Grendel æglæca þærof ƿrāt se scop in Bēoƿulf þæm geƿeorce. He is ān þāra þrēora feondra þærƿiþ fēohteþ Bēoƿulf se beorn in þæm lēodƿeorces spelle: þā ōðran sind Grendles mōdor and ƿyrm). Þes scopcræft ƿæs in þære ylde 700–1000 geƿriten ac his spell is of ealdyldum fore Englecyn ƿāt crīstendōm.
Grendel is brōga and þincþ man se is grim fīfel oððe eoten. Se scop ƿriteþ se he is onƿōcen onmiddan manigum æglæcancyn and ƿæs of Caines cyn: "Ƿæs se grimma gǣst Grendel, Caines cyn, -- ðanon untydras ealle onƿócon, eotenas and ylfe and orcneas, sƿylce gigantas". Eall men in þæm ƿeorce sindon acol of Grendle būten Bēoƿulf Æþeling.