Beowulf

The narrator uses both a simile and a metaphor that compare the nails on Grendel’s hands to steel. After Beowulf’s defeat of Grendel, the monster escapes from Heorot, mortally wounded, leaving his arm behind in Beowfulf’s tight grasp. The narrator states that: 

For rescue, however, 
he left behind him his hand in pledge, 
arm and shoulder; nor aught of help 
could the cursed one thus procure at all [...]
More silent seemed the son of Ecglaf 
in boastful speech of his battle-deeds,
since athelings all, through the earl's great prowess,
beheld that hand, on the high roof gazing,
foeman's fingers,—the forepart of each
of the sturdy nails to steel was likest,—
heathen's "hand-spear," hostile warrior's
claw uncanny. 'Twas clear, they said,
that him no blade of the brave could touch,
how keen soever, or cut away
that battle-hand bloody from baneful foe.

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In the aftermath of Beowulf’s battle with Grendel’s mother, the narrator uses a simile to describe a mysterious sword that Beowulf found in her lair: 

Now that sword began,
from blood of the fight, in battle-droppings, 
war-blade, to wane: 'twas a wondrous thing 
that all of it melted as ice is wont 
when frosty fetters the Father loosens, 
unwinds the wave-bonds, wielding all 
seasons and times: the true God he!
Nor took from that dwelling the duke of the 
Geats precious things, though a plenty he saw, 
save only the head and that hilt withal 
blazoned with jewels: the blade had melted, 
burned was the bright sword, her blood was so hot, 
so poisoned the hell-sprite who perished within there.

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