Outcasts In Heorot

“Malignant by nature, he never showed fear” (Heaney 137). Grendel, a disfigured, murderous beast roams the shadows of Heorot with his “monstrous hell bride” (1259) of a mother. To the people of Heorot, they are both outcasts, forbidden from living a normal life amongst civilization. This has been the case for as both Grendel and his mother have lived on the Earth, due to a God-cursed history leading to the birth of Grendel. That curse has led both of Heorot’s monsters to be separated from society, to be left alone and to turn to monstrous creatures killing the people of Heorot. So, Grendel and his mother’s backstory with Grendel’s ancestors, and their history with the people of Heorot greatly contribute to the roles they play as outcasts in society within this epic. A well-known book in the pages of the Bible, is the book of Genesis. In that book a certain story is contained that happens to relate most closely with Grendel …show more content…
In the eyes of the people of Heorot, Grendel was a “terror-monger” (765) or a monster that only brings about terror in the land. He wreaks havoc and disrupts the peace by killing. In other times throughout the epic, Grendel is known as “Hell-serf” (786), a “Shadow-stalker” (704) and as “The captain of evil” (749). In all instances Grendel is described as a dark and mysterious creature who roams in the shadows working on the side of evil. Grendel brings about darkness to Heorot by killing those around him in the mead hall. None of the king’s warriors have known what to do with him until Beowulf steps in to help. So, throughout the history of Hrothgar’s ruling over Heorot, the people have labeled Grendel as this monstrous creature on the hunt to destroy everyone in his path leading him to have the role as an outcast in the epic, that wreaks havoc and who is too disfigured to belong near