Grendels Story in Poem Beowulf

Table of Contents

Introduction
Summary
Main themes
Poetic Structure
Conclusion
Works Cited

Introduction

The literature of the early Middle Ages gives an idea of the peoples values and tastes who lived many centuries ago. Beowulf is a heroic poem, written by an unknown author between 700-1000. The reader witnesses a fantastic story about the struggle of a glorious war against villains, and the historical truth, dressed in literary form, about the formation of Christianity in Europe. Beowulf reflects one of the first literary attempts to form a portrait of true evil, a demon embodied in the face of the fictional monster Grendel.

Summary

The fight against Grendel is described in the first part of Beowulf. The story begins when a young knight of the Gauth people arrives at Hygelacs palace to kill Grendel, the monster that has been killing the kings warriors for 12 years (Beowulf 12). On the first night, Grendel appeared at the palace, jerked open the door, and swallowed one of the warriors. Beowulf was watching, and the monster had no chance. Beowulf grabbed an enemys claw during a fierce battle and ripped it off. Mortally wounded, Grendel returned to the swamp, where he died.

Main themes

In Beowulf, the reader can find many themes and hidden meanings. For instance, much attention is paid to the German code of loyalty (Beowulf 24). Another important theme is the opposition between good and evil, light and darkness. From this point of view, Grendel is presented as the embodiment of true evil. The description of his life is full of gloomy details. He lives in a thicket of eternal darkness, surrounded by a wild and mysterious swamp (Beowulf 26). The monster hates people Grendels hatred began,/& the monster relished his savage war. (Beowulf 28). Under cover of the night, Grendel emerges from his hiding place in search of a new victim. In contrast, the main characters feast in the sunlight, surrounded by the interior of the shining palace in the Heorot.

Pagan Germanic ideas about evil influenced the portrait of Grendel. He is ruthless and bloodthirsty, but also he was an outcast and unable to communicate with people. According to German beliefs, a person who committed a serious crime was expelled from society (Earl 54). He lost his human face, became a monster, and was hated by people. At the same time, in Grendels description, the Christian spirit had a strong effect. Grendel is a descendant of Cain, called a pagan and doomed to eternal torment (Beowulf 26). He was a mixture of man and beast, and like a demon, he craved human suffering.

Poetic Structure

The poetic structure of Beowulf represents traditional Anglo-Saxon period Old English meter defined with heavy use of alliteration. The poem has a unique structure consisting of three parts. Each part ends with the victory over the monster. In total, the work covers more than 50 years. One of the most outstanding examples of Anglo-Saxon poetry is the passage of Grendels ascent from the swamp. They have seen my strength for themselves,/ Have watched me rise from the darkness of war,/ Dripping with my enemies blood. (Beowulf 36). The drama increase as the monster approaches the palace. The gray, gloomy sky contrasts with the description of the solemn glow of the wine room.

Conclusion

Grendel can rightfully be considered one of the most absorbing heroes in Beowulf. He has a bestial rage based on human emotions such as resentment and envy. His body is almost like a human but distorted and covered in fur. Grendels portraits absorbed pagan and Christian ideas of evil. A monster, a sinner, and a demon rolled into one, making him a unique antagonist of Anglo-Saxon literature.