Grendel Characterization Characterization is the action, used by authors, to describe the personality and qualities of someone, and is used in books, movies, plays, and other forms of literacy. Characterization can be one of two things: direct or indirect. These different characterizations are techniques used by authors to thoroughly develop and describe a character’s persona. In the story Beowulf, the author, who is unknown, vaguely describes the characters, but includes enough information to allow the readers to visualize the characters themselves. The character of Grendel, from the story Beowulf, is developed by the author using direct and indirect characterization, which creates an in-depth and detailed character. Direct characterization
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Indirect characterization describes the personality of the character through description of their appearance, actions, words, thoughts, and other character relationships. In the story Beowulf, the author uses quotes to indirectly describe Grendel, such as “He [Grendel] was spawned in that slime, conceived by a pair of those monsters born of Cain, murderous creatures banished by God, punished forever for the crime of Abel's death.” (34) and “He [Grendel] journeyed, forever joyless, straight to the door, then snapped it open, tore it's iron fasteners with a touch and rushed angrily across the inlaid floor, snarling and fierce.” (41). These quotes do not directly state trait of Grendel, but instead, indirectly characterize him by providing actions, and the family history of Grendel. My drawing of Grendel shows him with a muscular and fierce build, which would most likely be required in order for someone to tear an iron door from its fasteners. I also added horns, which are most often seen on devilish creatures, to represent the evil and corrupt characteristics of Grendel, which I interpreted from the notation of Grendel’s birth in slime and from monsters born of
Indirect characterization describes the personality of the character through description of their appearance, actions, words, thoughts, and other character relationships. In the story Beowulf, the author uses quotes to indirectly describe Grendel, such as “He [Grendel] was spawned in that slime, conceived by a pair of those monsters born of Cain, murderous creatures banished by God, punished forever for the crime of Abel's death.” (34) and “He [Grendel] journeyed, forever joyless, straight to the door, then snapped it open, tore it's iron fasteners with a touch and rushed angrily across the inlaid floor, snarling and fierce.” (41). These quotes do not directly state trait of Grendel, but instead, indirectly characterize him by providing actions, and the family history of Grendel. My drawing of Grendel shows him with a muscular and fierce build, which would most likely be required in order for someone to tear an iron door from its fasteners. I also added horns, which are most often seen on devilish creatures, to represent the evil and corrupt characteristics of Grendel, which I interpreted from the notation of Grendel’s birth in slime and from monsters born of