Suggestions
Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select.Please wait while we process your payment
If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. Sometimes it can end up there.
If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. Sometimes it can end up there.
Please wait while we process your payment
By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy.
Don’t have an account? Subscribe now
Create Your Account
Sign up for your FREE 7-day trial
Already have an account? Log in
Your Email
Choose Your Plan
Individual
Group Discount
Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan!
Purchasing SparkNotes PLUS for a group?
Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more!
Price
$24.99 $18.74 /subscription + tax
Subtotal $37.48 + tax
Save 25% on 2-49 accounts
Save 30% on 50-99 accounts
Want 100 or more? Contact us for a customized plan.
Your Plan
Payment Details
Payment Summary
SparkNotes Plus
You'll be billed after your free trial ends.
7-Day Free Trial
Not Applicable
Renews December 8, 2023 December 1, 2023
Discounts (applied to next billing)
DUE NOW
US $0.00
SNPLUSROCKS20 | 20% Discount
This is not a valid promo code.
Discount Code (one code per order)
SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan - Group Discount
Qty: 00
SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at custserv@bn.com. Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. Free trial is available to new customers only.
Choose Your Plan
For the next 7 days, you'll have access to awesome PLUS stuff like AP English test prep, No Fear Shakespeare translations and audio, a note-taking tool, personalized dashboard, & much more!
You’ve successfully purchased a group discount. Your group members can use the joining link below to redeem their group membership. You'll also receive an email with the link.
Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership.
Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! Continue to start your free trial.
Please wait while we process your payment
Your PLUS subscription has expired
Please wait while we process your payment
Please wait while we process your payment
Then a fierce evil demon suffered distress, long in torment, who dwelt in darkness. For day after day, he heard rejoicing loud in the hall: there was music of the harp, and the clear song of the scop, who sang of creation, the beginnings of men far back in time.
The poet introduces Grendel, the monster, by picturing him as distressed and tormented by the rejoicing he hears in the hall. The music being played is a song of creation, in praise of God. Such music brings pain to Grendel because he is a demon. Grendel represents evil, so the poet’s Christian worldview turns him into a fiend from hell.
The wicked creature, grim and greedy, was at the ready, savage and cruel, and seized in their rest thirty of the thanes.
The poet describes Grendel’s first attack on Hrothgar’s men. The monster is strong enough to seize thirty unsuspecting warriors, who are sleeping peacefully. After this first attack, the warriors will suffer many sleepless nights as Grendel’s cruel attacks increase and as Hrothgar grows weaker.
The dreaded demon suffered terrible torture, as his shoulder tore open, a great wound gaping as sinews sprang apart, and the bone-locks burst. To Beowulf then was glory given in battle.
The poet describes the moment when Grendel has his arm torn out by Beowulf. The poet added details to help the audience feel the monster’s pain. The monster will soon flee the hall, leaving his arm behind, and crawl home to die. The poet does not describe Grendel’s actual death—a strong clue that the monster will reappear in some form later in the story.
No fewer than four were needed to hold up the head of Grendel On the shaft of a spear, going to the gold-hall…
Beowulf has killed Grendel’s mother, found Grendel’s corpse, and cut off his head, and he now bears the head back to the hall to show Hrothgar. The poet’s description helps the audience picture the immense size of the monster. Grendel’s head is an even more impressive war trophy than his arm.
Please wait while we process your payment