The answer needs to be written in complete sentences. Include at least 1 quote from Beowulf to earn full credit and support your response.
Consider the motivation of characters such as Grendel, Grendel's mother, and the dragon, as well as Beowulf. How does the poet use the theme of revenge in the poem?
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In the poem Beowulf, various characters are driven by different motivations, including revenge, which is a significant theme throughout the narrative. Grendel is motivated by his own hatred and envy towards humans, and his attacks on Heorot are a result of this animosity. Grendel's mother seeks revenge for her son's death, which drives her to attack the Danes, including her quest for revenge on Beowulf, who killed Grendel. Even the dragon, who is awakened by the theft of a prized possession, seeks revenge on those who have wronged it. The poet uses the theme of revenge to highlight the cyclical nature of violence and the consequences it can have. As Beowulf states, "An evil thing gazes out from a creature’s eye // And demands . . . a murderer on his trail" (ll. 730-731). This quote exemplifies the motivation of revenge driving the actions of various characters in the poem.
In the poem Beowulf, various characters are driven by different motivations, including revenge, which is a significant theme throughout the narrative. Grendel is motivated by his own hatred and envy towards humans, and his attacks on Heorot are a result of this animosity. Grendel's mother seeks revenge for her son's death, which drives her to attack the Danes, including her quest for revenge on Beowulf, who killed Grendel. Even the dragon, who is awakened by the theft of a prized possession, seeks revenge on those who have wronged it. The poet uses the theme of revenge to highlight the cyclical nature of violence and the consequences it can have. As Beowulf states, "An evil thing gazes out from a creature’s eye // And demands . . . a murderer on his trail" (ll. 730-731). This quote exemplifies the motivation of revenge driving the actions of various characters in the poem.
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In Beowulf, characters like Grendel, Grendel's mother, the dragon, and even Beowulf himself are motivated by revenge, which serves as a prominent theme in the poem. Grendel's attacks on Heorot stem from his hatred and jealousy towards humans. Grendel's mother seeks vengeance for her son's death, leading her to attack the Danes and Beowulf in particular. Similarly, the dragon is awakened by the theft of its treasure and seeks revenge against those who wronged it. The poet employs the theme of revenge to emphasize the recurring cycle of violence and its inevitable consequences. As Beowulf eloquently puts it, "An evil thing gazes out from a creature’s eye // And demands . . . a murderer on his trail" (ll. 730-731), illustrating how revenge fuels the actions of several characters in the poem.
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