Good V's Evil In 'Beowulf'

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Recommended: Notes on beowulf as an epic

Title Author Idowu Koyenikan said “There is no denying that there is evil in this world but the light will always conquer the darkness.”Good hook, I liked how you referenced another author During the Anglo-Saxon period ? In the epic Beowulf, the theme Good v.s. Evil is developed, explored and prominent throughout the entire story. Firstly, Good v.s. Evil is evident beginning with the chapters Grendel and Beowulf. The vicious; indignant; precarious; monster; Grendel is wreaking havoc on the mead hall built by the king of Danes, Hrothgar. Grendel is a descendant of Cain from the Bible, possibly foreshadowing he does not have many pleasant things in store for him. Grendel murders thirty Danes, and to many people in the kingdom, the future …show more content…

Evil continues to play a major role in the next sections of the epic, The Battle with Grendel and The Battle with Grendel’s Mother. Beowulf and his followers stay to spend the night in Herot, after everyone leaves. He excitedly awaits the arrival of his rival. Grendel arrives and attacks his first victim: a Geat. Grendel tears him apart, killing the man. Next, Grendel comes at Beowulf with his mighty claws. Beowulf withstands Grendel’s powerful hold and Grendel “knew at once that nowhere on earth/has he met a man whose hands were harder/his mind was flooded with fear” (274-276). Grendel cannot escape Beowulf’s hold. He has finally met his match. “The monster’s hatred rose higher/but his power was gone” (336-337). Beowulf impales Grendel, wounding him to his death, and the battle is over. Beowulf’s good, triumphs Grendel’s evil doings. With her son Grendel’s mother seeks revenge and begins causing chaos of her own. She emerges from her evil lair and for her first act of destruction she kills Hrothgar’s greatest soldier and closest friend. In their time of need people once again look to Beowulf to save the day. Beowulf swims for many hours to reach the bottom of the dark, grim, cold lake where her lair is located. Grendel’s mother attempts to hurt Beowulf but she cannot, “she welcomed him into her claws/clutched at him savagely but couldn't harm him” (458-459). His chain mail saves him from her rath. He murders Grendel’s mother and just

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