Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
The battle between grendel and beowulf
Comparison of beowulf and grendel
Grendel Grendel vs beowulf Grendel
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Based on Beowulf’s fights with Grendel and his mother, Beowulf’s character can best be described as strong, courageous, and heroic. In his fight with Grendel, Beowulf demonstrated strength when he single-handedly defeated Grendel, a monster that almost matched him with strength and power. Beowulf also demonstrated courage and heroism when he killed Grendel’s mother despite almost all odds against him. Before facing Beowulf, Grendel had almost no opposition in his rampage. He was powerful enough to grab and kill many men at once, as well as mercilessly kill a seasoned warrior. When Beowulf faced Grendel, the tide instantly turned. When Beowulf held Grendel in a handgrip, it was so firm that “the monster’s whole body was in pain, […] sinews split and the bone-lappings burst” …show more content…
None of Beowulf’s weapons were useful, he barely avoided a crushing death from Grendel’s mother’s knife, and was attacked by the mere’s beasts and monsters by all sides. However, Beowulf fought on. In order to continue fighting, Beowulf relied “on the might of his arm. […] Life doesn’t cost him a thought” (107). By killing both enemies with only strength and courage, Beowulf displays many characteristics found in a hero. He is strong, persistent, and fights not caring about his life. In his fight with Grendel, Beowulf holds him in a handgrip so strong that the monster’s “sinews split.” Doing such a task requires enormous power, since sinews, which is a firm tendon that connects a bone to another bone, is very difficult to break. The ability of Beowulf to break Grendel’s arm with only a handgrip demonstrates his strength and power to overcome any obstacles. Beowulf sees Grendel as an obstacle that must be destroyed to satisfy his duty and obligations. That is why he crushed and defeated Grendel very efficiently and brutally. Similarly, Beowulf uses the same mindset when he attacks and kills Grendel’s mother in her
Beowulf was a true hero, in the eyes of many, through said traits. He fought a number of battles and was triumphant in all, except his last battle. Beowulf possessed the skills and power necessary to kill Grendel, the monster who had been terrorizing the Danes for over a decade, with his bare hands. While fighting, Beowulf detached Grendel’s arm from his shoulder, which was later hung up as a trophy. Beowulf eventually put an end to Grendel’s life, and naturally, Grendel’s mother had pursued Beowulf. Although Grendel’s mother was an even deadlier monster than her son, Beowulf once again proved his abilities by slaying her, as well. He slashed her neck with a sword that carried unbearable weight. Afterwards, he carried her head with only his own arms, while it took the a...
Of the many characteristics of a hero, being better than the ordinary man is the trait most easily found when studying a character. Beowulf exhibits almost god-like strength throughout his quest. For example, “He twisted in pain, / And the bleeding sinews deep in his shoulder/ Snapped, muscle and bone split and broke.” (Beowulf 815-818). His strength is once again demonstrated in his fight with Grendel’s mother. After he realizes hand-to-hand combat is futile, Beowulf swings a sword “so massive that no ordinary man could lift/ It’s carved and decorated length.” (Beowulf 1560-1561). Yet another example of Beowulf’s strength is his presentation of Grendel’s head to the Danes. After slicing off Grendel’s head in one blow, Beowulf orders his men to carry the head back to Herot. However, the head of the monster was “too heavy for fewer than four of them to handle” (Beowulf 1636-1637). After arriving in Herot, Beowulf “carried that terrible trophy by the hair,/ Brought it straight to where the Danes sat” (Beowulf 1647-1648). The second trait that demonstrates that Beowulf is better than the ordinary man is his incredible honor. When preparing for his fight with Grendel, Beowulf decides not to use ...
Beowulf is told to be, “as strong as thirty men”. He has slayed numerous water monsters. When faced with Grendal, he kicked Grendal’s behind. Grendal had never felt such fear for his life. After he beat up Grendal, he kept his arm as a trophy to display in the hall. Hrothgar was forever grateful to Beowulf; he gave Beowulf a sword, a coat of mail, horses, ensign, etc. Weatheow, Hrothgar’s wife, gave Beowulf Hygelac’s old collar of gold. Beowulf was then faced with the vengeful mother of Grendal. Of course he defeated this foe and in reward he took with him Grendal’s head and a giant’s sword. Beowulf is a strong fighter in the manuscript Beowulf.
