Villains in Beowulf and the Song of Term Paper

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villains in Beowulf and the Song of Roland, I believe those in the last-mentioned work are more justified in their actions than those in Beowulf. This at least is true from the perspective of the 20th century religious paradigm. In the modern world, it is vitally important to display a tolerant attitude towards all pardigms of religion and other directions of philosophy. In Beowulf there is a direct rivalry between the villagers and the monster, Grendel. There is little doubt that Grendel is a monster and a bully, without any right to reprieve or defense. His mother is the only one prepared to defend him, and she does so to her own demise. Of course this could be understood from the perspective of the family paradigm. Nonetheless, Grendel was never justified in his slaughter of the celebrating party. His villainy is apparently inherent, and he simply enjoys terrorising people without any reason. Killing Grendel and his mother was an act of self-defense.

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In The Song of Roland, however, there are no true villains, and also indeed no monsters. The rivals in this work are human beings, just like the protagonists. The only difference is religious philosophy. From the current perspective of tolerance, therefore, I believe that any actions taken by the Saracens in order to preserve their way of life are justified. Charlemagne's purpose was to expand Christendom. Before this decision, the Saracens have done nothing to display villainy. There actions in the work are taken only in retaliation to what was done to them, whereas in Beowulf Grendel is actively destructive without any good reason. The fact that the Saracens are human, and the fact that they are being attacked for no better reasons than their religious beliefs, justify them entirely in any distruction that they effect. The subject of this work therefore does not carry much merit for the current social paradigm, although in terms of literature and language….....

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