Carlson elaborates on the portrayal of Grendel's moral ambivalence in the fight with Beowulf, explaining how Grendel's "enormous strength, wrestling ability, and blood-thirsty cannibalism are contrasted with his very real pain and anguish on having his arm wrenched off by Beowulf and his agonized return to his cave, where he died" (Carlson, 362). ... The fact the she chose to stand up and fight Beowulf and even recover from his attacks demonstrates how much more of a formidable opponent she is when compared to Grendel's failed attempts at fleeing Beowulf's might u...

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

The poem Beowulf suggests that Beowulf is the hero and Grendel is a villain, or the "bad guy."" ... The battle between Grendel and Beowulf is an intense personal struggle for Grendel. ... He would kill Beowulf if he could. Beowulf, with God's power, can defeat Grendel and Grendel knew it: Now he discovered--once the afflicter of men, tormentor of their days "what it meant to feud with Almighty God: Grendel saw that his strength was deserting him, his claws bound fast, Higlac's brave follower tearing at his hands. ... After Beowulf defeats Grendel, a sense of relief and pe...

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