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Supernatural Strength In Beowulf

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Supernatural Strength
In Beowulf, by Seamus Heaney, Beowulf’s supernatural strength is important to an epic hero in to keep the balance between good vs evil. To begin with, evil is winning when Grendel attacks the Heorot Hall until Beowulf arrives. “ Grendel was the name of this grim demon/haunting the marches, marauding round the health/and desolate fens; he had dwelt for a time/in misery among the banished monsters/Cain’s clan, whom the Creator had outlawed and condemned as outcasts” (Heaney 102-107). Grendel is a supernatural creature who wants to be apart of the community, but since he is not able to Grendel becomes upset ,which allows evil to rise. When Beowulf comes he does not use any weapons except for his bare hands.“No weapons, …show more content…

“His mind was in turmoil/unaccustomed anxiety and gloom/confused his brain; the fire-dragon/ had raised the coastal region and reduced/forts and earthworks to dust and ashes/so the war-king planned and plotted his revenge” (Heaney 2331-2336). Beowulf knows he will be able to defeat the dragon, but this fight is different comparing to Grendel and Grendel’s mother. “The glittering sword/infallible before that day/failed when he unsheathed it, as it never should have” (Heaney 2584-2586). All of the swords are breaking and he gets bit by her causing him to have a poison in his neck. Evil is towering over, and no one is able to save Beowulf until Wiglaf his only warrior who stay behind helps him out. He gives Beowulf a Sword and it allows him to use everything he has left in defeating the dragon. “The king/ gathered his strength and drew a stabbing knife/he carried on his belt, sharpened for battle” (Heaney 2701-2703). Even though the dragon dies so does Beowulf. This keeps the good vs evil at a balance until the next evil takes over.
In conclusion, evil is or will be and it is good’s job to keep evil away, which in Beowulf when he dies he passes the job down to Wiglaf to keep the cycle never

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