Question

"Which parts of this passage contain a biblical allusion?

a.So lived the clansmen in cheer and revel
a winsome life, till one began
to fashion evils, that field of hell.

b.Grendel this monster grim was called
march-riever mighty, in moorland living,
in fen and fastness; fief of the giants
the hapless wight a while had kept
since the Creator his exile doomed.


c.On kin of Cain was the killing avenged
by sovran God for slaughtered Abel.
Ill fared his feud, and far was he driven,
for the slaughter’s sake
from sight of men. Of Cain awoke all that woful breed


d.Etins and elves and evil-spirits"

Answer 1

The correct answer is C.

An allusion is a reference to a well-known person, place, or thing that exists outside of the literary work. A biblical allusion is simply a reference to a well-known person, place, or thing from the Bible.

Here, the story of Cain and Abel (a biblical story that everyone would recognize) is being referenced. Here, an allusion to Cain is made to explain the origin of Grendel.