Either Grendelmom and the dragon, being cut from the same cloth as Grendel, are just savage bears and animals, or Grendel launched an unprovoked attack on Heorot because he was a dick who didn't know how to ask his neighbors to calm down. You can't have it both ways. Either way, Beowulf's actions are more like the hunter defending humans. from, you know. Monsters. This is a time before Disney and what not popularized the idea of the misunderstood monster like the Beauty and the Beast movie. Besides, I'm pretty sure that dragons, generally depicted as capricious and petty hoarders, wouldn't just take the cup with thanks, sip a cup of tea, and go on its own way. They're not like their Asian counterparts at all. Although it would be sort of funny... "Kind sir, would you please stop attacking our lands?""Why, certainly, young king. When I woke up and found that my cup was missing, I flew into a frightfully terrible rage. I am soooo sorry for that.""Thank you, good dragon. Perhaps afterwards, we could reconvene for a cuppa tea?""I would like that very much." But I do agree on the aspects that it's not necessarily wise to try to apply Christian morals to a semi-historical love song to other heroic tales. Well, I'd say that Superman is quite capable of carrying his own story should the writer present an antagonist or a problem that couldn't be beaten down by sheer fists, like Alan Moore did often. Like "For the Man who has Everything." Confrontational much? You're the one who keep advocating that good writing should trigger and resonate with you on an emotional level. What's wrong with feeling the way you feel about well written pieces? @Paranormal stuff: Never really fell into that genre, though my best guesses would be to focus on its effect on the protagonist, rather than the creepy willies' source and what not. Probably should be a general progression of both plot lines - the effects on the person, and the person finding the source, until they meet up. Not necessarily halfway, though. Truth clashing with perception. Is the guy a bit off his rocker at that point, so the stuff the reader sees is part of his own assumptions and delusions?