Beowulf Journal 1

Beowulf, an Anglo-Saxon epic poem, was written in times where Old-English flourished as a strong and vivid language, but currently is reviewed, revised, and redrawn for multiple purposes. In a basic analysis of this poem, one could never leave the hero of the Geats, Beowulf, out of the picture. Beowulf, an immensely strong, courageous hero is asked by Hrothgar, King of the Danes, for assistance in defeating a malicious monster Grendel who wreaks havoc in Heorot, the Danes’ mead-hall. Representing a call-to-action, Beowulf agrees to slain Grendel and their epic battle begins. After the battle takes rest, Beowulf stands tall with Grendel’s arm grasped and raised. Beowulf is not yet done; Grendel’s mother arises to finish the task her son could not. In a difficult battle to the death, Beowulf prevails and decapitates Grendel’s mother. Soon Beowulf is King of the Geats and finds trouble, dragon trouble, in his land. With the assistance of Wiglaf, Beowulf slays the dragon, but during the process, his life is taken from him. In relation to a quest, Grendel was the first evil force Beowulf had to face and Beowulf’s true nemesis. In Beowulf, Grendel’s character is portrayed as the epitome of evil, which is proven by the study of Grendel’s characteristics, personality, and actions.
In relation to a man, Grendel, an evil monster, is characterized as a descendant of Cain that has physical attributes far superior to those of a mortal man. As Hrothgar introduces the reader to Grendel, his description sets the tone and mood of the poem for many lines. Fear and desperation is evident in Hrothgar’s description. One descriptive line is, “Conceived by a pair of monsters born of Cain, murderous creatures banished by God” (line 20-21). This quote not only redefines the fear of Grendel, but adds an ancestral background to Grendel’s origin. Grendel is offspring of Cain, one of Adam and Eve’s sons, who is the first murderer; thus Cain is eternally cursed by God. Other than ancestry, Grendel is more dominant physically when compared to men. Grendel’s size is unimaginable; he can fit thirty men in his mouth with ease. Descendant of Cain, Grendel is a demon with unimaginable power that he uses for destruction and brutal murder.
With the appearance of Hell-on-Earth, Grendel has a callous and cruel personality that is apparent in each attack on Heorot. Grendel, in a span of twelve years, has attacked and inflicted damage to Heorot and King Hrothgar’s people. The Danes are one their last leg and have no power left for retaliation. This does not affect Grendel in any way; in fact, Grendel continues his assault on the Danes with no remorse. One line from the epic that portrays Grendel’s behavior is, “No savage assaults quench his lust for Evil” (line 52-53). This quote as well as actions in the epic proves that Grendel is a destructive and cold-hearted creature that enjoys killing Hrothgar’s people. This quote also proves that the number of soldiers Grendel murders has no effect on his actions; Grendel has no remorse and continues to come back to murder and destroy. Grendel is dark and destructive monster with a thirst for evil, his motives are simple and his plan is cruel.
When describing the nature of Grendel, his actions speak louder than his words. Grendel’s actions are pure evil and unpredictable; his deadly feasting of Hrothgar’s people is never-ending. At this time in the epic, Hrothgar calls on the assistance of Beowulf, but Grendel’s assault does not lessen. One example of Grendel’s deadly actions is, “He slipped through the door and there in silence snatched up thirty men, smashed them unknowingly in their beds” (line 37-38). This quote proves that Grendel’s actions were feared by all, and explains Grendel’s methods of attack on the mead-hall. Furthermore, this quote explains how and why Grendel and Beowulf cross paths and details the actions taken.
Grendel, the first true test of Beowulf’ strength, is an intricate yet fearful character, which shows in his actions, motives, and personality. Characteristics of Grendel include a dominant physical body structure, powerful strength, and size advantage over most mortal men. In relation to personality, Grendel is heartless and feels no guilt for his evil killings on Hrothgar’s men. Grendel’s actions portray a sense of urgency and pleasure in his killings; his unremorseful behavior personifies this. In conclusion, Grendel is a much needed and unforgettable character in Beowulf, and his actions and personality show what a dominant force he is.