What makes a person a monster?

The definition of a monster is a badly behaved or cruel person, something that is absurdly large, or a fictional and frightening creature. An example of a monster is a person who orders others killed just for his own amusement.

What do monsters symbolize in literature?

Whatever the form, Monsters represent human fear of the unknown, unnatural, and unexplained. Beyond the physical, the Monster may commit heinous acts beyond the comprehension of his/her society. The term is often bandied about both in literature and in real life when something is too horrible to contextualize.

Does Grendel mother kill anyone?

Not only did Grendel’s mother kill several men from each tribe, Danes and Geats alike—she also stole Beowulf’s trophy, the severed arm of Grendel.

What is the role of Grendel’s mother?

Grendel’s mother, another demonic descendant of Cain, attempts to avenge her son’s death by attacking Heorot Hall. Although she manages to kill one man, she is alarmed by the strength and prowess of the Geatish warriors, and retreats to her lair, a cave underneath a lake filled with sea monsters.

Is Grendel’s mom part human?

Grendel’s mother, like her son, is a mysterious humanoid creature. She enters the poem as an “avenger” (l. 1258), seeking redress for the death of her son at Beowulf’s hands.

Why does Grendel kill?

Grendel attacks because he is evil (spawn of Cain) and hates the happiness and noise of the men at the hall. He attacks killing 30 men, and then goes back the next night for more. The only way men can stay alive is to leave the hall.

What is one reason why we are drawn to monsters?

He is drawn in because they are able to communicate their feelings and they have a lot of love and affection for each other. How does the family’s reaction of the creature affect his view of himself and the human race?

What is the attraction of monsters?

Teratophilia refers to the sexual attraction to either monsters or to deformed people. The word comes from the Greek τέρας, meaning monster, and φιλία, meaning love.

Why do we need monsters in literature?

As we have seen, monsters have played many important roles throughout our stories and literature. They can represent deeply hidden aspects of ourselves, reminding us of the potential danger that comes from giving in to our own primal urges.

Who did Grendel kill?

He revenges himself upon humans by terrorizing and occasionally devouring the warriors of the Danish king Hrothgar. Beowulf, a warrior and headman of the Geats (a Swedish tribe), engages him in combat and mortally wounds him. Grendel’s horrible mother avenges her son’s death but is also defeated and killed by Beowulf.