...own thoughts or feelings is a key aspect of human awareness and is significant in every social activity. To understand who and how one is, one repeats his or her own experiences and actions. In Grendel, John Gardner, the author, writes to a broad audience to people from the modern time. This time period brought reflection of why people believed what they do. John Gardner retells the poem Beowulf from the perspective of Grendel, the protagonist. The intended audience in Grendel by John Gardner is targeting introspective thinkers to compare the human-like characteristics of Grendel to the reader. To begin with, Gardner argues that there is no meaning to life and no reason to follow the organization of the...
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...evident themes portrayed in the novels Beowulf and Grendel. These themes were seen in a variety of methods used by the author point of view, purpose, style of the text, persuasiveness, beauty of the text, and a number of other ways. Major themes seen in both of these stories are search for identity and violence. These themes are in both these stories and are what bring power and uniqueness to the style of the writing. Beowulf and Grendel are both very well known for displaying what a true epic hero was and showed the flaws every epic hero had as well. In both Grendel and Beowulf, a strong theme seen the author’s point of view is a search for identity. It is not just Beowulf and Grendel...
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...Roslyn Marshall Mr. Lerma English 1B 1 December 2014 Word Count: 3,399 Grendel: A Symbol for the Unknown In the history of human civilization, stories have always had an educative role. In the literary works of fiction, authors use diverse images and symbols in order to trigger a particular reaction from the audience. Some authors, however, use traditional images in new contexts challenging the audience's perception of those iconic characters. Authors often argue that characters can have different meanings and symbolism in different cultures and different times. The best example of these new meanings is seen through the writing about iconic monsters in different time periods. From the analysis’ of Beowulf and Grendel: The Truth Behind England’s Oldest Legend by John Grigsby and Grendel by John Gardner, the character of Grendel in both books is the symbolic meaning of how society is afraid of the unknown. When people are confronted with an unfamiliar circumstance, it is human nature to twist the unknown into something frightening and unacceptable....
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...describes Grendel as a pure monstrosity. For twelve years he has plagued Hrothgar’s people; creating no sleep within the community. Many of Hrothgar’s people had been slain due to this monster. Upon having murderous intent, the Danish describe him as monster-like, bringing about the notion that he is a creature of that extent. Within the text, he is described as a demon or fiend. His physical appearance as well as actions may seem to justify his monstrosity, but it is due to the other factors such as the narrator and the two monsters that justify his connection with evil. Grendel is made evil when the narrator brings about his origin and connection with a Biblical figure, Cain. “Grendel this monster grim was called, march-riever mighty, in moorland living, in fen and fastness; fief of the giants the hapless wight a while had kept since the Creator his exile doomed. On kin of Cain was the killing avenged by Sovran God for slaughtered Abel…” Cain was punished by God because of this evil he commits, and having connected with Cain creates an evil aura around Grendel regardless of whether he could possibly be misunderstood. Adding to that, his killings do not help him. He is depicted as a monster. Shortly after Beowulf’s victory against Grendel, comes his mother. Just as Beowulf kills Grendel as an act of vengeance, Grendel’s mother comes to repay back the favor. Unlike Grendel, his mother has a reason to attack the people: Revenge. The same type of revenge Beowulf wanted against...
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...Jonathan Graves World Literature Debra Germany 3 March 2014 Beowulf is a story that interested me for a long time. We read this story in grade school, and now in college it sparks many debates in the minds of college students, including mine. When I read it in grade school, it was a good story about monsters and heroes. Now that my literary mind has somewhat developed there are some controversies that jump out at me. At my first glance of the story in grade school, you really don't understand the depth of the epic. Being in a college level course we learned that the original author is an unknown man from pagan times written between the 600th and the 700th century, which is another debate all on its own.(The History of Beowulf) The epic poem Beowulf has deep roots in Paganism and was translated later in Christian times. Being a story from Anglo-Saxon England one has to wonder about what was going on at the time it was written. "The Christian church had been well-established and it suffered greatly from the invasions.(BBC) When the Angles and the Saxons invaded Roman Britain it was believed that the story of Beowulf came with them and the story was later translated by an unknown Christian author. It is also believed that this story was and oral poem that was spoke and passed down from generation. Most of the mystery cannot be proven with fact. It has been debated on by scholars for the past few centuries. Some authors consider it part of the Christianization...
