There are three central conflicts: Grendel's domination of Heorot Hall; the vengeance of Grendel's mother after Grendel is slain; and the rage of the dragon after a thief steals a treasure that it has been guarding.
I'm currently reading O Pioneers in my lit class, how can I help?
Well, a character archetype is kinda the person would usually see. Like in a school story you have bully- who intimidates others
In an action story you have a hero or the villain
or the damsel in distress