Beowulf

A long time ago, around 600 AD, an epic heroic poem titled Beowulf circulated around Denmark and Sweden. In the tenth century it was finally written down by an anonymous English monk. It was originally written in Anglo-Saxon, also known as Old English. Beowulf is an epic heroic poem about the Danes’ struggle with an evil monster, Grendel. Grendel is a descended from the Cain’s clan. He comes out at night to the mead hall, Heorot, and kills the men in the hall. The struggle with Grendel gets so bad, a hero by the name of Beowulf comes to the Danes from the land of the Geats to defeat the evil Grendel. The text of Beowulf has many images of life and death. Hrothgar’s birth is an example of an image of life. Grendel killing thirty men in Heorot is an example of an image of death. And finally, Beowulf’s struggle with Grendel is an example of an image of life and death.

An example of an image of life in Beowulf is Hrothgar’s birth.

The long times and troubles they’d come through

Without a leader; so the lord of life,

The glorious Almighty, made this man renowned.

Shield had fathered a tamous son: (14-18)

This excerpt taken from Beowulf explains how the Danes are glad Hrothgar has been bo

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In conclusion, in the epic heroic poem of Beowulf there is examples of the images of life and death. In that certain situation either Beowulf or Grendel is going to die while the other one lives. In opposition to Hrothgar’s birth, Grendel’s attack is related to bad luck and the bad beginning of a new trend of sadistic attacks. The words grim and greedy are used to give the reader an image of the darkness and gloominess that Grendel brings to the epic heroic poem. Once they start to fight Beowulf gets Grendel into an awesome handgrip which he cannot escape. They also refer to God as the “Lord of Life,” because God allowed them to have this child who will be the future leader. Beowulf also must use no weapons, because no weapon can overpower Grendel. Either Beowulf or Grendel is going to die. Their troubled days are over and long gone. The image of life is seen when Hrothgar is born. His grip is so forceful it takes Grendel’s arm and shoulder right off. No man has ever defeated the evil monster Grendel. The monster’s whole

Body was in pain (812-815)

In this excerpt explains how once again Grendel has arrived at Heorot to terrorize the Danes. Therefore, Grendel killing the thirty men in Heorot is an extremely vivid image of death in Beowulf.

Approximate Word count = 867
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

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