Archetypes refer to persistently recurring symbols or motifs in literature. The term itself has its origins in Ancient Greek and continues to play a prominent role in the analysis of literature. Archetypal images and narrative patterns encourage readers to ritualistically participate in the basic beliefs, fears, and anxieties of their age. These archetypal characteristics not only constitute the eloquence of the text but also tap into a level of civilizational desires and concerns. The Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf, translated by Seamus Heaney, integrates many of the common archetypes that still exist today. The archetypal outcast is one who particularly expresses the desires, anxieties, and values ​​of the people who lived during the Beowulf era. Grendel, a character with monstrous appearance and vaguely human emotions, is portrayed as the main outsider in Beowulf. The incorporation of an exiled character against his companions in society effectively expressed the anxiety and fears that Anglo-Saxon culture felt towards isolation and abnormality, caused by a social absorption into family lineage and traditionalism. The outcast archetype describes a figure or character rejected by a group. There is often a high level of anxiety linked to this idea, as there is much more vulnerability in living outside the group than in being an integral part of it. Grendel and his mother are defined as outcasts from the beginning, being descendants of Cain. “Grendel was the name of this grim demon who haunted the marches, plundering the desolate moors and marshes; he had lived for a time in misery among the banished monsters, the clan of Cain, whom the creator had outlawed and condemned as outcasts. For the killing of Abel the LORD Lo...... middle of paper ......n very human feelings of resentment and jealousy. Grendel was an unstable and saddened figure due to his outcast status. Although Grendel had many animal attributes and a grotesque, monstrous appearance, he seemed to be driven by vaguely human emotions and impulses. In truth he showed more of an inner life than one might expect. Exiled to the swamps outside the confines of human society, Grendel's portrayal as an outcast is a symbol of the jealousy and hatred that seek to destroy the happiness of others and can ultimately cripple a civilization. This interpretation of the archetypal outcast ultimately highlights the weaknesses of the Anglo-Saxon people, their doubts and anxieties regarding the traditional values ​​that delimited almost every aspect of their lives. Works Cited Heaney, Seamus. Beowulf: a new verse translation. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2000. Print.