Similarities Between Grendel And Beowulf

The poem Beowulf by Seamus heaney portrays the heroic events that helped mold the nobel persona of Beowulf, but on the other hand the novel Grendel by John Gardner reveals a perspective that the poem Beowulf ______. In the poem Beowulf Grendel is seen as a killing machine, while in the novel Grendel, Grendel is portrayed as a lonely and curious outcast. The purpose of the poem is to tell the tale of the heroic man Beowulf, but the purpose of the novel is to tell the story from Grendel’s perspective one of Beowulf's victims. Both authors use different styles of writing, and different themes of religion to develop different perspectives. The writing styles of the poem differs from the writing style of the novel. Other than the fact that Beowulf …show more content…
In Beowulf whenever it was a man’s physical attribute, weather he won a battle, whether he survived a storm, or weather he accomplished any heroic feat, the narrator always attributed it to god. For instance, when Beowulf and Grendel were grappling in the meadhall, “The monster wrenched and wrestled with him but Beowulf was mindful of his mighty strength, the wondrous gifts God had showered on him,” (Heaney 1269-1274). This attribution from god was what was able to allow Beowulf to defeat Grendel. This gives the reader the idea that Beowulf and all the Danes were very religious and believed that god was the ultimate creator and controlled their fate as well. When there is religion and god there is hell and demons. In Beowulf, Grendel was seen as a satanic creature that preyed on men and in the poem was referred to as the, “grim demon” (Heaney 102) that was sent from hell to torment humanity. This comparison to a demon is what taints how humans see Grendel. Instead of seeing a confused and lonely creature, they see a murderous killing machine. On the other hand, In the Novel Grendel, religion is still an aspect of the novel, but it isn’t as obvious as Beowulf. Religion, especially the concept of hell and an underworld, sets the setting and the backstory in Grendel. The reader is able to understand the hostile and lonely environment …show more content…
Heaney relies on using grandeur and formal writing to lift up certain characters to nobility, while degrading other characters to create a contrast, and a perspective that Grendel is the spawn of satin and is sent to torment humanity. Gardner tells the story from the mind of Grendel and his writing style reflects the crude humor and philosophical mind of Grendel, which develops Grendel’s perspective that he alone in this world of chaos, and why should he be kind to humans if they were never kind to him. Also, religion plays a key role in developing perspectives. Heaney uses religion as a key theme in his poem. Religion is constantly brought up and it is the foundation to Beowulf’s perspective. Beowulf believes that Grendel has emerged from the underworld to wreck havoc on humanity, and god will determine whether or not Beowulf will survive his battle with Grendel. Gardner doesn’t rely on religion as much as Heaney, but religious concepts such as the under world and an overseer help develop the backstory, and the root to Grendel’s loneliness, which creates Grendel's perspective. Heaney and Gardner both tell the same story, but they have clearly defined two different