Beowulf is the hero who fought the monster Grendel in the epic poem Beowulf.
The poem opens with Grendel attacking Heorot, the great mead hall of the Danish king Hrothgar. For years, the monster terrorizes the hall at night, killing warriors and making Hrothgar’s kingdom unable to defend its celebrations. Beowulf, a warrior from the Geatish people, travels to Denmark after hearing of the crisis and offers to fight Grendel without weapons.
During the night battle, Beowulf tears off Grendel’s arm through sheer strength, forcing the wounded creature to flee and die. The victory does not end the danger: Grendel’s mother later attacks Heorot, and Beowulf follows her to an underwater lair. Much later, as an aged king, he faces a dragon, making the poem a story of both heroic youth and mortal decline. Hrothgar is the king Beowulf helps, Wiglaf is his loyal companion in the dragon fight, and Grendel is the defeated monster—not the hero.