Beowulf and Grendel

... Megan Crawford August 14, 2000 Pre-IB English Ms. Pruett Grendel Beowulf and Grendel are two tales that share subject matter, plot, and setting. They tell of the exact same events, but however, Beowulf and Grendel have two entirely different themes. Beowulf is an epic poem about the honesty, bravery, and humility that defined the ideal Dane. John Gardner's Grendel, a retelling of Beowulf, is an entirely different outlook on the story. In it, Grendel becomes the hero and Beowulf the villain. The book depicts Grendel in a new light, as opposed to the horrific and senseless monster the poem portrays him to be. Gardner adds depth to Grendel's character and most of the book is about him searching for the reasons behind the existence and reasoning behind most everything he sees. Gardner's perspective of the monster makes the reader question the Anglo-Saxon concept of good verses evil that is presented in Beowulf. For instance, the Shaper

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