Grendel

Theme Words: 

Pointless, Mechanical, and Violent.

Quotations:

"But deer, like rabbits and bears and even men, can make, concerning my race, no delicate distinctions. That is their happiness: they see all life without observing it. They're buried like crabs in mud. Except men, of course" (Gardner 8). When Grendel first sees man he realizes that they are different from the other creatures he had previously observed because they have the ability to think, plan, and observe life around them. This is what makes Grendel afraid of the humans from the start even though he is a terrifyingly huge beast.

Connections:

Grendel shows the same type of signs and emotions of people that have depression. Grendel always expresses the cynical views of life rather than the positive and lives in solitude. People with depression usually have a bad view on life or their situation in life. Grendel also feels alone because no one ever really looks at him or talks to him, even his mother barely interacts with him. Depression can also be caused by loneliness or a small amount of interaction. Grendel is a great example of someone with Depression because of his views on life and how he is treated. 

Beowulf

Theme: 

Courage, Loyalty, Mortality, and Heroism

Quotations:

"The ninth hour of the day arrived. The brave Shieldings abandoned the cliff-top and the king went home; but sick at heart, staring at the mere, the strangers held on. They wished, without hope, to behold their lord, Beowulf himself" (111). The dedication and loyalty of Beowulf's men is shown in this quote because the other men abandoned Beowulf in his darkest hour while the others stayed and waited. This shows that the Shieldings did not know Beowulf as well as his soldiers did and doubted his ability.

Connections:

People in the real world need brave men or "heroes" to protect them in their everyday lives, such as police officers, firefighters, or the military. All these brave men and women can be directly to Beowulf and his band of soldiers. Beowulf protected the Danes and their mead hall from the beast known as Grendel just like police officers keep us safe from the dangers of the world.