This blog is designed for students in Ms. Kimpson's English IV class. Students will be able to express their thoughts and comment on the thoughts of others. Please remember to respect the opinions of others. No profanity is allowed!!
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Grendel vs. Beowulf
When we look closely, it is possible to say that Grendel and Beowulf are really one in the same? Aren’t they both monsters?
Grendel kills people from the mead-hall. Beowulf kills Grendel and his mother. Grendel kills them for pleasure, for no specific reason. Beowulf kills them for recognition and safety at the same time. From the eyes of those in the mead-hall, Beowulf is seen as protection, as a hero and Grendel as a vicious beast. From the eyes of Grendel's mother, he who killed him is no less dangerous than Grendel, nonetheless, one who kills is perceived as a monster in society.
I agree and disagree with Cynthia. Grendel kills for the pleasure of himself. People see him as a monster and an evil thing to society and want him dead. Beowulf kills Grendel for the fame and the glory of the people in the community, but both get pleasure and satisfacotry out of doing this deed. These activities excite them because it is a drive to kill and a drive to be famous, feel the attention from the different people, from the smell of the blood.
It can be inferred that both Grendel and Beowulf could be "Monsters". See Beowulf, born an Anglo-Saxon contained the symbol of heroic code of honor, this "honor" made him ‘kill’ whoever interfered with the safety of his people, Therefore he acquired recognition and became admired, While Grendel, descendent of Cain, is forced to live with the inherited curse of being denied God's presence. Therefore he "kills" to satisfy his emotions, seeking a solution to his internal conflicts. Both are the same but their actions are for a different cause.
I also agree with Cynthia. Grendel kills for pleasure in which going to the mead- hall is the only exciting part of his day due to he is the only child and has no friends. Beowulf uses his strength for the better in which he kills to protect. To deprive of life in any manner is monstruous due to the Bible says "thou shall not commit murder". Although they both kill for different reasons, one more reasonable than the other, they both kill for enjoyment which makes them both monstruous.
The dictionary defines a monster as "a legendary animal combining features of animal and human form or having the forms of various animals in combination, as a centaur, griffin, or sphinx". Now technically speaking, both Grendel and Beowulf are monsters. Yet different types of monsters. Another definition of monster is "a person who excites horror by wickedness, cruelty, etc." which indeed describes Grendel. Grendel and Beowulf are driven by different forces to kill. Grendel does so because it is part of his routine and is his only joy due to his troubling past and family curse. Some may argue that Beowulf kills to protect his people or that he kills for the fame and treasure. Either way he's not killing people because he has nothing better to do. So all in all I agree with Wilmer's final statement that they are the same but their actions are for different causes .
Being that both Grendel and Beowulf have a devine purpose of "killing",(yet for different intentions)they both could be perceived as exhibiting and containing monstrous qualities. Beowulf kills in order to live up to his Anglo-Saxon "epic hero role" by serving his duty of protecting endangered people while also acqiuring glory. Grendel, however, kills to fill his inevitable "joyless" life,(a cursed damned upon him by God from the wicked actions of his ancestor Cain) with pleasure. Although it may be true that Beowulf's incentive to kill is more beneficial for the good of man, both Grendel and Beowulf seeks self-satisfaction from these murders, therefore making them both, to a certain extent, an epitome of a monster.
Grendel kills for the pleasure of killing while Beowulf kills to uphold the standards of an Anglo-Saxon warrior, to keep his people safe. Both Grendel and Beowulf exemplify monstous characteristics. Grendel kills the drunken people of the mead hall and eats thier flesh and bones. Beouwulf on the other hand is a positive monster who fights the beasts mankind would not be able to defeat. His defeat against Brecca shows his strength unlike any man. Their murderous acts may be for different reasons, but both Grendel and Beowulf kill with strengths beyond human. For example, their battle in the mead hall was uncommon because the hall was built to whereas nothing could bring it down but fire, but the battle almost did.
Beowulf, in a sense protrays the true qualities of a "monster" more than Grendal. Grendel is simply just an entity of evil and affliction.Through generational curse, Grendel is confined to his circumstances and actions.By nature, he is unable to render the emotions of humans, and understand anything beyond the depths of immorality.Therefore, he is obstructed to the life that fate has bestowed upon him. On the other hand, Beowulf, despite his natural possession of human qualities, attempts to go through life slaughtering his offenders, only for the sake of his own reputation and pride. He carries a wicked heart, considering the fact that he cares less about whether or not society is rescued from a state of misery. His choice to have a self centered attitude, displays his willingness to do what ever it takes to maintain his status, immoral or not.
Figuratively, yes Grendel and Beowulf are both monsters considering that throughout the epic they are both extremely threatening forces, but to say that they are the same is a stretch. Beowulf does not kill or bring harm to anyone out of pure evil or hatred. He does it to uphold the Anglo-Saxon code. It is a tradition and value that has been instilled in not only him but generations before him also. In exercising this tradition he is protecting his people from evil. In contrast, Grendel inflicts pain and suffering on people for fun. He views it as pure enjoyment and for no apparent reason or true cause. Because of these reasons he is much more of a 'monster' than Beowulf. So although they both have their faults, or monstrous qualities, Grendel is the true monster here.
A poem can be wordless because when a poem is read to truly understand and interpret it correctly it is not enough to just interpret with one sense. Hearing is not enough. One must be able to feel the emotions distriputed on the page, smell the imagery and see the setting. Poetry is felt not heard. Poetry is motionless in time because as Jocelyn says at the end of the day no matter how many interpretations reveal themselves, the true meaning of a poem stays the same. Also poetry is above us all, it does not grow or age, because poetry is not just a sheet of paper. Poetry are words and will always be as constant and alive as change.
