ipl-logo

Grendel By John Gardner: Character Analysis

649 Words3 Pages

“Grendel” by John Gardner details the life of Grendel, a monster, who observes and interacts with the human world. Grendel’s villainy is characterized by his desperation to find purpose and meaning in a cruel world that isolates him. Villains are not born, they’re created. Grendel begins as a curious young mind that is entranced by the world of humans. However, in his attempt to communicate with the humans, they attack him in fear. Despite this, Grendel cannot contain his desire for a community and the beautiful world painted by the humans. His internal struggle with rejection and yearning is deeply tormenting. It comes to a climax as Grendel goes to the humans and begs them for relief. Nonetheless, it is futile as the humans once again attack …show more content…

However, he is capable of holding back on his violence as displayed by his interactions with Unferth. Unferth is a budding hero that Grendel spares each time on his raids. It is Grendel’s way of developing a connection, something that he still longs for, even if it is unconventional. He also takes out part of his rage on Unferth by destroying his heroic ideals through sparing Unferth. Grendel’s conversation with the dragon solidified the boundary between hopes and reality, something Grendel is now doing to Unferth. Another instance where Grendel stops himself is his observation of Wealtheow. Her queenly nature and beautiful personality gives him hope of salvation as she can even forgive traitors like Unferth. This spark of hope remains in Grendel and causes polarizing thoughts in himself. Grendel ends this internal conflict by violently attacking the humans and destroying Wealthoew’s image. His heinous actions are a subconscious manifestation of his attempt to extinguish the flame of hope and prevent himself from falling for these desires. The examples of restraint illustrate Grendel’s self-control and ability to give up antagonizing the humans. Still, Grendel is motivated to continue his terror as a way to have meaning in this world even though he, in turn, plays into the mechanical role of his villainy and actually loses meaning in his actions. His villainous nature is a greater reflection of his

Show More
Related

  • Portrayal Of The Monster In Grendel Excerpt By John Gardner

    730 Words  | 3 Pages

    The people in the story view Grendel as a monster, but why does Hrothgar-Grendel’s father-want Grendel to be killed? Is he full of shame? What would happen if the Geats knew about Hrothgar and Grendel’s Mother’s secret scandal? Grendel’s sadness and loneliness, the courage to protect himself from what is hurting is why he is despised. As a monster, Grendel was trying to protect himself.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Falsehood In Grendel

    864 Words  | 4 Pages

    Grendel’s Internal Battle Throughout John Gardner’s novel, Grendel, Grendel’s thoughts are constantly at war with each other. He does not know what or whom to believe, and how to distinguish lies from what he knows to be true. The Shaper’s songs, the brutal reality of the corpse, and the dragon’s cynical way of thinking all change Grendel’s view of life and thoughts, and are examples of how the art of falsehood in seen throughout the novel.

    Read More

  • Pity Monster, Manunkind, By John Gardner

    847 Words  | 4 Pages

    Grendel is frustrated and confused that he is trapped as a human in a monster’s body, but this confusion make him want to evolve. Grendel’s anger even leads him to sort of insanity as Gardner comments “Grendel is crazy” (Gardner 92), charging that humans may too go insane. cummings describes human anger resulting because they had lost their “ultraomnipotence” (cummings 13) in “Progress” (cummings 2). The theme of anger perpetrates the motif of cycles as Grendel curses “the twelfth year of my idiotic war” (Gardner 92).

    Read More

  • How Is Grendel Influenced By The Dragon

    336 Words  | 2 Pages

    Up until the end of Chapter 7, Grendel’s actions are influenced by the dragon.   He believes nothing matters, there is no good or bad, and everybody eventually dies. The people of Heort know Grendel as a monster and a killer and he lives up to his reputation.

    Read More

  • Similarities Between Grendel And Frankenstein

    798 Words  | 4 Pages

    As Grendel grew he became interested in the ways of man as he viewed their development and adaptations from a distance. As Grendel viewed them over a period of time he began to feel a connection between them and himself. He debated whether to revel himself to the villagers, because he knew the reaction in which they would demonstrate towards him. However, he chose to revel himself even after the previous encounter, “I staggered out into the open and up toward the hall with my burden, groaning out, “Mercy! Peace!”

