Which answer best summarizes the events from the poem contained in the following lines?"This plainly he saw then Who with mirth of mood malice no little
Had wrought in the past on the race of the earthmen,That his body would fail him
But Higelac's hardy henchman and kinsman
Held him by the hand"
A.Grendel has the upper hand in the fight and is stronger than Beowulf.
B.Beowulf is struggling in his battle with Grendel and wants to give up.
C.Grendel cannot match Beowulf's strength, and he knows he will lose the fight.
D.Beowulf is happy when he sees a way to end the fight with Grendel quic

Question

Which answer best summarizes the events from the poem contained in the following lines?"This plainly he saw then Who with mirth of mood malice no little
Had wrought in the past on the race of the earthmen,That his body would fail him
But Higelac's hardy henchman and kinsman
Held him by the hand" 
A.Grendel has the upper hand in the fight and is stronger than Beowulf. 
B.Beowulf is struggling in his battle with Grendel and wants to give up. 
C.Grendel cannot match Beowulf's strength, and he knows he will lose the fight. 
D.Beowulf is happy when he sees a way to end the fight with Grendel quic

anonymous · Answer

Alright Beowulf is one of my favorites :). Are you familiar with the story of Beowulf or is this just a passage given?

anonymous · Answer

Alright well I'm going to include the next few lines from the poem.
hateful to other
Was each one if living. A body-wound suffered
The direful demon, damage incurable
Was seen on his shoulder, his sinews were shivered,
His body did burst.

anonymous · Answer

Can you find the definition of sinews?

anonymous · Answer

I'm a bit familiar.

anonymous · Answer

Great! So when the poems says "that his body would fail him" who do you the the "he" is that they are refering to?

anonymous · Answer

Grendel

anonymous · Answer

quite true. However, be careful because the next lines are key to your answer.

anonymous · Answer

Is there any indication that Grendel knows he will lose?

anonymous · Answer

A body-wound suffered
The direful demon, damage incurable

anonymous · Answer

His body is badly wounded becuase Beowulf tears his arm off. Remember that no weapon can harm Grendel. The passage you have been given is just before he does this. Now this question is tricky because Grendel does not show any clear signs of resignation. However the passage does indicate that he will be the loser of the battle. So answer A is ruled out. The passage says nothing about Beowulf being discouraged, so that also rules out B. Now, did you find the definition of sinew for me?

anonymous · Answer

Yes, Sinew-1.tendon 2.strength

anonymous · Answer

Good! So it talks about how on Grendel's shoulder, the sinews were shriveled. So the tendon was damaged. THIS is where Beowulf finds Grendel's "Achilles heel", Not in the passage you were given. So, you can eliminate option D as well. Great luck in your studies!