# Grendel the Murderer explained — Beowulf

> Chapter companion for Beowulf by Anonymous.

## What happens

Grendel attacks Heorot at night, slaughtering thirty thanemen and continuing his murderous raids for twelve winters, causing great sorrow for King Hrothgar and his people, who turn to heathen practices in desperation.

## Themes in this chapter

### Good versus Evil

Grendel is depicted as a monster of evil, a foe of mankind, who opposes God and brings suffering to the Danes.

### Monstrosity and the Other

Grendel is described as a horrible hermit, a death-shade, and a spirit accursed, emphasizing his monstrous and alien nature.

## Character check-ins

### Grendel

The monster of evil who attacks Heorot, killing thirty thanemen and continuing his raids for twelve winters.

### Hrothgar

The Scylding king who suffers great sorrow and agony over Grendel's attacks, holding council meetings in private.

## Key lines

> Then he found there reposing many a noble / Asleep after supper; sorrow the heroes, / Misery knew not. The monster of evil / Greedy and cruel tarried but little, / 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.

Grendel found the warriors sleeping after their feast, unaware of the coming horror. Without hesitation, the greedy and cruel monster seized thirty thanemen from their beds, killed them, and gleefully carried their bodies back to his lair.

_Describes Grendel's first attack on Heorot, slaughtering thirty men._

> So ruled he and strongly strove against justice / Lone against all men, till empty uptowered / The choicest of houses. Long was the season: / Twelve-winters’ time torture suffered / The friend of the Scyldings, every affliction, / Endless agony;

Grendel tyrannized the hall, fighting alone against all men, until the finest building stood empty. For twelve long winters, Hrothgar endured endless suffering and affliction.

_Highlights the duration and severity of Grendel's attacks over twelve years._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/beowulf_se/chapters/iii-grendel-the-murderer
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/beowulf_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/beowulf_se/chapters