English 12A

Mrs. Wood

9/9/21

Beowulf Descriptive Essay

Throughout the entire poem of ‘Beowulf”, we see how well descriptive writing is

incorporated into the story. From the beginning till the end, the author used such vocabulary,

writing elements, and description to create an intense mood for the reader. Near the beginning,

after the author describes Grendel and his lair, we as readers immediately have the scene’s

horrific mood created for us. Through this, the readers feel as if they are placed into the center of

the action and are experiencing the plot for themselves.

Grendel, along with other characters, actions and places are truly described in a way that

leaves no room for questioning. In the very first scene Grendel is being described as who he is: a

monster straight out of hell shunned by the Almighty. Interestingly, the author gives a little

background information on how Grendel came to be, and his origins. While doing so, “shaping

These beautiful plains marked off by oceans, Then proudly setting the sun and moon To glow

across the land and light it...” (Lines 7-10) we see a glimpse of the way the author uses his words

to describe, and also the relationship Grendel has with the fact of the Almighty creating the earth.

After reading that passage, it becomes clear to the reader that Grendel is indeed the villain.

Moving on to the actual scene where Grendel attempts his first attack on humans,

everything is described quickly but in much detail. “He found them sprawled in sleep, suspecting

Nothing, their dreams undisturbed.” (Lines 33-34) Instead of saying in a typical and basic

manner that someone was “sleeping, not expecting anything”, the author puts in the extra effort

to make it more descriptive, using the words “sprawled” and “their dreams undisturbed”. This
gives the reader a better understanding of how the men really weren’t expecting anything. “The

monster’s thoughts were as quick as his greed or his claws: He slipped through the door and

there in the silence snatched up thirty men, smashed them unknowing in their beds and ran out

with their bodies, the blood dripping behind him, back to his lair, delighted with his night’s

slaughter.” (Lines 34-40) Something that is really fascinating is how all in one sentence, the

author managed to deliver the message he was aiming at so cleanly. You could say that nothing

else needs to be added to it. “The monster’s thoughts were as quick as his greed or his claws” is a

clever way to say how eager the Grendel was to tear apart the men.

As a reader, I found it enjoyable to see such a writing style and I think everything was

described in a clean and professional way. The description used really put the reader into the

aurora that the author intended. Vocabulary also created the atmosphere of a sophisticated piece,

and helped the message be delivered better. Overall, the storyline could have been written by

many different authors each in a different way, however I think the way it was written suits it

very well.