Defining the villains (Beowulf)

Question

Select one or more villains from Section 26 of Beowulf and discuss how they reflect the text’s and, by extension, the culture’s views on what it means to be a villain.

Answer 1

Grendel and Grendel's Mother are two of the villains in Beowulf. Both the monstrous Grendel and his mother attack Hrothgar's mead hall, which is the Danes' primary location for fellowship. The royal hall is typically where members of a community and/or visitors socialize, tell stories, and feast - or, in other words, where people gather to eat, drink, and be merry. As a result, Grendel and his mother's attacks on the hall are also direct attacks on fellowship and camaraderie, revealing these to be two of the most important cultural values present in Beowulf.