Both works focus primarily on the hero, Beowulf. The author shows he is a cruel monster by explaining how he has tormented the Danes for nine consecutive winters. The very thing that cuts Grendel to the quick. In the epic poem Beowulf, Grendel is portrayed as a horrible monster that is powerful and malevolent. One forms a softer judgment after experiencing the story from Grendel’s perspective. When Beowulf is explored from Grendel’s point of view, it becomes apparent that the division between hero and villain lies in the eyes of the beholder. In the epic poem, Beowulf, Grendel is presented as a horrible and vicious monster, who was "spawned in that slime," a reference to the biblical story of Cain, who slayed his brother Abel, which was a horrible sin. But just then Grendel slips on a puddle of blood, and the accident allows Beowulf to take the upper hand. They feel wronged, and justifiably so. When Beowulf is explored from Grendel’s point of view, it becomes apparent that the division between hero and villain lies in the eyes of the beholder. What are they celebrating? No one can hurt him, since “no blade on earth…could ever damage their demon opponent” (Heaney 801-2). This is an admirable statement, yet notwithstanding Beowulf put individuals first and secured them during every one of his battles. It is only through close investigation that the plight of Grendel comes into focus. Another theme that Gardner wants the readers to see is that humans are violent by nature. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. Heaney, Seamus. In Beowulf, it is almost universally accepted that Beowulf is the hero meant to defeat the villain, Grendel. Hamilton, Edith. our expert writers, Please indicate where to send you the sample, Hi, my name is Jenn Get Your Custom Essay on, A Differente Perspective of Grendel, from Beowulf, By clicking “Write my paper”, you agree to our, By clicking Send Me The Sample you agree on the, Comparison and Contrast of Grendel and Beowulf, Contrasting Points of View in Grendel and Beowulf, https://graduateway.com/a-differente-perspective-of-grendel-from-beowulf/, Get your custom While the novel stays true to many aspects of the original poem, it also embodies several notable differences when compared to Seamus Heaney’s translation of Beowulf. your own paper. Cain, who had killed his brother Abel in the early days of creation, had doomed himself and his descendants to be “a fugitive and a wanderer” (Coogan Gen 4:12). Such bitter memories aroused in such an unpleasant manner are enough to upset anyone. He follows a traditional Norse hero pattern, fighting to the last of his strength, but ultimately coming up short. He also demonstrates their ideas, since he is not much of a thinker, but instead acts without deep reflection. Grendel’s life prior to the story can be seen as tragic and cruel by most standards. both novel/ Poem Beowulf is an excellent example third point of view. This contrasts the violent and dangerous Grendel in Beowulf. It is in Grendel’s already lowly position that insult is added to injury. The characterization of Grendel is very different in the novel Grendel from the one in Beowulf, where Grendel is described as an outcast who is peaceful, intelligent, lonely, and sad. The Danes had thought it indestructible. Beowulf: A New Translation Maria Dahvana Headley Scribe 176pp £9.99 Laura Varnam is Lecturer in Old and Middle English Literature at … Unlike Grendel, Beowulf has had every advantage in life. This shows his feelings and why he is so desperate to fit into the human community. He demonstrates that all of the Danes are fooled by the Shaper?s songs and that Grendel is the only one that is able to see the lies. He was also from “Cain’s clan, whom the creator had outlawed/ and condemned as outcast” (Heaney 106-107). In contrast from the dangerous behemoth, Grendel is depicted to be in Beowulf, John Gardner presents Grendel’s personal perspective in the book Grendel. Grendel is thus one of the antagonists in Beowulf and is willing to do anything to destroy the human race. Beowulf points out that Unferth, along with the rest of his clan, have been unable to deal with Grendel. For this beauty that man now enjoys alone, the Danes are praising the God who has banished Grendel to his life of misery. He is unable to bear it any more and attacks Heorot. but copying is not allowed on our website. They call me a devil although I have two hands and two feet complete with five fingers and toes like a town commoner. Gardner shows that some people are also easy to trick. Coogan, Michael David. Point Of View In Beowulf 786 Words | 4 Pages. Reminding himself that Beowulf is only a man, Grendel tries to regain his senses