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...Gutierrez Ms. Margaret Annen AP English 23 November 2013 Compare/Contrast Beowulf Movie & Book When you read a book, then soon after watch the movie, the first thing you check for is what are the similarities and differences in both. The book allows you’re imagination to run wild, while the movie gives you the director’s or author’s perspective on a literary piece. The book and movie have a vast amount of details that set them apart. Among the similarities found in both the book and movie are that they both include the same characters. The majority of characters and their attitudes in the movie are almost identical to that of the book. In addition, in Beowulf’s battle against Grendel, he rids Grendel of the vicious beast’s arm. The Danes are then overjoyed with the defeat of the terrorizing monster they cringed from for so long and celebrate with an abundance of mead and drunken slurs. They then hang Grendel’s slaughtered arm for all to see as a form of a victory flag. Finally, Beowulf is responsible for the death of both Grendel and his vengeance-filled mother. The many differences that contrast both are found in the portrayal of Grendel and Beowulf’s fathers. In addition, the way the outcome of the plot ends and the manners in which the dragon presents itself. The similarities are slight compared to the differences, but they still play a vastly crucial role in comparing the composition of the book to the movie. The differences of both are more accumulative...
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...about Beowulf ALUMNA: GARCÉS RODRÍGUEZ, JENIFFER. AÑO: 2016– V Ciclo TRUJILLO – PERÚ COMPARISON ABOUT BEOWULF CHARACTER IN A FILM AND THE POEM The story of Beowulf is a timeless tale that many people have heard before. Beowulf is the great Anglo-Saxon hero who represents all that is good in the world and fights to protect the innocent. Beowulf goes out to battle monsters like Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the firedrake to keep the people safe. This part of the story will always remain the same and will never change. However, when comparing the poem to the film there are in fact both similarities and substantial changes. I have considered appropriate to compare the similarities and differences of Beowulf’s personality and physical appearance. In the lines below, I will develop this issue. When comparing Beowulf’s personality and physical appearance in the poem and the film, there a few similarities between the two. Both the character in the poem and in the film possesses the same basic traits. In both the poem and the film, Beowulf is described as being the best and bravest of the Geats. Besides, it can be read and seen that Beowulf’s physical strength is above all others. In addition both the poem and film show the courage that Beowulf possessed in traveling a great distance to battle Grendel for the Danes. “When Beowulf had...
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...the novel Grendel by John Gardner, the main character, Grendel, acts as a monster who is jeopardizing the King Hrothgar’s town. The novel is told by Grendel himself. With Grendel as the narrator, the audience is able to understand his thoughts and the events that he goes through. By Gardner choosing to have Grendel narrate the story, the reader is able to see into his life, grasp his thoughts and feelings, and understand why he turned into the monster he is. As Grendel tells the story, the audience is able to see the events that he takes place in and understand why he makes the choices that he does. Grendel telling the story firsthand lets the reader follow his life from childhood, to when he becomes a monster. Grendel evolves greatly through the story as his opinions on certain things change. He acquires a more advanced way of narrating and writing through the novel. He also includes things like the thoughts of other characters, for example, when he's comparing humans to animals saying the deer “sees all life without observing it” (Page 8). His narration changes the storyline and the view of things from that of Beowulf. If the novel were to be told by another character, the reader would not get a clear...
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...Comparing Grendel and The Grinch. Can there be a lot of similarities between two totally different titles like Beowulf and How The Grinch Stole Christmas? Well there are plenty. For example, Grendel and The Grinch both are monsters. They both are isolated from the villages and attack at night. The stories even have a character that is considered a hero. Even though they have similarities, the differences show in the background, characters, and the conflict. The Danes and the Whos’ were both celebrating. The Danes were celebrating because of their hard fought victories against their enemies. They built a mead hall in which they drank and sang all night long. The Whos’, however, were celebrating because a magical time called Christmas. They...
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...Hero’s are often the strongest, smartest, and most looked up to people in their village or country. In this essay I will be comparing and contrasting two great warriors who have earned to become a hero. Beowulf, and the character from the 13th warrior are two amazing hero’s that have a lot of courage and strength for their people and their own soul. Beowulf came to be considered a hero when he hears the tragic story of king Hrothgar. Afterwards he sailed to Denmark to help out the helpless king Hrothgar and his army who have been attacked many times by the cruel Grendel. Grendel in the story is considered to be a horrible demon that lives in the swamplands of Hrothgar’s kingdom. Grendel attacked the warriors because of the noise they made when they were in Heorot. Therefore Grendel terrorized the warriors every night, killing them and defeating their efforts to fight back. Beowulf who at the time was inspired by the story he heard went with some of his closest companions, and asks the great king Hrothgar if he could fight the mean devil Grendel, and without a doubt the helpless king accepts the offer. At last Grendel arrives, to a feast the king held for Beowulf brave remark. Beowulf fights him unarmed, proving himself stronger than the demon, who is terrified. As Grendel struggles to escape, Beowulf tears the monster’s arm off. Badly wounded, Grendel escapes back into the swamp to die. The severed arm is hung high in the Mead Hall as a trophy of victory. Later that night Grendel’s...
