Final answer:
Option (c), The vivid portrayal of Grendel's attacks is designed to evoke fear and disgust in the reader, utilizing descriptive diction and sensory language to create intense and horrific imagery.
Step-by-step explanation:
The purpose of Grendel's attacks being so vividly described is primarily c) to evoke fear and disgust in the reader. The horrific images and actions within the text are emphasized through the use of descriptive diction and impactful figurative language. Such language choices are made to immerse the reader into the tale and to enhance the dramatic effect of the narrative. The author's use of specific words and phrases like 'rending claws' and 'shadow of death' aim to create a mood of terror and highlight the severity and brutality of Grendel's actions.
Analyzing stylistic choices involves looking at why the author opts for certain words or phrases over others. This scrutiny can reveal deeper meanings and underscore emotions the text aims to provoke. For example, when discussing Grendel's gruesome actions, the use of graphic and violent imagery aims to align the audience's emotions with the characters within the story, thereby magnifying the tragic elements.
Indeed, the text uses sensory language to great effect, engaging readers and creating a vivid and visceral experience. This approach is not meant to create sympathy for Grendel or to illuminate heroic qualities but to confront the reader with the raw and terrible nature of his deeds, aligning more closely with the conventions of the epic genre, where the antagonist often embodies a sense of monstrous evil.