and plan a logical attack. In the beginning of the poem, the author states that every Danish would secure his house at night fearing the possibility that Grendel would appear and kill him or her. Since Grendel was telling the story in first person the reader could actually feel a connection with Grendel and maybe even some of the same emotions Grendel was feeling. In Gardner?s novel Grendel, Grendel is more intelligent that most of the Danes, he is peaceful, and socializing with people is his main objective. In Medieval Norse society, a person’s identity was based so heavily on their father, that to claim someone does not have one is to steal an element of their individuality. New York: W.W. Norton &, 2001. Beowulf has nothing to redeem and little to prove. Grendel In Beowulf 548 Words | 3 Pages. He assumes correctly that the death was caused by the human?s violence. –Beowulf: A New Verse Translation, Seamus Heaney These passages from Beowulf and Grendel describe feasts in Hrothgar’s hall. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again. . Arthur Miller’s play “The Crucible” written […], Sylvia Plath’s novel, The Bell Jar (1963), is conspicuously autobiographical. Grendel, written by John Gardner in 1971, is perhaps one of the most intriguing remediations of Beowulf to date. InBeowulf, Grendel is viewed as the antagonist and the evil villain. The fact that people are aggressive is also shown by the author when Grendel finds a dead corpse in the forest. Beowulf from Grendel's Perspective One night, as Grendel was sleeping soundly in his home in the swamplands, he was suddenly awakened by the sound of music. Grendel isboth feared and hated in Beowulf. Grendel’s life prior to the story can be seen as tragic and cruel by most standards. … He dies in disgrace, driven from the hall, while his adversary is honored with more drink and fine jewels. He would be able to avenge not only his own plight, but also that of every demon that has come before him. Though orphaned at a young age, Beowulf grew up in the care of the king, treated “no worse…than one of his own boys” (Heaney 2432-3). Beowulf delivers “formal boast[s]” (639, 2510) prior to facing both Grendel and the final dragon, and at the poem’s end an aging Beowulf rides into battle “as king of the people . Upon reading Beowulf, the reader discovers Grendel as seen through the eyes of his terrified victims. If you need this or any other sample, we can send it to you via email. Boston: Back Bay, 1998. The Bell Jar and the Sexual Politics in the American 1950s, A Study of People and Politics in The Crucible and Citizenfour, Witchy Women: Female Magic and Otherness in Western Literature, “Violent Love” and Other Notions of Dysfunctional Relationships in Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying, Caught in a Snare Trap: The Modern Irish Experience in “The Beauty Queen of Leenane” and “Six Shooter”, The Perfect Villain/Hero: Grendel’s Perspective in Beowulf. Although the battle is furious, Beowulf has won as soon as he is able to grasp his enemy's claw. Print. Beowulf insinuates that Unferth is a cowardly braggart. Instead, he is forced to leave in disgrace, and be forever remembered as the evil demon who almost destroyed the Danes. For company, Grendel has only those more lonely and dejected than himself. He is the first antagonist that Beowulf is tasked with defeating. He is simply a giant bully, fighting for the sake of fighting. Grendel is able to destroy that wretched mead hall, something that “no Shielding elder would believe/ there was any power or person upon the earth capable of wrecking” (Heaney 777-9). In the novel, Grendel is portrayed as an antihero. Despite the story’s clear bias to Beowulf as the hero (his name is the title of the story after all), upon closer inspection it becomes clear that in the Norse tradition, the true tragic hero is Grendel. Grendel’s peace is disrupted daily by “the din of the loud banquet” that occurs every night from “Heorot,” the drinking hall of King Hrothgar (Heaney 88). And what a captivating shout it is, bro! He is often called “son of Ecgtheow,” passing the father’s honor onto the son. The fact that Beowulf will be honored for generations to come is the icing on the cake of Grendel’s tragic story. His intention was to socialize with them and start a conversation, but when the humans see him, their first thought is that Grendel is a dangerous creature. We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. In conclusion, we can observe that the author?s intention in this novel is evidently to depict Grendel as the character in the dark side. As the evil monster is the antagonist of the poem, there needs to be a stronger hero that is