The Similarities Between 'Grendel And Beowulf'

There are two sides to every story, and in seeking the truth you must know both stories. The opinion of someone can greatly differ from that of another simply because of their point of view—how they see things, what they believe. The monster Grendel is mentioned in the novel Grendel and the epic poem Beowulf, but the character is depicted differently. The two stories have different points of view on the fiend: one personal or intimate, and the other more objective, traditional to a legend. The character differs on the subjects of being loved, questioning the origin of the monster, and being a mindless killing machine. In both Grendel and Beowulf, the concept of Grendel being loved is touched upon. In the novel, despite Grendel’s anger and spiteful …show more content…
In the description of Grendel’s nature, it is said that he, along with his brethren, were cast out,“The Almighty drove / Those demons out, and their exile was bitter, / Shut away from men” (“Beowulf.” , 23-25). Grendel was said to have been so evil that even God rejected him, for there is no amount of love that could mask the daunting hatred he possessed. Grendel and Beowulf differ on this subject mainly because Beowulf was unable to show the personal side of Grendel’s life, and the fact that his mother has feelings, and does show adoration for her son. The origination of the character Grendel is mentioned in both Grendel and in Beowulf. In the novel, Grendel is constantly searching for the truth behind his existence. He continually questions himself, as well as his mother when he asks, “‘Why are we here?’ . . . ‘Why do we stand this putrid, stinking hole?’” (Gardener, 11). Grendel is not only wondering where he comes from, but why he exists. The search for answers is extremely important to him, he craves any kind of idea as to what his origin is. In contraction, in the epic poem, Grendel’s origin is not a mystery. It is said that he was,