Since the beginning of Beowulf, the character Beowulf shows courage in everything he does. This is proven when he battles Grendel, a descendant of Cain that haunts the halls of Herot. Beowulf being a mighty protector of men, holds the monster down until his life leaps out (Beowulf lines 472-475). As Beowulf battles Grendel, he is determined to
His bravery and physical strength needed to kill this evil being makes him a great warrior and an even better literary hero. When the Hrothgar’s men attempted to kill Grendel, they were unsuccessful. Although he saw other men die to this monster he did not let that scare him off. This is when Beowulf felt it was necessary for him to intervene and take charge. When Grendel came to attack Heorot Hall Beowulf was there waiting for him. Beowulf stood up for the Hrothgar’s men and accomplished what they couldn’t in order to make everyone safer. Although he faced a plethora of obstacles he did not give up he stood strong and saved many people by doing so. During the battle Beowulf wrestled Grendel to the ground. Beowulf proceeded to rip Grendel’s arm from his shoulder and hang it from the ceiling. Grendel then fled away from Beowulf into the wilderness where he then died. This proved to Beowulf that Grendel may be strong but he will never be as brave. Grendel was an evil monster who wanted nothing good to happen to the people and Beowulf prevented any more murders by Grendel from happening. He saved the lives of many people by accomplishing this heroic and honorable
The mighty warrior Beowulf volunteered to help fight off the monster, Grendel. Beowulf showed great bravery because even though Grendel over sized Beowulf, he still accepted the challenge. He also showed strength, Grendel’s head was so massive that four men each had to carry it, but Beowulf could handle the head all by himself. Lastly, Beowulf revealed loyalty by coming to Hrothgar’s assistance, to help with defeating Grendel. Even after Beowulf became King he went to his last battle to defeat the dragon without any help from his
society. In Beowulf, Beowulf shows extraordinary courage and strength that gives him special status. This notion is shown, when Beowulf fights Grendel and Grendel’s mother, but it is especially noticeable when he fights the dragon. When Beowulf fought Grendel others had the courage to attempt to fight him. The same is true with Grendel’s mother. When Beowulf goes to fight the Dragon, the other warriors cower away into the woods. Beowulf shows his courage by fighting the Dragon. Even when Beowulf is fighting the Dragon and realizes that his sword can do no damage he continues to fight. After Beowulf is on the verge of death he shows a combination of courage and strength by delivering the death blow to the Dragon, and not just laying down to die. Beowulf’s strength is shown when he is able to actually do battle with the Dragon; any normal man would have fallen to the dragon immediately.
He shows this by simply ripping Grendel’s arm off in fight between them. Also Beowulf shows him being strong by purposefully opening up the hall again to make the monster come so he can kill it. “He might think less of me if I let my sword go where my feet were afraid to, if I hid behind some broad shield: my hands alone shall fight for me, struggle for life against the monster.” (265-269). He exemplified great courage when he defeated Grendel and his mother to save Hrothgar's kingdom. Also Beowulf really shows strength just by being able to fight everyone and protect the town all by himself. No one else wanted to help the townspeople or had the courage to do so, so Beowulf is really strong in all aspects, mind and body. This is exactly how Beowulf was really
Beowulf’s strength throughout the poem was remarkable. Beowulf showed strength for himself and his people. Beowulf had to be strong for his people and give them hope that he would defeat evil. Beowulf showed strength for himself by defeating many monsters. One of the main strengths Beowulf showed was when he defeated Grendel to save all of the Danes. This is described in the poem when it says, “But his power had gone. He twisted in pain, / And the bleeding sinews deep in his shoulders / Snapped, muscle and bone split / And broke. The battle was over, Beowulf / Had been granted new glory: Grendel escaped, / But wounded as he was could flee to his den.” (Beowulf 496-501) Beowulf did not need anyone else to help him defeat Grendel. Beowulf knew his strength alone was enough to kill Grendel. Beowulf knew he had to have a great deal of confidence in himself to slaughter Grendel without any help.
