Saturday, September 13, 2014

What are three examples of Beowulfs superhuman strength throughout the story?

The instances showing Beowulf's superhuman strength are
regularly expounded upon by the poet, who not only describes the feat, but mentions how
no other single man could complete the task. The first of these that appears in the text
is in the Beowulf's battle with Grendel. The other Geats leap to Beowulf's aid, but
their weapons are useless against Grendel's tough hide and devious spells that "blunted
every mortal man's blade." Be that as it may, Beowulf still managed to rip Grendel's arm
off at the shoulder - and Beowulf used only his hands and beastly
strength.


The second example I would mention is the
giant-forged sword in Grendel's mother's lair. The poem describes this sword as "so
massive that no ordinary man could lift its carved and decorated length." Not only does
Beowulf manage to lift it from its hanging place on the wall, he also manages to swing
it hard enough to cut off Grendel's mother's head with
it.


Last, but certainly not least, is the presentation of
Grendel's head to Hrothgar and the Danes. After killing the mother, Beowulf was still
filled with rage. He went after the body of the already deceased Grendel and cut off its
head with the giant-forged sword. It took four men to carry the head on spears back to
Herot, but when they arrived, Beowulf single-handedly tossed the head down on the table
in front of the Danes who had so recently deserted him.

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