Grendel

Andrew and I are reading through the Anglo-Saxon epic poem, Beowulf.   We just finished the episode where Beowulf defeats the monster Grendel.  Although the poem is written from the perspective of the narrator, I asked Andrew to write the story from Grendels’ point of view.  So Andrew wrote about Grendel stumbling back to his den and telling his mother what had happened right before he dies.  Of course, we all know that Grendel’s mother will seek revenge and also be defeated by Beowulf, but that is another story for another time.

“Mother!”  screamed the demon with the blackest soul, not ready to go into the eternal fire that awaited him in hell, the fallen angels crackling in laughter around Satan, ready to receive another condemened soul into hell’s fire that burned everywhere.  Grendel stumbled into the hall of his mother cursing against the mighty warrior that had defeated him, his screams rising to Heaven from that black pit.  He found his mother and his tale unfolds.  It goes like this.  “As usual I go to Herot.  I pick up a man and I ate him.  Then I pick up a second man but he jumps up, grabs my arm, and I’m in a steel iron grip.  I try to get him with my other arm, but he’s to fast.  I curse him thrice.  He finally rips off my arm!  And here I am with not much longer to live.  Mother. you must avenge me.”

Besides the typical writing and grammar mistakes of a fourth grader,  it’s not too bad of a retelling.  Maybe it will encourage someone to pick up Beowulf and read it!  As you can see, it is a fascinating tale of adventure and the battle between good and evil.