How we cite our quotes: (Page) Vintage Books, 1989
Quote #7
"Fate will often spare a man if his courage holds." (162)
Yes, Beowulf is dead serious when he utters this sentence in Hrothgar's meadhall. He's just finished dissing Unferth and defending his swimming record. Beowulf has no problem believing that he's Odin's gift to Hrothgar, so it's much easier for him to believe in things like fate and purpose without any hint of irony. But remember that a belief in fate is one less vote for free will, so in essence, Beowulf is kind of fatalistic. So what's the thing that separates him from Grendel (other than all the hair)? Beowulf believes he's on the right side—and that people want him around.
Quote #8
The old king chatted of his plans for Freawaru, how he would marry her off to his enemy, the king of the Heathobards. The stranger smiled on, but closed his eyes. He knew a doomed house when he saw it, I had a feeling; but for one reason or another he kept his peace. (165)
This is kind of like that moment with Hrothulf and Hrothgar's boys: you don't need to be a Delphic oracle to figure out what's going to happen. Beowulf has heard this story before and knows just how well marrying off your daughter to an enemy king works out. It's the same old path being tread again, without variation. In this case, Hrothgar thinks he's making a conscious decision to avoid destruction. However, he's really upping the odds that things will work out as they always do—badly.
Quote #9
"If you win, it's by mindless chance. Make no mistake. First you tricked me, and then I slipped." (171)
At last, Grendel's belief in the absolute pointless chaos of the universe is working out for him. Or maybe it's not. He can't believe that any human could have the ability to overcome his brute strength, and let's face it—he's a bit of a sore loser. We're not sure what Grendel was expecting when he met with his enemy, but he's still not willing to believe in the Shaper's version of glorious heroism. It's not possible that Beowulf is really destined to overcome him because that would mean there was a purpose to his misery.