In the novel Grendel by John Gardner and the epic poem Beowulf translated version by Seamus Heaney reveals the striking comparisons and contrasts between the two main characters. Both literature pieces emphasize the disparities as well as the indistinguishable comparisons between the two characters, successfully altering the reader’s views of Grendel, the big, bad, God forsaken “Hell-Brute” and Beowulf, the strong, selfless hero, the benediction of Heorot, by means of value and sense of war, View of self, as well as societal Ideas. Both Grendel and Beowulf are heavily opinionated about war; however it depends on which literature piece is read, for the opinions are altered when looking through Beowulf’s or Grendel’s eyes. In the epic Beowulf,
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Every man during this era is a warrior or killed, “...warriors earn their fame, and wealth is shaped with a sword”(Beowulf ll 20-25). Men are religiously engaged in wars and battles because it is the only way to become “immortal” in their pagan society, to forever be remembered in fight songs sung by scops in the mead hall. The twelve years that Grendel is involved in a “war” with Heorot is described as, “Twelve winters of grief for Hrothgar...sorrow heaped at his door...” (Beowulf ll 147-151.) However, in the novel Grendel, Grendel, in the spirit of the season says, “And so begins the twelfth year of my idiotic war.” (Gardner 5) he goes on using words such as, “...pain...stupidity”(Gardner 5) to describe his “war” with the King of Heorot. The reader assumes that Grendel is a mindless killing machine in Beowulf, when in reality, …show more content…
In Beowulf, Beowulf’s view of himself is very evident with use of beots. Beowulf knows he is a hero, he knows he should be celebrated, he knows that he has superhuman strength. These beots are distinguishable throughout the epic, one where he speaks of how he is so strong, he does not need to use weapons to kill Grendel, without weapons it would, “...heighten Hygelac’s fame and gladden his heart”. (Beowulf l 433). Even just speaking about his past victories, Beowulf feels completely obligated to make sure everyone knows that he is the, “...strongest swimmer of all…”.(Beowulf l 534) Beowulf is completely and utterly aware that he is like a god in the eyes of every person in Heorot, he feels like one. In the novel Grendel, Grendel feels “...absolutely...alone…”(Gardner 22) and refers to himself as a part of the “...terrible race God cursed…” (Gardner 51). Grendel is a pessimistic misanthrope. He is entirely alone in this world, even his mother can not understand him. The completely opposite portrayal of self identity exhibited by Grendel and Beowulf makes it seem like they have no similarities. However, both characters are alone. Beowulf is like a lone wolf, doing things the way he wants because that is how he wants it done.When he first leaves for Heorot, “Nobody tried to keep him from going.” (Beowulf l 202) Grendel on the other hand is in fact
Every man during this era is a warrior or killed, “...warriors earn their fame, and wealth is shaped with a sword”(Beowulf ll 20-25). Men are religiously engaged in wars and battles because it is the only way to become “immortal” in their pagan society, to forever be remembered in fight songs sung by scops in the mead hall. The twelve years that Grendel is involved in a “war” with Heorot is described as, “Twelve winters of grief for Hrothgar...sorrow heaped at his door...” (Beowulf ll 147-151.) However, in the novel Grendel, Grendel, in the spirit of the season says, “And so begins the twelfth year of my idiotic war.” (Gardner 5) he goes on using words such as, “...pain...stupidity”(Gardner 5) to describe his “war” with the King of Heorot. The reader assumes that Grendel is a mindless killing machine in Beowulf, when in reality, …show more content…
In Beowulf, Beowulf’s view of himself is very evident with use of beots. Beowulf knows he is a hero, he knows he should be celebrated, he knows that he has superhuman strength. These beots are distinguishable throughout the epic, one where he speaks of how he is so strong, he does not need to use weapons to kill Grendel, without weapons it would, “...heighten Hygelac’s fame and gladden his heart”. (Beowulf l 433). Even just speaking about his past victories, Beowulf feels completely obligated to make sure everyone knows that he is the, “...strongest swimmer of all…”.(Beowulf l 534) Beowulf is completely and utterly aware that he is like a god in the eyes of every person in Heorot, he feels like one. In the novel Grendel, Grendel feels “...absolutely...alone…”(Gardner 22) and refers to himself as a part of the “...terrible race God cursed…” (Gardner 51). Grendel is a pessimistic misanthrope. He is entirely alone in this world, even his mother can not understand him. The completely opposite portrayal of self identity exhibited by Grendel and Beowulf makes it seem like they have no similarities. However, both characters are alone. Beowulf is like a lone wolf, doing things the way he wants because that is how he wants it done.When he first leaves for Heorot, “Nobody tried to keep him from going.” (Beowulf l 202) Grendel on the other hand is in fact