Summary

Grendel recalls how the people developed their society. At first, humans lived in small groups. Different factions would battle each other fiercely, and the people who survived would go back to their caves and tell exaggerated tales of the fight. As the groups grew larger, the people started constructing community buildings and developing their technology. All the groups developed at a similar rate, but they all thought they were superior to other groups. One man, Hrothgar, was successful in overtaking the outlying groups. He started making the groups pay tribute to him, and his own town became wealthy. He also constructed roads and a strong military presence.

One night after Hrothgar becomes King of the Danes, a blind bard Grendel calls “the Shaper” comes to Hrothgar’s court. He begins singing a song about Scyld Shefing, the progenitor of the Danish peoples. As Grendel listens outside...