Summary:
Analyzes the epic poem, Beowulf. Discusses why the monsters are important to the plot. Explains how they help shape Beowulf's standing as an epic hero.
On the topic of Beowulf, by unknown author, some critics have taken the position of "Oh, those monsters, so silly, so juvenile; if they were gone this might be a poem worth something." This is incorrect thinking. Without the monsters such as the dragon, Grendel and his mother, Beowulf would be a pointless story. Without monsters in the story, elements such as Beowulf's strength, courage, and heroism would not be displayed. Most importantly without monsters absolutely nothing would happen in the story.
Without monsters like Grendel and the dragon, Beowulf's overwhelming brute strength would not be properly displayed. Grendel is a huge monster with skin that no human weapon can penetrate. Because Beowulf can't use a sword, he must use his bare hands to defeat the beast. The author made sure that a beast, defeated by a man's bare hands, could only be destroyed by Beowulf, to show Beowulf's strength. Beowulf also fights a dragon. A man, who can battle a huge dragon, has to be one of the strongest men alive. For example, "The monster came quickly toward him, / pouring out fire and smoke, hurrying / to its fate."(Beowulf 680-682.) Again, the author uses a monster because a beast this foul requires rough, strong men to defeat him. The author makes sure that people know that those strong men are Beowulf and the son of Wexston. The son of Wexton is, in a way, the next Beowulf, after Beowulf met his end from the dragon. In a story where one man is the hero of all mankind, an author must create monsters to have a strong hero like Beowulf.
In Beowulf's time there are many courageous men; however, no man's courage matches Beowulf's. It is because of the monsters that Beowulf is so courageous. To begin, after defeating Grendel, Beowulf must fight Grendel's mother who lives in a lake. "And all at once the greedy she-wolf/ Who'd ruled those waters for half a hundred/ Years discovered him, saw that a creature/ From above had come to explore the bottom/ Of her wet world" (Beowulf 471-475.) A man has to be brave to face such a beast in a lake. Also, the water mentioned is filled with beasts. The fact that Beowulf can just hop in a lake filled with monsters makes him very brave. In addition, Beowulf battles a huge dragon, who brings Beowulf to his end in the conclusion of the story. One who is willing to do battle with a giant, fire-breathing dragon, knowing that all odds are against him could not be any braver. The dragon brings death to Beowulf. Beowulf dies for his people. A hero, who dies, for the sake of saving lives, in many people's eyes, is more courageous than any hero who lives in the end. Without monsters like Grendel, his mother, and the dragon, clearly, the valiance and courage of a hero like Beowulf would never be appropriately displayed in a story such as Beowulf.
One may argue that Beowulf could simply battle other humans and still be a hero. If Beowulf just battles humans, he could never be the same hero that he is when battling monsters. With monsters Beowulf is a hero to all of man, without monsters Beowulf is not a hero to all man, making Beowulf a completely different kind of person and the tale of Beowulf a completely different story. In conclusion, Beowulf could not be a hero of his stature without monsters.
Most importantly, if there are no monsters, no beasts, and no dragon, Beowulf is a pointless story. If one were to think about the name a critic has, "critic" they'd realize that no matter what, the critics only have something negative to say. The critics say that if there are no monsters Beowulf would be worth something. These critics did not think their statement through entirely. What the critics are failing to realize, is that without monsters absolutely nothing would happen. The entire story of Beowulf is based on a man killing monsters. If there is no Grendel, no Grendel's mother, and no dragon, Beowulf would just be any other guy, hence, no story. In conclusion, without beasts, monsters, and a dragon there never would have been a story of Beowulf.
Imagine a story of a hero not having to save anyone, not much of a story, right? The unknown author of Beowulf relies on monsters like Grendel, his mother, and the dragon to show Beowulf's strength. Also, any man can battle another man, but only an amazingly strong man like Beowulf can battle with monsters, which is why monsters are needed to show Beowulf's courage. Next, the heroism of man like Beowulf could only be shown with a man fighting an immense creature. And finally, Beowulf is a fictional story about a man killing monsters. If there are no monsters, there could be no story. Due to ideas not entirely thought through, the critics stating "Oh, those monsters, so silly, so juvenile; if they were gone this might be a poem worth something." are entirely incorrect.
Works Cited
Beowulf. Prentice Hall Literature the English Tradition Ed. Eileen Thompson et. al. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1991.
This is the complete article, containing 859 words
(approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page).
