Facts about Grendel

1. 06

   John Gardner's 1971 novel retells the Beowulf story entirely from Grendel's perspective, giving the monster a sympathetic inner life.

   GrendelJun 8shareliteraturemythologyfiction
2. 05

   After Beowulf kills Grendel, the monster's vengeful mother attacks Heorot, driving the hero to pursue her into her underwater lair.

   GrendelJun 7sharemythologyoldenglishmonster
3. 04

   Portrayed as a creature of darkness, Grendel is said in the poem to dwell in the murky swamps and fens outside of human civilization.

   GrendelJun 7sharemythologyliteraturemedieval
4. 03

   Beowulf defeats Grendel by tearing off the monster's arm at the shoulder, a wound that proves fatal.

   GrendelJun 7sharemythologyliteraturecombat
5. 02

   The monster Grendel terrorizes the mead-hall Heorot for twelve years before the hero Beowulf arrives to confront him.

   GrendelJun 7shareliteraturemedievalmythology
6. 01

   In the Old English epic Beowulf, Grendel is described as a descendant of the biblical figure Cain.

   GrendelJun 7sharemythologyliteraturemedieval