Throughout the epic poem Beowulf, one of the more important, if not the most, is good vs. evil. There are many examples in the story, from small, such as the location where the King and Grendel reside, to more prominent examples, including the backstory of Grendel and the fighting between Grendel and Beowulf. Christianity is another interesting theme that was incorporated into the theme of good vs. evil, and there are many Christian references that determine this theme. These themes, such as good vs. evil and to an extent Christianity, define the plot, characters, and conflict of the poem. The theme of good vs. evil represents a dichotomy, or a difference between two opposite things. Since this is an epic poem, the two ends of the spectrum …show more content…
evil in the conflicts in the two main characters who represent good and evil in Beowulf. For Beowulf, his conflict meant overcoming obstacles. This can be most directly seen in his battle against Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon. However, overcoming other obstacles that made him the man he is explain how good he really is, such as fighting the sea monsters underwater. Also, when Beowulf does overcome these external conflicts, there is never much internal conflict, mainly because of how brave he is. This makes Beowulf seem as if he is some sort of superhuman, however as is shown in the end, he is not superhuman. The fact that he is not superhuman makes his bravery and strength even more unbelievable. The enormity of his strength and bravery with the lack of internal conflict truly exemplify how Beowulf represents all that is good in the world. On the opposite side of the spectrum, Grendel, the first enemy we are introduced to, has conflicts as well. Other than Grendel’s fight with Beowulf, before that Grendel attacks the Danes because of jealousy. Since all descendents of Cain were banished from going outside during day, Grendel is jealous of the Danes, because they can lead a happy life on the earth. Instead of controlling his jealousy, Grendel decides to terrorize the Danes during night time. The final example of Grendel showing non-heroic or evil themes is his cowardice when he battles Beowulf, and at the end of the battle instead of finishing it, he runs away. The qualities of cowardice and jealousy, as well as committing murder, show how Grendel is the opposite of Beowulf and the representation of evil in the epic
The story of Beowulf, written during Anglo-Saxon times, is a classic epic tale between good versus evil. It is a story that gives us insight into the values of the Anglo-Saxon people. The Anglo-Saxons glorified heroism and the conquering of evil. In the Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf, the character of Grendel symbolically represents evil through his setting and heritage, his hateful attitude toward men, and his vicious acts of murder.
The contrast between good and evil is evident in Beowulf and effectively characterizes the many diverse people and creatures featured in the poem. From the highest hero in Beowulf to the most vile villain in Grendel, the tendencies of the characters, as well as their environments and the motives behind their actions, illustrate the deep differences that run between the virtuous and the wicked in the epic poem
...ash between good and evil. Beowulf is a representation of a Godly figure, possibly Christ, whereas his enemies represent figures of darkness, possibly Satan. Due to his battle with Grendel, Beowulf realises the true abilities of Gods power and develops into a more Saint like character who is more concerned with giving help rather than Gaining fame. He seeks Gods guidance, but looks to pagan ideals when he deems so. Although he never completely takes complete advantage of Gods power, he does earn the fame and glory that he fought bravely for.
The menacing character of Grendel is introduced as horrible, but his humanistic side is shown as well. As a result, Grendel's character helps further the Christian influence on the book as well as paint Beowulf as a magnificent hero. Grendel is first described as "the creature of evil, grim and fierce, and was quickly ready, savage and cruel, and seized from the first thirty thanes." (Tuso, 3) Beowulf can be interpreted as a heroic epic when Grendel is seen as a ravenous monster because it makes Beowulf appear even more spectacular for defeating the horrendous monster. However, there is a strong Christian influence as well because Grendel is a descendent of Cain and is therefore rejected by God and must live in suffering. When Grendel appears, he is "wearing God's anger" which is the opposite of the thanes who celebrate god's grace in their victories in the hall Heorot. (Tuso, 13) Th...
Theses two characters portray both concepts of good (light) v. evil (dark). Though they were both powerful forces, victory came to only one strong entity. The good in the world is seen with Beowulf, a strong, powerful, and confident leader who wills his life for the protection and common good of society. Grendel is responsible for the chaos and pandemonium of all things sinister in
Throughout the story, Beowulf fights three battles against frightening monsters. Beowulf, the prince of the Geats, was a well known warrior with extreme strength who makes a promise to protect his people under any circumstance. In the poem, his strength is tested, but he uses it to save many people in battles against: Grendel, Grendel 's mother, and a dragon. Before, during, and after each of these battles Beowulf shows many similarities and differences in his actions.