    Read More

  • Frankenstein And Grendel Comparison Essay

    1037 Words  | 5 Pages

    Many times throughout western literature, monsters are portrayed as a threat to the existence of humanity. In Grendel by John Gardner and Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, this idea is skewed by the actions of their respective monsters. Both of these novels captivate the reader by having a monster narrate the story, which is uncommon in many works of literature. Although in Frankenstein the reader only witnesses the monster as a narrator once, it has a profound impact on the overall storyline of the book. In Grendel, the book is entirely narrated by Grendel, so the reader adapts to the idea of the main character being a monster.

    Read More

  • What Grendel Means To Be Human

    492 Words  | 2 Pages

    Using a monster to help us examine what it means to be human is how the novel helps readers to make that distinction between humans, and monsters. Indeed, aside from Grendel’s horrible appearance and nasty eating habits, very little actually separated him aside from the humans such as Hrothgar or Wealtheow. Even his extreme brutality was not unique. The author, John Gardner, stresses man’s inherent violence many times throughout the novel. Additionally, Grendel’s ethical journey was a very human one, its urgency intensified by his status as an outsider.

    Read More

  • Hatred In John Gardner's Grendel

    650 Words  | 3 Pages

    Grendel often watches humanity as it advances and notes patterns that he see as humanity goes in number and power, one being wars and

    Read More

  • Grendel's Last Words Analysis

    321 Words  | 2 Pages

    Moreover, Grendel’s last words indicate that something will happen to mankind as it did to himself. For instance, Grendel expresses, “there is no limit to desire but desire’s needs.” (Gardner 93). Such illustrates that Grendel can desire as much as he wants

    Read More

  • Grendel Point Of View Analysis

    487 Words  | 2 Pages

    Grendel begins attacking the humans, “I eat and laugh until I can barely walk, my chest-hair matted with dribbled blood... my belly rumbles, sick on their sour meat” (Gardner 12). Grendel went from crying for his mother when his foot got stuck in a branch to killing and eating dozens of people. Seeing the events that lead up to this how Grendel did helps us further see the transformation he is making. It’s the isolation from the humans that transforms Grendel, “Not, of course, that I fool myself with thoughts that I'm more noble.

    Read More

  • Essay On Grendel As A Monster In Beowulf

    637 Words  | 3 Pages

    The common characteristics of what makes a monster have remained constant throughout society: evil, isolated, violent. Monsters have no regards for social normatives, and cause chaos and destruction wherever they go. Grendel is no exception. In Beowulf, Grendel manifests every characteristic of a stereotypical monster. He is considered inherently evil, and is an outcast; he roams alone and commits devilish atrocities whenever he pleases.

    Read More

  • Is Grendel Good Or Evil

    980 Words  | 4 Pages

    He attempts to make peace, his actions are no different than those of others, and he is experiencing resentment. Although there is no excuse for murdering others, Grendel does not kill for the fun of it. His actions are just reactions to emotions he is experiencing. Furthermore, his willingness to make peace emphasizes the remorse he feels for the crimes he has committed. This also shows that he acted impulsively because of his strong feelings of resentment.

    Read More

  • Grendel Quotes Isolation From Society

    843 Words  | 4 Pages

    Despite Grendel’s violent attacks, he desires only for others to communicate with. In a fit of rage against the unfairness that the humans can have and take part in a functioning society while Grendel cannot, he expresses ““Why can’t I have

    Read More

  • Internal Conflict In Grendel

    703 Words  | 3 Pages

    His violent nature grew so much that he became crazy with the need to kill the humans. Therefore, Grendel’s actions reflect that his existence has drifted away from its partially civilized nature and into the barbaric. Grendel had no choice in becoming more beast than human because external forces constantly push him towards that fate. Whether it was the dragon, the actions of the humans, or Grendel’s own unconscious tendencies, he never really had the opportunity to make a choice, human or beast. What Grendel said and thought always clashed with the situations he encountered until there was simply no possibility of becoming the good in the way

    Read More

  • Essay Comparing Beowulf And Grendel

    752 Words  | 4 Pages

    Grendel in the novel displays the idea that he is far more superior than mankind. He mentions, "I am swollen with excitement, bloodlust and joy and a strange fear that mingle in my chest like the twisting rage of a bonfire" (Gardner 167-168). Grendel knows that that the people fear him because he is different and he uses that to his advantage. The "Monster", Grendel, seems to be fascinated in attacking Meadhall and is not frightened at all. Although he is brave in the novel, Grendel in the epic poem is described in being scared and weak on the attack at Meadhall.

    Read More

More about Grendel By John Gardner: Character Analysis

Open Document