Discuss the portrayal of Good vs. Evil. What form does evil take? How does good overcome evil?
write about how good vs. evil is portrayed in the story beowulf. What form does evil take? How does good overcome evil?
1. The essay should be at least 1500 words (5-7pgs) in length and analyze a text we have read in class; 12pt font, double-spaced, and no cover sheet (put your information on the top right/left hand corner of the first page)
Outline
Thesis: Beowulf and The three monster shows the significant difference between good and evil, and why good will always prevail
I. Grendel represents sin and evil throughout the story in various ways
A. He was much like his descendant Cain
1. He is an outcast looking in
2. Drinks warriors blood after he kills them
3. Has some sort of magical power
B. Grendel is Gluttonous
1. Known to attack innocent people just because he can
2. Seen as a “powerful demon” who kills dozens at a time
3. Kills Hrothgar’s warriors at night while they are in their beds sleeping.
C. He is lustful for the men’s joyfulness and pleasure
II. Beowulf is seen as an epic hero
A. He is strong and mighty
1. Beowulf is said to have the strength of 30 men
2. He kills Grendel along with his mother
B. Beowulf is found out to be loyal
1. Travels to help Hrothgar because he saved his father’s life years earlier
2. He identifies himself as Hygelac’s man even before he tells anyone his name.
3. Gives most of the presents given to him to Hygelac and his wife
C. He is a brave warrior
1. Came to help Hrothgar when no one else would
2. Fights Grendel with his bare hands
III. The She-Monster shows a greater look on evil because she is vengeful
A. She gets revenge on the deans all because of her son’s death
IV. The dragon shows greed
A. He keeps the treasure for no particular reason other than because he can
V. The poem shows good prevailing over evil in a sense of three different fights.
A. Beowulf, the symbol and depiction of good, conquered Grendel and his mother, the monstrous representations of evil.
B. In the end he dies so does all of his opponents thus showing good prevails over evil
Work Cited
Parks Ward. Prey Tell: How Heroes Perceive Monsters. Journal of English and Germanic Philology, Volume 92 No. 1, January 1993. Pg 1-16, Online, Literature Resource Center.
Edwards, Thomas R. “New York Times Book Review” New York Times. 10 December, 1972: pp 1,14
Abrams, M.H. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. New York: Norton, 2000
2. You must utilize at least three (3) critical works, either about the author or the text itself (historical or critical).
