In an essay analyze the monster Grendel, focusing on the character’s nature. Begin your character analysis of the monster with a sentence stating your general assessment of Grendel as a character. Then, support your assessment with details from the epic. Before you write, organize your details in a chart like the following one:
Grendel seems to me to be a monster who only wants one thing, food. He doesn’t care how much destruction it’ll cause, as long as his belly’s full. In the beginning of the poem, it tells how deep in the marshes a monster, Grendel, can’t take the noise of all the drunken people in Herot celebrating and cheering. Finally, the noise subsides, and Grendel, planning on getting his revenge, races to the mead hall in Herot, going on a rampage and feasting on all the people, fast asleep, unknowing of his approach.
Grendel used his claws to rip people apart, either devouring them or dragging their limp bodies back to his den. The only person he would not touch was Hrothgar, for he feared that God would punish him greatly if he killed the King. So, yes Grendel was a monster, yet he still had some morals, even if only because he was fearful.