Since the dawn of time, the forces of evil have always tried to gain an upper hand over the
             forces of good. Ever since then, the battle has always had the same outcome; the
             righteous defeating the wicked. The epic poem, Beowulf, is the embodiment of this
             ongoing struggle, and displays many contrasts between good and evil through its settings,
             God, condeming Cain, the father of evil, to be shut away from men "for the crime
             of Able's death," leaves the wicked to live in the darkness, shut away from everything.
             Those who live in complete happiness, where they are provided with all that they need, are
             Righteousness is represented throughout the epic by the character Beowulf, and
             his actions. Beowulf, portraying many good qualities, is the ultimate example of a hero,
             "no strength is a match for," his (Beowulf 22). For he "survived the sea, smashed the
             monsters' hot jaws," and made it possible for sailors to "cross that sea-road and feel no
             fear; nothing would stop their passing (Beowulf 23)." His acts of good are shown
             through his efforts to free King Hrothgar's hall from the wrath of Grendel, a man-eating
             monster. Beowulf risks his life for the Danes by fighting this demon as he feels in debt to
             King Hrothgar for helping his father many years before.
             In contrast, Grendel represents evil in the epic. Grendel represents evil perfectly.
             He is sneaky and cowardly, slipping "through the door and there in silence snatched up
             thirty men, smashed them unknowing in their beds and ran out with their bodies (Beowulf
             16)." He "ruled" Denmark, he "fought with the righteous, one against many and won,"
             that is until someone willing to fight back shows up (Beowulf 16).
             The battle between Beowulf and Grendel begins when Beowulf and his band of
             fighters spend the night in the great hall waiting
             ...