least at first, concerning Beowulf. The first excerpt to be examined shows Hrothgar speaking to Beowulf: "For fight defensive, Friend my Beowulf, to succor and save,

Beowulf as the Ideal Leader

"Hrothgar O sovran Hrothgar, to seek thee here" possessed of his "nerve and...might" (VI). He tells Hrothgar that he will do whatever is necessary even if "if death must take

English literature from Beowulf to Pope

offers a rather broader depiction of the society of his time: society has become more diverse, since Chaucers pilgrims represent numerous different lifestyles and degrees of social standing. The warrior