One of the major themes that appeared in the novel while reading is Good vs. Evil. "With long bounds the huge black creature was leaping down the track...Then Holmes and I both fired together, and the creature gave a hideous howl" (The Hound of the Baskerville, Pages 111-112) This quote shows how the Good side fights against the evil side. The good side being Watson, Holmes and Sir Henry. While the bad side is the spectral hound. This is also a major theme in the novel Beowulf by Robert Nye. As the good hero Beowulf is against the bad monsters of the fen.

Two literary devices that I will be addressing which were used in this novel are that of conflict, and that of setting. Conflict is greatly used, due to the theme being Good vs. Evil... its very obvious that there will be conflict between the two sides. This is part of the quote used before, this part demonstrates the conflict between the two sides the best. "Then Holmes and I both fired together, and the creature gave a hideous howl" (The Hound of the Baskerville, Pages 112). This quote shows Watson and Sherlock Holmes fighting against the mysterious hound that is running across the moor, chasing Sir Henry.

The other literary technique that Arthur Conan Doyle incorporated in his novel is setting. There are various settings in the novel, each with a different theme to it. For example, the moor's theme is scary, where evil dwells (such as the fen in the novel Beowulf), the Baskerville Hall is gloomy "The whole front was draped in ivy...from the high chimneys which rose from the steep, high-angled roof there sprang black column of smoke"(The Hound of the Baskervilles, Page 42) and their home at Baker Street is nice and warm.

All-in-all, I believe that the theme of Good vs. Evil goes very well with the literary devices of conflict and setting. Because when you have a theme of Good vs. Evil, there has to be conflict between the two sides, and the setting helps represent this as well. Together, they make a very good novel that is both thrilling and scary at the same time, to keep you at the edge of your seat.

Chapter One: “A Ship Without A Sail”

A baby is sent to Denmark by a boat without a sail. Believing that he is the son of Oden, the Danes make him their king and name him Scyld Scefing. Scyld lived a long life, being very strong and tall… but when the time came, he was put on a ship without a sail,

and sent out to sea to be cremated.

Chapter Two: A Hall Full Of Blood

Scyld left behind a son, who then had four children.. one of which was named Hrothgar, who was chosen to be the next king. He ordered his men to build a great hall made of gold and ivory, as he had seen in a dream.. after the hall was build, he named it Hall Herot he wished to invite the wisest and the strongest of the land to come dine in his hall. But when his guests were asleep, a disgusting monster named Grendle entered the hall and devoured the guests. If it was not for the love Hrothgar's wife showed to him, Grendle would have killed him as well.

Chapter Three: Ten Men Against Grendle

Hrothgar was disgusted of what had happened. Wondering what would have caused this, his nephew, Unferth, explains that it was the work of Grendle.. Hrothgar then orders 9 of the best war-lords of the land to come help him defeat the beast. They wait for him in the hall, heads standing high, armour polished. Grendle then enters the hall and tears the 9 war-lords to pieces.. King Hrothgar managing to escape with his life…

Chapter Four: Beowulf

The story of Hall Herot, Grendle and king Hrothgar spread over the lands, and into the ear of Beowulf, a bee hunter from the land of the Geats. Beowulf decided to take on this mysterious creature, so he gathered 14 average men and set sail for Denmark. Beowulf got his name when he was young and got stung in the eye by a bee… that would explain his poor vision to be one of his weaknesses… after they landed in Denmark, after much hassle the coastguard finally escorted them to the castle. Beowulf left his sword on top of the mountain, because fighting Grendle is like fighting the sea, you don't use a sword.

Chapter Five: Nine Sea-Monsters

Beowulf meets with Hrothgar ands Unferth. Beowulf is bearing a bag of apples that he picked from an orchard on the other side of the mountain. Unferth tries to break Beowulf's courage by telling him that he has no chance against Grendle, and that the apples he is about to eat are bewitched. Beowulf accepts the fact that everyone has a bit of good and evil inside them, so he happily eats the apple.

