PARTS 1 THROUGH 3 THE MONSTER GRENDEL

 The poem begins by contrasting two settings: the dark, desolate lair of the monster Grendel and the noisy, joyous hall of Herot, home of the Danish King Hrothgar and his warriors.  The characters are also contrasted. Hrothgar and his men are comrades, and the men are loyal to the king. Grendel is exiled and murderous.  The primary conflict in Beowulf is between good and evil.

 Lines 6-8 – “recalling The Almighty making the earth, shaping These beautiful plains marked off by oceans…”  Lines – “He [Grendel] was spawned in that slime, Conceived by a pair of those monsters born Of Cain, murderous creatures banished By God, punished forever for the crime of Abel’s death. The Almighty drove those demons out…”

 Darkness fell and Grendel went up to Herot, where he found the warriors asleep, after having finished their drinking and partying.  Grendel slipped inside Herot and there snatched up and killed 30 men, carrying their bodies back to his lair, with their blood dripping behind him.

 King Hrothgar and his remaining men realized what had happened.  They wept and worried that Grendel might return, which he did, again and again.  The only survivors were those who fled each night.  The warriors fought against him, but were defeated each time, and more men were killed.

 Herot remained deserted for twelve years.  The tale of Grendel was told and sung, even across the seas.  Grendel continued to hunt Hrothgar’s warriors, and killed as often as he could.  He lived in Herot at night, but never dared to touch King Hrothgar’s throne because it was protected by God.

 King Hrothgar and his council tried to come up with a plan to defeat Grendel.  They made sacrifices to stone gods, and asked for the Devil’s support.

 The poet tells us that they did not know any other way to ask for assistance, as they did not know God – they were heathen. He also inserts a warning – beware to those who have trouble, but have no peace in their hearts. He says, “Hail to those who will rise to God, drop off their dead bodies, and seek our Father’s peace!”

 Beowulf, greater and stronger than anyone else in the world, heard the story of Grendel.  The wise men of the Geats encouraged him, as the omens were good.  He outfitted a boat and set sail from Sweden to Denmark with 14 brave and mighty men to help King Hrothgar.