Question

We're reading and analyzing Beowulf in class, and there was this part of the book: "...nor did he[Beowulf] count Grendel’s life-days of value to anyone at all...".
*For those who haven't read the book, Grendel is the demon villain that Beowulf kills. After Grendel is killed by Beowulf, Grendel's mother attacks as revenge for her son's death.*
This excerpt is from Beowulf's battle with Grendel, and I think it's sort of the beginning of situational irony(because Beowulf thought no one would care if Grendel died but his mother attacked) or maybe a form of foreshadowing(because later Grendel's mother attacks) but I'm not sure if there are any literary devices in the excerpt.
Please help me determine whether there are literary devices in the excerpt and if so, what those devices are.
Thank you!