Furthermore, Beowulf teaches the reader a lesson. The greatest strength comes from the mind and not the weapon. Within the three cultural elements lie the true meaning of a hero. Beowulf is not just a man who has a sword and can fight. He is a man with humility, honor, and respect, but Beowulf doesn’t always use a sword when fighting to win his battles. In many of the battles he fought, it was with his hands . When Beowulf battles Grendel’s mother he had dropped his sword and said that “if weapons were useless he’d use/ His hands, the strength in his fingers”(489-90). Although Beowulf is able to conquer the worst monsters and enemies, time takes its toll on him. Only then will Beowulf fall and a new hero will rise. To become a true hero, honor and respect are the keys to unlock the
The capability of a hero to possess superior physical strength is the quality that sets him apart from the other warriors. In the beginning of Beowulf, Beowulf is described as the, “follower and the strongest of the Geats, greater and stronger that anyone anywhere in this world” (lines 110-111). This represents Beowulf’s strength by stating he is the strongest man in the world. In addition, Beowulf demonstrates physical strength when defeating Grendel. During the battle, “[Grendel] twisted in pain, and the bleeding sinews deep in his shoulder snapped, muscle and bone split and broke” (lines 390-392). This quote describes the part of the battle when Beowulf rips off Grendel’s arm with his bare hands. Obviously, Beowulf demonstrates super strength because he is able to mutilate Grendel without any weapons. Furthermore, the most prominent event in the poem that signifies Beowulf’s super strength is when he is able to use the large sword to kill Grendel’s mother. The sword was, “but so massive that no other ordinary man could lift its carved and decorated length. He drew it from its scabbard, broke the chain on its hilt” (533-535). Due to the fact that Beowulf had the ability to break the sword off of its chain and pick it up with ease proves that he possesses super strength. Emphatically, Beowulf exemplifies undeniable super strength of an
In a series of battles in which Beowulf defeats all the evils shows that man could overcome evil. After Beowulf kills Grendel, from“for the proof, hanging high...was the monster’s arm, claw and shoulder and all.” to notice that the body of Grendel which are hung high, is a symbol of Beowulf’s victory and Grendel’s lose. There are many swords shown in this epic. However, neither of them do their jobs. Because Beowulf believes “If weapons were useless he’d use his hands, the strength in his fingers.” Here is a symbol of man’s strength which are given by God. Beowulf’s last battle is with the dragon who guard a treasure without using it. Just as the dragon devotes himself to protect his treasure-trove, Beowulf ends his life to kill the dragon and win the peace and treasure for his people. However, the treasure is neither used by dragon nor the people but buried with the greatest warrior Beowulf as a mighty and honor reward. As a result, Beowulf comes to be a hero who is symbolic as light and good whereas Grendel, Grendel’s mother and dragon are evils who are represented bloody, darkness and
Beowulf also shows courage in all of his battles. His intelligence is far above any others. He used the sword made by the giants to kill Grendel’s mother. In lines 210-222, it describes how he was quick and saw the sword “hammered by giants, strong and blessed with their magic…and struck with all the strength he had left, caught her in the neck and cut it through…”
...m Beowulf proves he is a hero through his battles. He’s trophies transform from physical evidence of his opponents defeat to gold and riches. Though this seems selfish, he always gave his riches and rewards from his accomplishments to his people or the king he was working for. Throughout his battles his methods also changed. He started by fighting on fair terms, without weaponry or armor, and then he had full armor and multiple weapons. Beowulf did this because he recognized his limits, especially in his old age where needed the protection and help in order to keep his people safe and continue to be a hero. In a way, he still fought on fair terms because Grendel’s Mother and the dragon were much stronger than he. Beowulf was a selfless warrior who deserved his title of an epic hero.
Beowulf’s first accomplishment as an epic hero was his battle with Grendel. Grendel was a huge beast, a descendent of Cain, who ruthlessly murdered innocent Danes because he felt pity for himself. Upon hearing of the Dane’s problem, Beowulf set off to help the Danish without having been called upon. Even though Beowulf had men backing him, He drew battle with Grendel alone and without armor or weapons. Yet, Beowulf emerged victorious with the arm of Grendel as his trophy. Beowulf then went on to kill Grendel’s vengeful mother and a huge fire-breathing dragon who thought it had been done wrong by the Geats. Alas, the killing of the dragon would be Beowulf’s last great battle for the dragon took Beowulf’s life in the struggle for his own.