Grendel
Grendel is a monster from the great Anglo Saxon tale of Beowulf.
King Hrothgar had a fine banqueting hall called Heorot. Every night it rang
with the sound of merriment and feasting men. But outside in the darkness was
one who hated the sound of joy. Grendel was a monster and the father of every
evil being, who stalked the moors and fens. One night he came to Heorot and
heard the sounds. Waiting until everyone was asleep, Grendel broke in and
killed the thirty men sleeping in the hall. Every night he returned to kill and
destroy, until the hall stood empty and men feared to go near it.
Beowulf was the greatest of all warriors. And hearing of the evil Grendel he
decided that he would go to Heorot and fight the monster. Beowulf took with him
a group of brave warriors. It was darkest night and all the warriors lay asleep
in Heorot, all but one - for Beowulf lay awake waiting. The door swung slowly
open and a monstrous shape entered the hall - Grendel had come to feast on
men's flesh. Grendel sniffed the air and grabbed one of the sleeping warriors,
tore him apart and ate him in huge chunks. Next he snatched at Beowulf, but
Beowulf was ready.
Beowulf grabbed the monster's arm and to and fro they struggled in a
terrible wrestling match. The other warriors tried to strike at Grendel with
their swords but his skin was so tough it was as thick as metal and they could
not hurt him. At last the monster, in a desperate attempt to break free, jerked
backwards and tore his arm off. Grendel staggered from the hall and fled with a
deadly wound back to the swamps and a great lake, where he died.
Beowulf, Hrothgar and all the people of the land rejoiced at Grendel's
death. But they rejoiced too soon, for deep in the lake, darker and more deadly
than Grendel lived Grendel's mother. But that is another story.
further info:
Grendel's Mother attacks.