Write a narrative from the perspective of Grendel, the monster in the epic tale Beowulf. Your story must center on a conflict that reveals something important about the main character. The conflict must be resolved in some way by the end of the story. The narrative should stick to the facts in the original story — that Beowulf came from across the sea to fight Grendel, that Hrothgar was a king, etc. Other than those facts, though, you can make up whatever you like about the characters and setting. The narrative needs to use sensory language to create vivid scenes. It needs to use characterization to believably present the perspective of Grendel from Beowulf. The narrative should center on a clear source of conflict that is resolved by the end of the story. What is his fatal flaw (what ultimately destroys him)? What is his greatest strength (what ultimately saves him)? The narrative needs to consistently and correctly uses a first-person point of view. The assignment follows the structure of Freytag’s pyramid, including exposition that introduces important information and sets up the conflict. Rising action that increases the conflict and builds toward a climax. A climax that resolves the conflict and reveals something about the main character. A sequence of falling action and a conclusion that shows what happens to the main character and encourages the reader to reflect on the story.
