Anatasia Pham
McFadden
9 September 2018
Annotated Outline
Defining Yourself
I. Introduction
A. As once said, actions have consequences. So how can one be defined by their actions?
People accomplish actions everyday whether it ranges from small minor tasks to great
heroic adventures. However, what is the extent to which actions define oneself? When
people take actions, they are committing acts or deeds that represent their traits, intent, or
morals. By carrying out their behavior, it portrays their thoughts and feelings effectively.
One is not defined by their intent, instead they are assessed on if they actually implement
or fulfil it through their activities everyday. A person can be defined by their actions
because it reflects their character and identity to others. This is evident throughout
Beowulf translated by Burton Raffel and Grendel by John Gardner in numerous
characters including the main protagonists and antagonists (depending on the
perspective), Beowulf and Grendel. The theme of being remembered by one’s memorable
actions occurs multiple times in different characters in Beowulf. In the other hand,
Grendel by John Gardner allows insight for the audience to witness the development of
Grendel and how his daily interactions and conflicts define him to others later on. The
characters in both epic and novel are defined by their actions because they achieve deeds
that portray their true nature and if they are good or evil.
II. Body I
A. Key Idea sentence: In the epic Beowulf, Beowulf continuously defines himself as a brave,
mighty hero to others because he comes to Denmark in the aid of the Danes to save them
from an infamous monster, Grendel, that is preying on them by murdering men every
night.
1. Textual evidence:
“In his far-off home Beowulf, Higlac’s
Follower and the strongest of the Geats-greater
And stronger than anyone anywhere in this world-
Heard how Grendel filled nights with horror
And quickly commanded a boat fitted out,
Proclaiming that he’d go to that famous king,
Would sail across the sea to Hrothgar,
Now when help was needed…”
(Beowulf 194-201).
a) Annotation: This quote is from the narrator who finally introduces
Beowulf into the plot. The narrator describes Beowulf as “the strongest
of the Geats-greater/And stronger than anyone anywhere in this world”
(Beowulf 195-196). Next, the narrator describes the scene of Beowulf
hearing about the Dane’s situation with the monster, Grendel. It is
apparent that the narrator favors Beowulf because they immediately paint
Beowulf out as a strong and brave hero who is coming to the rescue of
the Danes. With Beowulf getting ready to sail out to Denmark to help
them, it defines him as a courageous and philanthropic man who is
unafraid of monsters by remaining dauntless.
2. Textual evidence:
“My people have said, the wisest, most knowing
And best of them, that my duty was to go to the
Danes’
Great king. They have seen my strength for them-
selves,
Have watched me rise from the darkness of war,
Dripping with my enemies’ blood. I drove
Five great giants into chains, chased
All of that race from the earth. I swam
In the blackness of night, hunting monsters
Out of the ocean, and killing them one
By one; death was my errand and the fate
They had earned. Now Grendel and I are called
Together, and I’ve come. Grant me, then,
Lord and protector of this noble place,
A single request! I have come so far,
O shelterer of warriors and your people’s loved
friend,
That this one favor you should not refuse me-
That I, alone and with the help of my men,
May purge all evil from this hall…”
(Beowulf 415-432).
a) Annotation: This quote is from Beowulf’s long speech to King Hrothgar
and the Danes in the meadhall. Beowulf addresses his previous
accomplishments and conquests he has achieved before. He is basically
talking his glorious reputation of slaying monsters. His actions and
achievements depict him as a strong, fierce, and victorious hero to the
Danes and King Hrothgar as they listen. Beowulf also mentions towards
the end of his speech that “death was [his] errand” (Beowulf 424).
Beowulf sees himself as the vanquisher of monsters and that the purging
of Grendel and all evil is his calling or destined mission. Heroes are seen
as the those who stop evil villains that cause suffering to the people or
population. Beowulf sees himself as a hero because he believes he is the
protector of all people and will be the one that will stop all villains.
