Symbolism
As the cold winds grip England, Anglo-Saxon warriors huddle around the fire in their enormous meadhalls. A soothing stories drifts through the air. The warriors are engulfed in the story of Beowulf. As the bard entertains the crowd of warriors, he uses an arsenal full of literary tools. One of these tools is symbolism. Good vs. evil, the swamp and the monsters’ lair, Hrothgar’s throne, and Grendel are all prevalent as uses of symbolism throughout this oral art. As the story was told by different people the addition of symbolism may have occurred. It is believed Beowulf was recorded by a monk about 700 c. This also added a whole new set of symbolic ideas to this epic poem. Beowulf is an Anglo-Saxon tale that mixes Christian ideals …show more content…
The terror of Herot stood for evil, jealousy, and those who have lost God’s grace. Grendel was the descendant of Cain and demons. He was the span of evil and was rejected by God. Grendel never felt happiness nor love because he never received God’s grace. This monster lived in darkness. He sat in his lair in the swamp brewing in a jealous hate of the the happy warriors celebrating in Herot. Finally, Grendel decided to take action. When darkness covered the land and evil stirred, Grendel journeyed to Herot. Once he entered the golden mead hall, Grendel started his feast. With his tremendous strength, Grendel tore his victims apart one by one. When the Danes woke in the morning, they found thirty of their comrades gruesomely killed. Grendel continued his onslaught when he returned the next night. The only escape was to run as far as possible from Herot and hide. Grendel was now the ruler of Herot. However, the throne never became his for it was protected by God, the only thing Grendel feared. In the end Beowulf rips off Grendel’s arm, and he dies. Grendel was feared by all and loved by none. He was a jealous, evil monster that God had not given his grace to, and in the end Grendels miserable life was ended by Beowulf, the great prince of the
As the cold winds grip England, Anglo-Saxon warriors huddle around the fire in their enormous meadhalls. A soothing stories drifts through the air. The warriors are engulfed in the story of Beowulf. As the bard entertains the crowd of warriors, he uses an arsenal full of literary tools. One of these tools is symbolism. Good vs. evil, the swamp and the monsters’ lair, Hrothgar’s throne, and Grendel are all prevalent as uses of symbolism throughout this oral art. As the story was told by different people the addition of symbolism may have occurred. It is believed Beowulf was recorded by a monk about 700 c. This also added a whole new set of symbolic ideas to this epic poem. Beowulf is an Anglo-Saxon tale that mixes Christian ideals …show more content…
The terror of Herot stood for evil, jealousy, and those who have lost God’s grace. Grendel was the descendant of Cain and demons. He was the span of evil and was rejected by God. Grendel never felt happiness nor love because he never received God’s grace. This monster lived in darkness. He sat in his lair in the swamp brewing in a jealous hate of the the happy warriors celebrating in Herot. Finally, Grendel decided to take action. When darkness covered the land and evil stirred, Grendel journeyed to Herot. Once he entered the golden mead hall, Grendel started his feast. With his tremendous strength, Grendel tore his victims apart one by one. When the Danes woke in the morning, they found thirty of their comrades gruesomely killed. Grendel continued his onslaught when he returned the next night. The only escape was to run as far as possible from Herot and hide. Grendel was now the ruler of Herot. However, the throne never became his for it was protected by God, the only thing Grendel feared. In the end Beowulf rips off Grendel’s arm, and he dies. Grendel was feared by all and loved by none. He was a jealous, evil monster that God had not given his grace to, and in the end Grendels miserable life was ended by Beowulf, the great prince of the