As most adults know, there are no such things as monsters. ... Similar to the things that parents say to children about those monsters hiding underneath their bed, the monsters of Beowulf, translated by Seamus Heaney, are not real, but fictitious creatures representing evil because of their attacks on the Anglo-Saxon societies. ... Cain is the source of all evil and monsters. ... When "the monster's whole body was in pain, a tremendous wound appeared on his shoulder. ... Women who defied this ideal were thought of as monsters and these women were viewed as such: a monster. ...

• Word Count: 1062
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Monsters, Humans, or Both? Are they monsters or humans? ... He is a mix of a man and a monster. ... Perhaps, the true question is who has the authority to label them as monsters when they are only one-half monster and one-half human? ... Are they more like humans or more closely related to monsters? ...

• Word Count: 1174
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• Grade Level: High School

The theme of hero and monster is claimed throughout the poem. ... Grendel, having this appearance of repugnance, was perceived as an evil monster making him an outcast to the Danes. ... This helps bring out the similarities Beowulf has in relation to a monster. ... Beowulf comes forth to fight Grendel's mother and this fight initiates the change of Beowulf into this monster. ... Plunging into the lake inhabited by all kinds of monster symbolizes his metamorphosis into a monster. ...

• Word Count: 1577
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

The epic tells the story of a hero, a prince named Beowulf, who rids the Danes of the monster Grendel, a descendent of Cain, and of his exploits fighting Grendel's mother and a Dragon. Beowulf, as a conquering hero, destroys all the monsters in the sea as well as the giants. ... There will always be the hero looking for fame and glory, and there will always be a monster that, acting like an overgrown child, throws a temper tantrum insisting on having everything his way and destroys everything that opposes him....

• Word Count: 357
• Approx Pages: 1
• Grade Level: High School

The first battle Beowulf must endure is against Grendel, the horrible monster attacking Hrothgar's soldiers. ... (line 433) Considering how this is thought of by a monster that can devour men, Beowulf must be exceptionally strong. ... Another time Beowulf exemplifies his trait of incredible courage is when he travels to Heron to help Hrothgar, although the danger of fighting the incredible and unknown monster Grendel is great. ... Although Beowulf's courage leads him to fight these battles, there is one underlying, yet imminent motive for fighting these monsters. ... (line 567) ...

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• Grade Level: High School

The poet tells of how the peace and contentment of Hrothgar ends because Grendel comes and brings misery to the Danes: And then as now warriors sang of their pleasure: so Hrothgar's men lived happy in his hall till the monster stirred, that demon, that fiend, Grendel, who haunted the moors, the wild marshes, and made his home in a hell not hell but earth. He was spawned in that slime, conceived by a pair of those monsters born of Cain, murderous creatures banished by God, punished forever for the crime of Abel's death. ... In these lines the poet tells of the sneakiness, greed, a...

• Word Count: 1278
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

The word Grendel itself sounds like a monsters name and makes you picture it in your head what Grendel actually looks like. When you think about monster's you usually think about heroes also, so John Gardner wrote the story to make you think about Grendel as the monster, so in your head you can think about what the hero has to be capable of in order to slay or defeat the monster. ... Grendel- He is a intelligent monster, that isn't sure about the world around him, but is very curious about everything he encounters. ... So the main conflict is man surviving over monsters, and ev...

• Word Count: 1613
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Because the period of history they were in "Shut away from men; they split/Into a thousand forms of evil-spirits/And fiends, goblins, monsters, giants, /A brood forever opposing the Lord's/Will, and again and again defeated" (Beowulf ln.25-29). ... Beowulf once stated, "No one else could do/What I mean to, here, no man but me/Could hope to defeat this monster" (Beowulf ln. 683-685). ... Grendel is "Pointless, ridiculous monster crouched in the shadows, stinking of dead men, murdered children, martyred cows" (Gardner 6). ...

• Word Count: 490
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• Grade Level: High School

Beowulf is much more than an epic tale of heroes and monsters. ... Contrastingly, Grendel's mother is a strong and combative monster whom Beowulf must kill. ... Being a monster, Grendel's mother possesses "great warrior-strength" (II); however, since she is female, her strength is less than her sons. ... When the author first introduces Grendel's mother, he describes her as "Grendel's hell-mother, [a] bereaved monster-wife mourned for her child" (XIX). ... Also adding to the sense of emotional attachment between the two monsters is the fact that Beowulf finds Grendel&...

• Word Count: 1175
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

The hellish, demonic, and evil monster known as Grendel, is awakened by the annoying noise of building and soldiers living in Herot. ... During his battle with the monster, Beowulf pulls off his claw, arm and shoulder using his bare hands. ... They are bewitched into harmlessness by the monster himself. ... "Grendel was the name of this grim demon/ haunting the marches, marauding round the heath/ and the desolate fens; he had dwelt for a long time/ in misery among the banished monsters/ Cain's clan, whom the creator had outlawed/ and condemned as outcasts/ Cain got no good from committing...

