According to the text, Grendel's lineage is from Cain's clan. When Cain murdered Abel, the Creator banished Cain and forced him to be a pariah. This causes Grendel to be banished to the swamps. The characters in the poem know that Grendel is a monster on the path of destruction but they do not know his motives behind all of the destruction. Grendel's destruction is fueled by the jealousy he has for the Danes and the loneliness from being banished and made an outcast.
In the poem Grendel is referred to as the kin of cain, the son of Adam & Eve who killed his brother Abel in the bible. He lived with his kind until he attacked his own for unknown reasons. The characters know that Grendel is some sort of monster who is attacking & killing their warriors in the Great Hall of Heorot.
According to Genesis 4:12, Cain has killed his brother and that God is now declaring that Cain,as a "fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be on Earth." So, within the poem, it is described that Cain's lineage included "ogres and elves and evil phantoms and the giants." The evil, and destructive presence of Grendel is what the characters know. They see what Grendel can do, and they fear him terribly, because before Beowulf, Grendel was murderous and without equal competition. As the audience, we see the biblical referencing and history, this also makes it less foreign to the audience, at least to the christian audience that the author intended.
Secondly, what's up with this Cain/Abel stuff--that seems kind of odd in a heroic tale such as this. Where is the author going with this particular Biblical reference?
Grendel was the desendent of Cain, which killed his brother and became an outcast and int he past, those that are seen as family of cain were seen as evil and doing the devil's work. This whole story is a combo of bible lesson plus mythology. The author is trying to show use the "true christen way of rightouesness" by doing good deeds, trusting in god, and being humble like the hero of the story.
Grendel's linage is tied to that of Cain, son of Adam and Eve. Cain was cast out of Eden for killing his brother. Grendel is an outcast, like Cain and causes the problems because of such; however, he is no mortal man because of his strength. The Danes see him as an evil monster.
The Grendel is decended from the giants and the trolls.
ReplyDeleteAccording to the text, Grendel's lineage is from Cain's clan. When Cain murdered Abel, the Creator banished Cain and forced him to be a pariah. This causes Grendel to be banished to the swamps. The characters in the poem know that Grendel is a monster on the path of destruction but they do not know his motives behind all of the destruction. Grendel's destruction is fueled by the jealousy he has for the Danes and the loneliness from being banished and made an outcast.
ReplyDeleteIn the poem Grendel is referred to as the kin of cain, the son of Adam & Eve who killed his brother Abel in the bible. He lived with his kind until he attacked his own for unknown reasons. The characters know that Grendel is some sort of monster who is attacking & killing their warriors in the Great Hall of Heorot.
ReplyDeleteAccording to Genesis 4:12, Cain has killed his brother and that God is now declaring that Cain,as a "fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be on Earth." So, within the poem, it is described that Cain's lineage included "ogres and elves and evil phantoms and the giants." The evil, and destructive presence of Grendel is what the characters know. They see what Grendel can do, and they fear him terribly, because before Beowulf, Grendel was murderous and without equal competition. As the audience, we see the biblical referencing and history, this also makes it less foreign to the audience, at least to the christian audience that the author intended.
ReplyDeletefirst of all, gift. who are you?????
ReplyDeleteSecondly, what's up with this Cain/Abel stuff--that seems kind of odd in a heroic tale such as this. Where is the author going with this particular Biblical reference?
Grendel was the desendent of Cain, which killed his brother and became an outcast and int he past, those that are seen as family of cain were seen as evil and doing the devil's work. This whole story is a combo of bible lesson plus mythology. The author is trying to show use the "true christen way of rightouesness" by doing good deeds, trusting in god, and being humble like the hero of the story.
ReplyDeleteGrendel's linage is tied to that of Cain, son of Adam and Eve. Cain was cast out of Eden for killing his brother. Grendel is an outcast, like Cain and causes the problems because of such; however, he is no mortal man because of his strength. The Danes see him as an evil monster.
ReplyDelete