Beowulf

Summary

The Anglo-Saxon heroic poem Beowulf, which is contained in a single manuscript from the tenth century but which may have been composed as early as the eighth century, contains both Christian and pre-Christian elements, forming two discernible strands which run through the entire narrative. It can be argued that the pre-Christian strand, which tells of episodes in the life of the hero Beowulf in terms which correspond to the code of the warrior tribes of Northern Europe and Scandinavia is by far the stronger, so that the theology of the early medieval Church provides a presentational gloss on a heroic tale which draws strongly on pre-Christian Germanic traditions. One of these traditions is to be found in the depiction of Grendel, the first and, in terms of the narrative, most memorable of Beowulf's opponents. The poet presents Grendel as a monstrous nightstalker of supernatural power and malignity, whose raids on Heorot, the feasting-hall of the old Danish king Hrothgar, are the cause of both terror and disgrace to the king's warrior retinue. As we shall see from other stories in this section, Grendel bears a basic resemblance to the nightstalkers of the Icelandic sagas, and thus probably corresponds to an enduring pre-Christian stereotype of the corporeal ghost, a dweller in darkness, who prowls resentfully round the illuminated houses of living men. Superficially, however, and because of the Christian gloss which is placed upon the Beowulf narrative, Grendel differs from this stereotype in that he is set in a theological context as one of the monstrous descendants of Cain, dwelling in a hell of resentment, alienated by his evil lineage from the joys of the blessed and the laughter of the feast-hall.

Grendel the Nightstalker

Lines 85–127

Then the mighty spirit who dwelt in darkness bore a grievous time of torment. Each day he heard loud revelry in hall – the sound of the harp and the clear-singing minstrel who, able to recount the first making of men from distant ages, spoke. The minstrel told how the Almighty made the earth, a fair and bright plain, which water encompasses, and, triumphant in His power, appointed the radiance of the sun and moon as light for land-dwellers, decking the earth-regions with branches and leaves. He fashioned life for every creature that lives and moves.