Fate Plays A Part

In re-reading my posts to ensure I'm making sense, I realized that Fate plays a big part in Beowulf.  Fate has already been mentioned twice in the text:

"Fate will unwind as it must!" and "Fate saves the living when they drive away death by themselves!"

Interestingly enough, Beowulf is credited with both these statements; it becomes clear after this last reading that perhaps Fate did assign qualities to Beowulf alone to defeat Grendel--for that is exactly what happens.

We enter the action, Hrothgar having left Herot in the hands of Beowulf for the evening.  As we have learned, Grendel strikes at night, unleashing his horrors and flesh-feasting when the moon is high.  Beowulf declares, standing by his bedside and in the presence of his men, that he will fight Grendel not with sword or shield, but with his bare hands.  HIS BARE HANDS.  And here we see Beowulf's faith:  "Let God in His wisdom extend His hand where He wills, reward whom He chooses."

A still, anticipatory silence befalls the Geats and Beowulf as they await the arrival of this devil and perhaps their death.  On cue, Grendel re-enters the story, "out of the marsh, bearing God's hatred" slithering his way to Herot to feast upon man-flesh.  Grendel snickers at the sight of so many men sleeping, feebly guarding the great hall.  He attacks with vengeance the first Geat he lays claw upon, ripping his flesh apart and spilling his innards (yum).  He moves to the next slumbering Geat only to be shocked that this man is able to bend back his advancing claws, striking not only surprise but fear into his ghoulish heart.

A weaponless battle ensues and Grendel knows, "that nowhere on earth had he met a man's whose hands were harder...and his mind flooded with fear.  He wanted nothing but retreat and escape...but he was trapped."  Go team Beowulf! Grendel attempts to free himself, but to no avail, Beowulf's grip is vise-like and unflinching.  Finally, our poet states, "Grendel discovered what it meant to feud with Almighty God."  Grendel is finally able to escape the halls of Herot but lighter on his feet, for Beowulf ripped off his arm!  It is intimated in the text that Grendel wearily returns to his swampish lair, life diminishing from loss of blood and utter powerlessness.

As you can imagine, the Danes are elated that this evil has been destroyed and Grendel's appendage is put on display for all to see.  The Danes praise Beowulf's courage and strength, recanting songs of old and creating new songs of Beowulf, who is "well-loved, followed in friendship and not fear."  Morning passes quickly and by high noon, King Hrothgar and his wife Welthow visit the hall to see the prize.