3. Transitional sentence: The narrator effectively portrays the main character
Beowulf as a grand, valiant hero through his actions in the beginning of the epic.
By mentioning Beowulf’s amazing conquests and his philanthropic behavior, it
creates a perception that Beowulf is a glorious warrior. However, Beowulf is not
the only character to be defined through their actions in the tale of Beowulf and
Grendel.
III. Body II
A. Key Idea sentence: As the story of Beowulf continues, the audience witnesses more
characters develop and become defined through their deeds. However, they are not
always defined with positive traits such as being a hero. This is manifested and apparent
in the character Unferth in both epic and novel, Beowulf and Grendel.
1. Textual evidence:
As Unferth enters Grendel’s lake, he dreams of the glory he will receive
from slaying Grendel, the infamous monster. While he goes down, he
reminds himself that his name will be remembered in history and
celebrated as a hero (Gardner 86).
a) Annotation: Immediately during this scene, the audience can identify that
Unferth is dedicated to the idea like many characters do in Beowulf t hat
one makes their mark on the world through their actions. However, he
obsesses over the desire of being a hero. His actions of risking his life in
order to define himself as a hero characterizes him as reckless and a
fantasist. Although, as the plot persists, Unferth is further defined
differently.
2. Textual evidence:
“Unferth spoke, Ecglaf’s son,
Who sat in Hrothgar’s feet, spoke harshly
And sharp (vexed by Beowulf’s adventure,
By their visitor’s courage, and angry that anyone
In Denmark or anywhere on earth had ever
Acquired glory and fame greater
Than his own):”
(Beowulf 499-505).
a) Annotation: This quote takes part right before Unferth is about to
undermine Beowulf and his adventures from when he was younger,
including the competition Beowulf had with Brecca in the ocean. Instead
of glorifying Beowulf like the other warriors and King Hrothgar, Unferth
ridicules Beowulf in jealousy because he cannot stand that someone has
“glory and fame greater / Than his own” (Beowulf 504-505). Unferth
claims that Beowulf’s childish competition put him and Brecca in
danger. He points out the technically Brecca won, not Beowulf. The
snide comments that Unferth makes define him as a bitter, envious, and
resentful man. He longs for the attention Beowulf receives from the
warriors and King. This is how Unferth was negatively defined through
his actions in the epic of Beowulf.
3. Textual evidence:
“I knew, for one, that the brother-killer had put on the Shaper’s idea of
the hero like a merry mask, had seen it torn away, and was now reduced
to what he was: a thinking animal stripped naked of former illusions,
stubbornly living on, ashamed and meaningless, because killing himself
would be, like his life, unheroic. It was a paradox nothing could resolve
but a murderous snicker. The moment stretched, a snag in time’s stream,
and still no one moved, no one spoke. As if defiantly, Unferth, murderer
of brothers, again raised his eyes to the queen’s, and this time didn’t look
down” (Gardner 104).
a) Annotation: Grendel’s inner thoughts reveal more about Unferth as a
character. He gives insight to the readers about how Unferth struggles
with the consequences of killing his brother when he was younger. The
reputation he obtained from murdering his brother is negative and
continues to follow him around. The other Danes shun or make fun of
him because of his dishonorable history. His action of slaying a relative
defined him as a “murderer of brothers” and a dishonorable man or
failure (Gardner 104). In addition, it caused him to become an outcast in
the meadhall.
4. Transitional sentence: Unferth is defined as a jealous and disreputable warrior
because of his actions in both the epic and novel. In the previous example of
Unferth, he was similarly defined in both stories. Although, there are cases where
a person has conflicting characterizations too.
IV. Body III
A. Key Idea sentence: Grendel is an instance of a character who is defined much differently
from his actions in comparison from epic to novel.
