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 born. They are upset Hrothgar's father, Shield Sheafson is dead. The Danes feared not having a leader, but now that Hrothgar has been born, they have a future leader. Hrothgar's birth promises good fortune and a new beginning to the Danes. Their troubled days are over and long gone. When they refer to the "Almighty" in the example above, they are referring to God. They also refer to God as the "Lord of Life," because God allowed them to have this child who will be the future leader. Accordingly, Hrothgar's birth is an example imagery of life in Beowulf.
             An example of an image of death in Beowulf is when Grendel attacks Heorot and kills thirty men
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