“So times were pleasant for the people there until finally, a fiend out of hell, began to work his evil in the world. Grendel was the name of this grim demon haunting the marches, marauding round the heath and the desolate fens; he had dwelt for a time in misery among the banished monsters, Cain’s clan, whom the Creator had outlawed and condemned as outcasts. For the killing of Abel the Eternal Lord had …showed first 75 words of 635 total…

…showed last 75 words of 635 total…heart’s content.” Hrothgar is telling Beowulf that killing Grendel is not going to be an easy task. He tells of all the blood shed the hall has seen. At this point, Hrothgar is pretty skeptical of Beowulf actually being able to defeat Grendel. The significance of this passage is to show what an accomplishment it was for Beowulf to actually kill Grendel. It separates him from other warriors. It almost gives him divine powers.