1. Text evidence:
During this scene, Grendel comes to Herot for the first time in the middle
of the night and immediately kills 30 men as they sleep. His attack on the
hall is described as brutal, gorey, and savage. The narrator tells that
Grendel enjoys killing the Danes and accepts no truce or peace from
them. In Herot, Grendel kills as many men as he can in the night, all but
King Hrothgar (Beowulf 8-9).
a) Annotation: The narrator describes Grendel’s murders as gruesome and
horrid. He goes to kill many men every night in Herot, terrorizing them
and all the Danes. These descriptions depict Grendel as bloodthirsty and
murderous, uncaring for human life. It also defines him as primitive
because the narrative does not give any insight on if Grendel has any
thoughts aside from his sadistic enjoyment in murdering the Danes. The
perspective from the narrator only tells about Grendel’s evil deeds and
the Danes’ anguish. This differs from Grendel by John Garder, which
focuses on Grendel’s view and his thoughts. His acts of murdering men
in sick satisfaction define Grendel as primitive, sinister, and inhumane.
2. Text evidence:
The dragon tells Grendel that the only purpose of his existence is so that
mankind can rise to glory and define themselves as hero by killing him.
He is the monster to mankind, the two beings are forever entwined
together by fate because humans use the slaying of monsters to define
themselves. However, Grendel refuses to be the monster he is expected
and told to be by the dragon and the universe (Gardner 73).
a) Annotation: During the conversation between Grendel and the dragon,
Grendel goes to the dragon in search of answers about the Shaper and
himself. However, he soon learns of the sad truth of the reason for his
existence in this world. Because he is constantly told he only exists for
the purpose of being the opponent to mankind by the dragon and
Shaper’s songs, he declares that he will not be monster the world wants
him to be, instead he will ignore his monstrous urges to kill man. The
effect of this is evident in his interaction with Unferth who comes to
battle Grendel in search of glory and heroic recognition. Instead, Grendel
rejects his challenge and instead taunts him with sarcasm. Grendel’s
inner struggle of identity and his refusal to be defined by fate and the
universe characterizes him as more human-like and dynamic than the
epic, Beowulf, depicts Grendel to be.
3. Text evidence:
“I had become something, as if born again. I had hung between
possibilities before, between the cold truths I knew and the heart-sucking
conjuring tricks of the Shaper; now that was passed: I was Grendel,
Ruiner of Meadhalls, Wrecker of Kings!” (Gardner 80).
a) Annotation: This quote embodies Grendel’s transformation as a
character. Before, he vehemently refused to be the monster the universe
created him to be; however, by killing the guard, it signifies the
beginning of his war with the Danes and his final disconnection for any
relationship with man. His action of murdering the guard and accepting
his role in life defines himself as “Wrecker of Kings” and as antagonist
or villain for mankind. Grendel’s actions of understanding the cold truth
of his existence defines him as the utmost adversary to humans and
villain the universe decided him as since his creation.
4. Transitional sentence: Evident in the character Grendel, perspectives and point of
views truly do matter in the defining of oneself. The portrayal of actions and a
person’s thoughts can affect how one is defined by others.
V. Conclusion
A. The epic of Beowulf and story of Grendel emphasizes the importance one’s actions have
in defining oneself. Throughout the epic, Beowulf is continuously portrayed as a
courageous and dauntless hero who goes on to become a glorious ruler for the Geats. In
both the novel and the epic, Unferth is defined as a man in pursuit for glory and to be
remembered as a hero, however he instead turns into a bitter and dishonorable warrior. In
addition, both the works also touch on the significance of perspectives and point of views
when it comes to characterizing others. Grendel is characterized and defined drastically
different in both versions and accounts. In Beowulf, h e is depicted as a primitive and
savage monster while in contrast, Grendel is portrayed as similar to a human being
because he has inner conflicts with himself in the novel. In the final analysis, the
characters of Beowulf and Grendel effectively illustrate how a person’s actions can define
them.
Works Cited
Gardner, John. Grendel. Random House, Inc., 1989.
Raffel, Burton. Beowulf. Signet Classics, 2008.
