Grendel :: essays research papers fc

The clash between just and evil has been a prominent theme in literature. The Bible presents the conflict between good and evil in the story of Adam and Eve. Many authors use the stab in the Bible in which the snake taunts and tempts Adam and Eve to hear a bite of the apple of knowledge to demonstrate the frailty of hu human beingskind. outhouse Gardner provides these same biblical allusions of good and evil in his fabrication, Grendel. One of Grendels archenemies is the human. Humans refuse to look beyond Grendels unattractive exterior, and go past most of their days trying to kill Grendel. One night when Grendel is observation their mead hall, he sees them treating their sword-blades with snakes venom(Gardner 29). Another conflict between humans and serpents develops when Grendel is watching the manufacturer for the first time. As he listens, he snatches up a snake from beside his foot(40), and holds it in his fist as he listens to the Shaper sing. The snake represents the deceptive weaving of history that the Shaper performs in Hrothgars mead hall. Grendel interacts with one of the priests, Ork, in the circle of Gods, by make-believe to be the Great Destroyer. Ork predicts that the Great Destroyer will eventually fall, signal Grendels battle with Beowulf. Ork tells his fellow priests about his conversation with the Great Destroyer, save they just look down at him as they would at a wounded snake(118). In Grendels eyes, all humans are evil, because they refuse to take the time to understand him. Because of this, Grendel battles the humans throughout the novel until one of them finally takes his life.The only human brave and strong decent to defeat Grendel was the powerful Geat, Beowulf. Grendel watches Beowulf and his band of Geats land their ships on the shores of Hrothgars kingdom. Grendel observes Beowulf harangue to the coastguard, and notices that Beowulfs eyes are slanted downward, never blinking, unfeeling as a snakes(135). Grendels obse rvations about Beowulfs destructiveness are proven true as he engages in mortal battle with the Geat. When Beowulf takes hold of Grendels arm, Grendel feels as if Beowulfs fingers are charged similar fangs with poison(148).After this battle, Grendels arm is pulled off at the socket, and he retreats to his cave to die.Another human that attempted to defeat Grendel was the top man in Hrothgars hall, Unferth. During Grendels first encounter with Unferth, Grendel notices a flurry piled with glossy applesand an evil idea came over him (72).