Paradox
A paradox is a statement that apparently contradicts itself and yet might be true. Most logical paradoxes are known to be invalid arguments but are still valuable in promoting critical thinking. Wikipedia
The major contrasting force in Beowulf is between light and dark it sets the tone in the entire book. The monster Grendel strikes at night taking the lives of the innocent and joyful. He physically embodies evil. When the sun goes down and the darkness fades in the people become terrified that they would be the next in the bloody assault that happens every night. "Darkness and night is associated with evil and Grendel's bloody raids. Hrothgar's warriors face the darkness and the evil, but when the light of day comes, only their blood remains." (Book rags.com) When Beowulf goes in to slay the mother it's dark, she's seems to be everywhere, heart pounding he didn't know where to attack or where she was. He goes into the darkness not knowing what to expect and brave enough to fight the monster on her own turf. The contrasting force between land and see it's shown in many places in Beowulf. The sad is almost a looming force over the people. The people were afraid to go out of their community for lack of knowing what was out there. It's a failed memory of the past, of the many battles they have fought and the fallen bodies that have been sent out to sea. The sea is darkness to the people. The sea carried Beowulf the Heorot as their hero, as someone who can saved them from the monster, the light being carried out of the darkness of the looming sea. They overcome their fear of the darkness and the sea, their courageous and win their battles for the ones who did not.
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