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In Beowulf, how does Grendel endure much of what an epic hero endures, and paradoxically give to “his” people the kinds of “boons” or...

Grendel, the antagonist of Beowulf, is in some ways similar to an epic hero. Like an epic hero, he has a noble or unusual birth. His ancestor is Cain, who killed his brother Abel in the Old Testament of the Bible. Grendel benefits from being Cain's descendant because he has supernatural powers, such as the ability to render other people's weapons useless. Grendel is able to use his supernatural powers to his advantage until fate...

Grendel, the antagonist of Beowulf, is in some ways similar to an epic hero. Like an epic hero, he has a noble or unusual birth. His ancestor is Cain, who killed his brother Abel in the Old Testament of the Bible. Grendel benefits from being Cain's descendant because he has supernatural powers, such as the ability to render other people's weapons useless. Grendel is able to use his supernatural powers to his advantage until fate intervenes against him. As the epic states, "No longer was it fate's decree that he might, after that night, feed on more of the race of men" (translation by Clarence Griffin Child). When fate is no longer in his favor, Grendel is defeated by Beowulf, who removes his arm in a fatal wound.


Grendel conducts a campaign of terror on men, and, in waging war, he provides some types of "boons" to his people, much the same way an epic hero does. For example, for a long time he wins his battles: "Thus had Grendel mastery and warred against the right, he alone against all." Even fighting alone, he is so fearsome that he can defeat all his enemies. As a result, the controls the land: "Night after night he held the misty moors." He is lord of the moors--not the noble Danes. In this way, he provides the sense of pride that an epic hero does. 

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