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...The key character in the poem Beowulf, is a heroic and a legendary character whose actions are embodied to the Anglo-Saxon culture. As a hero he has the accepted and the most ideal characteristics that are accepted in the Anglo-Saxon culture. The tale revolves around these characteristics to make up an epic tale. Beowulf is moulded to possess the virtues, traits and beliefs that were highly respected and requires in the Anglo-Saxon culture. Therefore, is displayed to have these virtues in his own actions and words during different circumstances in the tale. Reading Beowulf brings out lots of similarities with many pieces of literature from the Ancient Greek and the Modern literature. The Beowulf carries is similar to many Greek dramas that focused on a protagonist who was turned out to be a tragic hero. There was an element of belief in the gods who had super- human powers and had unique and ultimate special skills of their own, and overcame unsurmountable problems. However, in Beowulf, there is no Greek or Roman gods, but there are other supernatural beings defined as monsters that exist and are difficult to win over. Beowulf is extra-ordinarily strong, agile, and super intelligent. He is portrayed as one who overcomes many obstacles and was able to kill Grendel and his mother and the others in the sea. In addition, the wide character list and meaningful names is similar to those of other types of literature of the early eras. The story of Paradise lost opens in hell. Satan...
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...Pieces. Beowulf, composed by an unknown author between the eight and the tenth centuries AD was an epic poem from the Medieval Era. Faustus was a play written in verse by Christopher Marlowe during the Renaissance Era between 1564-1593, both reflecting the dominant ideas and values of the context. The Medieval Era was a politically unstable time predominantly influenced by Christian culture and storytelling, where heroic tales of the noble were highly valued and as a result reflect religious ideas. The Renaissance era marked a major cultural turning point for British Culture as the philosophy of humanism emerged, which engendered literature to become increasingly vibrant and free- thinking. Both canonical texts provide significant insight into both the Medieval and Renaissance era. These concepts are explored through the principals of Christianity and the prevailing conflict during each context time. The importance of religion were relevant in both contexts, Beowulf reinforcing the beliefs of the time while Faustus indicates Britain's shift to humanist values and intensified the assertion of personal independence and individual expression. Beowulf demonstrates his trust in God easily into Christian context and repeatedly acknowledges God as his protector. “The captain of evil discovered himself in a grip harder than anything he had ever encountered in any man on the face of the earth.” Allusion to supernatural powers and biblical allusions allow emphasis how Grendel is inherently...
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...assisted by supernatural beings. Comparing Beowulf to Percy Jackson based on their culture and heroic characteristics involving bravery, leadership, strength, personality traits, fighting style, and their motivation to fight. Focuses on the two different aspects of heroism as defined by Greek and Anglo Saxon culture. Beowulf and Percy Jackson share the heroic traits of leadership skills, superhuman strength and bravery. Beowulf is the leader of the Geats,...
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...My modern day hero I am comparing to beowulf is a soldier, my seem like they don't have a lot in common, but they really do. Like soldiers, beowulf love to fight, and show off their strength. Both do things that other people wouldn’t, to protect people they don't even know. Beowulf has supernatural strength, and soldiers don't but they still risk their lives for their country. Both of them are really brave, and save lives. Beowulf fights off grendel to protect the danes, as the soldiers fight to protect their country. Beowulf, and soldiers accomplish missions others would not attempt in their lifetime. “A path for his evil soul, but their points could not open hurt him, the sharpest and hardest iron could not scratch his skin.”(line 360-361 pg 32). Like in this quote, beowulf has powers to help him during a fight. A soldier is a regular human being with a substantial amount of bravery. They both fight with honor, and the will of fire in their hearts for a peaceful world....
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...Beowulf vs. Achilles “They were combat causalities, brave men and women who risked their lives to safeguard our freedom. And they paid for our liberty with their lives” (Cannon). So many people die for the freedoms that the American person values. As society grows and becomes different the true heroes are becoming less recognized. What modern day people would say about today's heroes would be far from the brave, and courageous war soldiers. A very long time ago, there were two brave and courageous warriors, Beowulf of Denmark and Achilles of Greece. These two individuals reached the highest expectations and excelled at successfully leading their people in battle. Both amazing leaders and determined fighters, but they came from different backgrounds,...
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