Beowulf

He is the image of a man fallen from grace through sin. Grendel’s stalking of the Dane’s is similar to the devil when he was cast out of heaven and the joys that were there. Just as Beowulf exemplifies Christ, Grendel mirrors Satan. He grabs an enormous sword made by giants, almost too heavy to hold, and slashes through the monster's body. The dragon represents malice, greed, and destruction. Grendel has no knowledge of weapons, so he, too, depends on his extraordinary strength to destroy his enemies. The fact that he wished to be cremated also suggests that he is a pagan. Grendel is referred to as a descendant of Cain, whom Satan tricks into sinning and committing the first murder. Both set out on a venture to save their people. He stalks the people and terrorizes them because he is jealous of their joy. Beowulf's fight with the dragon is a realization of the story of salvation where Beowulf, like Christ, gives his life for his people. Many of the characters exhibit Christian characteristics. He drinks alot and has a tendency to kill people and creatures. The technique of combining two different ideals made the poem Beowulf very interesting to read. The author has exalted the fights with fabled monsters into a conflict between the powers of good and evil.