Beowulf and Grendel: The Hall Heorot Is Attacked By Grendel
analytical Essay
1116 words
Beowulf and Grendel: The Hall Heorot Is Attacked By Grendel
Beowulf is one of the greatest surviving epic poems. It was composed by Germanic people more than twelve hundred years ago. Although it is written in Old English, it deals with the Scandinavian forebears of the Anglo-Saxons, the Danes and the Geats. This epic poem concerns itself with Christianity, internal and external evils, and the warriors defeating monsters.
The first passage of this story basically describes the building of Heorot. Hrothgar, decides to build a Valhalla-type of sanctuary for his warriors that he names "Heorot", or the Hall of the Hart (deer hall). This is in the first main passage of the story of Beowulf and this is the first place we find the theme of internal versus external evil. The passage implies that internal evil will ultimately destroy the hall, rather than being attacked by monsters: "The hall stood tall, high and wide-gabled: it would wait fierce flames of vengeful fire: the time was not yet at hand for sword-hate between son-in-law and father-in-law to awaken after murderous rage. "(Norton 28) This foreshadows the internal evil that will destroy the Danes. Another theme in this story is the theme of men versus monsters. This theme comes to light when Grendel is described: "The creature of evil, grim and fierce, was quickly ready, savage and cruel, and seized from their rest thirty thanes".(Norton 28)
Heorot is a drinking hall, where warriors gather for parties and to get drunk. Heorot is a creation of civilization made by Hrothgar, for men to gather as a meeting place and a place to sleep. Hrothgar builds the biggest hall ever made. Grendel then attacks the hall for twelve winters straight, destroying more and more men every night with no remorse, and the men are afraid to sleep in the hall, thinking that maybe Grendel will eat them. Grendel is a ruthless caniball: "I think that if he may accomplish it, unafraid he will feed on the folk of the Geats in the war-hall as he has often done on the flower of men."(Norton 32-33) Grendel is a savage, and he ruthlessly eats his victims. The Hall Heorot is a drinking hall, and most of the warriors stand no chance against Grendel. They are drunk and are not able to attack Grendel.
In this essay, the author
- Describes beowulf as the hero of the epic poem, an ideal warrior, strong, and brave. his courage and skill help him vanquish grendel.
- Narrates how hrothgar challenges beowulf's accompishment and accepts his superiority as a warrior and lends him his sword, hrunting.
- Analyzes how hrothgar's queen tells beowulf to wear the ring and mail-shirt that the people had given him, and she asks him to protect her sons.
- Explains that hrothgar's best-friend, retainer, and noble shield warrior, was killed by grendel’s mother when she went to heorot to avenge his death.
- Describes beowulf as a savage canibal who terrorizes the hall heorot for twelve years and is killed by him.
- Explains that she is a woman, monster wife, and war terror. she takes role of warrior when she venges her son's death.
- Explains abrams, m. h. et al., the norton anthology of english literature, volume 1.
- Analyzes how beowulf deals with christianity, internal and external evils, and the warriors defeating monsters.
Related
- analytical
- narrative
- explanatory
- argumentative
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In this essay, the author
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- Analyzes how grendel's mother symbolizes the opposite of what the anglo-saxon culture expected of women during the era.
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In this essay, the author
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In this essay, the author
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- Analyzes how the poem shows sorrow for the pagan ancestors simply because they are bitter and come from a line of jealousy.
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In this essay, the author
- Explains that heorot, the mead-hall, symbolizes the might and power of the spear-danes under hrothgar. contrary to grendel's cave, it represents light and happiness.
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In this essay, the author
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In this essay, the author
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- Explains that most of their paper is a plot summary. try not to re-tell the story. why is beowulf compelled to fight the dragon?
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- Analyzes how beowulf tells wiglaf that he will not be satisfied until all his people receive these precious jewels.
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In this essay, the author
- Explains that beowulf is an ancient english epic poem and is commonly cited as one of the most important works of old english literature. it is a hero from the geats who come to aid hrothgar
- Analyzes how beowulf's mead hall in herot is under attack by the monster grendel. he defeats his mother and takes his head back to the real world.
- Explains that beowulf represents an epic hero who people look up to. he sacrifices everything to sustain his reputation and heroic status.
- Opines that terrorist groups such as isis represent the evil in beowulf. the united states army gives up everything to fight for the american citizens.
- Analyzes how the u.s army is brave, strong, talented, and loyal, just like beowulf. they are trained not only to fight, but also to obey the orders that are given to them in any given situation.
- Explains that the u.s army and beowulf symbolize people of strong character, while grendel and isis are pure evil.
790 wordsRead More