This essay compares and contrasts the different battles in Beowulf.

Compare and Contrast the Battles in Beowulf

What characteristics make the battles in Beowulf similar? What makes them different? The key component deals with whether or not fate remains with Beowulf during the battle. Three different battles occur in Beowulf and these different battles contain many of the same characteristics but with a few differences. The first battle involved Beowulf and the monster Grendel. The second battle involved Beowulf and Grendel's mother and the third and final battle involved Beowulf, Wiglaf, and the dragon. So just in seeing who fought in the battles shows how many differences and similarities they possess.

The first battle takes place in the Herot because of the monster Grendel has been coming at night, terrorizing and eating many of the soldiers that sleep inside the Herot. When Beowulf found out about this, he came over to the island and said that he would get rid of the monster.

The Old English epic poem Beowulf is written in al...

An illustration of Grendel by J.R. Skelton from St...

English: An illustration of Beowulf fighting the d...

In this battle, Beowulf does not use any weapons against Grendel; he uses only his bare hands and strength. When Grendel comes, Beowulf grabs Grendel and ends up pulling Grendel's shoulder right out of the socket. Grendel then runs away back to his lair to die. Meanwhile, Beowulf hangs the arm and claw from the rafters in the Herot to show what he had done.

The second battle takes place underwater down in Grendel's lair where he lives with his mother. This battle takes place because Grendel's mother came and took her son's arm and claw from the rafters in the Herot and brought it back the their lair. Another difference occurs because this time Beowulf goes after his prey instead of waiting for Grendel's mother to come to him. Beowulf jumps into the water and sinks down to the bottom where he comes face to...