Journal 8

How is Grendel a Parody of Beowulf?

                Grendel by John Gardener is a parody based on the epic Beowulf, imitating the writing style or genre of the story. In Beowulf, Grendel is portrayed as a monstrous beast that attacks King Hrothgar and his thanes out of pure evil. However, in Grendel, Gardener shows a much different side of Grendel, who actually displays human traits and emotions. Grendel may be a giant born of Cain, but he had no intentions of harming the warriors in the mead hall; all he wanted was to be accepted by the humans. In spite of this, humans disgraced Grendel and viciously attacked him, making Grendel feel isolated and distressed. Although Grendel didn’t want to be a foul beast, he was driven by the humans to become evil, and after being pushed so many times, Grendel finally decided that enough was enough and wreaked havoc in Herot. Is that not what the humans had wanted? Even a better question, is that not what the humans expected? Even though, in Beowulf, Grendel was shown as a malicious fiend who destroyed the lives of many, Gardener changes the perspective of the story and shows that the humans were the real monsters, and all that the young and naïve Grendel wanted to do was befriend the humans and find his place in an Anglo-Saxon society.  By retelling the classic tale of Beowulf in Grendel’s point of view, Gardener successfully influences readers to sympathize with Grendel and abhor Beowulf and the rest of humankind. In Beowulf, when Grendel comes to his demise, Grendel’s death is viewed as a heroic deed, saving the lives of many. However, in Gardener’s retelling of the story, Beowulf’s victory over Grendel is viewed as horrible, for the simple fact that Grendel’s innocence was taken away by the humans, transforming him into the monster that he became.  By changing the perspective of the story, Gardener’s Grendel parodies the Anglo- Saxon tale Beowulf and mocks the Anglo-Saxons’ literature.