Most people view a monster in a negative light. They see them as ugly and hostile. Heroes are beautiful and good. We are constantly exposed to mythology, literature, films, and ancient scripts that tell us about heroes and monsters. Examples of “famous” villains include: Darth Vader, Hannibal Lecter, Grendel, Grendel, and Hannibal Lecter, all from The Star Wars Trilogy. True monsters include serial killers and pedophiles. However, it’s possible to also consider real humans like serial killers and pedophiles. A monster is obviously the “bad guy”, while heroes are the opposite. Many fictional heroes are well-known, including SuperMan, Odysseus and Robin Hood, James Bond and Sherlock Holmes. Sometimes heroes are firefighters or military personnel, however. The hero, or “good guy”, is someone who saves people and kills evil.
We have been studying the classic tale of Beowulf, an Anglo-Saxon poet, where he fights Grendel, a demon that has terrorized Heorot for over a decade and killed many. This text makes a clear distinction between “good people” and “bad people”. The hero versus the monster is where the good triumphs over the bad. We will be studying Beowulf to find out what makes someone a hero or a monster. What if there weren’t monsters? Would there still be heroes? What if monsters could become heroes? Monsters have a clear understanding of their motives. Their goal is to inflict pain on others, spread darkness and hatred around them. Beowulf Grendel is described as a “powerful demi-god”, “outcast” and “outcast” in the poem. He is described by the poet as “a fiend from hell”, “merciless”, malignant by nature and “the Lord’s Outcast”. The poem ends with a description of Grendel as a dark creature. Grendel attacked, killed, and consumed Hrothgar’s citizens for over a decade (“for twelve years”). Grendel operates at night..after the darkness fell, Grendel headed for the house ,…. Suddenly, the God-cursed brute caused havoc …”..
It is not easy to understand his motivations or his history. One can see that Grendel is not a normal person. There are many similar patterns in stories about villains such the Joker. Rejection can lead to a person becoming a monster.
A character can be made to feel like a monster by grief. Grendel’s mother grieves over her son. She kills Beowulf’s warrior and goes to Heorot. It appears that God’s divine forces were unable to save him. It was easy to have the Lord, who is the Ruler over the heaven, redress the balance after Beowulf got to his feet.” Grendel’s mother gives him strength, power, and the ability to kill.
A hero, like a monster is completely different to a hero. A true hero is someone who is selfless and gives up his own needs. A hero is strong, beautiful and loyal. Heroes will sacrifice their lives for others. In this poem, Beowulf is the main character. He saves Denmark’s kingdom from Grendel who has been terrorizing the kingdom for years. Beowulf’s courage is described in the poem as “the man who was known for his courage”, “formidable”,” and “the most powerful swimmer of all”. This is before he even fights Grendel. Beowulf was able to survive the battle without fear, and he knew exactly what he needed to do in order to save his people. He is unique, “proudly sure” and determined to defeat the evil “I meant to perform at the uttermost .” That is what I will do. Prouve my self with a proud act” even if it means paying with his life or dying in the mead hall. Beowulf’s death occurs later.
While there are obvious differences between heroes and monsters, the one who is often killed by both is left alone and without funeral. The hero is given a heroic funeral that is treasured for many years.
People can feel for monsters, surprisingly. The main characters in Walt Disney’s Monster&Co are monsters. They “mean” their purpose, which is to “scare kids”. These characters end up becoming “good” and lovable Monsters. “Boo” is a little girl that gives “James Sullivan” laughter and unconditional love. All the Monsters become funny and don’t scare kids anymore. The tale of “The Beauty and the Beast” shows how a monster can become a prince and becomes a nice person. Similar situations can also occur in real life, where mean and hostile people can be made to feel loved and accepted by others. Unfortunately, Grendel in Beowulf has never known good or evil. He is also “fatherless” and cursed by god. He has never known the good, so he doesn’t feel any remorse. Grendel could have never been made to feel the love and good if he were introduced to them.
If it were possible to make monsters nice or good characters by loving and caring, then why do we still need heroes? It is possible to assume that balance can only be achieved if there are “opposites”. It is essential to highlight “the negative” in order to demonstrate “the good”, which is why there are so many books, movies, and other literature on the subject. Beowulf is an example of “good conquering evil”, and so are many stories and texts about Hero vs Monster. It also highlights the importance for individuals to be loyal, honorable, and have high moral standards.
