Grendel Attacks
o Hrothgar's people lived well, feasting and laughing in the warm firelight of
the hall, never thinking of trouble. Each evening the sounds of their happy talk,
the poet's singing and people's laughter
floated out from the hall. But Someone
heard those sounds, the monster Grendel
deep down in his dark den out on the moors, and his
heart was filled with wickedness and rage.
So when night came to Heorot, Grendel came also.
The great shaggy beast burst into the hall and grabbed
the warriors where they lay sleeping. Thirty men he
clawed and killed, carried their bleeding bodies to his
own dark home.
Night after night it was the same. No one was
surprised when warriors wanted to sleep in the
farthest buildings, but still they were not safe.
Grendel's hatred did not grow less. He killed
Hrothgar's people wherever he found them, and for twelve long years Heorot stood
empty. The monster ruled there now. At night he camped among the broken tables and
benches and slashed with his claws and howled his hatred of Hrothgar's people.
The Danes in Trouble
rendel had begun his killing and he could not stop. The people were afraid,
each one wanted to survive. Hrothgar's face was stiff with sorrow. He sat
silent, missing his men. A council of the wisest among the Danes met every
day to decide what to do.
Beowulf's Journey
ar away among the tribe of the Geats, a good man heard of Hrothgar's trouble
and Grendel's killings. That man was Beowulf, the strongest soldier in the world
and nephew of Hygelac,
lord of the Geats.
When Beowulf was a child,
everyone thought he was lazy and
good for nothing, but since he grew
up he had done so many brave and
daring deeds that no one talked like
that anymore.
Beowulf took fourteen of the
fiercest fighters he could find, and
ordered a ship to ride the waves.
I will cross the Whale Road,' he said, 'to help lord Hrothgar who has the need of men.'
Away the ship went over the waves, cutting the seas as the wind pushed her forward. On
the second day the soldiers saw the shining cliffs. The sea-journey was over.
In The Hall
ord Hrothgar sent one of his most trusted men to greet them. Wulfgar was his
name, a man both brave and wise. He soon brought Beowulf before Hrothgar.
Beowulf looked stern in his helmet. His mailcoat shone as he marched quickly under
Heorot's roof to where the whitehaired lord was sitting.
'Hail to you, Hrothgar. My name
is Beowulf, son of Edgetheow. I
am Hygelac's warrior and
his kinsman. I have heard that
this hall becomes useless to your
people after the sun falls below
the edge of the sky at evening.
Tales of Grendel's attacks have
reached me at home in the land
of the Geats.
I have often struggled against
my people's enemies in battle. A
whole family of giants I once
trapped and destroyed. By night,
far out at sea, I killed watermonsters and put up with great difficulties among the dark waves.
Now it is for me alone to sort out the monster Grendel. People say that Grendel does not
bother with weapons, and neither shall I. I will beat him with my bare hands and my
body's strength.'
Hrothgar was full of joy.
'Beowulf my friend, you have come to us out of loving kindness. Your father began a
terrible feud by killing one of the tribe of the Wylfings. Your father's people, the Geats,
could not protect him. I was a young man then, and I brought Danish warriors to help the
Geats to end the feud. I payed the Wylfings with treasure for the loss of the man's life.
Now you can repay me.
See how many warriors I have lost. See how my people live in fear. Grendel has brought
such terror to our lives. Now sit down to the feast with your men and tell us what you
plan to do.'
Do you think everyone in the hall is as pleased as Hrothgar to see Beowulf, or might some be suspicious or jealous? The Danish warriors made way on
the mead benches for Beowulf's
men. They sat grouped together
while the glowing mead was
poured out for them to drink.
Then Hrothgar's wife Wealtheow
came forward. She was well
known for the wisdom of her
mind. She gave the jewelled cup
first to her husband and wished
him joy at the beer-drinking. Then
she took the precious goblet to
each group of warriors in turn, the
old and the young. Then her hands, flashing with rings, held out the cup to Beowulf. She
greeted the Geatish leader and gave thanks to God that now a noble warrior had come as
she had hoped for so long. She knew she could trust him.
Beowulf spoke:
'I decided as I set out to sea, that I would rid the Danes of this monster for ever, or else
die in the mead-hall held fast in his grip. Before you all now, I make this boast, that alone,
without weapons of any kind, I will defeat Grendel. I am sure I am as good a fighter as
Grendel. Let God decide the winner.'
Wealtheow liked this speech well.
'Never before has Heorot been trusted to any other man', she told Beowulf. Tonight you
must have and hold the great hall of the Danes. Keep watch, be brave, and think of the
glory you must gain.'
Then again there was laughter in the hall, the happiness of heroes. The Geats and the
Danes sat together. Words of courage and sounds of joy were heard once more in Heorot.
The clear voice of the poet rose in the hall.
At last everyone got up to go to bed. Hrothgar and Wealtheow with their people left the
hall. Only the Geats stayed behind.