Beowulf's men heroically hack at the demon as Beowulf fights with him, but no weapon on earth is capable of harming Grendel. Beowulf summons even greater strength and rips Grendel's arm completely out of its socket. Fatally wounded, Grendel slinks back to his swampy home to die.

Why did Beowulf kill Grendel?

Why does Beowulf slay Grendel? Beowulf wants to fight Grendel in order to win treasure and, more importantly, fame (which he calls a warrior's “best bulwark” [l.

Does Beowulf slay Grendel?

He trusts that God has given him strength to defeat Grendel, whom he believes is God's adversary. Finally Beowulf tears off Grendel's arm, mortally wounding the creature. Grendel flees but dies in his marsh den. There, Beowulf later engages in a fierce battle with Grendel's mother, over whom he triumphs.