SOURCE: Beowulf  by Anonymous

DESCRIPTION: "Day by day the feasting continued, until its noise and the festal joy of its revellers aroused a mighty enemy, Grendel, the loathsome fen-monster. This monstrous being, half-man, half-fiend, dwelt in the fens near the hill on which Heorot stood. Terrible was he, dangerous to men, of extraordinary strength, human in shape but gigantic of stature, covered with a green horny skin, on which the sword would not bite. His race, all sea-monsters, giants, goblins, and evil demons, were offspring of Cain, outcasts from the mercy of the Most High, hostile to the human race; and Grendel was one of mankind's most bitter enemies; hence his hatred of the joyous shouts from Heorot, and his determination to stop the feasting." (Beowulf by Anoymous)

NOTES: Grendel is a troll-like creature that haunts the great hall of Hrothgar, King of the Danes. Grendel's skin is impenetrable so the hero Beowulf kills him by ripping off his arm in a wrestling match. Grendel flees to his underwater cave to die. Grendel's mother exacts revenge.

HISTORY: No straight film version of the Beowulf story has been attempted. The Thirteenth Warrior, based on Michael Crichton's Eaters of the Dead, features human monsters disguised like bear creatures. The film Beowulf & Grendel makes Grendel seem more caveman troglodyte than troll. Using much of the inspiration of John Gardner's Grendel (1971), the creature is portrayed sympathetically.

The Wends from The Thirteenth Warrior prove all too human.

Gerard Butler and Stellan Skarsgard from Beowulf & Grendel

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