the Fight with

Grendel

“The Geat placed complete trust in his strength of limb and

the Lord’s favor” (line 669)

Descriptions of Grendel• “God-cursed Grendel

came greedily loping” (line 711)

• “his rage boiled over…maddening for blood” (line 723)

• “his glee was demonic” (line 730)

Brusque, forceful language

“fingers were bursting, the monster back-tracking, the man overpowering” (line 759)

• “they kept striking out on every side, seeking to cut straight to the soul” (line 797)

• “sinews split and the bone-lappings burst” (line 816)

Big Finale

“The hero displayed

high up near the roof:

the whole of

Grendel’s shoulder

and arm, his

awesome grasp”

(line 833)

Kennings

• “shadow-stalker” – creeper (line 703)

• “mist-bands” – fog (line 710)

• “bone-lappings” – joints (line 741, 817)

• “terror-monger” – terrorist (line 765)

• “hall-session” – gathering of musicians (line 767)

• “hell-serf” – servant of hell (line 786)

Religious Connotations

• Grendel’s charm

against metals (line

804)

• Demon-like

descriptions of

Grendel (line 730)

• “Almighty God rules

over mankind” (line 701)

• God-like descriptions of

Beowulf (line 736)

• “the Lord was weaving

a victory” (line 697)