Question

A question on Grendel from Beowolf?

So everywhere i look people are talking about how Grendel was never shown to do anything monstrous and it was just his ancestors. but don't these line:
"In the dusk of the dawning, as the day was just breaking,
Was Grendel's prowess revealed to the warriors:
Then, his meal-taking finished, a moan was uplifted,
Morning-cry mighty"
Means he ate the warriors, right? that seems pretty monstrous...
Can any one explain what I'm interpreting wrong?

Answer 1

Yup :/ I've posted it in three different sections on yahoo as well.

Answer 2

Dang well GL finding it.

Answer 3

Thanks...

Answer 4

What are you trying to understand? Have you read Beowulf? Is this a reflection question about that poem or are you just supposed to interpret the lines you've added here?

Answer 5

Well here's the question I have to answer
"In a response of two to three sentences, explain how these lines contribute to Grendel's characterization as a monster."
and yes I have read the poem. Kinda. I tried to read it and I read through the words a few times but I didn't understand what it was saying. so I went on the internet and read a few interpretations of it and I was able answer most of the technical questions and one similar question about Beowulf. But when I read the interpretations and tried to apply it to the lines in the poem about Grendal like "his meal-taking finished" (in reference to the warriors) is confusing me. I can't understand what the poem is saying enough to read between the lines but the interpretations I'm reading seem to contradict what the poem is blatantly saying.

Answer 6

You could try looking for a parallel translation to better understand these lines.

Answer 7

Do you know where I could find one?

Answer 8

Usually if you search something like "Beowulf No Fear Translation" or parallel translation, you'll find one. Sparknotes has good parallel translations.