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Examples Of Monstrosity In Beowulf

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Although monstrosity is the root of problems in Beowulf, Monstrosity is employed to as a narrative tool to challenge the power structure within the text. In this way, each representation of evil, human or monstrous, serves to enforce the underlying narrative of the culture. Each and every monstrosity in the text influences the main idea of the time which was the Code of Comitatus. A code enforced among the people to maintain the loyalty to their kings no matter the situation or outcome. Therefore as the code of comitatus activates order throughout the people the actions of Grendel and the Dragon through fear creates conflict between the king and his people. As Beowulf takes on the role as an epic hero, the role of Comitatus in his society …show more content…

When Beowulf meets Hrothgar tension builds immediately, Beowulf is the first person in human form to challenges Hrothgar. Beowulf says to Hrothgar "So every elder and experienced councilman among my people supported my resolve to come here to you, King Hrothgar, because all knew of my awesome strength. They had seen me boltered in the blood of the enemies when I battled and bound five beasts, raided a troll-nest and in the night-sea slaughtered sea-brutes. I have suffered extremes and avenged the Geats. Now I mean to be a match for Grendel, settle the outcome in single combat." (415-426) Beowulf shows in his speaking that he as well follows a power structure by gaining permission from his elders and experienced councilman. Beowulf has gained their blessing because they know of his “awesome strength”. Then doing something not seen as normal he begins boasting to Hrothgar about the amazing feats he has accomplished. Saying he has killed many people and he has killed five beasts. Also he has raided troll nests, slaughtered sea-brutes, and suffered extremes. Although his boasting of himself he says it is all for the Geats or the people higher than him, Beowulf shows he honors the code of comitatus and stays in the line of power structure. So it may come as a surprise that a man who understands the code and follows it so passionately would humiliate Hrothgar and defy the code. By doing so Beowulf himself destructs the code that his life has been shaped from and based

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He says that their lives are guided by the heroic code. Then Beowulf proclaims that he will go fight Grendel's mother and Grendel in an underwater battle and then he sets off. On his way, he is captured by Grendel’s mom and taken. But, when he tries to fight back with his sword the sword does nothing to her causing him to start fighting with his bare hands. Then he discovers a weapon that could help him defeat his enemy and it is a great sword.

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When meeting Hrothgar, Beowulf boasted about his achievements in killing other monsters. He bragged of his battles, of how he would “rise from the darkness … Dripping with [his] enemies’ blood” (Beowulf 418-419). He also claimed he would need no weapon to kill the beast, only his hands were necessary (438-440). When he faced the beast, Beowulf showed courage and strength and was able to defeat Grendel.

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Hector Ruiz Professor Poxon MRS 151 3 November 2017 Beowulf Throughout the story of Beowulf, there seems to appear an ethical code for what makes a good king and good warrior. There exists a fine line between them. A warrior fights for his land and directly earns the glory, whereas a king also earns his glory but through his warriorsi who earned the victory. Although they both do share characteristics like loyalty, determination, and care for their nation; king can only go a certain extent because they still have a nation to govern. The Warrior fight for the king to keep the nation safe while the king keeps it stable.

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A hero and a monster show the constant battle between good vs. evil through Biblical allusions. Beowulf is a mighty warrior who fights a disruptive monster, Grendel. Beowulf is represented as God, the good, and Grendel is represented as Cain, the evil. Through the analysis of Beowulf`s ability to do well and Grendel`s vengeance, the reader understand that the battle of Christianity and staying loyal is shown by a dispute. In the translation Beowulf, by Burton Raffel, allusions to the Bible reveal a conflict between good vs. evil.

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Using connotative diction, Grendel was described as “A powerful monster, living down in the darkness, growling in pain, impatient.” And “The shephard of evil, guardian of crime.” His living arrangements and current status create an image of eternal suffering and malevolence, while the title given to him endowed him with an air of menace. Contrary to the dark description of Grendel, Beowulf was described in a euphonious light, elucidated by a great legacy. Such a light was proved by a snippet of dialogue from the watchman: “You, warrior, who bravely does battle with the creature haunting our people, who survives that horror unhurt, and goes home bearing our love.”

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One role the monsters play in “Beowulf” is that they reinforce the heroic code. Beowulf makes himself look strong

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The heroic title of Beowulf, the protagonist, may be questionable. However, from the analyses of multiple Beowulf articles, evidence provided suggests that he is indeed a hero. The redefinition from these theories helps

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In Beowulf, Grendel causes the Danes to live in fear for twelve years, all while Hrothgar rules over the nation, but he does nothing to act against the monster. He knows his life lies on the line if he tries to slay the beast, so he lets his people wither in fear, the mead hall closed for the foreseeable future. Most leaders would jump at the chance to prove their worth by saving their subjects from terrible fates, but Hrothgar values his own safety too much to tempt his fate, even when the culture of the time encourages fighting and prompts warriors to seek out altercations. When Beowulf finally comes to finish what Hrothgar could not start, the leader praises, “Now Holy God Has, in His Goodness, guided [Beowulf] here… to defend us from Grendel” (Heaney 10), as if the younger man has come to take the reigns from Hrothgar. But instead, the brawl with Grendel has just begun, thanks to Beowulf and Hrothgar lives on, hoping that the Geat can clinch a victory for the Danes.

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Beowulf was a concerning story with an immense capacity of themes that can deal with almost every aspect of life. The story revolved around three scenarios most of the time, the three battles with the monsters. These monsters conveyed similar and opposite characteristics that made them unique and deadly. However, I believe these monsters can portray several aspects of today societies, including psychology. They can represent Freud’s psychology consisting of the Id, the Ego, and the Superego.

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”(71, 1060) This shows what Beowulf has done to be a leader of his people. Beowulf is a strong leader to the Geats, he is brave and successful. However his total opposite Hrothgar shows different forms of

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In the epic Beowulf, translated by Seamus Heaney, Beowulf is depicted as a heroic figure who fights monsters and defends the weak. During its time, Beowulf would be considered a great hero, however in today 's standards Beowulf would only be considered a great warrior. That’s because a hero should value the lives of the people and not seek to be rewarded. Instead, Beowulf committed heroic acts for his own selfish reasons and never shows to values the lives of the people. From fighting Grendel to slaying the dragon, Beowulf only fought because he value the fame and fortune that comes along with those accomplishments.

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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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He finds a solution to slay the monster in every battle for example, "The fight is difficult but; Hrunthing fails its user, but Beowulf sees a great sword, too big for anyone but himself, and uses it to kill the mother" (Hanning 7). Although the purpose of the monster may be to add action throughout the plot, Beowulf battling the monsters not only adds action but also portrays him as a hero for fighting the

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Beowulf says “The noblest and wisest counselors of my people advised me to come to you, lord Hrothgar because they knew of my great strength. ”(page 13, paragraph 4) Beowulf says he destroyed the race of giants, killed sea monsters and he endured hardships to avenge

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Beowulf had done the unthinkable—he had killed a demon that no warrior of Denmark could have done. This opened several new doors for Beowulf, including one that promised of honor, glory, and riches. Beowulf had achieved his goal of fame, a goal which had created a poem of a hero that birthed and shaped a story to be told even years later. Furthermore, Beowulf’s fame was set in stone by Hrothgar, the king who owed Beowulf his everything, including his thanks. After giving Beowulf the speech to further glorify his prominence, Hrothgar declares, “Glory is now yours/

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