able to defeat the monster in a battle. This different characterization is made by Gardner in order to show readers some different ideas that we don?t consider after reading Beowulf. The battle between Beowulf and Grendel is an intense scene and begins when Grendel attempts to devour Beowulf. The ogre is vulnerable because Beowulf uses no weapons, and the hero has the strength of 30 men in his grip. In Beowulf, the author doesn?t show any of Grendel?s emotions, because he is considered to be a creature that doesn?t think. If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. The whole of the Earth is celebrating Grendel’s pain. This arrogance on the part of the Danes in the face of Grendel’s misfortune causes Grendel to seek out justice. As people consider Grendel an evil monster, their first action is to attack him. Grendel’s life prior to the story can be seen as tragic and cruel by most standards. Instead of talking of Beowulf as being the hero, the story is told from Grendel's perspective. The Beowulf that emerges not only speaks to us but demands to be heard in our 21st-century moment. After all, there must be someone for the hero to fight against, an adversary. By continuing we’ll assume you’re on board with our cookie policy, The input space is limited by 250 symbols. Grendel was told from the perspective of the antagonist Grendel himself and Beowulf had a narrator telling the reader the story. Print. Grendel, being cursed as the descendant of the Biblical Cain, is "harrowed" by the sounds of singing that come every night from the mead-hall of Heorot built by King Hrothgar. When the poem switches to Grendel’s point of view during his fight with Beowulf, the reader understands that violence causes suffering and calls forth vengeance even when it is used against an unmistakably evil opponent. It is to this unworthy man that Grendel falls. The one who fights for their glory and the honor of their ancestors, no matter what the cost? What is it about Tatiana Larina? However, we get a very different characterization of the same character in the novel Grendel by John Gardner. Before making a judgment of who are the heroes and the villains, it is important to hear both sides of the story. Grendel Quotes in Beowulf The Beowulf quotes below are all either spoken by Grendel or refer to Grendel. Though Beowulf might not know his real father, his father’s glory still lives on in him. Simply put, Grendel is a monster. He has been treated well by his adopted parents and has never been shunned or isolated. The Danes even have the nerve to sing of it as their own glorious beginning, without a thought for those to whom the last little bit of paradise has been taken. Have you considered seeing Grendel from a different point of view or wondered what his motivations in Beowulf to kill so many people were? This shows that he is the only one in Daneland that thinks clearly and is not tricked by a charismatic poet. Victory is almost his. As the monster is clearly presented as the cruel creature, he represents evil, while Beowulf, on the other hand, symbolizes good. This is the case of Beowulf, a mighty warrior that looks for fame and is proud of his own actions. From the beginning, he has been an outcast of the world, for no greater crime than his existence. This goes on for the next 12 long and bloody years, with nobody being able to stop Grendel. Before Beowulf can even walk, he has respect from his ancestry of warriors, something that Grendel could not even imagine. Why are they labeled the “bad guys?” How is the hero of a story determined? To sum up, Grendel in Gardner?s novel is very different and is seen as like the only one representing good in the story. Immediately he is set as inferior to men, since it is said he has no father. Grendel fights to redeem his ancestry and his past, challenging the humans who have shunned him for years in order to gain back the respect that was once lost. They sing “of man’s beginnings,/ how the Almighty had made the earth/ a gleaming plain girdled with waters” (Heaney 91-3). In this version of the character, Grendel is also intelligent. God, “the creator,” has turned his back on Grendel, making his life a living hell. This proves that humans tend to judge others based on their first impressions and are not willing to discover their real feelings and personalities. The New Oxford Annotated Bible: New Revised Standard Version, with the Apocrypha : An Ecumenical Study Bible. A Differente Perspective of Grendel, from Beowulf. We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. Also, he is the only one that realizes Hrothgar and the Shaper are changing the men?s minds. In John Gardner’s novel Grendel, it is clear that