Question

which statements accurately contrast beowulf and grendel? select 2 options. both works are written in an old english poetic style. beowulf characterizes grendel as bloodthirsty, but grendel shows grendel’s gentler side. beowulf is sympathetic to the humans, while grendel shows the monster’s perspective. both works focus primarily on the hero, beowulf. beowulf is a contemporary version of an old tale, while grendel is based on oral tradition.

Explanation:

1. Analyze Option 1: "Both works are written in an Old English poetic style." - This is a similarity, not a contrast, so eliminate.
2. Analyze Option 2: "Beowulf characterizes Grendel as bloodthirsty, but Grendel shows Grendel’s gentler side." - This shows a contrast in how Grendel is portrayed, so it's valid.
3. Analyze Option 3: "Beowulf is sympathetic to the humans, while Grendel shows the monster’s perspective." - This contrasts the perspectives (human - centered vs. monster - centered), so it's valid.
4. Analyze Option 4: "Both works focus primarily on the hero, Beowulf." - "Grendel" focuses on Grendel, not Beowulf, so this is incorrect (and it's a similarity claim anyway).
5. Analyze Option 5: "Beowulf is a contemporary version of an old tale, while Grendel is based on oral tradition." - Beowulf is the old, oral - tradition - based work, and "Grendel" (by Gardner) is the contemporary retelling, so this is reversed and incorrect.

Answer:

B. Beowulf characterizes Grendel as bloodthirsty, but Grendel shows Grendel’s gentler side.
C. Beowulf is sympathetic to the humans, while Grendel shows the monster’s perspective.