Beowulf and Grendel are the protagonists of the scene which is the object of analysis of the present extract. Apparently they seem to be given the same level of importance, but that’s not true. You can see it even from the number of lines devoted to Grendel: the narrator  is carefully showing the listener all of the monster’s attitudes, motions and behaviour.

The language used to have the audience follow the thread of the story resorts two different stylistic choices. The first of one is the use of an inversion in the ordinary word order, the intention is to put the word “creature” into a central focus so that the listener may well understand the real protagonist of the narration.

Creature is an interesting semantic choice that is apparently contradictory with the Grendel’s monstrous nature. The effect is paradoxical to involve a certain affection in the listener – reader indeed existence of which epic poetry is a narrative projection, does not simply consist of good, but for good to be recognize it must to be set against evil.

This explains for the narrator to draw the attention mainly on the monster.

The qualities or features the narrator focus the attention on  are the typical ones of the predator: the first element the listener comes across in the scene is Grendel’s ability in having immediate reflexes underlined and highlighted by the alliterative sound S in “struck” and “stared” in addition, it must be said that reiteration is a condition ___________ for the survivor and life of Anglo-Saxon epic poetry: the means though which it can be ended down _______ . _________ that alliteration being whole together thus allowing the scoop  the composer  to remember it.

Grendel’s latch hesitation is visible and perceptible even from the word order that puts “nor” together with “keep him waiting”.

The idea of the immediate instinctive voracity is suggested by line 3  where start verbs are used to convey the idea of Grendel’s speedy attack. Not only is the nature of the monster predator suggested on the rational level it is also recreated on the sound level reiteration  is insisted along the whole extract to reinforce the idea of a fearful creature  that has no pity because he acts on an instinctive principle which is the one of savage animals, you can see it clearly at line 741 where once more alliteration recreates ________ actions of the monster ____  pleasure and fullness depend on the slaughter of the prey blood and bone are symbolically just apposed to visually suggest the result of human being reduced to pieces.

Description  on place a relevant function too,  in suggesting the typical ration of the predator’s attack reinforce by the labial sound “B” the employees short brakes in the telling, the result is dramatic and significantly, you can see it at line 743 where the difference in line length underlines “ utter lifeless “. Again alliteration of the liquid sound “L”  and elliptical sentences bring to surface all the results of Grendel’s violence. Synecdoche of hand and feet makes almost visible the result of Grendel’s energy and voracity.