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He sang of Hrothgar, hoarfrost white, magnificent of mind. When he finished, the hall was as quiet as a mound. I too was silent, my ear pressed tight against the timbers. Even to me, incredibly, he had made it all seem true and very fine. Now a little, now more, a great roar began, an exhalation of breath that swelled to a rumble of voices and then to the howling and clapping and stomping of men gone mad on art. They would seize the oceans, the farthest stars, the deepest secret rivers in Hrothgar’s name! Men wept like children: children sat stunned. It went on and on, a fire more dread than any visible fire. –Grendel, John Gardner Then a bench was cleared in that banquet hall so the Geats could have room to be together and the party sat, proud in their bearing, strong and stalwart. An attendant stood by with a decorated pitcher, pouring bright helpings of mead. And the minstrel sang, filling Heorot with his head-clearing voice, gladdening that great rally of Geats and Danes. –Beowulf: A New Verse Translation, Seamus Heaney These passages from Beowulf and Grendel describe feasts in Hrothgar’s hall. Write three to four sentences comparing and contrasting how the people are characterized in each passage. Use details from the text to support your answer.
Answer:
In Grendel's passage people are frightened and terrified. That's because Grendel is a terrible monster that attacks them with violence causing great destruction and sadness. In addition, this passage describes Beowulf and his warriors as wild men, loud as crazy after the party's music, as if they were totally out of control.
In Beowulf's passage, we can see that people are more hopeless and hopeful, because Beowulf means a possibility to end the suffering that Grendel causes. In addition, this passage describes Beowulf and the warriors in a very calm and behaved manner during the party, in stark contrast to Grendel's passage.
