The Grinch Who Stole Herot
Once upon a time many years ago there lived a monster in a cave. He was a hideous beast with green fur and yellow teeth. The townspeople feared him and would never approach his cave, he in turn would never venture out to the town for he new he was not wanted and didn't like the people much anyhow. There was one particular day of the year that he couldn't stand, and on this day he vowed to ruin the towsnfolk's fun, for if he could not have any, why should they. This story should sound somewhat familiar, it is the story of the Grinch, but it seems to have a lot in common with Beowulf, in specific Grendel. Both Characters were outcasts from society, symbolic of a displaced people, and even though Grendel is portrayed as an evil monster, he is not just a simple killer. His is a tale of loss, sorrow, resistance, and death, and has been seen in cultures throughout the centuries. Grendel's tale of displacement stems back to the time of Adam and Eve and their children Cain and Able. When Cain killed Able, God "banished him far from mankind". Grendel is a descendant of Cain, so he shares Cain's banishment. He is displaced not only from whatever land or wealth he would have if he were "human" but he is also displaced from God. It is this
Grendel's sorrow soon gives way to his rage, and just like any other person that has ever been displaced from a place they feel they belong, he chooses to fight. Grendel does not like the way that God has placed him in the world, and he chooses to resist the role that has been pre ordained to him. Grendels sorrow is derivative from his banishment from the light as well as his appearance as a monster. He is a bane to all those that live under Hrothgar's rule. He is called the "enemy of mankind" and the people all hate him. He has been banished from the light, and now the people are going to banish him from all human contact. Like other misunderstood people in society, he has now been forced into the role of the outcast. He did not fit in so the people kicked him out. Think of him as the little ugly red headed, freckle faced kid in the third grade that you made fun of, or as Rudolf, who just like Grendel, did not look like everyone else, and therefore could not participate in the normal activities of the society. Grendel has been cheated out of one thing that God could not take away, and that was the joy of life. The text refers to him as a "creature deprived of joy", and also refers to Grendel's dwelling as "his joyless home". Where there is no joy, there is only sorrow. Grendel was the first in a class of outsiders, he was one of the fellows that just didn't fit in,
Some common words found in the essay are:
Grendel Grendels, Able God, , Lord Grendel, Rudolf Grendel, Grendel Characters, Herot Grendel's, Grinch's Grendel, Eve Grendel, Grendel God, displaced people, adam eve, home joy, displaced peoples, god's light, grendel symbol, symbol displaced, grendel symbol displaced,
Approximate Word count = 930
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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