Topic: In an essay analyze the monster Grendel, focusing on the character’s nature. Begin your character analysis of the monster with a sentence stating your general assessment of Grendel as a character. Then, support your assessment with details from the epic. Before you write, organize your details in a chart like the following one
The beast known as Grendel is not just the bloodthirsty monster he is portrayed to be in Beowulf. When compared to his character in the book Grendel, he is much more complex. You can see that he has feelings like all humans, and that he has an extent of compassion. In Beowulf, Grendel is shown as a killer, a beast, and something that cannot be tamed. In Grendel, the tale is told from the beast’s point of view. This allows us to see his inner motivations that drive his obscure actions that follow.
Throughout the novel, Grendel begins to explore the world around him. At first, he explores his cave. Once he feels comfortable, he begins to journey out into the rest of the world. When he travels out to the rest of the world, he steals and kills animals, and sometimes people. He does this as a source of food, but he does so reasonably. Each year, he sets a quota for each breed of animal. We do see that he does not follow the quota very well when hunting humans, and this could stem from his dislike of them.
When studied closely, it can be seen that Grendel is very analytical, trouble, pessimistic, emotional, and immoral but sensitive. He is a very curious beast. He describes this as a spell that had come over him when he was younger. He wants to understand the world around him, much like all of us humans do, and he is often found saying “Why not?”. He is a very troubled soul. This can be seen by him saying “Ah, the unfairness of everything.” He feels that the entire world is against him, and he sees the world as being very indifferent to him. Although he seems to be a beast, his emotions can be seen towards his mother. As a child, he cries out for her when he finds himself trapped, and is very grateful when she comes to his rescue. His killing of living things shows his immoral side, but his quota for each species shows his sensitive side.
The people that saw his antics did not understand him at all. At first, they try to figure out what exactly he is, but they show fear when he moves or tries to speak. They try to satisfy him by bringing him food. With the confusion of his motives for actions, they argue whether or not to hurt him. They contemplate violence, and then carry out violence. Grendel is in fear, and as are the people. The humans continue to harm him until he is saved by his mother.
Grendel is not as he is portrayed in Beowulf when compared to his attitude in Grendel. In Beowulf, he is portrayed as a beast that needs slaying. He is thought of by all as a killing machine. In Grendel, his thoughts are told, rather than his actions just being shown. This allows us to see that he is much more complex than a beast would be; he has human-like thoughts that sometimes justify his actions.
