"Beowulf" is the greatest and the oldest epic poem. It is of great value, because it mirrors the spirit of the past and bares witness to the age. The extract of the poem I have read reflects the old heroic spirit. The poem had a profound philosophical meaning. From my basic knowledge of this poem and from this extract the main idea is that the course of life can not be predicted for sure in …showed first 75 words of 1257 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1257 total…They watch on, evil, incredibly stupid, enjoying my destruction. 'Poor Grendel's had an accident,' I whisper. 'So may you all'" (Grendel, 174). The narrator's last words exemplify what it is to be a monster; yet again he has no concept of cause and effect relationships and has no grasp on why these "evil" people are taking such pleasure in his destruction, and he even goes so far as to wish the same fate upon everyone.