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Beowulf And Grendel's Mother

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In this passage of Beowulf, Beowulf and Grendel’s mother are fighting in an underwater cave. This passage is significant because it contradicts the image of Beowulf as a hero and Grendel’s mother as a villain. In the first part of the passage, the author contrasts qualities about Grendel’s mother and Beowulf by calling Beowulf a “hero” and Grendel’s mother a “that swamp-thing from hell.” The word “hero” is used to describe Beowulf as an honorable character as it is someone who endangers their own life in order to help others. Nothing else is told about Beowulf except this broad description however Grendel’s mother is described as a “swamp thing.” This kenning depicts Grendel’s mother as a monster who comes from a despicable and diabolical background. It shows how she is associated with evil and not recognized as a living being. Furthermore, the description of the monster as “that swamp-thing from hell” highlights Grendel’s mother’s evil nature and conveys her as barbaric to convey that she is an irrational enemy. This is vital because it displays Grendel’s mother as a villain and that she craves …show more content…

This is seen by her pinning down Beowulf before she attacks to show that she is committing a necessary evil and that she truly doesn't want to engage in killing.This kind characteristic is seen when Grendel's mother will “avenge her only son” as a sympathetic tone is used here to show the good side of Grendel’s mom. Her actions were justified because her intentions was to simply avenge her son whom she deeply cared for. Diction is additionally used in words such as, “pounced” to show the fierce actions, demonstrating Grendel’s mom’s anger and at the same time her love for

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Grendel had being killing and terrorizing Hrothgar’s people. The news of Grendel had travel to the land of the Geats and Beowulf had come to provide assistance to Hrothgar. One day after Beowulf and Grendel’s fight, where Beowulf tears off the demons’ arm, the monster’s mother came to vengeance her son’s death. She was also defeated and killed by Beowulf, for which he received many gifts and praise by Hrothgar and his wife Wealhtheow.

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He is portrayed in the poem as a horrendous beast with human characteristics, but looking closer to the text, he is a human out-casted and raised to be a monster. Although Grendel is written as a monstrous villain who kills with no remorse, he is actually a complex human with a repressed anger exploding in bursts. Grendel is often described in a negative way. He is reffered to as a demon in the text “from Beowulf”

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In Beowulf, there are two other monsters that the author focuses on. One is Grendel’s mother and the other is a dragon. Grendel’s mother is the same kind of monster as Grendel but she does not eat people. Grendel says that he thinks his mother is part human because she doesn’t do the same things he does (Gardner 11).

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The Beowulf poet doesn’t describe Grendel and his mother’s appearance because it makes people imagine how the giant monster is supposed to look like. Yes, the poet should have left a brief description of their appearance. When people can imagine the monster’s looks they can make it look scary by their standards. People have different ideas of what they would find scary, and if they get a detailed description of a monster they might not find that monster’s image as scared as it could be. They can imagine if Grendel’s claws are strength and sharp like a knife or are curved and thin like a cat’s claws.

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504 Words | 3 Pages

In the Epic Beowulf, Grendel, the Monster, killed many people. Beowulf ended up killing Grendel by ripping his arm right off and him limping into the wilderness and died slowly. Grendels mother came back for revenge of the killing of her son. While all the warriors are sleeping from the party they celebrated for the killing of Grendel, Grendels Mother attack the Heorot Hall. After she attacks, she ended up running back to her cave where Beowulf finds her there and ends up killing her.

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1044 Words | 5 Pages

The hero in the epic poem Beowulf is the main character, Beowulf. He demonstrates heroic qualities as soon as the readers are introduced to his character. Beowulf proves himself to be courageous and brave by voluntarily fighting the “undefeatable” monster, Grendel. He is greatly admired by both the Danes and Geats for his courageous acts. Although his motivation is altered to only benefit himself with the title of the greatest warrior, his plan to save the Danes is greatly appreciated by all in the land.

