Thomas Polchies Per.

3 8/28/12

Beowulf the Fear Within

Beowulfs thought's were ablaze as he gazed hard at the trophy of Grendel's arm hanging on the wall. He shuddered to think what would have happened to him if he hadn't stopped the monstrous Grendel's rampage of kiling. His mind was cloudy with the fear and realization of how perilous the battle that ensued was. Beowulf, the hero of the story Beowulf, is an epic hero who seems to know no fear, but tries to hide the fact that he is distraught and weighted down with his own internal fear. Boast and standing erect (50) Beowulf was ready to fight this monster, but a tiny conscious in his head doubted himself. Beowulf shook it off and braced to clamped his hands over Grendel's claws and stop[ed] the monsters flight (51). Wincing, Beowulf fastened those claws in his fist until they cracked (52) and focusing only on Grendel, he was determined to destroy this monster, no matter the cost. Beowulf was practically buzzing with fear as he grasped Grendel's claws, but he dare not show, it, imagining the grave consequence of the action, which only lead to a greater fear. Grendel, who had no idea how strong this Geat really was, found out the hard way when he then stepped to another still body, clutched at Beowulf with his claws, gasped at a strong-hearted wakeful sleeper (52) Although Grendel seemed to be helpless in Beowulf's hard, hard hands, Beowulf seemed to still have a seed of fear in his mind, if only because of the monsters great strength. In spite of all this fear, Beowulf seemed almost nonchalant as he easily defeated Grendel with no armor or clothing. Nonetheless went on

to fight Grendel's mothers, who was hell-bent on revenge, only because she had already killed some of Beowulfs men which angered Beowulf greatly. Beowulf was was then called to go and hunt Grendels mother, who lived in an underwater cave beneath the earth. Beowulf, who was very fearful indeed, swam down to the murky depths of the water, and he then saw the mighty water witch (55), and yelled, I've come to avenge my people, you heartless bastard!, trying to hide the fear in his voice. Beowulf leaped through the air and swung his ring marked, blade, straight at her head; the iron sung its fierce song. (62) Beowulf seemed troubled though, because the blade had seemed to almost deflect off the water witches skin. Perplexed, Beowulf realized that he needed to once again fight the monster with his own hands, which brought back similar memories which were hallowing in their own right. Beowulf's internal fear both weights him down and decreases his effectiveness as a hero. But, Beowulf continues on with his duty's as a protector of men and he does not let fear alone be his crippling factor. Beowulf continues the fight with Grendel's mother unscathed, but he does let his guard slip once and almost gets killed, but overcoming the intense fear he overpowers the monster and thus kills her, as well as a dying Grendel and manages to bring home both heads as trophies.