Which of these explains why Beowulf removes the head of the already dead Grendel?
a- it was a final act of mercy
b- It was a desperate attempt to escape.
c- It was an additional act of revenge.
d- It was an angry admission of defeat.
my answer is C
I agree.
thank you
You're welcome.
To determine the correct answer, let's analyze the text. Beowulf removing the head of the already dead Grendel was an action that took place in the epic poem Beowulf. In this scene, Beowulf had just defeated Grendel in battle, tearing off his arm. Grendel then fled to the swamp, mortally wounded. Beowulf followed him to Grendel's lair, where he found Grendel's lifeless body.
To understand Beowulf's motivation for removing Grendel's head, we must consider the cultural context and the themes present in the poem. Beowulf is an Old English epic that reflects the warrior culture of the time, where revenge and glory played significant roles.
Option A, "it was a final act of mercy," does not align with the values and motivations of the characters in the poem, as there is no evidence to suggest mercy as a primary motivation for removing Grendel's head.
Option B, "it was a desperate attempt to escape," is incorrect because Beowulf had already defeated Grendel and had no need to escape at that point.
Option D, "it was an angry admission of defeat," is also inaccurate since Beowulf was the victor and had no reason to admit defeat.
Option C, "it was an additional act of revenge," is the most plausible choice. Revenge is a significant theme in Beowulf, and removing Grendel's head can be seen as further retaliation against the monster who had terrorized and killed numerous warriors in Heorot.
Therefore, based on the cultural context, the themes of the poem, and the events leading up to the scene, the correct answer is C: it was an additional act of revenge.