Answer:
The trick that allows Beowulf to gain the upper hand at the first moment of the encounter with Grendel is that the latter slipped on a puddle of blood.
Explanation:
The Old English epic poem by an anonymous poet narrates the tale of the great Beowulf. His bravery, battles and victories are the main subject of the epic. Beowulf offers his help to the king of the Danes, Hrothgar. He fought the monster Grendel and killed it.
Though Grendel was a monster, his mistake gave Beowulf the chance to take him down. When his arm was broken, he shrieked in pain and slipped on a pool of blood which gave the momentary chance to Beowulf to take the lead and smash Grendel’s forehead against the wall several times before he finally died.
