Read the following quotation from Beowulf. What is the best paraphrase for the underlined part of the quotation?
Their courage / Was great but all wasted: they could hack at Grendel / From every side, trying to open / A path for his evil soul, but their points / Could not hurt him....
A. opening a door so he could escape
B. trying to save his soul
C. stopping him from escaping
D. attempting to kill him