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Ami Cevallos
September 11, 2018
Mrs. McFadden
Beowulf/Grendel Annotated outline
Personal gain and change are not always bad
I. Survival of the fittest, this is a theory we are all very aware with. Charles darwin
determined that we; animals and humans, are all continuously growing and thriving by personal
gain. In order to be “the fittest” we must adapt and grow. This is shown in both Grendel and
Beowulf by highlighting the characters motivations in life. Grendel was wrapped up in finding his
life purpose and calling that he began to disregard others in the equation of life. Grendel was
concerned with his life and nitch so he began becoming enlightened by the dragon and changing
his views on life; he adapted. Beowulf was motivated by power, fame, and riches. This drove him
to become more aware of himself and less aware of others around him. This conceited attitude
lead to his demise because he was unfit when in combat with the dragon. Beowulf shows how if
we do not grow, learn, and change positively we are unfit and will not sustain life, we will
diminish and so will our opportunities. In life was must all develop and modify ourselves in order
to be fit, we must do this not only to achieve personal gain and wellness but also to impact those
around us.
II. Body 1
A. Key Idea sentence: In Grendel and Beowulf the message being conveyed was, How motivation
and the rise to power can either diminish one or help one find who one may be as a person.
a. Textual evidence:
“Glory is now yours, forever and ever; your courage has earned it… Grendel’s huge claw swinging high
from Hrothgar’s mead-hall roof, the fingers of that loathsome hand.” Pg. 41-43 lines (925-985)

i. Annotation: The author uses detail such as “Grendel’s huge claw swinging
high… the fingers of that loathsome hand.” to describe both how greedy Grendel
was and how vast his pride was. Grendel thought of himself as invincible he
rummaged through the land and killed anyone he pleased. He was “the most
powerful beast” that’s why the author described his hand as being placed high
and went into depth about the size of the hand; this shows the magnitude of
power. Grendel believed that he was almighty and powerful but Beowulf quickly
ended him. This further emphasizes that power and self absorption can lead to
one's end.
b. Textual evidence:
“A prince of the Geats, has killed Grendel, ending the grief, the sorrow, the suffering… No dane doubted
the victory.” Pg. 37 lines (830-835)

i. Annotation: This quote foreshadows Beowulf's uprising/continuous greed. The

author goes into great detail to portray Beowulf as a hero. He uses words with
strong negative connotation such as grief, suffering, sorrow, etc. this further
depicts Beowulf as an almighty being with leads to his glorification and
obsession with greed. This quote alone advances my claim that one must not
allow themselves to be caught up in the glorification and beauty of strength. One
must use that power to search for themselves in order to remain on the right path.
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Grendel was thinking that he was the omnipotent but the Beowulf came along
and ended that. Beowulf became so infatuated with the fame that he tainted
himself. Power can destroy as well as create.
b. Transitional sentence: Both Beowulf and Grendel were intertwined in greed and power
that they allowed this to sway not only their views but also their destinies. Beowulf
became concerned with his reputation and the way he appeared in the public eye rather
than focusing on bettering himself and his kingdom. Grendel was too focused on the
logistics of a community and how he fit in but he seeked others to help answer this
instead of truly opening himself up and adapting. While focusing on others he began to
view them as miniscule and he pictured himself as the alpha, his false identity and fake
persona lead to his finish. The examples used reinforce the idea that power and self
awareness can both depreciate one as well as help one thrive, one must simply know how
to have balance in life.
I. Body 2
A. Key Idea sentence: Grendel is ultimately a book based on the evaluation of life and the role
everyone plays. Grendel has lost himself and grown tired of his never changing life, the repetition
causes Grendel to venture out and seek help from the dragon. The dragon shows how one must be
open in order to find oneself. Change and power can be for the better when the proper guidance
and self awareness are applied.
a. Textual evidence:
“i understand that the world was nothing: a mechanical chaos of casual, brute
enmity on which we stupidly impose our hopes and fears. i understood that, finally
and absolutely, i alone exist. all the rest, i saw, is merely what pushes me, or what i
push against, blindly - as blindly as all that is not myself pushes back. i create the
whole universe, blink by blink.”
i. Annotation: This quote from Grendel shows how Grendel became aware of both
himself and others around him and made a change for the better. He adapted and
changed the way he viewed humans and the world. This not only helped him
realize where he fit in the world but it helped him be at peace with how his life
was. He ultimately set himself free in a sense when he was able to open up and
change for the better. The world was no longer a place with harm and the
inevitable, it was a place where he could control himself and his destiny and
make a difference. Grendel’s life changed positively when he realized this.
b. Textual evidence:
“I couldn't go on, too conscious all at once of my whispering, my eternal posturing,
always transforming the world with words--changing nothing.”
i. Annotation: This quote shows that Grendel has come to a point of realization in
that, that he knows that he must change and become the change he needs in his
own life. To achieve greatness he must take the wheel, he must put himself in
control. Grendel realizes that the only thing in his way is him. This breakthrough
shows that change for the better is possible for both Grendel and Beowulf. One
must be able to put themselves first in order thrive, we must rely on ourselves
rather than others. We control our destiny.
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b. Transitional sentence: In Grendel we were able to see both positive and negative change.
The idea that we control ourselves and that power can be positive and negative was
portrayed all throughout Grendel and Beowulf. Beowulf’s journey was a bit different
than Grendel’s but the idea remains true, One must know themselves and learn how to
change, grow, and balance power in order to receive the fullness and positives in life.
I. Body 3
A. Key Idea sentence: Beowulf would have been able to alter his ending if he had been able to
surcome the fame and power.
a. Textual evidence:
“His flesh left, flew to glory… No treasures like the cups, the precious plates encrusted and rotting, eaten
away… As his fame, when Beowulf himself walked the earth and no man living could match him.. He
will forever lie… Beowulf was worth more than his gold” Pg. 114-125 lines (2820-3085

