Beowulf and Grendel: the fight

ANALISI

The text is extracted from the old English poem Beowulf (lines 710-717; 738-753; 804; 814-827)

It deals with the fight between Beowulf and the monster Grendel.

The lines reported have different structure and lengths.

There are four paragraphs, each of which describe different scenes of the fight.

The first paragraph introduces Grendel (the monster) that comes looking for it’s prey in Hrothgar’s dwelling.

The second paragraph describes the monsters violent and aggressive attacks and his first encounter with Beowulf and his surprisingly physical strength.

The third paragraph continues discussing the struggle between Beowulf, Grendel and Beowulf’s warriors coming in his defence unknowingly that their weapons would not harm the monster.

The fourth and last paragraph tells of Beowulf’s victory against the monster who is driven to his desolate lair, fatally hurt.