Hrunting

Hrunting is a sword that appears in the Old English epic poem Beowulf. It is described as a finely crafted and ancient weapon, belonging to Unferth, one of the warriors in the hall of Heorot.

In the poem, Unferth lends Hrunting to Beowulf to use in his underwater battle against Grendel's Mother. Despite its reputation and impressive qualities, Hrunting fails Beowulf in this fight. The poem states that the sword lacks the strength to penetrate Grendel's Mother's hide. Beowulf ultimately discards Hrunting and defeats the monster using a magical sword found in her lair.

The failure of Hrunting is significant because it highlights Beowulf's own strength and resilience, contrasting it with the limitations of even the finest man-made weapons. It also introduces the element of fate and divine intervention in the hero's success.