The kenning that I choose to use for this story is corpse-maker. This kenning is one of many of the names to describe a monster named Grendel in the story of Beowulf. For example, Grendel was basically similar to the devil himself. He is the embodiment of moral and physical evil. Grendel is an evil monster and everyone in the town is afraid of him. Grendel receives the kenning corpse-maker because he is a murderer who has been killing people and getting away with it. This kenning has a large significance in ‘Beowulf’, because the evil monster named Grendel will become defeated by Beowulf, and he will triumph in victory.
This quote comes at the beginning of the story of how an evil spirit was introduced. The quote says that everything was normal until this wicked creature came along. It talks about how he was a nuisance to all the people in the town. When everyone had peace, then came along trouble: “So times were pleasant for the people there Until finally one, a fiend out of hell Began to work his evil in the world” (Beowulf, 99-101). These lines talk about the main villain in the story named Grendel. The lines are important because it symbolizes that Grendel is evil. He isn’t just the enemy, he is corrupt. This quote demonstrates the importance of the kenning because it shows that Grendel is bad in the story. As we can see from the beginning, he is the root of all the problems, and that he should be stopped by someone.
Beowulf travels to Heorot to challenge and kill the monster Grendel, who is wreaking and bring horror to the kingdom. In this battle between Grendel and Beowulf, Grendel realizes that he cannot win this fight. Grendel tried to flee but Beowulf’s grip on him was too powerful. When faced against Beowulf, Grendel realizes that Beowulf has strength beyond any man he ever has ever battled: “Every bone in his body quailed and recoiled, but he could not escape. He was desperate to flee to his den and hide with the devil's litter” (Beowulf, 752-755). At this moment Grendel loses his powers, and he starts to panic. Grendel cannot escape, so Beowulf then uses that opportunity to rip Grendel’s arm completely off. Grendel suffered a deadly wound after his arm was sundered from his body. This quote demonstrates the importance of the kenning because it shows how the root of all evil was defeated.
In conclusion, Grendel has never faced anyone more powerful than him. He felt that his powers were stronger than any and everyone. He terrorized and tormented people because he felt superior. Then he met his match with a warrior named Beowulf that had the power of thirty men.