Who Is Responsible For Beowulf's Downfall

because the people are celebrating with music and loud noise. Grendel terrorizes the Danes every night, killing them and defeating their efforts to fight back. The Danes suffer many years of fear, danger and death at the hands of Grendel. However, Beowulf hears about Hrothgar’s problem that is going on the kingdom. Inspired by the challenge, Beowulf sails to Denmark with a small company of men, determined to defeat Grendel. Beowulf talks about his description of some of his past accomplishments. His confidence cheers the Danish warriors, and the feast lasts into the night. At last, however, Grendel arrives. Grendel arrives and tear open the door and began to eat people as soon as he enters. Beowulf is one of the people that are laying down watching Grendel kill and eat the warriors. He got ready to kill and eat Beowulf but he grips Grendel arms to stop him. Grendel is at first confused, then fearful and tries to pull away. Still Beowulf holds on tight to Grendel’s arm without letting go. …show more content…
He has to settle for the right arm or claw, ripped from its shoulder socket, when the mortally wounded beast flees to the swamp. The claw is hung high beneath Heorot's roof as a symbol of Beowulf's victory. There is another person that looks at Grendel arms as a symbol and that is Grendel’s very own mother. Grendel's mother also sees Grendel’s arm, or claw as a symbol, representing her personal loss of her very own child. Filled with grief and rage, she retrieves the arm from Heorot and kills another Scylding in the process. When Beowulf tracks her to the mere and ends up in her underwater cave, he has no more interest in the claw. Grendel's head, which he is able to find after a strange situation, is much more impressive. He ignores the vast treasure in the cave, instead choosing to carry the magnificent, huge head as symbolic of his victory over both