Monster; Monster
Transcript: Our current society views villains as people who desire chaos, such examples are terrorists, politicians, and China. How does your interpretation of Beowulf change if you interpret Grendel and his mother as human outcasts or members of a rival tribe, rather than as a demonic monster? He does seem to have supernatural powers, he might have super strength, and the ability to be able hold his breath for a long duration. The major antagonists are depicted as supernatural because, bards would add them in their story to create an interesting element. It also gives a person the ability to brag about their past accomplishment. "They have seen my strength themselves ,/ Have watched me rise from the darkness of war,/... I drove five great giants into chains."(From Beowulf Glencoe literature; British literature ED. Jeffrey D Wilhelm Columbus, Ohio: Mcgraw hill companies inc, 2009 : 230-234. Print) Why are all the major antagonists in Beowulf depicted as supernatural creatures, demons, and monsters? What is the point? The Anglo-Saxons culture was about being brave and loyal They always want something to boast about They made up stories of beast slaying They would try to compromise with Grendel and his mother, rather than trying to kill them. Or try and kill them. " Speak, say exactly who you are, and from where and why."(From Beowulf Glencoe literature; British literature ED. Jeffrey D Wilhelm Columbus, Ohio: Mcgraw hill companies inc, 2009 : 152-153. Print) How is the epic different with monsters then with people? Debron Barnes, Mohamed Elgaydi, Kamrhen Hatcher Fall 2016 "He leaped into the lake,/...For hours he sank through the waves,/ at last he saw the mud at the bottom." (From Beowulf Glencoe literature; British literature ED. Jeffrey D Wilhelm Columbus, Ohio: Mcgraw hill companies inc, 2009 : 421-424. Print) The supernatural element would make this story an epic, not just a regular story. It shows that they would have to beat unbeatable monsters to acquire their treasure. Monster; Monster Does Beowulf himself seem to have any supernatural powers? Yes, divine intervention is able to co-exist with supernatural monsters in the story, but it should not have a heavy influence of the story. " mankind's enemy continud his crimes,/ killing as often as he could,.../ he never/ dared to touch king Hrothgar's glorious/ throne, protected by god.(From Beowulf Glencoe literature; British literature ED. Jeffrey D Wilhelm Columbus, Ohio: Mcgraw hill companies inc, 2009 : 79-84. Print) The supernatural elements in Beowulf include demons, a dragon, and sea monsters. Is there a conflict between between fantasy elements and the theme of religion in the epic? To put it another way, can divine intervention and dragons co-exist in the same story? Theme reflection What does our current society view as villains? Why? Logo