Old English: Beowulf

Violence , in the world of Beowulf , not only carries with it its inherent negative effects but also it helps to bring out good human qualities The violence being described in the epic is the murder of inhabitants and the plundering of their possessions

The first negative effect of violence as depicted in Beowulf is the destruction of peace and in a community or nation . In the epic the key conflict is preventing or stopping evil monsters from causing violence to the hero 's land and those of neighboring shores . The two key

enemies are Grendel and the Dragon . Grendel is a grim monster .a descendent of Cain ' who lives in a murky pond with his mother and with elves and evil spirits (Beowulf Book I . Cain is referred to in the Bible as a man who murdered his own brother so that as a punishment God cursed the ground for him and that he was sent out as a wanderer in the earth ( Genesis ' 3 . During times of great celebration in the great Hall built by King Hrothgar , King of Denmark , Grendel suddenly attacked the King 's guests . The attack brought terror and grief to the Danes and as a result the peace and joy they felt vanished . It is important to note that such merciless act was committed without any provocation from the Danes at all . One day Grendel just decided to come out of his lair and slaughtered his captives . The grief and terror felt by the Danes lasted for twelve long years as Grendel continued his cruelty (Beowulf Book I ,II .The Dragon , on the other hand , was a monster with a fire belching out of its mouth ' who attacked Beowulf 's kingdom in his old age (Beowulf Book XXXII . He , too , was described as ruthless , strong and hard to be subdued . In a Christian context , a Dragon symbolizes evil and death ( Dragon ' 2007 . But unlike Grendel , the Dragon attacked upon provocation . His anger was roused when his treasures was stolen from a burial mound . Out of revenge he attack the Geats who at this time were enjoying fifty years of peace and serenity brought about by the wise rule of King Beowulf (Beowulf Book XXXI

Another negative effect of violence as depicted in the epic is the threat it caused to the survival and maintenance of civilization or nation . Grendel slaughtered his victims and carry off some prisoners to his abode . Book II describes his assault this way unhallowed wight grim and greedy , he grasped betimes , wrathful , reckless , from resting-places , thirty of the thanes , and thence he rushed fain of his fell spoil , faring homeward (Beowulf Book II . Grendel is hard to be defeated because according to the epic no weapon can destroy him . The Dragon , on the other hand , would burn homes with fire (Beowulf Book XXXII . Both monsters would make their assault at night , a time when the people are supposed to be resting and therefore slightly defenseless . In the cover...