Journal 2

A powerful monster (Grendel)

Beowulf demonstrates good and evil, heaven and hell, through the use of Grendel and Beowulf. Beowulf begins with a story of king Hrothgar of Denmark, a descendent of the great kings shield Sheafson, who enjoys wealth and successful reign. Through this prosper he builds a, mead-hall, called Heorot, where his warriors can gather to drink, receive gifts from their lord, and listen to stories sung by scoops of bards. The rejoicing noise from Heorot angers Grendel, an evil demon who lives in the darkness of Hrothgar’s kingdom. Grendel rules the halls of the Danes, killing them and easily defeating their efforts to fight back. Grendel’s rampage continues for many years creating fear, danger, and death for the Danes. The character of Grendel is portrayed as evil. This is proven by the description of Grendel noting that he is an offspring of Cain, how he kills without remorse, and the description of his home.

The poet hints that behind Grendel’s aggression against the Danes, lies loneliness and jealousy. Grendel, in the opening passage of the poem, is being described by the speaker. The poem shows the origin of Grendel evil, making his connection to that of Cain. Saying that Grendel is “Conceived by a pair of those monsters born/ Of Cain, murderous creature banished/ By God, punished forever for the crime/ Of Abele’s death. The Almighty drove/ those demons out, and their exile bitter,/ Shut away from men” (21 Raffel).  Because Grendel is the descendent of Cain, father of all evil, Grendel will never know “God’s love.” Grendel is forced to this life of loneliness. This creates jealousy for Grendel towards the Danes happiness and wealth. Grendel, because of his jealousy, kills the Danes as way to make him feel superior.  This connection Grendel has with Cain embodies how Grendal has a natural pursuit for evil.

Grendel is guilty of his crimes of monstrosity, through his killing without remorse.  This lack of remorse is demonstrated when the battle between Heorot and Grendel begins. Described in the poem as   "Grendel's hatred began,/...the monster relished his savage war/ On the Danes, keeping the bloody feud/ Alive, seeking no peace, offering/ No truce, accepting no settlement, no price/ In gold or land, and paying the living/ For one crime only with another. No one/ Waited for reparation from his plundering claws:/ That shadow of death hunted in the darkness,/ Stalked Hrothgar's warriors" (22 Raffel). This shows how Grendel looks for no peace and only desires to kill the people of Heorot. Grendel finds satisfaction in killing, even if some of those people didn’t deserve to die. Grendel even plans out his killings stalking his prey and then goes to kill them in the darkness of the night. Grendel has no remorse in his killing, and he continues for twelve long winters with no one to stand in his way. This lack of remorse shows him guilty of monstrous crimes.  With Grendal continuation towards these crimes creates a major characteristic of evil for him.

Grendels most monstrous appearances are demonstrated through his home. Grendel goes into battle with Beowulf, finding out that this night would be very different then the many nights before. Grendel is defeated by Beowulf, but he retreats to his home. Grendel is described in the poem to live in secret places such as “Cliffs, wolf dens. Where water pours/ From the rocks/ ….Roots that reach as far as the water/ And help keep it dark. At night the that lake/ Burns like a torch” (35 Raffel). This gothic description gives that of a monstrous place, of that suited for an animal. A place where animals would rather die on the shore then to go near his home and any wise man would not dare to go there.  Grendel’s home shows his exile from the boundaries of society where no one dares to go. This description of Grendel’s home is one of the major descriptions that create the image of Grendel as dark and monstrous.

Grendel’s portrayal of darkness and evil are show through the poems description of Grendel’s connection to Cain, his killing, and his exiled home. Grendel is exiled because he is an off spring of Cain. This exile means that he will never know the love of God and this creates jealousy for Grendel towards those who are protected by God. Grendel’s main victims are those who live in Hrothgar kingdom Hrothgar is under Gods protection and because of this is given wealth and happiness. Grendel kills Hrothgar’s people out of jealousy for what he can’t have. In Grendel’s killing, he has no remorse and continues to kill with no consideration of peace. Other major monstrous characteristics of Grendel are his home that is down in the darkness separated from society. Grendel’s monstrous evils are repaid by the heroism of Beowulf who kills him for all the crimes Grendel has committed.