The Grendel in Burton Raffel’s original translations of Beowulf is very different from the Grendel presented by John Gardener in his modern novel. The most striking differences between the two versions of the same monster are their physical appearance, home life and relationship to his mother, and Grendel’s cause of evilness. One of the most noteworthy differences between Burton Raffel’s Grendel and John Gardener’s Grendel is their physical appearance. In the original epic, Grendel’s physical appearance shares many similarities with a reptilian. According to canto eight, (Grendel) “strode quickly across the inlaid floor, snarling and fierce. His eyes gleamed in the darkness, burned with a gruesome light.” Although, Raffel never mentioned
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In the original epic, it is stated by Burton Raffel in canto eight that Grendel lived in a swampland. The idea of Grendel living in an underwater lair was also stressed when Beowulf decided to fight Grendel’s mother who lived in a treacherous underwater embankment which has an allegorically symbolizes Hell. However, Raffel’s translations of Beowulf is quite nebulous on whether Grendel dislikes his home. Nevertheless, the plot of Beowulf revolves around Grendel wreaking havoc on the people of Herot for the course of twelve years. With this in mind, it questions whether Grendel truly enjoyed his home life if he spent twelve years of his life going to Herot to ruin the lives of others. In John Gardner’s Grendel, he has made it very clear that Grendel detests his home life. While having a conversation with his mother, Grendel refers to their home as a “putrid, stinking hole.” He continues to implore why he lives there, even though his mother will give him a clear answer, and has the urge and desire to leave home. This could be a reason why Grendel decides to raid Herot in the midst of the night to seek some emotional relief. Although the two stories maintain the same structure in the exposition, the relationship that Grendel has with his mother varies greatly between the two stories. In Raffel’s translation, the details of Grendel’s relationship with his …show more content…
However, it is important to take note that the writer’s environment could have influenced these works. Gardener’s Grendel who is filled with angst and cynicism is could have been influenced by America’s political situations as it was written in the midst of the Vietnam war, however, the original epic which had some prominent Christian messages was written in 700 during the spread of Christianity. Although these two stories with Grendel’s physical appareance, his home life and relationship with his mother, and his cause of evilness, Raffel’s original epic and John Gardner’s Grendel are staples of American
In the original epic, it is stated by Burton Raffel in canto eight that Grendel lived in a swampland. The idea of Grendel living in an underwater lair was also stressed when Beowulf decided to fight Grendel’s mother who lived in a treacherous underwater embankment which has an allegorically symbolizes Hell. However, Raffel’s translations of Beowulf is quite nebulous on whether Grendel dislikes his home. Nevertheless, the plot of Beowulf revolves around Grendel wreaking havoc on the people of Herot for the course of twelve years. With this in mind, it questions whether Grendel truly enjoyed his home life if he spent twelve years of his life going to Herot to ruin the lives of others. In John Gardner’s Grendel, he has made it very clear that Grendel detests his home life. While having a conversation with his mother, Grendel refers to their home as a “putrid, stinking hole.” He continues to implore why he lives there, even though his mother will give him a clear answer, and has the urge and desire to leave home. This could be a reason why Grendel decides to raid Herot in the midst of the night to seek some emotional relief. Although the two stories maintain the same structure in the exposition, the relationship that Grendel has with his mother varies greatly between the two stories. In Raffel’s translation, the details of Grendel’s relationship with his …show more content…
However, it is important to take note that the writer’s environment could have influenced these works. Gardener’s Grendel who is filled with angst and cynicism is could have been influenced by America’s political situations as it was written in the midst of the Vietnam war, however, the original epic which had some prominent Christian messages was written in 700 during the spread of Christianity. Although these two stories with Grendel’s physical appareance, his home life and relationship with his mother, and his cause of evilness, Raffel’s original epic and John Gardner’s Grendel are staples of American