Similarities Between Grendel And Beowulf

There are differences between Grendel in the novel, Grendel, and the Grendel from Beowulf. Grendel from the novel is into philosophy, teaches himself of human characteristics, and has deep thoughts of on the events on the events in his life. Grendel in Beowulf, is animalistic, cruel, and is thoughtless. Even though both the novel and the epic poem deal with the same character, the differences are great between them. The similarities between both Grendels are that they both are bloodthirsty, and described, but that’s where they typically end. This could be because the author of Grendel, John Gardner, decided to have the character from the poem, but wanted to have his own ideas on why Grendel is the way he is.

Seeing as Gardner made Grendel different, Grendel has deep thoughts on philosophy. Grendel is a believer in Solipsism. When Grendel is hanging from a tree, waiting out the bull, he finally, “Understood that, [he]

alone exist[ed]. All the rest, [he] saw is merely, what pushes [him]… (Gardner, 22)” Solipsism is the belief that only one’s own mind is said to exist. During this event, Grendel finally realizes that everything he has been through has been what he has perceived through his mind. He finally thinks that everything in the world “pushes” him per say. Grendel’s solitary nature of his mind, leads Grendel to have a solitary existence.
Grendel teaches himself of the human characteristics he possesses. He teaches himself of humans and what they are like in general, through experiences with them. When he first meets humans, he thinks that “they were small… with dead-looking eyes and white faces… [and] their movements were stiff and regular, as if figured by logic… (Gardner, 23-24)” He didn’t have an experience with humans prior to that, all though he knew how to talk, and had human characteristics. He had a curiosity about humans in the beginning of his life. In the Epic poem, Grendel appears to have no sympathy towards humans, having a bloodlust towards them even. “Grendel’s hatred began, how the monster relished in his savage war On the Danes, Keeping no peace. (Lines 66-68)” Grendel’s hatred clouds any sympathy he could have had toward humans. This is different from the curiosity of the young Grendel. The Grendel from Beowulf, hunts when his bloodlust become unbearable, or even for his version of fun. He hasn’t truly learned about humans and what they are like, like the Grendel from Grendel.
With the life Grendel is described to have in Grendel, it is understandable on his thoughts. Grendel, in the novel, often has deep thoughts and opinions on the events around him. This is unlike the Grendel in Beowulf. That Grendel has no thoughts about the actions he does. In the novel, Grendel is listening to the Shaper’s words about the past. “The man changed the world [with his words] and had transmuted it, and they, who knew the truth, remembered it in his way-and so did I. (Gardner 43)” Grendel knew the truth about the past, but when he listened to the Shaper’s words he didn’t think about the lies the Shaper was singing, not until later in the book anyways. The Grendel from Beowulf, has no thoughts. He’s more animal than human. “Grendel came, hoping to kill anyone he could trap on his high trip to Herot. (Lines 271-272)” This was before his battle with Beowulf. He didn’t think about what could happen when he faced Beowulf, an example that Grendel doesn’t think about what he was about to do, leaving him impulsive.
Another difference between Grendel and Grendel is that the Grendel from Beowulf is animalistic.

He acts like an animal raised in the woods, which he most likely was. This would most likely affect his personality. “Killing, as often as he could, coming. Alone, bloodthirsty and horrible. (Lines 80-81)” This was quoted from Beowulf. This Grendel is alone, but he is a predator, trying to control his bloodlust. The other Grendel is more civilized in a way. He killed people, but he did it in a way where he wasn’t caught at first. “[They] would send [a drunk] out to the forest to live [because he was stealing], at times I would try to befriend him… in the end, I had to eat them. (Gardner 32-33)” In the beginning of young Grendel’s life, he didn’t have that bloodlust but that grew with his hatred. Grendel was trying to be civilized with his victims as first, but had to eat them in the end. With him being civilized, it could be because of his mother. But the Grendel from Beowulf is thought to always have those animalistic

characteristics.
Even both the novel and the epic poem have the same characteristics, they are very different. They aren’t the same except in their bloodlust and their description, but that’s about it. The Grendel from Grendel has philosophical ideas, has had life experience, and thinks about the events that are happening throughout his lifetime. Whereas, the Grendel from Beowulf has animalistic qualities, has no sympathy toward humans, and is thoughtless in his actions. This goes to show that even though two stories or poems are about the same subject, there can be differences.