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In the eighth chapter, Grendel relates how Hrothgar's nephew, Hrothulf, arrived at the meadhall after the murder of his father. His resentful attitude and desire for power gives Grendel the opportunity to consider "the idea of violence" which grows in the young man. The following chapter features Grendel's encounter with a priest, which leads to several observations on the nature of religion. In the tenth chapter, Grendel feels tormented by boredom, and observes the death of the old poet Shaper. Meanwhile, his mother has become strangely protective of him and tries to prevent Grendel from leaving the lair.
Fifteen strangers arrive in the area by sea, filling Grendel with wild exhilaration. The strangers appear to be the fulfillment of his earlier premonitions; indeed, Grendel feels the strangers' approach before he sees them. A Danish coastguard greets the strangers, whom Grendel describes as mechanical and dead looking. Their leader, a huge but oddly soft-spoken man named Beowulf, tells the coastguard that he and the other strangers are Geats, from the kingdom of King Hygilac. (The leader's name is never explicitly mentioned in the text of Grendel, but he is clearly Beowulf.) Beowulf says that he has advice for Hrothgar, so the coastguard points him toward the meadhall. Grendel becomes fixated on Beowulf's mouth, which seems to move independent of the words he speaks, as if his body were some kind of disguise. Grendel watches as the Geats travel like a huge machine up to Hart.
In the last chapter, Grendel, back in his cave, is filled with an excitement he cannot describe. He is ecstatic about the arrival of the Geats, and everything around him suddenly seems absurd and surreal. He is overjoyed at the prospect of being released from his boredom, which he describes as the worst pain possible. Grendel dismisses the notion of order, calling it a mere mask that men use to connect the two realities they know—the self and the world. He believes that these theories are just talk, and can be demolished by an act of violent truth.
At Hart, there is an uneasy tension between the Geats and the Scyldings, who resent the fact that they need the Geats' help. Unferth taunts Beowulf about a swimming contest he once lost to Breca, a childhood friend. Calmly, Beowulf explains that he actually did triumph over Breca, but that he had to single-handedly defeat a pack of sea monsters during the contest. Then, just as calmly, Beowulf tells Unferth that he will be condemned to hell in the afterlife for having murdered his brothers. The Scyldings are struck by Beowulf's sharp words, and Grendel concludes that Beowulf is insane. Hrothgar deflates the situation by enlisting Wealtheow to serve mead. Grendel once again notices the strange disconnection between Beowulf's mouth and his words. Unferth leaves the hall fighting back tears.
Hrothgar makes speeches and tells Beowulf how he plans to marry Freawaru off to Ingeld, king of the Heathobards. Hrothgar says that Beowulf is like a son to him, which makes Wealtheow—with an eye on Hrothulf—nervous. Beowulf smiles, but remains remote. At the end of the night, as the hearth dies, the Shaper's assistant sings a song about spring overcoming winter. The Scyldings and the Geats go to sleep, and silence falls over Hart. When darkness falls, Grendel decides that “it is time.”
1. How and why is Grendel defeated?
2. How do illusion and words help cause Grendel's death?
3. Why does Beowulf make Grendel sing of walls?
4. How does this last chapter echo lines, events, characters, and images from early chapters ?
5. Explain Grendel's last words: "Poor Grendel's had an accident. . . So may you all."
Summaries of Chapters 8-11
In the eighth chapter, Grendel relates how Hrothgar's nephew, Hrothulf, arrived at the meadhall after the murder of his father. His resentful attitude and desire for power gives Grendel the opportunity to consider "the idea of violence" which grows in the young man. The following chapter features Grendel's encounter with a priest, which leads to several observations on the nature of religion. In the tenth chapter, Grendel feels tormented by boredom, and observes the death of the old poet Shaper. Meanwhile, his mother has become strangely protective of him and tries to prevent Grendel from leaving the lair.
Fifteen strangers arrive in the area by sea, filling Grendel with wild exhilaration. The strangers appear to be the fulfillment of his earlier premonitions; indeed, Grendel feels the strangers' approach before he sees them. A Danish coastguard greets the strangers, whom Grendel describes as mechanical and dead looking. Their leader, a huge but oddly soft-spoken man named Beowulf, tells the coastguard that he and the other strangers are Geats, from the kingdom of King Hygilac. (The leader's name is never explicitly mentioned in the text of Grendel, but he is clearly Beowulf.) Beowulf says that he has advice for Hrothgar, so the coastguard points him toward the meadhall. Grendel becomes fixated on Beowulf's mouth, which seems to move independent of the words he speaks, as if his body were some kind of disguise. Grendel watches as the Geats travel like a huge machine up to Hart.
In the last chapter, Grendel, back in his cave, is filled with an excitement he cannot describe. He is ecstatic about the arrival of the Geats, and everything around him suddenly seems absurd and surreal. He is overjoyed at the prospect of being released from his boredom, which he describes as the worst pain possible. Grendel dismisses the notion of order, calling it a mere mask that men use to connect the two realities they know—the self and the world. He believes that these theories are just talk, and can be demolished by an act of violent truth.
At Hart, there is an uneasy tension between the Geats and the Scyldings, who resent the fact that they need the Geats' help. Unferth taunts Beowulf about a swimming contest he once lost to Breca, a childhood friend. Calmly, Beowulf explains that he actually did triumph over Breca, but that he had to single-handedly defeat a pack of sea monsters during the contest. Then, just as calmly, Beowulf tells Unferth that he will be condemned to hell in the afterlife for having murdered his brothers. The Scyldings are struck by Beowulf's sharp words, and Grendel concludes that Beowulf is insane. Hrothgar deflates the situation by enlisting Wealtheow to serve mead. Grendel once again notices the strange disconnection between Beowulf's mouth and his words. Unferth leaves the hall fighting back tears.
Hrothgar makes speeches and tells Beowulf how he plans to marry Freawaru off to Ingeld, king of the Heathobards. Hrothgar says that Beowulf is like a son to him, which makes Wealtheow—with an eye on Hrothulf—nervous. Beowulf smiles, but remains remote. At the end of the night, as the hearth dies, the Shaper's assistant sings a song about spring overcoming winter. The Scyldings and the Geats go to sleep, and silence falls over Hart. When darkness falls, Grendel decides that “it is time.”
Focus Questions
1. How and why is Grendel defeated?
2. How do illusion and words help cause Grendel's death?
3. Why does Beowulf make Grendel sing of walls?
4. How does this last chapter echo lines, events, characters, and images from early chapters ?
5. Explain Grendel's last words: "Poor Grendel's had an accident. . . So may you all."
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- Mr. Price/Mr. Sloan
- We have taught this senior English class for over seven years. Every year the class is different. Many of the lessons are the same, but it's the students who add the diversity and the original feel to the class. You get back what you put into the class.
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