Grendel A Character Analysis

Vocabulary Malignant – “Malignant by nature” Line 137 Cain’s Clan – “He had dwelt a time in misery among the banished monsters, Cain’s clan” Line: 106 Merciless – “He was numb with grief but got no respite for one night later merciless Grendel struck again with more gruesome murders. Line 134 Demon – “Grendel was the name of this grim demon” Line 102

Characterization Grendel acts cowardly when he has to put up a fight: “the dread of the land was desperate to escape, to take a roundabout road and flee to his lair in the fens.” Line Most characters are scared of Grendel: “Whoever escaped kept a weather-eye open and moved away.” Lines: Grendel does not care about humans: “Malignant by nature” Line 137 Acts Villainous: “…greedy and grim, he grabbed thirty men from their resting places and rushed to his lair…” Lines

Imagery Image of an inhuman monster – “Demon” “Then a powerful demon, a prowler through the dark, nursed a hard grievance” Line – “God-cursed” “Suddenly the god-cursed brute was creating havoc.” Line

Symbolism Cain’s clan – Cain = 1 st murderer (in Bible) – “he had dwelt for a time in misery among the banished monsters, Cain’s clan” ( ) Grendel is dehumanized – “fiend out of hell” (100), “Malignant by nature” (137), “God-cursed brute” (121) – Less of a character, more of a plot device/metaphor – Only described as evil (malignant) – Does Grendel represent evil? Grendel terrorizes Heorot – Heorot is where the king gives out rewards and where people go for a safe place to sleep “Nor did he renege, but doled out rings and torques” (80-81), “he came upon them, a company of the best asleep from their feasting” ( , regarding the Geats) – Does Heorot represent society? – Grendel terrorizing Heorot = evil terrorizing society? Beowulf = allegory about society – What keeps society from crumbling? Does Grendel’s character represent the evil of man posing a threat to our society?

Tone Vocabulary – Dehumanizes Grendel Characterization – Everyone fears and hates Grendel – Grendel is characterized as evil Imagery – Paints Grendel as a monster rather than a man Symbolism – Grendel is the evil ripping society apart The evil of man will destroy society if left to do its work