How Is Grendel Portrayed In Beowulf

Authors will portray their characters in ways they will invoke certain emotions from the reader and determine how the character is perceived. Even though multiple works will depict the same characters the authors will change details about them. An epic poem titled “Beowulf”, composed in 750 AD, and the novel “Grendel”, published in 1971 AD, contained the same antagonist but he is depicted differently in each tale. One values Grendel being portrayed as a mindless beast while the other prefers to have him be show intelligence while on his murderous rampage. The composure of the epic poem “Beowulf” never gave Grendel the ability to speak as a way to force the reader's opinion of Grendel to be based on what the Danes and Geats had to say about

Gardner wanted Grendel to be viewed as a psychopathic killer, something without empathy and remorse. Grendel’s intelligence is demonstrated when he infers what is going on around him when he goes back into Herot and sees that “The Geats are stones, whether it’s because they’re numb with terror or stiff from too much mead, I cannot tell.” (167). There are clear signs of a thought process that Grendel expresses, the purpose of this is to show that he does understand what he is doing and to him he has a reason for doing it. Signs of emotions that normally are not connected with a murder spree is revealed when Grendel shared with the reader that he is “...swollen with excitement, bloodlust and joy and a strange fear that mingle in my chest like a twisting rage of a bone-fire.”(167-168). The reasoning behind Grendel’s attack is shown to be a bloodlust, it’s like a sport to Grendel to kill all of those who sleep in Herot. Gardner’s reasoning for this is to demonstrate how monstrous Grendel is because nothing is worst than and intelligent being killing for sport. Grendel is twisted since he decides “For pure, mad prank, I snatch a cloth from the nearest table and tie it around my neck to make a napkin.” (168). Finding humor in mocking those who Grendel is about to messily devour is completely insane but at the same time shows how he had planned this attack and ways to make it humorous to him. By giving Grendel the ability to speak and to let the reader understand his thoughts, Gardner reveal the intelligent monstrous side of Grendel and helps the reader better understand why he must be