i. Annotation: The author uses the finale of the book as an epiphany to show the
readers the message which is that greed and materialistic things are the root of all
evil, in the end we will all die regardless of the riches we obtained in this life.
The author enhances this message by using detail to describe the insignificance
of the riches, this insinuates the value of the riches leaving us with an “is it worth
it” question. The materialistic items “rotted away” and Beowulf died and met the
very fate he brought to Grendel. The book ends with the moral story and message
which is that we must all learn to have balance in life. Materialistic items are not
everything, self awareness and growth are more valuable.
b. Textual evidence:
“ …They have seen my strength for themselves… Dripping with my enemies
blood. I drove five great giants into chains… I alone, with the help of my men, may
purge all evil from this hall.” Pg. 20, 21 lines (415-440)

i. Annotation: Beowulf has traveled through lands to defeat Grendel because he is

prideful and believes nobody else can defeat the beast but him. The uses detail
such as “dripping with my enemies blood” to show how gory and vengeful
Beowulf is. He is lead by pride and envy, Grendel wants power, fame, and
fortune. His greed leads him to Grendel which then leads him to the Dragon. If
Beowulf had known how to contain the power and use it wisely he would not
have been so vengeful and eager to defeat the dragon. The dragon was basically a
trap that his egotistical personality fell right into. Beowulf could have saved
himself.
b. Transitional sentence: Both books highlighted the benefits and endeavours of power. We
must use these books in order to reflect and change ourselves. Self awareness and change
is key. Balancing life can be a struggle but it is crucial because one wrong move and
everything can change. Our lives are in our hands.
I. Body 4
A. Key Idea sentence: People and others may either influence you for better or worse. The dragon
helped Grendel shape his view, In Beowulf the people caused Beowulf to become an icon and to
be massively glorified which ultimately was the origin of his arrogance.
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Textual evidence: "Nor have I seen

a mightier man-at-arms on this earth
than the one standing here: unless I am mistaken,
he is truly noble. This is no mere
hanger-on in a hero's armour." (244-251)
a. Annotation: This quote highlights the glorification Beowulf was given and how highly he
was praised by the people. This shows the very moment Beowulf became arrogant,
Beowulf saw that people began to be infatuated over him and his power and he too
became enchanted with the glory of it all. Beowulf could have humbled himself and
possibly changed his future by doing so but he decided to bask in the “honor” and praise.
b. Textual evidence
“There is no limit to desire but desire's needs.”
i. Annotation: These worlds came from the dragon in Grendel the dragon basically
explained the whole idea, desire has no limits but the limits it sets upon itself.
Both Grendel and Beowulf had no boundaries and had not known what it meant
to be humble. Both characters were influenced by their surroundings and made a
change, neither was positive. One must be true to themselves and reflect on
others rather than to be easily swayed. Once again self awareness is key.
b. Transitional sentence: Both books highlighted the benefits and endeavours of power. We
must use these books in order to reflect and change ourselves. Self awareness and change
is key. Balancing life can be a struggle but it is crucial because one wrong move and
everything can change. Our lives are in our hands.
I. In conclusion Beowulf and Grendel had tough endings and that was due to the fact that
they were never true to themselves. The changes they each made were not beneficial to them or
their future. They both allowed outsiders influence and change their perspectives when really they
should have been using that time to focus on themselves and learn how to grow and proper on
their own. Both characters developed a sense of dependency that lead them astray and ultimately
ended with their deaths. They became so infatuated with the idea of power that they had no idea
what do with it once they acquire it. The lesson that is to be learned here is that in order to be
prosperous and successful one must always be 1. True to themselves, 2. Humble, and 3. Able to
change and adapt easily. The road to success will be challenging but you can never lose sight of
yourself.
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Work Cited
Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. Spark Publishing. 2003.