Section XII

The narrator establishes that Grendel emerges from the fens bearing God's anger, intent on capturing and killing one of the men in Hrothgar's hall.

The narrator notes that Grendel had visited this place before and knew well the location of the wine-hall with its gold adornments.

The narrator confirms that Grendel had sought Hrothgar's home previously but had never found such strong warriors there.

The narrator describes how Grendel's touch causes the fire-hinged door to burst open with his furious force.

The narrator depicts Grendel's angry stride into the shining hall-pavement, his eyes glimmering with an unlovely fire-like lustre.

The narrator describes Grendel's joyful thoughts as he beholds the circle of sleeping kinsmen and plans to sunder their lives from their bodies.

The narrator asserts that Providence willed against allowing Grendel to eat any more men, thwarting his expectations of plenty.

The narrator notes that Higelac's kinsman (Beowulf) suffers great sorrow in anticipation of how the dire-mooded creature might assail him.

The narrator describes how Grendel immediately seizes a sleeping soldier, tears and bites him, drinks his blood, and devours his limbs.

The narrator depicts Beowulf, a stout-hearted warrior, suddenly seizing Grendel with a powerful hand-grip as the monster moves toward him.

The narrator reveals that the master of malice realizes he has encountered a hand-grip stronger than any he has ever met in all of middle-earth.

The narrator shows that Grendel grows fearful and faint-hearted, unable to escape and contemplating death.

The narrator indicates that Grendel now wishes to flee to his covert and the devils' assembly, abandoning his lifelong pursuit.

The narrator shows that Beowulf, mindful of his evening boast, stands up straight and seizes Grendel stoutly with cracking fingers.

The narrator describes how Grendel, aware of the foeman's powerful grip, attempts to flee farther if he can find an opportunity.

The narrator characterizes Grendel's visit to Heorot as an ill-taken journey of harm and harrying.

The narrator depicts how the palace reverberates and fills all the Danes with terror as both combatants rage.

The narrator expresses astonishment that the wine-hall did not break or bend to earth despite the fierce struggle within it.

The narrator explains that the hall's firmness was due to iron fetters and the armorer's skill, and describes the scattering of golden mead-benches.

The narrator notes that the Scylding wise men never believed any man could break the bone-decked, resplendent hall by strength or cunning except fire.

The narrator describes how the sound of Grendel's weeping, plaining, and horrifying howls of hell-bound anguish strike terror in all the Danes who hear it.