Question

Which theme is best illustrated by this passage from Grendel?
I could laugh if it weren't for the pain than makes me howl.
And yet I address [Beowulf), whispering, whimpering,
whining. "If you win, it's by mindless chance. Make no
mistake."
O
A. The ultimate goal is to win.
O
B. In the end, life is meaningless.
O
C. Life is all about taking chances.
O
D. Everyone is afraid of pain.

Answer 1

Answer:

B. In the end, life is meaningless

Explanation:

The speaker is allowing his opponent to win. Him winning is not because of his strength or ability, but because of the speaker's lack of will to live.

Answer 2

Answer:

B. In the end, life is meaningless.

Explanation:

In this passage, Grendel is reflecting on whether it is worth continuing to fight Beowulf. Grendel is the monster that appears in the Anglo-Saxon work Beowulf. In these lines, Grendel tells us that he is in great pain, and that he will allow Beowulf to win. However, he wants Beowulf to know that his victory is not a consequence of superiority, but a consequence of the fact that Grendel believes life to be meaningless. Because of this, he cannot find more energy to fight, and is instead ready to give up.