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

A parity of the Grendel of Beowulf and Gardners Grendel         The novel Grendel by John Gardner portrays a significantly different simulacrum of Grendel than the epic song Beowulf paints. Grendel is a non-human being who posses human qualities. In any story it is not specified what type of being Grendel is, nor does it tell of what on the button Grendel looks like. The only base the reader has of the sight of Grendel is the small hints either cause gives. We exist he stands on two feet as humans do, we know he is covered in hair, and we know he is monstrous.         Although there be 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 entirely driven by his animal instincts and does not posses the same thought processes as h umans do. For example the line the monster stepped on the bright pave floor, crazed with evil anger from his strange eyes an ugly clarification shone out like fire (Beowulf line 725), proves this point.           In the novel even this point lacks development. Rather Grendel is portrayed as a disjointed wight passing through life looking for answers. Surprisingly Grendel walks the forest in harmony with the animals. He does not act like the blood ravenous 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. that Grendel appears upset with the deers actions. He records Blind Prejudice (Gardner 7) Ah, the unfairness of everything, I say and shake my head. It is a matter of fact that I have neer killed a deer in all my lif e, and never will. (Gardner 8)         Grendel is a confused creature. Since he walks alone he has more than enough time to conceptualize about his life. He always used to ask his mother wherefore are we here (Gardner 11) the only way he realized the true statement was from