Beowulf And Grendel Relationship

Words: 626
Pages: 3
Open Document
In Grendel by John Gardner, we meet Grendel a creature outcasted by humans. Although made out to be a vicious killer, we are shown sides of Grendel that allow us to be sympathetic towards him. Grendel wants to be like the humans he watches, Grendel was an innocent creature turned into a monster. In the beginning, as we get to know a younger Grendel. He is a curious child who ventures out and has his first experience with the human world. Grendel is always alone as a child, as the other creatures in the caverns are strange and don’t speak. Therefore, he never has any interaction other than with his mother. When Grendel enters the human world and becomes trapped in a tree and the bull attacks him, he realizes that he alone exists. “I understood …show more content…
One night, Grendel finds himself watching the meadhall and listening to the Shaper’s song. The song has a different effect on Grendel now: instead of feeling loneliness, or shame, he feels anger at the listeners’ ignorance and self-satisfaction. This is when a guard arrives and Grendel kills him. As more Danes arrive he kills them all despite the fact that he didn’t mean to cause them any harm, but they had attacked him again. This is when Grendel realizes how gleeful he is after killing them and his first raid happens a few nights later. When Beowulf arrives, Grendel becomes intrigued by him. Grendel is excited upon their arrival, he believes he will no longer be bored which Grendel describes as the worst pain possible. The night Grendel decides to attack, he encounters Beowulf who later manages to rip out Grendel's arm, realizing that he will die, Grendel flees. He calls out for his mother one last time who obviously does not come. Glendel realizes he is left all alone and voluntarily falls off the …show more content…
Grendel's curiosity for the human world made him realize he only had himself. All Grendel wanted was to be a part of the human world, despite never admitting to it. He enjoyed watching the humans, but their lives upset him at the same time. This all led to killing sprees in which Grendel believed he enjoyed doing, Grendel wasn’t born a monster, but was turned into one through being outcasted and living a lonely life. Grendel didn’t want to hurt anyone deep down, but it’s all he experienced that led him to it. In Grendel by John Gardner, the reader is meant to feel some sort of sympathy for Grendel. Watching the humans for so long are what led him to commit such horrible deeds towards them. Grendel was not a monster, but a creature that was turned into one.
Show More

Related Documents: Beowulf And Grendel Relationship

Comparing Beowulf And Epic Poem

history and epic poem, Beowulf, had been adapted into different forms of literature, for it is really famous and it represents the ideology of a specific period of time in Europe. Many remediations of Beowulf occurred due to its irreplaceable position. In 2007, a movie “Beowulf” was shown in cinemas and it follows the same story line as the original. There are similarities and differences between the film and the original poem. Both movie and original poem symbols Beowulf and Grendel as hero and jealousy…

Words 794 - Pages 4

Beowulf Compare And Contrast Essay

The story of Beowulf was an extraordinary piece of work; although, the film and book version differs. Based on the book and the film Beowulf was depicted as a great hero; however, they both tell Beowulf’s journey differently. Take the battle of Beowulf and Grendel for example, the movie and book states that Beowulf defeats Grendel but the way he does so has major differences. Another major difference is the seduction of Beowulf; according to the film Beowulf seduced by Grendel’s mother, the she wolf…

Words 672 - Pages 3

Beowulf: What Makes A Good Leader

admired by the people that are loyal to them. Beowulf is an example of a good leader, although he will boast about his successes a lot, Beowulf is a good leader because he has some characteristics that people would want to follow. We could use more leaders like Beowulf in the real world. The Characteristics that will be looked at for him will be: Relationships, Compassion, Commitment,Problem-Solving,and Courage. A leaders relationships are important for a leader to form with other…

Words 1941 - Pages 8

Relationship Between Good And Evil In Beowulf

stinking blood fountained everywhere. Beowulf had pulled Grendel’s arm out of its socket!” Beowulf: A New Telling, by Robert Nye is a great book to read if you are interested in the relationship and battle between good and evil, and light and dark. Beowulf proves that good overcomes evil in the end. He also shows that one has to admit to their weaknesses for them to become strengths. Beowulf fights three fearsome beasts and becomes a great hero and king. In Beowulf: A new telling, Hrothgar, King…

Words 642 - Pages 3

Examples Of Heroism In Beowulf

In Beowulf, heroism does not happen arbitrarily or spontaneously but is instead born from acts of vengeance. Heroism in Beowulf does not occur without first being a response to vengeance. However, the vengeance being responded to is often created through acts of heroism. It is because of this that it will be argued that heroism in Beowulf does not happen in a vacuum but instead occurs through a cycle of vengeance. Acts of vengeance present opportunities for heroism but success in these endeavors…

Words 843 - Pages 4

Beowulf Achilles Comparison

In the reading 'Beowulf' there were many things going on. The main character in this poem is Beowulf, in the beginning of this poem, it starts off with a weary situation of the monster Grendel he has a lot of strength and courage to do pretty much anything. Beowulf decides he should go to this town Grendel lives in because of what has happened over the past 12 years. Grendel has killed so many people that Beowulf chooses to change that and make this town better again. In the poem 'The Iliad' Achilles…

Words 488 - Pages 2

What Is Paganism In Beowulf

Beowulf symbolizes Jesus Christ Pagan ideals and Christian ideals collide throughout the entirety of Beowulf. Pagan beliefs in Beowulf are depicted through the belief of wyrd. Wyrd was considered an inescapable and destined path through life. It is later mentioned when Beowulf fights the dragon, which leads to his own demise due to his fate, or his wyrd. The Pagan idea of fate, revenge, and demons are not the only Christianity may have adopted several ideas from Paganism, so it is evident that there…

Words 1107 - Pages 5

Grendel's Suffering In Beowulf

Prior to Beowulf killing Grendel, the (adjective) monster and his mother had a very unhealthy relationship. Friends of Grendel’s family explained that his mother was old, and has been suffering for as long as they can remember, but none of them know what caused her suffering. She kept her past hidden, especially from her son. As a boy, when Grendel asked about his mother’s past and how they ended up in their current situation, she would yell at him and forbid him to ever ask again. Grendel decided…

Words 283 - Pages 2

Examples Of Heroism In Beowulf

In Beowulf there is the reoccurring themes of Vengeance and Heroism throughout the entire time. Heroism on it's own does not spontaneously happen, and it also does not happen without some sort of purpose or outside force causing it to happen. Instead, Heroism gets progressively developed in Beowulf after these certain acts of Vengeance are first displayed. Heroism throughout Beowulf also will not occur without it first becoming a reaction to these acts of Vengeance. Most of the time however, these…

Words 931 - Pages 4

Beowulf Leadership Essay

translation of the epic poem, Beowulf, the hero of the poem-Beowulf-fights three separate monsters, each more difficult than the last. Throughout his journey, the audience realizes that Beowulf exemplifies each of the elements of a prominent leader. Selflessness is a person’s ability to put their needs aside in order to…

Words 1041 - Pages 5