Grendel kills people from the mead-hall. Beowulf kills Grendel and his mother. Grendel kills them for pleasure, for no specific reason. Beowulf kills them for recognition and safety at the same time. From the eyes of those in the mead-hall, Beowulf is seen as protection, as a hero and Grendel as a vicious beast. From the eyes of Grendel's mother, he who killed him is no less dangerous than Grendel, nonetheless, one who kills is perceived as a monster in society.
ReplyDeleteI agree and disagree with Cynthia. Grendel kills for the pleasure of himself. People see him as a monster and an evil thing to society and want him dead. Beowulf kills Grendel for the fame and the glory of the people in the community, but both get pleasure and satisfacotry out of doing this deed. These activities excite them because it is a drive to kill and a drive to be famous, feel the attention from the different people, from the smell of the blood.
ReplyDeleteIt can be inferred that both Grendel and Beowulf could be "Monsters". See Beowulf, born an Anglo-Saxon contained the symbol of heroic code of honor, this "honor" made him ‘kill’ whoever interfered with the safety of his people, Therefore he acquired recognition and became admired, While Grendel, descendent of Cain, is forced to live with the inherited curse of being denied God's presence. Therefore he "kills" to satisfy his emotions, seeking a solution to his internal conflicts. Both are the same but their actions are for a different cause.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Cynthia. Grendel kills for pleasure in which going to the mead- hall is the only exciting part of his day due to he is the only child and has no friends. Beowulf uses his strength for the better in which he kills to protect. To deprive of life in any manner is monstruous due to the Bible says "thou shall not commit murder". Although they both kill for different reasons, one more reasonable than the other, they both kill for enjoyment which makes them both monstruous.
ReplyDeleteThe dictionary defines a monster as "a legendary animal combining features of animal and human form or having the forms of various animals in combination, as a centaur, griffin, or sphinx". Now technically speaking, both Grendel and Beowulf are monsters. Yet different types of monsters. Another definition of monster is "a person who excites horror by wickedness, cruelty, etc." which indeed describes Grendel. Grendel and Beowulf are driven by different forces to kill. Grendel does so because it is part of his routine and is his only joy due to his troubling past and family curse. Some may argue that Beowulf kills to protect his people or that he kills for the fame and treasure. Either way he's not killing people because he has nothing better to do. So all in all I agree with Wilmer's final statement that they are the same but their actions are for different causes .
ReplyDeleteBeing that both Grendel and Beowulf have a devine purpose of "killing",(yet for different intentions)they both could be perceived as exhibiting and containing monstrous qualities. Beowulf kills in order to live up to his Anglo-Saxon "epic hero role" by serving his duty of protecting endangered people while also acqiuring glory. Grendel, however, kills to fill his inevitable "joyless" life,(a cursed damned upon him by God from the wicked actions of his ancestor Cain) with pleasure. Although it may be true that Beowulf's incentive to kill is more beneficial for the good of man, both Grendel and Beowulf seeks self-satisfaction from these murders, therefore making them both, to a certain extent, an epitome of a monster.
ReplyDeleteGrendel kills for the pleasure of killing while Beowulf kills to uphold the standards of an Anglo-Saxon warrior, to keep his people safe. Both Grendel and Beowulf exemplify monstous characteristics. Grendel kills the drunken people of the mead hall and eats thier flesh and bones. Beouwulf on the other hand is a positive monster who fights the beasts mankind would not be able to defeat. His defeat against Brecca shows his strength unlike any man. Their murderous acts may be for different reasons, but both Grendel and Beowulf kill with strengths beyond human. For example, their battle in the mead hall was uncommon because the hall was built to whereas nothing could bring it down but fire, but the battle almost did.
ReplyDeleteBeowulf, in a sense protrays the true qualities of a "monster" more than Grendal. Grendel is simply just an entity of evil and affliction.Through generational curse, Grendel is confined to his circumstances and actions.By nature, he is unable to render the emotions of humans, and understand anything beyond the depths of immorality.Therefore, he is obstructed to the life that fate has bestowed upon him. On the other hand, Beowulf, despite his natural possession of human qualities, attempts to go through life slaughtering his offenders, only for the sake of his own reputation and pride. He carries a wicked heart, considering the fact that he cares less about whether or not society is rescued from a state of misery. His choice to have a self centered attitude, displays his willingness to do what ever it takes to maintain his status, immoral or not.
ReplyDeleteFiguratively, yes Grendel and Beowulf are both monsters considering that throughout the epic they are both extremely threatening forces, but to say that they are the same is a stretch. Beowulf does not kill or bring harm to anyone out of pure evil or hatred. He does it to uphold the Anglo-Saxon code. It is a tradition and value that has been instilled in not only him but generations before him also. In exercising this tradition he is protecting his people from evil. In contrast, Grendel inflicts pain and suffering on people for fun. He views it as pure enjoyment and for no apparent reason or true cause. Because of these reasons he is much more of a 'monster' than Beowulf. So although they both have their faults, or monstrous qualities, Grendel is the true monster here.
ReplyDelete-Jocoby Junious
A poem can be wordless because when a poem is read to truly understand and interpret it correctly it is not enough to just interpret with one sense. Hearing is not enough. One must be able to feel the emotions distriputed on the page, smell the imagery and see the setting. Poetry is felt not heard. Poetry is motionless in time because as Jocelyn says at the end of the day no matter how many interpretations reveal themselves, the true meaning of a poem stays the same. Also poetry is above us all, it does not grow or age, because poetry is not just a sheet of paper. Poetry are words and will always be as constant and alive as change.
ReplyDelete