Paradise Lost and Beowulf are both intricate pieces of literature. The constant disagreement and combat of the protagonist and antagonist is the main focus in both of these works. Many people interpret the deep meaning of the poem very differently, however there is no mistaking the recurring theme of good versus evil.
Since the beginning of time, fairy tales, stories and legends have shared a common theme where good and evil are played against each other. In the story of “Beowulf”, translated by, “Burton Raffel”, there is a hero who plays as a good character, and there is also a demon who rules the dark side. The hero Beowulf, agrees to take a journey to conquer the evil monster Grendel. But when Beowulf is trying to defeat the beast, Grendel fights back, causing integrity and generosity to vanish. The common theme in various tales like in Beowulf is, good vs. evil.
In Both Grendel and Beowulf, there is conflict. The conflict is betwixt the themes of light and dark, Paganism vs. Christianity, and Man vs. Beast. Grendel, the main character in Grendel and the secondary character in Beowulf, faces external battles but the most important battle take place internally. John Gardener recognized the basis for Grendel’s predicament which is “his [Grendel] stubborn cling to skepticism and cold, hard reason. . .” (Grendel’s Geis). Though there are many different themes present in both stories, there is one theme that remains consistent throughout out both. This theme is the lack of acceptance. Grendel’s in-acceptance is rooted in his lack of understanding of the world and its functions. As a result of the many things that have taken place in Grendel’s life, he is perceived as evil yet, not because he wants to be. He is misunderstood and not accepted. Much of Grendel’s evil wrongdoing comes as a result of lack of acceptance, lack of communication, and his ignorance.
Beowulf succeeded in accomplishing noble deeds for the Danish people. “Beowulf survives only through the protection of God, that all earthly gifts flow from God, and that the only proper bearing of men is to be humble and unselfish” (Christian Elements in Beowulf). Within the text Grendel is an enemy of God. The hero’s conflict with the monster Grendel represented the battle between good and evil. This is a main focal point for the Catholic teachings. Beowulf’s determination to defeat Grendel is interpreted as God’s will to defeat
While the classic battle between good and evil forces is a major theme of the medieval epic Beowulf, one may question whether these good and evil forces are as black and white as they appear. Scholars such as Herbert G. Wright claim that “the dragon, like the giant Grendel, is an enemy of mankind, and the audience of Beowulf can have entertained no sympathy for either the one or the other” (Wright, 4). However, other scholars such as Andy Orchard disagree with this claim, and believe that there is “something deeply human about the ‘monsters’” (Orchard, 29). While Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon are indeed portrayed as evil and violent foes, there are parts within Beowulf that can also lead a reader to believe that the “monsters” may not be so monstrous after all. In fact, the author of Beowulf represents the “monsters” within the poem with a degree of moral ambivalence. This ambivalence ultimately evokes traces of sympathy in the reader for the plight of these “monster” figures, and blurs the fine line between good and evil within the poem.
In history, evil men have reigned supreme across many cultures. Some people say that being evil is inherent in every human. If this is true, then writing may be the ultimate way of releasing hatred of the world without hurting anyone. In Beowulf, all of society's evil men can be personified within the demons of Cain. The main demon presented in Beowulf is Grendel. Grendel personifies the exact opposite of what the Anglo-Saxons held dear. Beowulf, the story's hero, is the embodiment of what every Anglo-Saxon strove to become in their lifetime. Grendel is constantly angry, afraid and unsure of himself; while Beowulf is fearless and loyal to his king.
In this reimagining of the roles of good and evil, we see that there is a similar struggle in both stories. Beowulf mirrors it so closely, in fact, that careful consideration of the information plainly available can cause the lines of good and evil to blur perceptually. It is clear that the author of Beowulf had a deep understanding of the concepts of the Biblical creation story and took great care to recreate the struggle of good and evil in his epic.
In the epic poem Beowulf, the struggle between good and evil reveals its omnipresence in even the oldest of tales. The many allusions and symbols throughout the story relate to Christianity and other Pagan beliefs. By looking at them, it becomes apparent that the author of Beowulf believed that the constant war between good and evil is not only fought by the common man but also in the ranks of their highest esteemed rulers and warriors, and even in their dreaded nightmares where monsters lurk and wait for the death of man. Beowulf was written during the budding of Christianity in England, when it was newly forming. In the story there are obvious references to Christian rituals.
Even though many Pagan influences appear in the poem, Christian influences override them. An example would be when Beowulf saved the Danes from Grendel. He also expressed a fair attitude towards battles when he refused to use a weapon. The idea of loyalty, a hero, and a giver are all signs of Christianity. Beowulf could be seen as Christ when trying to help the people as Grendel could be compared to Satan who tries to destroy happiness and well-doing.