What Is Grendel's Point Of View In Beowulf

When people who have read the novel Grendel and hear his name, they have connotations such as evil, monstrous, and emotionless. The character in John Gardner’s novel is more developed than the character in the epic poem Beowulf because of the compassion he evokes in the reader, the use of first person point of view, and the way he is portrayed by other characters in the story. Due to the use of first person point of view throughout the whole Novel, Gardner gives the readers an insight of Grendel’s thoughts, feelings, and emotions making him a more developed character than he is in the epic poem Beowulf. For example, Gardner writes, “I stand there shaking from head to foot, moved to the deep-sea depth of my being, like a creature thrown into audience with thunder” (10). Here the reader visualizes how Gardner has given Grendel the ability to relate himself to a creature thrown into an audience, because he is comparing himself to something other than his own being. This …show more content…
The dragon in the novel gives Grendel a purpose, adds to his personality, and gives another reason to see beyond the negative complaints about Grendel. Gardner writes, “You are, so to speak, the brute existence by which by which they learn to define themselves” (73). Most characters in stories or novels have a purpose which makes them relatable and appear more alive. This quote from the Dragon explains immensely why Grendel acts in his manner and what position he is placed in a society where no one wants him. On other terms, the poem shows that Grendel’s only purpose in life is to kill. This can be seen in, “I have heard, too, that the monsters scorn of men is so great that he needs no weapons and fears none” (7). This conveys he has no feelings towards men and the way men think of him is emotionless which is not true. The description from the men gives Grendel no backstory and no