An exilic figure such as Grendel who is "broken and bowed, outcast from all sweetness" is a character who is not just meant to be hated, but also to have sympathy and sorrow felt for them (1274 – 1275). Scholars tend to agree with this, claiming that "the mere mention of Grendel's exile has always stirred the heart of an Old English poet". Furthermore, Hrothgar's description of Grendel conflicts with other descriptions of him in the poem, where Grendel is not portrayed as monstrous but instead as "warped in the shape of a man" (lines 1351–135...

• Word Count: 1275
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: Undergraduate