Beowulf Good Vs. Evil

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Good Versus Evil in Beowulf An anonymous Anglo-Saxon author composed Beowulf, an epic poem, in which good triumphs against evil. A variety of despicable monsters constantly threaten the people of Denmark providing a need for a noble warrior, Beowulf. The repetitive struggle to save humanity demonstrates the forces of good versus evil through The Battle with Grendel, The Battle with Grendel’s Mother, and The Battle with the Dragon. The initial battle, The Battle with Grendel, begin the fight of good versus evil. Grendel, a savege beast, continually devoured the people of Denmark, bloodthirsty, “ He moved quickly through the cloudy night […] Towards that shinning hall”(289-291). Good is being represented in a symbolic sense, referring to it as “shinning.” Since the hall (Herot) is where Beowulf and his men await Grendel’s coming it appears to be shinning, which is also in a sense is foreshadowing the success of Beowulf (since light is superior to darkness). The following also shows that a fight between these two sides is about to occur. Similarly, once Grendel attempted to consume Beowulf, “ The mighty protector of men meant to hold the monster till its life leaped out, knowing that fiend was no use to anyone in Denmark”(336-339). DiPietro-2 Again, good is being shown, in this circumstance the kenning “mighty protector of men” portrays Beowulf as a supernatural being of good and that it is his obligation to fight for humanity. In addition, it shows the severity of this battle, because it will determine whether good or evil triumphs (“fiend was no use to anyone in Denmark”). In the end, “ A prince of the Geats, had killed Grendel, ended the grief, the sorrow, the suffering […] by a bloodthirsty fiend”(404-407). The expression of despair the monster forces unto the Danes is a representation of evil. Additionally, the fact Beowulf is successful shows that good is

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