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Beowulf

After Beowulf had served his people as King of the Geats for fifty years, he goes to battle one last time to fight a horrible dragon who is frightening all of his people. Beowulf is old and tired but he defeats the dragon in order to protect his people. Even in death he wished so secure safety for the Geats so a tall lighthouse is built in order to help the people find there way back from sea. The most heroic of traits within Beowulf is that he is not afraid to die. He always explains his death wishes before going into battle and requests to have any assets delivered to his people. "And if death does take me, send the hammered mail of my armor to Higlac, return the inheritance I had from Hrehtel, and from Wayland. Fate will unwind as it must! (18)" He is aware of the heroic paradox; he will be glorified in life or death for his actions.

GRENDEL The epic poem Beowulf tells of an evil, mysterious, and ravishing creature named Grendel. Although no precise concrete descriptions or visual references were given to me throughout the story, I was able to formulate my own personal opinion of what this horrifying beast may have looked like. The amoral, despised, and feared Grendel was a colossal, muscular beast capable of ripping any human man to shreds. His razor sharp teeth and pointy horns were ideal for tearing and gnawing unsuspecting inebriated men that slept through the night in Herot Hall. His muscular build, extensive thorny tail, and mammoth size were also key factors that struck fear in the hearts of anyone who had heard about or saw this vile creature. After a long and worrisome night, the awaking Hrothgar, king of the Danes, would more than likely be greeted with the remnants of Danish warriors that had spent their last night in glittering, golden towers of Herot Hall. Grendel, pleased with his midnight feeding, would have already retreated back to the moor under the misty hills from which the savage beast had come. Grendel lived with his mother in an cave...