Examine the Following Lines of Beowulf (Seamus Heaney Translation): 702 to 836 (the Fight with Grendel)

1191 Words5 Pages
The passage which describes the struggle between Beowulf and Grendel can be interpreted in many different ways both literal and metaphorical. My interpretation of this passage is that it is a representation of the ongoing feud about morality. Essentially, it is the depiction of good versus evil. This depiction is expressed to us through the use of vivid imagery. In my view, the poet emphasizes both physical appearance and inner qualities when both the protagonist and antagonist of this story are described. I will go into more detail about the above points over the course of this essay. First of all, as I mentioned in the first paragraph, the main theme of this passage is the theme of morality. Morality or good versus evil, is evident throughout this passage and is alluded to in many lines. I think, the poet uses this passage to put forward his view that being good and moral are more just ways to live one's life. This can be seen in the lines: ''Then he who had harrowed the hearts of men with pain and affliction in former times and had given offense also to God found that his bodily powers failed him''. In my opinion, this one sentence characterises this ideology. The fact that despite all of Grendel's supposed power and cunning, he suffers greatly as a result of his malevolent actions. To further solidify this ideology, Grendel's adversary Beowulf, a man who lived his life in an antithetical way to Grendel, survives the encounter. Beowulf lived his life staying true to this ideology, never needlessly causing anguish to others and lived a comprehensively moral life. In contrast to this, Grendel lived his life in direct opposition to this ideology, torturing those weaker than him and causing chaos wherever he went. The fact that Grendel suffers such a devastating loss also metaphorically depicts that no matter how strong one may be, if they cause suffering to others

More about Examine the Following Lines of Beowulf (Seamus Heaney Translation): 702 to 836 (the Fight with Grendel)

Open Document