Grendel Vs. Beowulf Essay -- Epic of Beowulf Essays

GrendelOne of the most compelling and highly create characters in the novel Grendel, create verbally by John Gardner, and the poem Beowulf, written by an anonymous poet, is the demon, Grendel. Even though these pieces show two antithetic sides to Grendel they are similar in small-army ways. Grendel evokes sympathy toward the hideous monster by making him seem like the victim, while Beowulf portrays him as being the most loathsome of enemies. The reasons behind Grendel&8217s being, his killing, and finally his death devote him one of the most controversial and infamous monsters in literature. Grendel is the man-killing monster that Beowulf pictured him as being, yet he is alike the lonely victim of a judgmental world.Grendel is a descendent of Cain and is forced to live with the inherited nemesis of being denied God&8217s presence. Cain&8217s lineage has been known to father monsters, trolls, giants, and other undesirable beings, all of which were rejected from society. Beo wulf and Grendel both speak of Grendel&8217s ancestor Cain, almost as if using it as an excuse for his snowstorm and murderous actions. Beowulf told of a Grendel that mercilessly attacked Hrothgar&8217s meadhall killing men without reason. Grendel also speaks of this evil monster, but in a more sympathetic and venial manner. Grendel is thought of as &8220the guardian of sins and is the physical equivalent to a man that has been shunned by God. He is des...