• Word Count: 913
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• Grade Level: High School

Kennedy, the poem depicts Beowulf as a heroic figure who's skill and courage enable him to defeat monsters. ... This feast caused the attention of the monster Grendel. ... "(408-409) Beowulf said that not only did he defeat Breca but said to also have fought off heaps of sea-monsters. ...

• Word Count: 621
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• Grade Level: High School

Beowulf rids the Danes of the monster Grendel, a descendent of Cain, and his Grendel's mother and a Dragon. ... Beowulf understands the plight of the Danes that are being oppressed by the evil monster Grendel, just as Christ knew of the oppression of the Jewish people. ... In order to save them from the monster, the Danes need a savior, and Beowulf through his desire to alleviate their suffering, comes to save them. ...

• Word Count: 817
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• Grade Level: High School

He is often found fighting an inhumane strong monster in an attempt to protect the country he loves. Shortly after Beowulf is introduced in the story, he goes to Heorot to help a loyal friend of his father by destroying a monster that has wreaked havoc on his people. ...

• Word Count: 609
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• Grade Level: High School

Grendel, Beowulfs opponent has been killing Hrothgar's people and terrorizing the King.Beowulf is told by the Geats of the tale of Grendel and that he is a strong monster. ... Beowulf had so much honor for himself that as proof of his conquest, he hangs the monster's arm and claw over the rafters of Hrothgar's Great Hall. ... Hrothgar is still the king of that country and Beowulf needed his permission and authority to go hunting the monster. ...

• Word Count: 907
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• Grade Level: High School

Grendel it biblically described as evil in this excerpt: [ Grendel] was spawned in that slime, Conceived by a pair of those monsters born Of Cain, murderous creatures banished By God, punished forever for the crime Of Abel's death. The Almighty drove Those demons out, and their exile was bitter, Shut away from men; they split Into a thousand forms of evil--spirits And feinds, goblins, monsters, giants, A brood forever opposing the Lord's Will, and again and again defeated. ...

• Word Count: 1009
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

The character Grendel in both works Grendel and Beowulf portray him in different lights. Due to different times there are different cultures and styles of writing intermingled in the works. Grendel is an angry character; however, due to the different eras, the types of anger are distinguished and t...

• Word Count: 478
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

Grendel summary: The novel opens late in the chronological development of a plot. Grendel, a powerful, intelligent monster, has been at war with a band of humans for twelve years. As the novel progresses, he recounts the events of his life that led to the war and the bitter years that followed. ...

• Word Count: 990
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• Grade Level: High School

Beowulf's composure as the monster devours his friend shows his intellect, knowing that if he would take a small gasp, his plan would be ruined, and Grendel would realize he was awake the whole time. ... More so than with Grendel, Beowulf's battle with the monster's mother confirms his heroic qualities to any non-believer. ...

• Word Count: 1010
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

"Middle Age Hero In the middle ages there were numerous amounts of heroes. The heroes are simple men that have normal lives, and who are leaders based on heart and mind. One must possess valor, loyalty, and honor. A hero fights with great valor to defend his people or tribe at all times. ...

• Word Count: 563
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• Grade Level: High School

BEOWULF Because he survives the epic journey, Beowulf's superhuman power enables him to attain the status of epic hero. Beowulf starts his journey armed with his superhuman strength. He is the "strongest man alive" and is known for "his great bravery." Beowulf and his 14 special chosen Geats "la...

• Word Count: 617
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• Grade Level: High School

Grendel/ Beowulf Late one night with slow and daunting footsteps, Grendel wandered up to Herot with the thought of a midnight snack. He found the warriors sprawled in a sleeping slumber, all down for the count from the delicious mead. All of them were suspecting nothing in their slumber, their...

• Word Count: 768
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• Grade Level: High School

How Beowulf does and does not appear like a hero to the contemporary reader As in any civilization, Anglo-Saxons looked to their hero as a leader and a man whose valor and courage served as a source of inspiration for the entire society. Their hero was a man who believed in fate and a man whose ...

• Word Count: 699
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• Grade Level: High School

The Aging Hero The aging process is more than a physical change. It involves a heightened awareness of one's own mortality. This process is evident in the story Beowulf in which the hero Beowulf battles three monsters: Grendel, Grendel's mother, and the fire dragon. Through these battles, he ...

• Word Count: 721
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• Grade Level: High School

Heroes Heroes are those in your life, which you look up to. A hero is not always famous or has super powers. People have many heroes through life. They come and they go as time passes. A new day brings a new hero and as times change, so does the hero. A hero means many things to many people. For th...

• Word Count: 853
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

This fight is not yours, nor is it up to any man except me to measure his strength against the monster or to prove his worth." (2529-2535) Beowulf feels it's his duty to fight the dragon alone. ...

• Word Count: 735
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School