Grendel by John Gardner Chapter 12

The stranger is, of course, Beowulf. His presence excites Grendel: for the first time in his life, the monster may find himself challenged by an enemy. Beowulf also frightens Grendel. He is no mere hanger-on to the heroic ideal. He is incredibly strong, built in a way Grendel struggles to comprehend, but he is also clever in his response to Unferth’s challenge. Grendel thinks Beowulf is something more than man, empowered by God.