Chapter Six: Beowulf Against Grendle

Beowulf and his men are in Hall Herot, his men all asleep... Beowulf the only one awake, along with Unferth... wanting to see if “Beowulf shakes hands with Grendle”... finally the beast shows up, Unferth soils himself as Grendle kills one of Beowulf's men... Beowulf then grabs Grendle's arm... and with the power of light, love and good... he disarms Grendle…LITERALLY!

Chapter Seven: Celebrations

Grendle's arm is hung from the rafters of the hall, while the Danes and the Geats participate in a three day feast, all except for Unferth, who is mourning the death of Grendle. Beowulf is showed with gifts, poems and a story of Fitela and Sigmund... everyone is happy and grateful, except Unferth...

Chapter Eight: Revenge

A creature stirs in the night… emerging from the fen... scaly, disgusting and snake like. Unferth knew. As the monster walks into hall Herot, Unferth welcomes Her... She is… GRENDLE'S MOTHER! The hero's awake to find one of there men are dead... Unferth is missing... now Beowulf must set out to find and kill who did this...

Chapter Nine: Into The Fen

The heroes set out to the fen to avenge the death of their man, to kill Grendle's mother... they arrive at the fen to see Unferth's head hanging from a tree... Beowulf then enters the blood coloured, foul scented, eyeball infested waters of the fen.

Chapter Ten: Beowulf Against Grendle's Mom

Beowulf swims down and down into the murky waters. Breathing on air bubbles, managing to stay alive and swim down more and more until he is captured in Grendle's mother's clutch. He is dropped down, and down with the pull of Her… He starts to chant words as she begging's to fall into a sleep… Beowulf then strangles Her… She is now dead.

Chapter Eleven: Grendle's Head

Beowulf emerges from the waters, to his men, who though he was dead. They return to the Kingdom Of Denmark and tell them the good news... and about Unferth's death. They shower him and his men with gifts and give them great thanks.

Chapter Twelve: Beowulf Goes Home

A crow hums notes to bring the dawn and heals Beowulf's toothache. After being honoured in Denmark, he finally decides that he wishes to go back home. The coastguard thanks Beowulf for what he has done and prepares his ship for him... Beowulf tells him that he can have his sword, which he had left on top of the mountain. The coastguard thanks him and asks why he didn't bring the sword with him on his journey, Beowulf replied… “Fighting Grendle is like fighting the ocean, you wouldn't bring a sword to fight the ocean”.

Chapter Thirteen: King Beowulf

The news has spread about Beowulf's achievements, and the Geats are glad to have him back. He gives his riches and rewards to his uncle, King Hyriglec and his wife Hyro. Beowulf went back to his normal life... but then the Geats were invaded by Friesland, and his uncle was killed... his son took over when he was young, but after a few years, he was killed... and Beowulf took over.

Chapter Fourteen: The Firedrake

For forty years, everyone in the land of the Geats was happy... all except one slave who was beaten and mistreated. He couldn't take it anymore... so he though if he stole some treasure from the mountain burial grounds, he could give it to his master to stop the whipping. The Firedrake, a giant fire-breathing lizard guarded the burial grounds... the slave grabbed a cup, and manages to escape… the Firedrake became enraged...

Chapter Fifteen: Beowulf Against The Firedrake

Beowulf decided to go up against the Firedrake. He gathers fourteen men including Wiglaf, a young, small soldier. Beowulf orders his men to bring up a wooden stake, some beehives and a giant glove up to the Firedrakes mountain… puzzled at his request, they obey and start heading up the mountain.

Chapter Sixteen: Bees

Young Wiglaf waits behind a rock in the Firedrake's lair... while Beowulf taunts the dragon... making it enraged. As the Firedrake was about to scorch him, agile Wiglaf jumps out and shoves the stake in its mouth, keeping it opened... Beowulf then threw the glove at the Firedrake... the glove contained a Queen bee... the queen flew down the Firedrake's thought and... As bees always follow their queen... the other bees all follow the queen down into the Firedrake's stomach... as they proceed to sting him from the inside until he was dead. When the time came, they buried Beowulf in a large fist of land. And if anyone asks about Beowulf, the true thing to say is…

“Beowulf was Beowulf”.