Grendel's Development In 'Beowulf' By John Gardner

In 1971 John Gardner wrote Grendel, a novel based on the Anglo-Saxon epic poem Beowulf. Instead of following the life of Beowulf, however, Gardner explores the mind and development of Grendel, the monster who Beowulf kills. Although Grendel is presented as a destructive monster in Beowulf, in Grendel he demonstrates some goodness and potential. Gardner makes the reader think twice when reading Grendel, especially if the reader has read Beowulf, because the reader expects that Grendel is evil. However, the reader will come to see that the humans are generally more evil than Grendel because their interruption in Grendel’s development caused Grendel to become monstrous. The clearest example of human interference in Grendel’s growth is the Shaper’s songs. The Shaper makes up history to please Hrothgar and the rest of the company in the mead hall. The eloquence of the Shaper’s stories causes Grendel to believe them, even though he knows they are not true. Grendel then becomes conflicted between the beauty of the Shaper’s words and the actual truth. Grendel’s

The Shaper later “[tells] of an ancient feud between two brothers which split all the world between darkness and light” and makes Grendel “the dark side.” Grendel then goes into the hall and asks the men for friendship, but they attack him. This episode causes Grendel to question reality, but then he starts listing everything that he knows to be true. However, the beautiful poetry continues to confuse Grendel, and he cannot determine the truth. Although Grendel has mixed feelings, he keeps coming back to hear the Shaper’s songs. One day, Grendel hears a story about how he raided the mead hall, and he decides to become the monster that the Shaper makes him out to be since he knows the story is false. Grendel’s dilemma demonstrates the power of craft and art and the Shaper’s effect on