first person point of view does not provide richer reading experience, while in the Epic poem Beowulf, it is clear that third person point of view overrides biases with clear actions. But a close look at the story reveals the rarely told tale of Grendel, who despite dishonor and pain still fights to right the wrongs done to him and his ancestors. But in true Norse fashion, Grendel comes up just short of victory. And our side has not been told!” says Prince Charming to a room full of “villains” who are left to rot after their adversaries were given “happily ever after” (Shrek the Third). In Grendel, the readers get close interaction with the monster’s inner intimate thoughts and observations. Now he is reduced to “dwell[ing] for a time/ in misery among the banished monsters” (Heaney 104-5). Beowulf characterizes Grendel as bloodthirsty, but Grendel shows Grendel's gentler side. “Once upon a time, someone decided that we were the losers. Some may have an alternate perspective on Beowulf and may consider him to be an egotistical character that lone thinks often about magnificence. He shows that humans judge from their first impression, that we are violent and that most of us are easy to trick. In summary, Gardner makes a different version of Grendel to show some of his ideas and to demonstrate some of our human flaws. The monster has been terrorizing the hall of Heorot. The novel deals with finding meaning in the world, the power of literature and myth, and the nature of … Print. Mythology. Write three to four sentences comparing and contrasting how the people are characterized in each passage. But there are two sides to every story. Words: 706 - Pages: 3 Literary Criticism In 'Grendel' By John Gardner. Most readers of Beowulf understand it as a white, male hero story—tellingly, it’s named for the hero, not the monster—who slays a monster and the monster’s mother.Grendel, the ghastly uninvited guest, kills King Hrothgar’s men at a feast in Heorot. His family is also without shame. What about the villain? You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings. Get tips and ideas in OUTLINE. Your assignment should include the following elements: A central conflict that drives the story Vivid description that makes … In this novel, Grendel?s goal is to socialize with people and be treated as one of them. John Gardner chooses to present a different version of Grendel to show various ideas and themes which includes demonstrating men?s violence and that they tend to criticize from first impressions. Special offer for LiteratureEssaySamples.com readers. John Gardner chooses to use first person narrative in Grendel to portray a different perspective that is based on the monster’s point of view. New York: Oxford UP, 2010. All these characterizations given to Grendel help in the creation of an epic hero that shows the values and ideas of the Anglo-Saxons. Unfortunately, he is unable to gain the justice he seeks so desperately. That?s why the author chooses to describe this monster in the novel as the “bane of the race of men” (p. 49) or the “God-cursed monster” (p. 49). Beowulf. Beowulf is sympathetic to the humans, while Grendel shows the monster's perspective. Grendel has no chance after that. In case you can’t find a sample example, our professional writers are ready to help you with writing Grendel, fictional character, a monstrous creature defeated by Beowulf in the Old English poem Beowulf (composed between 700 and 750 ce).Descended from the biblical Cain, Grendel is an outcast, doomed to wander the face of the earth.He revenges himself upon humans by terrorizing and occasionally devouring the warriors of the Danish king Hrothgar. Even the author of the poem, who seems to side with the Danes, implies the noise created by the celebration is excessive. He becomes the champion of the demons. For “Beowulf was granted/ the glory of winning; Grendel was driven under the fen-banks” (Heaney 818-9). When Beowulf is explored from Grendel’s point of view, it becomes apparent that the division between hero and villain lies in the eyes of the beholder. The author shows he is a cruel monster by explaining how he has tormented the Danes for nine consecutive winters. The story of Jesus […], Tales of women as sorceresses and magic-wielders abound in the literature and mythology of cultures that promote the gendered binary of culture over nature, activity over passivity, and reason over […], “Hardy summons into us a graphic dimension, and then, apparently without realizing the danger in doing so, he allows another Eustacia to enter his novel. The most important idea that he wants to show by writing this book is that we, humans, judge others from what our eyes see when