Grendel in the novel is very different from Grendel in the epic poem Beowulf because Grendel in the novel has the ability to speak, has an actual mother that loves him, and is a developing character whereas Grendel in the poem is all animalistic, is born of demons without love, and is a very static character. In the novel, Grendel displays characteristics that his alter ego in Beowulf does not display. One of these major characteristics is the ability to speak. “‘You think me a witless fool,’ he whispered. ‘Oh, I heard what you said. I caught your nasty insinuations. ‘I thought heroes were only in poetry,’ you said. Implying that what I’ve made of myself is mere fairytale stuff’” (Gardner 87). Here, Grendel displays very humanlike traits.
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“My mother no linger shows any signs of sanity, hurrying back and forth, wall to wall, sometimes on two legs, sometimes on four, dark forehead furrowed like a new-plowed field, her eyes glittering and crazy as a captured eagle’s. Each time I come in she gets between me and the door, as if to lock me up with her forever” (Garner 145). His mother is all that he has, and he is all that his mother has. Grendel often describes his mother as one who will snuggle up to him in the night. She tries to feed him milk as if he is still a baby. She loves him with all of her heart whereas the Grendel in Beowulf is said to be born of demons. “The Almighty drove those demons out, and their exile was bitter, shut away from men; they split into a thousand forms of evil --- spirits and fiends, goblins, monster, giants, a brood forever opposing the Lord’s will” (Wilhelm 24). Throughout the entire poem, this same comparison of Grendel as a demon spawn reappears. He is also said to be unloved. “They gaped with no sense of sorrow, felt no regret for his suffering” (Wilhelm 34). Here it is seen that not one person felt sorrow for the death of Grendel. Not one person wept because according to the poem, Grendel was unloved. However, in reality, Grendel’s number one supporter was his
“My mother no linger shows any signs of sanity, hurrying back and forth, wall to wall, sometimes on two legs, sometimes on four, dark forehead furrowed like a new-plowed field, her eyes glittering and crazy as a captured eagle’s. Each time I come in she gets between me and the door, as if to lock me up with her forever” (Garner 145). His mother is all that he has, and he is all that his mother has. Grendel often describes his mother as one who will snuggle up to him in the night. She tries to feed him milk as if he is still a baby. She loves him with all of her heart whereas the Grendel in Beowulf is said to be born of demons. “The Almighty drove those demons out, and their exile was bitter, shut away from men; they split into a thousand forms of evil --- spirits and fiends, goblins, monster, giants, a brood forever opposing the Lord’s will” (Wilhelm 24). Throughout the entire poem, this same comparison of Grendel as a demon spawn reappears. He is also said to be unloved. “They gaped with no sense of sorrow, felt no regret for his suffering” (Wilhelm 34). Here it is seen that not one person felt sorrow for the death of Grendel. Not one person wept because according to the poem, Grendel was unloved. However, in reality, Grendel’s number one supporter was his