How we cite our quotes: (Page) Vintage Books, 1989
Quote #4
The song rings up like greasy smoke and their faces shine with sweat and something that looks like joy. The song swells, pushes through woods and sky, and they're singing now as if by some lunatic theory they had won. I shake with rage. The red sun blinds me, churns up my belly to nausea, and the heat thrown out of the bone-fire burns my skin. I cringe, clawing my flesh, and flee for home. (14)
This is one of the many things that Grendel hates about human beings: they have a disgusting way of turning tragedy into triumph. Somehow, humans are always able to adapt their philosophies to suit the occasion and make them look good. In this case, it's a funeral pyre burning up the bits of people Grendel has left behind at the meadhall. Grendel knows that no matter how utterly destructive he's being, he can't really compete with these humans, who will always turn it to their advantage.
Quote #5
It wasn't because he threw that battle-ax that I turned on Hrothgar. That was mere midnight foolishness... It wasn't until later, when I was full-grown and Hrothgar was an old, old man, that I settled my soul on destroying him—slowly and cruelly. (30)
Think of this as a kind of manifesto for Grendel the serial killer. This is no mere childhood grudge he's carrying—it's a whole series of offensive and soul-killing behavior on the part of humanity. This is the crucial moment when Gardner makes us see that there might be more to Grendel's motivation than simple monstrosity.
Quote #6
All the bands did the same thing. In time I began to be more amused than revolted by what they threatened. It didn't matter to me what they did to each other. It was slightly ominous because of its strangeness—no wolf was so vicious to other wolves—but I half believed they weren't serious. (32)
And here's some of that despicable human behavior that drives Grendel's obsession and distaste for Hrothgar and his men. On the flipside, we're seeing something pretty scary about mankind: cruelty. Brute animals may not be able to reason and philosophize, but they seem to have more of a code of honor than humans do. It's pretty impressive when your behavior scandalizes a freaking monster.