ABSTRACT

Little is gained by calling Grendel ‘a monster,’ which is the usual vague phrase, and useful only because it conveniently evades all difficulties. Still less explicit is the statement in Harrison and Sharp’s edition [1883] that he was ‘a fen-spirit,’ which is, in fact, a translation of Grein’s statement that he was a ‘Sumpfgeist’ [1862]. To any one who will read the poem as a whole with even moderate attention, for which purpose I would recommend Garnett’s translation, now in a second edition, [1885] it will be obvious that Grendel is very realistically described, and has nothing ghostly about him. It is quite true that, when he is first introduced at l. 101, he is called ‘a fiend of hell’ and ‘a grim ghost;’ but these are very pardonable poetical expressions. The curious statement which immediately follows, that he belonged to the race of Cain, whence also proceeded elves and giants, and various monsters, is certainly, to use Mr Sweet’s words, ‘a palpable interpolation’ [1871:10]. It alludes to the very general notion, common in the middle ages, that Cain and Judas were the fathers of evil-doers: a statement which was hardly intended, in any case, to be taken literally. See my note, on this very point, to Piers Plowman, c. xi. 220, where a parallel passage may be found [1877:225].