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603 Words | 3 Pages

In the epic poem Beowulf, the protagonist, Beowulf, faces three “monsters” at different times in his life. The poem begins with Grendel, a monster who attacks only in the dark of night, tormenting the kingdom of Hrothgar. The last two sections of the epic detail the conquering by Beowulf of Grendel’s mother and the dragon. The battle between the monsters and Beowulf represent the theme of good versus evil in the poem, as well as the fusion of pagan and Christian ideals in the changing Germanic society. Grendel’s mother’s actions directly juxtapose the role of a woman in this time period, and the greediness of the dragon with his treasure contrasts with the virtues of what would be considered a good king.

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The lessening of Grendel’s Mother’s abilities because of her sex continues with Beowulf’s vow that “she’ll not protect herself by hiding” (1391b), she may have her own feminine space but he, as a man, will break in easily. Retelling the story of their fight when he returns home, Beowulf dismisses it in a couple of lines compared to the longer time he spent telling the story of the fight with Grendel. Beowulf describes her decapitation at his hands “with a sword of huge size” (2139), the sword a phallic symbol and the metaphorical rape her carries out on her is a warning that any woman who defies the homosocial order will be subjugated by the more powerful male

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1285 Words | 6 Pages

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.

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Grendel’s mother is seen as a vicious character in this story, which in medieval times most women tend to play the role of a witch, demon or sorcerer. In Beowulf, Grendel’s mother played the role of a so called “Masculine Queen”. Even in the title it still seems sexist, claiming a woman cannot be powerful unless she acts masculine. According to Dorothy Porter Carr, “Grendel’s mother, is a hardier opponent than her son was, and she is certainly physically capable of carrying out her desired vengeance.” Grendel’s mother acts in a more masculine manner than the other women do; she poses some strong physical and magical powers, which in medieval times she is considered evil.

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427 Words | 2 Pages

In today’s society, anybody can be considered a hero. A hero is a selfless person who is admired for their courageous achievements. A mother, celebrity, or even a mailman can be a hero to someone. In Beowulf, the epic poem translated by Burton Raffel, Beowulf is recognized as a hero who craves too much glory. In today’s world, Beowulf is viewed as an irrelevant hero since he displays poor qualities of arrogance and selfishness.

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580 Words | 3 Pages

In the epic poem, Beowulf, there are clear distinctions between an epic hero and a monster. Beowulf is the prime example of a epic hero possessing characteristics such as superior strength, courage, and loyalty. On the other hand, Grendel and Grendel’s mother are characteristized as evil and immoral based off of their actions. These characteristics are presented throughout the poem, and monsters are given grotesque, hideous appearances to further prove that they are evil. After Beowulf kills Grendel, Grendel’s mother reaction revealed how the full presentation of a character can allow readers to react differently than before and even sympathized with them.

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941 Words | 4 Pages

The fight with Grendel’s mother is much more violent than the fight with Grendel, for she is stronger than the previous enemy, so Beowulf changes his battle tactics to compensate for her

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752 Words | 4 Pages

Grendel in both stories is described as a vicious "Monster", but is viewed differently. The character of Grendel, in the novel by John Gardner, portrays a different visualization than that of Grendel in the epic poem Beowulf. In the novel the story is told in first person point of view which gives Grendel human qualities while Grendel in Beowulf is told in third person point of view not giving Grendel his standpoint. In both works, the authors give two different perspectives of Grendel. Grendel in the novel is not seen as a "Monster", but as a human that has emotions and is very sympathetic about everything that comes his way.

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535 Words | 3 Pages

The anger from her son's death turns her into a strong fighter. Grendel's mother is able to take on Beowulf, himself a strong warrior. The text, Beowulf, says, “She paid him back quickly with angry claws and clutched him against her,” when talking of her battle with Beowulf. Grendel's mother is of strong character thinking of only her poor son. She cannot be hurt by a normal sword and so she continues to give a good fight.

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