"I count myself as dangerous any day as Grendel." Beowulf sounds very sure of himself in this sentence. It hints at his skill as a fighter and his strength. In my opinion he probably underestimated Grendel.

"None of them expected he would ever see his homeland again..." The warriors alongside Beowulf didn't seem to trust him very much. Also apparently none of them trusted in their own fighting abilities. It makes me think that possibly Beowulf isnt quite the fighter he sounded like, or the warriors don't know him that well.

"Spurned and joyless, he journeyed on ahead and arrived at the bawn." Grendel had just passed a large pile of gold and didnt care. Grendel obviously has no desire for anything other than destruction.

"in a handgrip harder than anything he had ever encountered in any man on the face of the earth." When Grendel tries to grab Beowulf he is shocked and scared. Beowulf is much stronger than him and he wants to escape. But, because of beowulf's strength he can't get away. This says Beowulf is stronger than any man and sounds like he might not be a normal human. Possibly a semi god or a hero.

"his bodily powers failed him." Grendel, who normally had no problem killing men, was now getting destroyed. He was used to having his way and not worrying about injury, but here was someone ripping him apart.