Comparing Grendel And The Epic Of Beowulf - 976 Words

Stephan King once said â€Å"No one really forces you to do anything, you always have a choice† (King). Grendel, in both the self-titled novel and the epic, Beowulf, had a choice. He chose to make the wrong decisions and act solely based upon his feelings. Even though others feel Grendel is a monster because of fate, and he is destined to become a monster either way, Grendel is really a monster due to free will and Grendel s loneliness, plus lack of communication causes him to be violent as well as Grendel knowing what he is doing and is aware of the choices he is making. Most, if not all of Grendel’s aggression comes from him being very lonely. In the novel, Grendel said â€Å"Why can’t I have someone to talk to†¦Hrothgar has people to talk to† (Gardner, 53). Grendel didn’t have anyone he could just talk to about everything and that frustrated him. To him, it seems like everyone has someone, except him. Another example that shows that Grendel’s loneliness and lack of communication causes him to be violent is in Beowulf when the epic explains: â€Å"So Grendel waged his lonely war, inflicting constant cruelties on the people, atrocious hurt. He took over Heorot, haunted the glittering hall after dark, but the throne itself, the treasure-seat, he was kept from approaching; he was the Lord’s outcast† (Beowulf, 165-169). This quote is clarifying how Grendel did all of this by himself and didn’t care of anyone who was in his way either. Although he is lonely, he chooses to use that asShow MoreRelatedComparing Beowulf And Grendel And Beowulf1702 Words   |  7 Pagestranslated, Beowulf has represented one of the finest examples of heroic poetry. As a tale reflecting the noble deeds of a hero, it uniquely expresses the cultural values of the Anglo-Saxons from whom it originated since heroes often do reflect the best of what their culture deems worthwhile. However, modern adaptations of this work express a different set of cultural values; values unique to modern society. When comparing the translated poem, Beowulf, to the 2005 motion picture, Beowulf and GrendelRead MoreSimilarities Of The Story In Beowulf922 Words   |  4 PagesBeowulf was originally an epic poem written by an unknown author that set the tone for future epic literature and created the ideal hero for pieces later to come. But despite its significance, Beowulf has been adapted throughout time and the character and poems image has been changed constantly. One of the best examples showing change to the story is the movie depiction of Beowulf. While there are some similarities that connect the book and story together there are overall more differences that separateRead MoreGrendel and Obj1412 Words   |  6 PagesBeowulf Multiple Choice Identify the letter of the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question. 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In Seamus Heaney’s translation of Beowulf, the theme of fate dictates the outcome of each battle Beowulf must overcomeRead MoreComparing Beowulf And The Anglo Saxon Period1300 Words   |  6 PagesRealism in Beowulf In the old English Anglo Saxon writings, many heroes were given fancil characteristics. For example, Beowulf was depicted with an immense amount of strength that people today could not achieve. Nowadays, the recreation of old fiction is very common. However, when fiction from the eighth century is recreated to fit our modern time, the characters are seen to resemble our human features, skills, and ways of thinking. Eighth century writing is not as rational as our entertainmentRead MoreComparing Beowulf And The Anglo Saxon Period1292 Words   |  6 PagesRealism in Beowulf In the old English Anglo-Saxon writings, many heroes were given fanciful characteristics. For example, Beowulf was depicted with an immense amount of strength that people today could not achieve. Nowadays, the recreation of old fiction is very common. However, when fiction from the eighth century is recreated to fit our modern time, the characters are seen to resemble our human features, skills, and ways of thinking. Eighth-century writing is not as rational as our entertainmentRead More Comparing Beowulf and Michael Crichtons The 13th Warrior Essay823 Words   |  4 PagesComparing Beowulf and Michael Crichtons The 13th Warrior Michael Crichton intertwined some aspects of Beowulf with his own thoughts to produce the drama, â€Å"The 13th Warrior.† Beowulf, written down by an unnamed Christian monk in the 8th century, served as a framework for the plot of â€Å"The 13th Warrior.† Beowulf and â€Å"The 13th Warrior† have many differences but the similarities that they share are more abundant through out the two pieces. Instead of doing a direct translation of Beowulf, the writerRead MoreComparing the Characters of Beowulf and Achilles1291 Words   |  5 PagesComparing and Contrasting Beowulf and Achilles Both Beowulf and Achilles are poetic characters, who hail from different eras of history and different cultural backgrounds. While each is unique in his own way, the two heroes also share similar characteristics. This paper will compare and contrast the medieval Germanic hero Beowulf with the classical Greek hero Achilles (of Homers Iliad), and show how the two are similar and how the two are different. The first way in which both characters areRead More Comparing Two Heros - Beowulf and Odysseus Essays618 Words   |  3 PagesComparing Two Heros - Beowulf and Odysseus Reading through Beowulf I began to compare it to the last great epic I read, Homer’s Odyssey. While the Odyssey and Beowulf are each examples of both historic and modern ideas of heroism, the acts of Beowulf’s hero seem to fit better within its context. Beowulf exhibits many obvious heroic qualities, such as his strength and confidence in battle. These along with more subtle diplomatic actions serve to define him as both a great warrior and leaderRead MoreThe Anglo Saxon Era Of Rich History And Reflected Literature1486 Words   |  6 PagesAnglo Saxon Period began in 449 and ended in 1066 AD. This was a time of Viking conquering other nations, patriotism, and Pagan to Christian religious conversion. There are only few recorded authors of this era as a result of literary works such as Beowulf, Wife’s Lament, and The Seafarer being passed down orally through generations of time. The literature serves as a reflection of this ancient time rather than having an impact on this time period. This was a period of great conquering, pride and honor