we don?t even know how they really are. This is mainly done, since the author is looking forward to expressing his personal opinion and different ideas and themes that includes the humans?s tendency to judge from the beginning, the violence of men, and the fact that humans are dumb and easy to trick. But is seems Grendel is about to succeed. Beowulf is a contemporary version of an old tale, while Grendel … Grendel is a character in the poem Beowulf, preserved in the Nowell Codex. Read More. Sorry, but copying text is forbidden on this website. In conclusion, readers are given a perspective of Grendel from the author in Beowulf that describes him as a terrible and illogical monster that looks forward to killing people and will do anything to get what he wants. Beowulf and Grendel The two stories Beowulf and Grendel are two different stories, told in different perspectives; however, they relate back to each other giving them similarities. Grendel is a 1971 novel by American author John Gardner. In Beowulf, Grendel is viewed as the antagonist and the evil villain. Gardner shows this in his novel when the people in the mead-hall attack Grendel. Even when he was little, he had a place of honor among mortals. He is not welcome among more civilized crowds. In Beowulf, Grendel was never given a chance; his ferocious nature was innately inside of him. The story follows the fictional character, Esther Greenwood, during her summer spent in New York City working for a prestigious […], Henrik Ibsen’s well known play, A Doll’s House, has long been considered a predominantly feminist work. Write a narrative from the perspective of Grendel, the monster in the epic tale Beowulf.Your story must center on a conflict that reveals something important about the main character. Use details from the text to support your answer. (2017, Jan 29). And our side has not been told!” says Prince Charming to […]. Beowulf, is rewarded with yet another feast, so big that “no group ever gathered in bigger numbers” (Heaney 1010). In this book, Grendel is illustrated as the only character that thinks and reasons clearly. For where many men fail, one man with an iron grip is able to outlast even Grendel. The conflict must be resolved in some way by the end of the story. Both of the pieces of literature share the story of a horrible monster, Grendel. From the beginning, he has been an outcast of the world, for no greater crime than his existence. Grendel has a surreal, fantastic vision of the meadhall coming to life, and he sees a pair of wings sprouting from Beowulf’s back. In the end, Grendel has gained little honor and lost so much more. The details about Grendel in Beowulf show him as a horrible murderous beast without any feelings. It is from these humble and humiliating beginnings that a hero is formed. Beowulf: A New Verse Translation. Previous section Style Next section Tone The victor could hardly be less deserving of such honor. Grendel is never tired of killing people and has an incontrollable blood lust. Retrieved from https://graduateway.com/a-differente-perspective-of-grendel-from-beowulf/, This is just a sample. The Story of Beowulf from Grendel’s Point of View. His “whole ancestry is hidden in a past / of demons and ghosts” (Heaney 1356-7). Grendel is never tired of killing people and has an incontrollable blood lust. But how can one tell the difference? Or, as Norse mythology would say, the one who fights the hardest, but still comes up short (Hamilton 443)? All you need to do is fill out a short form and submit an order. From the beginning, he has been an outcast of the world, for no greater crime than his existence. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. The champion of the demons has fallen to a meddler. He notes that the monster does not fear the Scyldings because they have not tried to defend themselves; and … However, in Gardner?s novel, he is able to feel and is sad, since he is lonely and doesn’t have anyone to interact with. They throw spears to him and were going to kill him if Grendel didn?t escape. The fact that nobody was able to defend Daneland from Grendel before Beowulf demonstrates that Grendel was not as mighty as the epic hero, but still strong enough to kill a huge part of a community. Grendel has no control over his ancestry, yet because of their crimes he daily suffers the hatred of not only humanity, but also the divine. He represents clearly the values of the Anglo-Saxons, as he kills Grendel mainly due to the fact that he will become more famous and will receive gold. Overall, we get two very different characterizations of the same character from two different authors that want to show various ideas and themes. You can get your