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Like many heroic battles the protagonist (Beowulf) must be compared to the antagonist (Grendel) in the most even physical level to demonstrate that he wins because his cause is just not because his technology is better. The same imagery is used in most westerns (the Morality plays of the American cinema) where it is the hero that brings "a knife to gun fight" to demonstrate that his innate goodness is his real strength.

In this case Beowulf is the new hero of Christianity coming to the wilds of Scandinavia, Grendel is the evil holdover of the heathen past.

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13y ago
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1mo ago

Beowulf chooses to battle Grendel with his bare hands as a display of strength and to prove his bravery and prowess as a warrior. He also believes it is a fair fight since Grendel does not use any weapons.

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9y ago

Beowulf was a wonderful story with many key points and many different battles. In the battle between Grendel and Beowulf, Beowulf must fight with his bare hands because all weapons are useless against Grendel.

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13y ago

He had to fight Grendel with his bare hands because Grendel didn't use weapons himself and Beowulf didn't want to best Grendel unfairly. In his words 'it won't be a cutting edge I'll wield to mow him down, easily though I might. Unarmed he'll face me, if face me he dares. May God grant the victory to who He sees fit.'

Also, Grendel had a magical enchantment on his skin, which was impenetrable by mortal blades, that's why Beowulf's men couldn't do anything. Also, when Beowulf is fighting Grendel's mother, she has the same magical enchantment, which is why his sword didn't work, and he had to use the sword made by giants which he found behind him.

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12y ago

Because greandel didn't use weapons so he wanted to fight him as a equal. That's why he fought him naked too.

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12y ago

He has to fight Grendel with his bare hands because both Grendel and Beowulf have the strength of 30 men, thus making it a fair fight between the two, which is important to the culture.

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9y ago

Grendel is a huge monster who is immune to weapons for some reason. Since he cannot be hurt by weapons Beowulf fights him unarmed.

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12y ago

it is the honorable thing to do and grendel isn't fighting with weapons. also grendel bewitched weapons so they don't harm him anyways

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Q: Why does Beowulf have to battle Grendal with his bare hands?
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Related questions

What frustrated the men when trying to help Beowulf in battle with grendel?

grendel cannot be killed with swards or anything else he must be killed with bare hands which beowulf could do but his warriors could not so they got frusturated becuase they were hitting their swards on grendel but he was not dieing but when beowulf took his bare hands to grendel he did die.


Beowulf must battle Grendel with his bare hands because -?

Beowulf chooses to battle Grendel with his bare hands to prove his strength and bravery, as well as to level the playing field since Grendel himself doesn't use weapons. Beowulf also sees it as a way to honor the tradition of heroism and to showcase his physical prowess.


What does Beowulf use to kill Grendel?

his sword


How do Beowulf and Spider-Man compare?

spidermann has natural powers and beowulf fights with his bare hands/


What fails Beowulf in each battle?

In Beowulf's battle with Grendel, he fails to defeat him with weapons, resorting instead to using his bare hands. In his battle with Grendel's mother, he fails to kill her with his sword, Hrunting, and relies on a magical weapon instead. Finally, in his battle with the dragon, Beowulf is mortally wounded as his sword breaks, resulting in his death.


Which details from this description of the battle between Beowolf and Grendel add realism which details add epic grandness?

Details such as Beowulf's use of weapons like a sword and shield add a sense of realism to the battle. On the other hand, elements like Beowulf fighting bare-handed and tearing off Grendel's arm with his bare hands add a sense of epic grandness.


What happens in Beowulf section X XIII?

Grendel attacks and Beowulf fights back with his bare hands, Beowulf rips off Grendel's arm, Grendel stumbles away to die, and Danes admire Beowulf's deed.


What weapon does Beowulf use to fight grendle?

Beowulf uses his bare hands to fight Grendel, as he believes it is an honorable way to face the monster. He chooses not to use any weapons, as he wants the battle to be a true test of his strength and bravery.


What is he doing for Beowulf?

He intends to fight the beast with his bare hands, and he does, and wins by doing so.


What happened in sections x in Beowulf?

Grendel attacks and Beowulf fights back with his bare hands, Beowulf rips off Grendel's arm, Grendel stumbles away to die, and Danes admire Beowulf's deed.


What is unusual about the way Beowulf fights Grendel and why does he choose to fight the monster in this way?

Beowulf fights Grendel without weapons because Grendel is immune to conventional weaponry. Beowulf chooses to use his bare hands to show his strength and bravery, as well as to prove to the Danes that he can defeat the monster with his own physical prowess. This unconventional approach highlights Beowulf's heroic qualities and sets him apart from ordinary warriors.


What describes the event in Beowulf sections xIII?

Grendel attacks and Beowulf fights back with his bare hands, Beowulf rips off Grendel's arm, Grendel stumbles away to die, and Danes admire Beowulf's deed.