How we cite our quotes: (Page) Vintage Books, 1989
Quote #10
I scream, facing him, grotesquely shaking hands—dear long-lost brother, kinsman-thane—and the timbered hall screams back at me. (168-69)
Picture the scene: the monster's clutching at the hero, they're staring at each other, and they match each other in size and shape. Grendel says this with bitterness and irony, but it's a great insight. These two could be brothers, and that raises a tough question: who is the monster, and who is the hero? Notice that the hall screams back at both of them (not just Grendel). If you were watching the fight, who would terrify you most?