A Comparison of the Grendel of Beowulf and Gardners Grendel :: comparison compare contrast essays

A Comparison of the Grendel of Beowulf and Gardner's Grendel The novel Grendel by John Gardner portrays a significantly different picture of Grendel than the epic poem Beowulf paints. Grendel is a non-human being who posses human qualities. In either story it is not specified what type of being Grendel is, nor does it tell of what exactly Grendel looks like. The only idea the reader has of the sight of Grendel is the small hints either author gives. We know he stands on two feet as humans do, we know he is covered in hair, and we know he is monstrous. Although there are many significant differences between the two stories there is one idea that stands out the most when I read Grendel. That idea is in the poem Beowulf, Grendel is portrayed a large animalistic beast. This gives the reader the feeling that Grendel is solely driven by his animal instincts and does not posses the same thought processes as humans do. For example the line "the monster stepped on the bright paved floor, crazed with evil anger; from his strange eyes an ugly light shone out like fire" (Beowulf line 725), proves this point. In the novel however this point lacks development. Rather Grendel is portrayed as a confused creature passing through life looking for answers. Surprisingly Grendel walks the forest in harmony with the animals. He does not act like the blood hungry beast he is seen as in Beowulf. In the novel -- Grendel is walking the forest and comes across a doe. He notices that the doe is staring in fright and suddenly runs away. One would assume from the ideas hinted in Beowulf that Grendel would have attacked the deer. However Grendel appears upset with the deer's actions. He says; " Blind Prejudice" (Gardner 7) "Ah, the unfairness of everything, I say and shake my head. It is a matter of fact that I have never killed a deer in all my life, and never will." (Gardner 8) Grendel is a confused creature. Since he walks alone he has more than enough time to think about his life. He always used to ask his mother " why are we here" (Gardner 11) the only way he realized the truth was from