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Compare And Contrast Grendel And Beowulf's Actions

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Monsters take on easy prey and heroes have the strength to defeat the monster. This can be seen in Grendel and Beowulf's actions. Grendel preys on the sleeping soldiers. He encounters Beowulf and is surprised by Beowulf's strength and how Beowulf was quick to strike back. Grendel was mortally wounded by Beowulf and knew he was going to die. After being mortally wounded, Grendel cowardly flees. Beowulf's actions in battle reflects that of a hero as Beowulf was quick to fearlessly attack the monster in order to save the lives of the thanemen. Grendel's actions in battle reflects that of a monster as Grendel wanted to retreat when he knew he was unable to win the fight against the hero.
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Grendel’s story is not only from his perspective, but it also starts far before Beowulf enters the picture. Grendel does not even know of man’s existence before he encountered Hrothgar whom he starts to fear when he says “I knew I was dealing with no dull mechanical bull but with thinking creatures, pattern makers. The most dangerous things I’d ever met” (pg 27). His first encounter with these men left him wanting more. He spent most nights watching them in the shadows, trying to make sense of their actions.

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When Grendel is battling Beowulf he thinks that he can escape and that he is no match for Beowulf . For instance , “ His syllables lick at me, chilly fire.” (Grendel 170) . Grendel

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Beowulf is brave and grendel is spiteful. They both act out pride because Beowulf is an epic hero and most epic heros let the pride eat then. In other words it gets to their heads, which then hurts them in the end. Grendel has more of a vengeful pride. He killed Herot men for fun and because he was annoyed by their stories.

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In Gardener’s Grendel, the monster is characterized as a sensitive human. He feels that no one accepts him. Grendel feels like he has no one and he doesn’t want to accept his designated role as “The Great Destroyer”. Grendel desires to be accepted by man is overlooked by his terrifying looks. “Mercy!

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The first fight is between Beowulf and Grendel i believe this fight represents vengeance because Grendel is avenging his curse by God to live as a demon for killing his brother Abel. God took revenge on Cain, Grendel took revenge on the people of Heorot, and Beowulf avenged the people of Heorot by defeating Grendel. This revenge and avenging continues with the fight with Grendel’s

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Extra Characters in Beowulf Beowulf is a story that has been around since the year 580, or since 1000 AD. With that being said, there are bound to be several adaptations and modern re-imaginings of the same story about this dynamic warrior and all his glorious battles. The epic Beowulf (Heaney,Seamus) and one of its modern adaptation Beowulf and Grendel (Gunnarson, S) has a few similarities, but they also have a great deal of differences, ranging from views on religion, Women, and even changing some of the story’s main characters. The movie’s addition of the main characters such as Grendel’s son, the witch, and Grendel’s dad, show that we, as the modern people, have a vastly different worldview with regards to the hardships of life’s complexities. A major addition to the main character 's roster was Grendel’s son.

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Prepared to spill the blood of unsuspecting, intoxicated warriors in their slumber, Grendel fleetly removed the strengthened door to the Herot with monstrous strength and cruelty. Grendel's strides were expansive. With every step, the beast's huge, thickened feet much flew, one once the opposite. the ground gave the impression to be instantly displaced owing to his spectacular lightness. " His eyes gleamed within the darkness, burned with a grotesque light".

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Many people enjoy stories of monsters, battles, and heroism. Throughout five different versions of the epic Beowulf audiences can see five different versions of the monster, Grendel. In every version, Beowulf is the hero that rids the kingdom of the monster, but in each story, Grendel's characteristics change. Grendel changes through different portrayals of his motivation, his physical characteristics, and his mental characteristics, these different changes in storytelling show the audience that Grendel has better reasons to do the horrible things he does. The first change that Grendel deals with are modifications made to his motivation.

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Beowulf is an epic poem about a brave heroic man that comes and helps a king get rid a monster. An epic poem is a story about someone who has heroic like ideas in a society. Beowulf is a story that was sung by the bards and scops because that would be the only thing that will be passed on even after his death. It was written by the Anglo-Saxons, who did not believe in the afterlife, unlike Christianity. So the warrior would have to do something that would let his memory be passed on.

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Beowulf is a fierce warrior without a shameful thought or action, or so the story tells. The cinematic version of the Anglo-Saxon tale portrays Beowulf as a flawed human that has both created and killed the monsters that haunt the land of the Danes. Although both stories highlight the battle between Beowulf and a monster named Grendel, of who brings terror to the mead hall, and a dragon that later haunts the same lands, there are a few major discrepancies between the text and the movie that alter the characters, plot and subsequently the overall theme of the story. Beowulf’s difference in character and morality is one of the most substantial differences between the two versions of the story. In text, Beowulf is a flawless prince who selflessly travels lands to protect strangers, all for the sake of honor.

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Throughout the poem, Beowulf is seen as a hero through his actions and how he helps the Danes and the Geats. Three of the best examples of Beowulf’s heroism is seen in each of the three battles he has. When Beowulf fights Grendel, he tells Hrothgar of how he will fight Grendel, “…my hands alone shall fight for me, struggle for life against the monster…” (Beowulf 38). Beowulf shows how he is a hero by not only facing this terrifying monster that has already killed so many, but he will face him, and defeat him, with his own hands, nothing more.

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The common characteristics of what makes a monster have remained constant throughout society: evil, isolated, violent. Monsters have no regards for social normatives, and cause chaos and destruction wherever they go. Grendel is no exception. In Beowulf, Grendel manifests every characteristic of a stereotypical monster. He is considered inherently evil, and is an outcast; he roams alone and commits devilish atrocities whenever he pleases.

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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.

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