There are varying degrees of monster in every human. Furthermore, there are varying degrees of humanity in monsters. No person is perfect, and no person is entirely evil; the same goes for the monsters in the epic poem Beowulf. Even the worst of criminals have redeeming factors and times in their lives when they were good people, none of them were born cruel. All three monsters, Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon, show qualities of humanity as well as connections to each other. In Beowulf, the anonymous author uses personification and parallels to show similarities and humanity of the three monsters Beowulf battles. The author personifies the monsters Beowulf goes up against throughout the poem, showing “something deeply human
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Starting with Grendel, it was “one fall, one submission, and one knock-out bout” (Orchard 1) with no real threat to Beowulf’s life, and he kills Grendel with ease. Grendel is the first monster and requires one of everything, and this is just the beginning of a succession that continues between the three monsters. This succession is a connection between the three that may not be picked up on without further examination. Second, Beowulf moves up to Grendel’s mother who nearly kills Beowulf and takes a “two-fall fight…two swords, and Grendel’s mother two weapons also” (Orchard 1). The second monster requires two of everything and the challenge becomes slightly more difficult for Beowulf to combat. Finally, Beowulf is killed by the dragon after three rounds. The third monster requires three and opposes the greatest challenge for the epic hero that results in the death of the …show more content…
To start off, there are many underlying similarities between Beowulf and Grendel. In the beginning of the poem, Grendel comes into the Herot and carries off thirty men, then when Hrothgar introduces Beowulf, he states that Beowulf has “hands that moved with thirty men’s strength” (Beowulf 380). Not only are the two connected by the strength of thirty men, but thirty is a multiple of three which is a symbolic number which is reused throughout the poem. The number three often is a reference to the holy trinity, and Grendel is a character damned by God while Beowulf is almost superhuman. Both characters are pretty solitary and to themselves; Beowulf has men with him but does most on his own, and Grendel is almost always alone except when he is attacking the Herot. This similarity also shows a contrast: the reason why they are both this way. Beowulf works to protect his people and Grendel works to fend for himself and destroy the lives of
Starting with Grendel, it was “one fall, one submission, and one knock-out bout” (Orchard 1) with no real threat to Beowulf’s life, and he kills Grendel with ease. Grendel is the first monster and requires one of everything, and this is just the beginning of a succession that continues between the three monsters. This succession is a connection between the three that may not be picked up on without further examination. Second, Beowulf moves up to Grendel’s mother who nearly kills Beowulf and takes a “two-fall fight…two swords, and Grendel’s mother two weapons also” (Orchard 1). The second monster requires two of everything and the challenge becomes slightly more difficult for Beowulf to combat. Finally, Beowulf is killed by the dragon after three rounds. The third monster requires three and opposes the greatest challenge for the epic hero that results in the death of the …show more content…
To start off, there are many underlying similarities between Beowulf and Grendel. In the beginning of the poem, Grendel comes into the Herot and carries off thirty men, then when Hrothgar introduces Beowulf, he states that Beowulf has “hands that moved with thirty men’s strength” (Beowulf 380). Not only are the two connected by the strength of thirty men, but thirty is a multiple of three which is a symbolic number which is reused throughout the poem. The number three often is a reference to the holy trinity, and Grendel is a character damned by God while Beowulf is almost superhuman. Both characters are pretty solitary and to themselves; Beowulf has men with him but does most on his own, and Grendel is almost always alone except when he is attacking the Herot. This similarity also shows a contrast: the reason why they are both this way. Beowulf works to protect his people and Grendel works to fend for himself and destroy the lives of