Emiliano Morales
"In off the moors, down through the mist bands God-cursed Grendel came greedily loping. The bane of the race of men roamed forth, hunting for prey in the high hall. Under the cloud-murk he moved towards it until it shone above him. A sheer keep of fortified gold. Nor was that the first time he had scouted the grounds of Hrothgar's dwelling--although never in his life, before or since, did he find harder fortune or hall-defenders. Spurned and joyless, he journeyed on ahead and arrived at the bawn. The iron-braced door turned on its hinge when his hands touched it. Then his rage boiled over, he ripped open the mouth of the building, maddening for blood, pacing the length of the patterned floor with his loathsome tread, while a baleful light, flame more than light, flared from his eyes. He saw many men in the mansion, sleeping, a ranked company of kinsman and warriors quartered together. And his glee was demonic." (Battle with Grendel, 710-730).
This passage details the beginning of the fight with Grendel. Grendel is introduced and characterized through the use of imagery and allusions to biblical stories. The images are used to create a dark, foreboding tone for when Grendel attacks and to describe his demonic appearance.
Grendel is characterized by several phrases, "God-cursed Brute." (711). and, "Bane of the race of men." (712). These short phrases strongly create a sense of evil and antagonism around Grendel. Grendel is God-cursed because the writer, being a christian, made a biblical allusion to Cain who killed his brother Abel. Cain was banished and cursed and so were his descendants including Grendel. Because of Grendel's seeming immortality and thirst for human blood he is the "bane of the race of men," and until Beowulf it seemed no man could kill him.
The imagery used in this passage set an eerie tone with the phrase, "cloud-murk." This image makes one think of darkness, as if the sky was a dark lake. Other images describe Grendel's strength and fury. "He ripped open the mouth of the building." (723-724). Grendel is so strong that he not only can batter down a door, he can rip open the massive doors, the "mouth," of Heorot. Grendel's anger is terrible as described by his eyes, "While a baleful light, flame more than light, flared from his eyes." (726-727). His fury is shown in his eyes as beyond human anger, deepening the fear one should feel if they faced this terrible monster.
This passage has a great description of Grendel, showing his to be a furious evil beast. The images and characterizations of Grendel give a great picture of the antagonist and Beowulfs first enemy. From this passage onto the end of the epic tale of Beowulf, Grendel is remembered as he was described; a bloodthirsty beast only stoppable by Beowulf.
