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Grendel Attacks (Lines 86–193)
Quotes
Till the monster stirred, that demon, that fiend Grendel who haunted the moors, the wild Marshes, and made his home in a hell. Not hell but hell on earth. He was spawned in that slime Of Cain, murderous creatures banished By God, punished forever for the crime Of Abel's death.
Related Characters:Grendel
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
101-108
Explanation and Analysis:
The monster relished his savage war On the Danes, keeping the bloody feud Alive, seeking no peace, offering No truce, accepting no settlement, no price In gold or land, and paying the living For one crime only with another. No one Waited for reparation from his plundering claws: That shadow of death hunted in the darkness, Stalked Hrothgar's warriors.
Grendel is no braver, no stronger Than I am! I could kill him with my sword; I shall not, Easy as it would be. This fiend is a bold And famous fighter, but his claws and teeth... Beating at my sword blade, would be helpless. I will meet him With my hands empty-unless his heart Fails him, seeing a soldier waiting Weaponless, unafraid. Let God in His wisdom Extend His hand where He wills, reward Whom he chooses!
She'd brooded on her loss, misery had brewed In her heart, that female horror, Grendel's Mother, living in the murky cold lake Assigned her since Cain had killed his only Brother, slain his father's son With an angry sword.
All-knowing God Must have sent you such words; nothing so wise From a warrior so young has ever reached These ancient ears...If your lord, Hrethel's son, is slain by a spear, Or falls sick and dies...I say that the Geats Could do no better, find no man better Suited to be king, keeper of warriors and their treasure, than you..., beloved Beowulf.
Related Characters:Hrothgar (speaker), Beowulf, Hrethel
Beowulf had brought his king Horses and treasure—as a man must, Not weaving nets of malice for his comrades, Preparing their death in the dark, with secret, Cunning tricks.
When he comes to me I mean to stand, not run from his shooting Flames, stand till fate decides Which of us wins. My heart is firm, My hands calm: I need no hot Words.
My days Have gone by as fate willed,... As I knew how, swearing no unholy oaths, Seeking no lying wars. I can leave This life happy; I can die, here, Knowing the Lord of all life has never Watched me wash my sword in blood Born of my own family.
For ten long days they made his monument, Sealed his ashes in walls as straight And high as wise and willing hands could raise them... And the treasures they'd taken were left there too,... Ground back in the earth.