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Beowulf, a MythSource painting
Anglo-Saxon

Beowulf

01Identity

Beowulf in Anglo-Saxon tradition

Beowulf is a Geat warrior who faces Grendel at Heorot, the hall of the Danish king Hrothgar. The poem describes Grendel as returning to the hall after earlier attacks. Most of the warriors are asleep when the creature enters, but Beowulf is awake and prepared. He meets the attacker with a handgrip rather than a weapon, meeting the monster in a struggle that tests both his strength and his resolve to protect the Danes.

Their fight shakes the hall, while Beowulf’s companions discover that their weapons cannot wound Grendel. Beowulf’s grip does what their swords cannot: Grendel suffers a mortal injury and escapes toward his marsh refuge, where he dies. The Danes follow the monster’s trail and gather to celebrate the end of the attacks. The torn shoulder and arm provide visible evidence of the struggle when morning comes. In this episode of the Old English epic, Beowulf’s standing comes from action in another king’s hall. This account follows Seamus Heaney’s translation, in the illustrated edition edited by John D. Niles.

SourceBeowulf An Illustrated Edition by Seamus Heaney (transl.), John D. Niles (ed.): Beowulf: The Poem, lines 710-856, Grendel’s attack on Heorot and fatal defeat

Top questions

The quick answers

02The myths

The myths of Beowulf

1 myth, with sources recorded for each.

Beowulf Defeats Grendel at Heorot

Grendel enters Heorot while most of the Danes sleep. He moves through the hall, finds a company of sleeping warriors and kills one man before turning to Beowulf. The hero catches him before he can attack and holds fast. The monster struggles to break away, but the warrior keeps him trapped in his grip.

Their fight shakes the timber hall and breaks its benches, though the strong building stays standing. The noise alerts the Danes. Beowulf’s companions try to help with their swords, but their weapons cannot injure Grendel. Beowulf’s hold leaves the creature gravely wounded at the shoulder. Grendel tears himself away and flees toward his marsh den, knowing he will not survive the injury.

The Danes find the trail from the hall and follow it to the bloodied mere. Grendel dies in his refuge. The people of Heorot no longer have to fear his nightly return, and they praise Beowulf for ending the danger.

Beowulf Defeats Grendel at Heorot, a MythSource painting of the scene

5 sources· checked 2026-10-03

  1. 1Beowulf An Illustrated Edition by Seamus Heaney (transl.), John D. Niles (ed.)T1
  2. 2Beowulf An Illustrated Edition by Seamus Heaney (transl.), John D. Niles (ed.)T1
  3. 3Beowulf An Illustrated Edition by Seamus Heaney (transl.), John D. Niles (ed.)T1
  4. 4Beowulf An Illustrated Edition by Seamus Heaney (transl.), John D. Niles (ed.)T1
  5. 5Beowulf An Illustrated Edition by Seamus Heaney (transl.), John D. Niles (ed.)T1

Also mentioned in

Stories elsewhere on MythSource that mention Beowulf, each on that figure’s page.