Grendel

Name: Grendel

AKA: Mighty War-Spirit, The Horrible Stranger, Monster of Evil

Location: The Moors, The King's Hall: Heorot

Novel: Beowulf

Author: Unknown (Anglo-Saxon origin)



Natural History:
Said to be the child of Cain and Grendel's Mother, Grendel is thought to be a demon. Envious of the Daneman's joy, Grendel has been terrorizing the great mead-hall, Heorot.

After the sun would sink, revealing darkness, Grendel would visit the hall while the Danemen slept. Finding pleasure in his raids, Grendel would grab thirty warriors and drag them to his lair where he would devour them. Returning night after night, Grendel would break into the hall, causing chaos and killing the warriors in their sleep. For twelve winters King Hrothgar suffered under the cruel malice that was Grendel.

The monster, Grendel, not only killed the warriors, but made no distinction as to who he killed. Elderly and young alike all were harassed by his evil deeds, trapping and tricking them every night in his mist-covered moor-fens. Having heard of the monsters rampages, Beowulf sailed to King Hrothgar's aide. After hearing of the attack's Beowulf decides to fight the monster unarmed since that is how Grendel fights. After a great celebration of Beowulf's boast to defeat Grendel, the Danes and geats fall asleep in the great hall, all except Beowulf, waiting for the attack.

With bitter fury Grendel ripped the doors off the great hall and strode furiously in. Staring at the sleeping warriors, the monster deliberates as Beowulf looked on in suspense. Grendel grabbed a Danesman, tore him open, bit into bone, and drank the blood, swallowing the rest in mouthfuls. Ready to grab Beowulf next, Grendel reach out, but Beowulf grappled with the monster. Both equally angry at being matched by the other in strength, they fought in the great hall.

Weapons would not work against Grendel as he bore a charmed life and no weapon could harm him. Beowulf fought hand-to-hand combat with the monster, waking the others and decimating the mead-hall. Having woken the other warriors, they helped Beowulf by tackling Grendel. Beowulf, determined to destory the creature grabbed Grendel's arm and tore at it. Sinew split at Grendel's shoulder and Beowulf ripped the monsters entire arm out of it's socket. Grendel's howl of agony echoed through the kingdom. With his defeat, Grendel retreated back to his mother's cave, waiting to die.

The arm of Grendel can be seen hung over the great hall of Heorot.

"...The monster of evil

Greedy and cruel tarried but little,

He drags off thirty of them, and devours them

Fell and frantic, and forced from their slumbers

Thirty of thanemen; thence he departed

Leaping and laughing, his lair to return to,

With surfeit of slaughter sallying homeward."