custom paper from Grendel is also sad and lonely in Grendel. How is it that a young country girl, whose semblance is hardly remarkable and whose intelligence and judgment are suspect, has captivated literary culture […], As for disappointing them, I should not mind much; but I can’t abide to disappoint myself!Thus speaks Tony Lumpkin in the first scene of Oliver Goldsmith’s eighteenth-century comedy of errors […], In typical modernist fashion, William Faulkner experiments in his work with a number of nontraditional stylistic and thematic characteristics, including brokenness, fragmentation, despair, pessimism, perception distortion, and the rejection of […], Tension between a protagonist and the society in which he lives is an element of storytelling which can be found in many texts across many millennia. Essay, Use multiple resourses when assembling your essay, Get help form professional writers when not sure you can do it yourself, Use Plagiarism Checker to double check your essay, Do not copy and paste free to download essays. In the world of the medieval Scandinavia, it would be cowardly to let such injustice slide. Beowulf suddenly grabs Grendel … This Eustacia emerges, through a […], Composers represent the ultimate powerlessness of ordinary people through the ways in which they explore the complex and dynamic relationship between people and politics. This can be proved by his fight with the Dragon, where he decided to battle alone knowing he can actually die. Upon reading Beowulf, the readerdiscovers Grendel as … After all of these years, justice will be served, as seen by the seemingly mystical protection that surrounds Grendel. Grendel is also described as a powerful monster in the poem. The novelist John Gardner wrote a book called Grendel that explores these ideas about Grendel more fully, and tells of the events of Beowulf from Grendel's point of view. narrative essay told from the point of view of grendel This is a 5 paragraph narrative essay told from the point of view of grendel. But there are two sides to every story. Once upon a time there was a very good king in a far away land, the king of the Danes. Beowulf, Grendel, Grendel’s mother, Hrothgor, .The unknown author uses symbolism, point of view, setting and the traits of each. The story of Grendel, written by John Gardner, tells the tale of Beowulf, but from a slightly different angle. Is he the victim of fate, against whom all odds are set? He fights back savagely, killing many. Answer: In Grendel's passage people are frightened and terrified. In the epic poem Beowulf, Grendel is described by the author as an evil and cruel creature that has a strong desire for man?s blood. Beowulf (poem) Grendel is described as a 'fiend from Hell', enraged from the laughter and merry-making coming from the Hrothgar's meadhall, and goes on a terrible and destructive rampage, slaughtering and eating 50 of the kings warriors on the first night. It is a retelling of part of the Old English poem Beowulf from the perspective of the antagonist, Grendel. . Grendel's Perspective I am Grendel.The one you saw clothed in blood and gore.A biped killer and sower of seeds of horror. They hearken back to that time before Cain had fallen, of everything that Grendel and his ancestors had lost – the beautifully created plains and waters, the favor of God. It was an ornate, human built structure where men were merry in their pride and power. "You must agree to out terms of services and privacy policy", Don't use plagiarized sources. The music angered Grendel because he had been up late the night before entertaining his monster friends and was in need of his beauty rest. Grendel seems to have the victory finally, and rightfully, secured. Grendel is both feared and hated in Beowulf. In the epic poem Beowulf, Grendel is portrayed as a horrible monster that is powerful and malevolent. The last value Grendel aids to show in the poem is the obvious line between good and evil. Analysis of Ibsen’s A Doll’s House: Feminist or Humanist? He is not an irrational and unreasonable monster that is only thinking of eating people, like in the epic poem, but instead, he is an intellectual thinker who considers every event from a deeper point. Beowulf observes the monster's method as one Geat is slaughtered and devoured. The play focuses on the seemingly happy Helmers, Nora and Torvald, who appear to […], “Once upon a time, someone decided that we were the losers. Therefore, readers get a very different perspective of Grendel in the two texts. This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. In the face of such insult, what is there left for Grendel to do? Grendel takes the only option that will not lead him to disgrace.