Question

Which two parts of this passage contain a biblical allusion? So lived the clansmen in cheer and revel a winsome life, till one began to fashion evils, that field of hell. Grendel this monster grim was called, march-riever mighty, in moorland living, in fen and fastness; fief of the giants the hapless wight a while had kept since the Creator his exile doomed. On kin of Cain was the killing avenged by sovran God for slaughtered Abel. Ill fared his feud, and far was he driven, for the slaughter’s sake, from sight of men. Of Cain awoke all that woful breed, Etins and elves and evil-spirits,

Answer 1

Answer:

• On kin of Cain was the killing avenged by sovran God for slaughtered Abel.
• Of Cain awoke all that woful breed, Etins and elves and evil-spirits,

Explanation:

These are the two parts of the text that contain references to the Bible. The two sections reference the story of Cain and Abel. Cain and Abel were the two sons of Adam and Eve. Jealous of his brother, Cain murdered Abel, and God punished Cain to a life of wandering. In this passage, we learn that Grendel was likely the descendant of Cain, and thus cursed by God.

Answer 2

The author mentions a "Creator", the same name that is used to refer to God in the Bible. Trough all the Beowulf story, Beowulf refers to God as his protector. This is related to "Cain", son of Adam and Eve, the first man and woman on earth created by God. After being expelled from the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve gave birth to Cain and Abel. They are remembered due to the murder of Abel by Cain, in consecuence, God cursed Cain and all of his descendants. "Grendel" is one of them, cursed by God and the representationn of evil, opposed to Beowulf.