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In 200 to 300 words, explain how the themes of envy and revenge are addressed in the epic Beowulf. Support your answer with relevant examples.

User Lkemitchll
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Answer:

My revised answer it's 323 words, goodluck

Step-by-step explanation:

A well known heroic poem written in the timeline of the 8th and 11th centuries, is called Beowulf. It is so well known because of its fascinating plot and its metaphorical qualities. Unfortunately, the author of Beowulf is unknown, till this day we can not identify the author. But interestingly enough Beowulf is one of the oldest pieces of literature out there. Beowulf has two central themes which are envy and revenge. And both are addressed in the heroic poem, Beowulf. To start off with the first central, it is envy. Grendel is the son of Cain and Cain is the son of Adam and Eve. Adam and Eve are the first man and woman on earth. Cain had a brother named Abel and he was jealous of Abel, so he murdered him because of his jealousy. This makes Grendel forever “doomed.” Grendel sees this beautiful hall that is well light and lively with parties. He envies this hall called Heorot, the scops “Song of Creation” fills Grendel with pain because he remembers all he has endured due to Cain’s sin. So he gets mad and wants revenge from his envy. The second central theme of Beowulf is revenge. The revenge in this poem is a reason and motive for the characters in Beowulf. For example, Grendel is happy about getting revenge on Heorot. This is because he doesn’t like or want other people, mainly men, to be successful. He always does not want them to feel happiness, renown, and look as good in God's perspective. But Grendel’s mother wants to avenge Heorot from her son’s unfortunate death, which motivates her anger. Another character is the Dragon that Beowulf battles. The dragon wants revenge against his runaway slave that stole from the dragon's treasure. He did so by robbing the countryside and destroying Beowulf’s home. So now, Beowulf wants revenge against the dragon because of all the destruction and chaos he had caused.

User Rob Wilkerson
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Theme of envy: As a descendent of Cain, Grendel is the biblical son of Adam and Eve, who out of jealousy kills his brother Abel (Genesis 4). He is eternally doomed. Grendel's response in envy to Heorot's light filled and happy celebrations. The scops "Song of Creation" reminds him of the loss he suffered because of Cain's sin and makes him angry and seek for revenge from him stemming envy.

Theme of revenge: The central theme of revenge serves as motivation to many characters. Grendel delights in revenging Heorot as he hates about other men success, glory, joy and favor in the eyes of god.

Grendel's mother avenges Heorot against her son's death, motivated by mother's fury.

The dragons embark revenge against fugitive slave for theft from his hoard of treasure by raiding the countryside and burning the Beowulf's home to which Beowulf seeks revenge against dragons for the destruction caused.

User Omar Bahareth
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