In the Old English poem Beowulf, what traits of Beowulf and Grendel raise the fight between them to an epic struggle bwtween two great opposing...

In the Old English epic poem Beowulf,
the fight between Beowulf and Grendel is a truly “epic” struggle in several senses of
the word. The fight is not a fight simply between two individuals but between two
symbolic forces.  This is true in several different ways, including the
following:

• Grendel is plainly identified as a
  symbol of evil, and Beowulf is just as clearly identified as a symbol of goodness and
  virtue.


• Grendel is plainly associated with forces of
  supernatural evil, such as Satan, whereas Beowulf is just as
  clearly identified with symbols of supernatural goodness, especially the Christian
  God.


• Both Grendel and Beowulf possess uncommon strength;
  each contains enormous power within his grip, so that each of them is not simply a
  common creature but something truly uncommon and supernatural in his
  powers.


• Grendel is bent not simply on killing single
  individuals but apparently on eradicating the whole Danish nation.  His attacks on the
  Danes continue for twelve years, and his impact on their entire culture is devastating.
  Likewise, Beowulf fights not merely on his own behalf but on behalf of the whole Danish
  nation and also on behalf of the glory of his own people, the
  Geats.


• Beowulf clearly sees Grendel as a hellish creature
  and vows to defeat Grendel not to enhance his own personal glory but to honor God and
  restore the proper moral order.  In other words, he fights for principles, not to win
  personal fame.


• Beowulf puts his trust utterly in God, so
  that the battle between Beowulf and Grendel is, in a sense, a struggle between Grendel
  and God’s representative on earth. If Grendel had defeated Beowulf, the people’s
  confidence in the Christian God might have been further shaken. Thus it is not
  surprising that as Grendel realizes that he is about to die, the poet remarks that this
  creature who

readability="7">

. . . had given offense to
God

found that his bodily powers failed him. (810-11;
Seamus Heaney
translation)

• Beowulf
  is “granted” by God “the glory of winning” (817-18). The fight between Beowulf and
  Grendel is a fight of huge symbolic importance with huge practical consequences for many
  beings besides themselves.  In all these ways, then, it is truly an “epic”
  struggle.