The character of Grendel in the novel written by John Gardener is more of an elaborate character, opposed to the character of Grendel in the epic poem Beowulf who is more of a dull character. Its easy to see that one story is told from the first person pov and the other is told from a third person pov, thus allowing the reader to connect more with gardeners Grendel than Beowulf. In Grendel you can have more of an emotional connection rather than just seeing him in Beowulf as a big ugly monster.…
In John Gardner's, Grendel, the protagonist, Grendel goes through major changes about the way he views life and the way he views himself. Of course there are times where he comes to conclusions on his own due to his isolation from the real world, but there are antagonists in the story that do impact Grendel’s image like his mother, the dragon, and beowulf. Grendel is an evil, selfish, pitiful, cynical monster. He tends to put himself on a higher pedestal than the the rest, but the reader puts Grendel on a lower pedestal than others because he thinks too highly of himself. When Grendel talks about his mom or cries for her help, the evil monster image goes away for a while; this is only a temporary change in Grendel’s attitude.…
Grendel, since he is a descendent of Cain, is one that is cursed by God himself, forced to wage “his lonely war, inflicting constant cruelties” on people (116: line:164-165). I would say that he is evil because of the hatred of his neighbors have made him bitter, but he is also evil because he is a demon. They call him a “fiend out of hell”, one that loves to work evil in the world (114: line 100). Even though he may be bitter because of the resentment, the fact that he is a demon that came out of hell makes him a monster, something that is evil from the roots of his origin. He is linked to the man Cain who was cursed by God himself for killing his own brother, an event that would conjure up significant resentment of the human race, part of…
Grendel’s self image all depends on His opinions of himself, comparisons, and opinions of other people. Three characters that change his opinion of himself are The Dragon Unferth, And His Mother. Grendel’s mother impacts Grendel’s personality because he wants to be different from her. Grendel’s mother cannot talk and is not free willed like grendel is and that seperates grendels personality apart from his mother’s. “I understood that the world was nothing: a mechanical chaos of casual, brute enmity on which we stupidly impose our hopes and fears.…
Grendel is very one-sided in the original Beowulf text, but in Grendel we see him in a new light, in a new way. Relating to the last paragraph some ideas were touched upon. Grendel is not just a monster, he is more human, or appears more human with depth and color. He has conflicts, he has choices, he is relatable. That’s what makes John Gardner’s story so powerful.…
Grendel was more associated with people and animals besides just being a monster. “The old ram stays looking down over rockslides I stare in horror scat I hiss go back to your cave” (Gardener 5)grendel has more human qualities than he did in the story Beowulf he has actual human emotions and can be scared by other humans or animals.…
For instance the line "the beast ventured on the brilliant cleared floor, crazed with shrewdness outrage; from his weird eyes an appalling light shone out like flame" (Beowulf line 725), demonstrates this point. In the novel however this point needs advancement. Maybe Grendel is depicted as a confounded animal going through life searching for answers. Shockingly Grendel strolls the timberland in concordance with the creatures.…
Chrissy bradley I found this chapter to be a bit confusing, however after a brief discussion with one of my peers I made some connections. In the fourth chapter Grendel asked the sky why he can't have anyone to talk to and in chapter 5 he finds the dragon to talk. I think the dragon is a nihilist and he says he knows "the beginning, the present, the end . all time, all space." (62, 63).…
Grendel's self image modifies all throughout Grendel. To begin, in the beginning, Grendel acts very child like. In many occasions, Grendel seems to be a mama’s boy. for instance, Grendel quotes, “Mama! waa! waa!…
To illustrate, in chapter 5 when the dragon states, “Can’t you see yourself? You stimulate them? You make them think and scheme. You drive them to poetry, science, religion, all that makes them what they are for as long as they last”(Gardner 72-73). This goes to show that Grendel’s personality has changed him to become self centered.…
Here, Grendel displays very humanlike traits.…
During the attack, the bull struck Grendel in the knee with one of his horns. After this Grendel says “I understand that the world was nothing: a mechanical chaos of causal, brute enmity on which we stupidly impose our hopes and fears. I understood that, finally and absolutely, I alone exist”(pg 22). Grendel finally sees the world is made of nothing and that also that he is alone in this world and that no one is going to help him. After this situation that he goes through Grendel has a different perspective on the world that he lives in.…
This shows Grendel’s ever learning mind, that is curious of the human world, but finds it to be terribly wasteful and untruthful. Lastly, the shaper’s words seem to have a profound impact on Grendel’s emotions. After hearing all the lies sung by the shaper so hypnotically, Grendel expresses his emotions, saying “ I was so filled with sorrow and tenderness I could hardly have found it in my heart to snatch a pig!” (Gardner 44). This shows Grendel’s more ‘human’ side, to which he lingers on throughout much of the story, leading him to do certain things and think in very odd…
Grendel was a monster who played a major role in the epic poem. But I am here to describe his character entitlement as himself. Grendel was a momma’s boy on how he had went back to her while he was injured. Going into her realm of the cave, to be in her arms for her to comfort him while he is in pain.…
Grendel is an innately evil demonic beast and his birthright is to be scorned by man as Cain’s evil offspring. As a result of this ostracism, he takes out his fury on the men in Heorot, killing whomever he can as his own form of warped vengeance stemming from a feeling of isolation as a born outcast. Despite Grendel’s misfortunes, which may garner sympathy from some, his actions are not justified by the situation he is in and, even in a violent, revenge-based society, Grendel is still the heartless beast the Danes see him as and his fate was well deserved. When Grendel is first introduced, he is actually described in a slightly sympathetic light.…