Grendel Test Question

One of the major themes that appears in Grendel is that of good versus evil. While most would believe that a monster that commits countless murders without any remorse is always the evil force, it might not always be the case. Spanning from Biblical times, Satan has challenged God with free will. In Grendel, Grendel challenges society and eventually Beowulf. Although it might seem that Beowulf is the savior, and terminator of all wickedness from the outside perspective, on the inside he seems to be driven by an evil forces which are lust and greed for fame. Beowulf’s inner motive is inherently evil, which then overpowers Grendel’s inner motive for killing, simply because he’s misunderstood. Thus the real versus evil stereotype becomes the exact opposite of what one might think it to be simply by physical appearance.

Grendel, like the character of Frankenstein is simply misconstrued. Both are shunned from society by being different, and are horrid looking. Like Frankenstein, Grendel seems to be cursed by the creator, for being the epitome of disgust. God indirectly plays a part in Grendel’s creation by giving Grendel’s forefather Cain, free will, and thus the ability to kill. Both Victor and God turn their backs on their monsters. Without any support from society, or justification for why his life is as harsh as it is, Grendel resorts to homicide like Frankenstein. Although Grendel’s actions portray him as a menace, he’s in fact humane and intellectual on the inside. Because his feelings are never compensated or understood, he rebels against the world out of spite.

Although his actions of killing Grendel might seem valiant, and only have the best intentions in mind, selfish glory is what catapults Beowulf to sail to the Danish lands.  The archetypal braggart, Beowulf always seems to find opportunity to boast of his mighty strength and swimming ability in order to prove himself and boost his ego. Choosing to fight Grendel unarmed shows a cocky side of Beowulf. Not only does he put his life on the line, but as well his entire reputation. Overall, his motives greatly come into question as he takes on the challenge of the decade. However his egotistical nature symbolically outweighs the evil that helpless Grendel poses to a corrupt society. Beowulf is a mere product of this medieval society, and thus becomes the antagonist.

The resolution of the novel is characterized by Beowulf killing Grendel. The gruesome murder of Grendel can be characterized as a closure; closure from suffering, closure from corruption, closure from society. Though Beowulf was praised for saving the kingdom of the Danes, he could also be indirectly praised for giving Grendel a piece of mind. No longer was Grendel trapped in an imprudent cycle of the chaotic human society.  He comes to question the world, and if there is any real purpose for creatures like him in it, despite the uncontrolled social cycle of life. However with his sudden death at the hands of Beowulf, Grendel grasps once and for all that he himself cannot alter his fate in the world.

Free-Will Leads to Evil

Evil lives in every corner of the world. Many often question God’s power due to its existence. If God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnibenevolent, why did he choose to bring evil into the world? The truth of the matter is that God did not directly bring “evil” into the world; instead he gave the world “free will”. Biblically, evil manifests itself in the shape of the devil. The devil was once an angel worthy of God’s respect and love. However it is free-will that God gave to all his creatures that led to the devil’s fall from grace. Free-will catapulted the devil to rise up and challenge God, causing him to be condemned to hell. Taking advantage of God’s free-will is what truly resulted in evil’s creation. This became a lesson for the devil, which in turn became the prime symbol of “evil”.  Thus the evil which spans from free-will is a test that God created for all creatures.

Evil which manifests itself in the form of free-will serves one ultimate purpose for all of humanity. Evil pushes humans to the brink of their limits. It chooses it victims at random.  The strength of people becomes tested as challenges are thrown in their path. The idea of evil befalling on the “good” is the greatest dilemma that arises by those who strongly adhere to the fact that God is omnibenevolent. Evil is God’s medium of testing one’s morale and faith in him. By giving in to the challenges that evil brings, means losing touch with the almighty. Despite any setbacks that it might bring with it, evil occurrences are what lead humanity on a path of learning and enlightenment.  

This same philosophy applies to character of Grendel in Beowulf. Like the devil, Grendel is a symbol of evil in the world. Both characters also have Biblical roots. Grendel is a direct descendant of Cain who through free-will, killed his brother and became the world’s first murderer. Grendel takes advantage of free-will by partaking in guilt-free manslaughter. An act like this is shunned by the eyes of God. Though Grendel is a menace to society, him taking the lives of countless innocent victims serves a common purpose. Like Satan, he seems to enjoy and has no repentance for his crime. His existence poses a threat to the function of society by instilling a fear into the minds of civilians just like Satan and “evil” do to the world. Grendel’s influence on king Hrothgar is the threat of losing his kingdom, and his life. Seeing the daily deaths of his subjects only leads Hrothgar to the inner realization that he might too be next. In this case, an evil power is testing a man’s vulnerability. In terms of Beowulf, the strength of the individual is being tested. The evil that is Grendel, challenges his physical and mental perseverance as he is chooses to fight the monster unarmed. Defeating Grendel only boosts his morale, and reinforces his purpose of being worthy enough to surmount any encountered “evil” or enemy.

Overall supernatural characters like Grendel exist in literature solely to serve as God’s obstacles for the protagonist. Every character, regardless of condition or status must be kept in check by means of an “evil” occurrence that tests their power and self-worth. Their struggle consequently reinforces the fact that they shall forever remain mortals, inferior to God in knowledge and supremacy.

Imperial Adam Paragraph

“This plump gourd severed from his virile root,
She promised on the turf of Paradise
Delicious pulp of the forbidden fruit;
Sly as the snake she loosed her sinuous thighs,”

The supernatural force that is God is everywhere and knows everything. It was in his plans to bring a woman into the world that would be the cause of the original sin. A.D. Hope writes, “Delicious pulp of the forbidden fruit; Sly as the snake she loosed her sinuous thighs.” The motives behind Eve’s creation go further than just providing Adam a companionship. Eve serves as the object made for Adam to fulfill the natural animal behavior which is sex. Most importantly, by having Adam eat the “forbidden fruit” Eve unleashes disobedience aimed at God. Both scenarios have wicked connotations and share the same underlying idea, temptation. Creating Eve was God’s way of unleashing temptation into the world, which continues to test men like Adam throughout life.

AP English Invisible Man Essay

Invisible Man Test

The conclusion that the Invisible Man comes to by the end of the novel is that he accepts the fact that he is invisible, and learns that he will have to take on like regardless of it. His views on society as a result of his experiences are that man is ignorant. His biggest flaw, his naïve nature, is what leads to his downfall, and teaches him how cruel the real world can be. He realizes that despite how society reacts to or treats him, its morale and thinking cannot be changed. He must continue to move on, and live life despite any racist obstacles people set for him.

The Invisible Man was a product of his times. As a young man, he thought by yessing the white man, and trying to earn a status through education, he might be seen worthy. However this was never the case, because in the eyes of the white man, he was just another Negro. In the Brotherhood he was blinded by the fact that for the first time he was part of something greater, the civil rights cause which he cared so much about. His association with the Brotherhood only exploited him by using him as a tool for advertisment. By realizing that the Brotherhood had hidden “racist” motives, the narrator’s entire way of thinking came “crashing down”. He once and for all came face the harsh truth that his grandfather had instilled in him years before.

Because of the fact that humanity had failed and exploited him constantly, his frustration and disappointment in man is justified. The narrator acts as a normal human being, acting out on years of oppression. However, by realizing that man cannot ever change is what causes the Invisible Man to come full circle. By coming to terms of the statu quo of his time, is what gives him the strength to come into the world once again, with at least a neutral outlook on life.