Analysis of The Stories of Beowulf and Grendel

Introduction

Beowulf was written around 1000 AD by an anonymous Anglo-Saxon poet. "Beowulf" narrates, from a third-person perspective, the story of a warrior named Beowulf who assists King Hrothgar in ridding his kingdom of a monster named Grendel, who is terrorizing and killing his subjects. In contrast, "Grendel" by John Gardner presents the events from Grendel's perspective, providing insight into how he views similar events through his eyes. One story tells of a hero who is showered with gold, glory, and land through battle, saving but also killing people to achieve his goals and feeling justified in his actions. The other tells of a monster cast aside because of his monstrous appearance, who kills and eats people simply because he can. Both have killed, but in their perspectives, they feel differently about whether their actions were right or wrong.

Analysis of Beowulf and Grendel

Both stories are perceived differently based on how they are told; each event is related, but how Grendel or the dragon felt and saw it is only their perspective. In "Beowulf," the dragon is determined to protect his treasure after guarding it for over 300 years. One day, a slave stumbles upon a cave filled with treasure and steals a gem-studded cup, unaware of its owner. The dragon notices and is enraged because, as the text states, "the signs of its anger flickered and glowed in the darkness, visible for miles, tokens of its hate and its cruelty, spread like warning to the Geats" (Beowulf, p. 96, lines 2315-2317). The dragon seeks vengeance, trying to track the slave's footprints but loses sight of him, growing even angrier and waiting for his chance to exact revenge.

At night, the dragon decides to wreak havoc on the village by setting it on fire. To him, this act is justified because the slave stole something that belonged to him. In "Beowulf," the dragon is portrayed as angry and uncontrollable: "as the flames rose up; the angry monster meant to leave nothing alive" (Beowulf, p. 96, lines 2314-2315). The dragon's reaction to the theft of a cup may seem childish, but to him, his treasure means everything, prompting him to seek revenge like a child who has had their candy stolen. The dragon attacks at night, knowing the villagers would be asleep, making it easy to attack and scare them.

In "Grendel," the dragon is described differently. Grendel describes the dragon's voice as loud as an old man's, with "eyes heavy-lidded, minutely veined, wrinkled like an elderly mead-drinker's" (Gardner, p. 58). Grendel views the dragon as wise, treating Grendel with a degree of respect. While Grendel fears the dragon, he respects the dragon's wisdom and listens to him, even if he doesn't believe everything the dragon says. The dragon is wise and knowledgeable, explaining to Grendel that he can see the future but cannot change it. Grendel asks about the Shaper and why his songs affect him, to which the dragon responds that the Shaper tells illusions, explaining the flaws of human thought. The dragon explains, "he knows no more than they do about total reality—less if anything" (Gardner, p. 65). The Shaper uses his songs to make the Danes believe in their systems and laws, giving them a sense of pride.

With the Shaper's illusions, the Danes feel comfort and pride in their systems, believing their culture is superior. The Shaper reinforces their beliefs, filling them with pride. Despite mocking Grendel initially, the dragon proves helpful, advising Grendel to "seek out gold and sit on it" (Gardner, p. 74). This advice is difficult for Grendel to understand initially, but it marks a turning point in his perception of the dragon and the Shaper, shifting from admiration to hatred.

Character Analysis: Beowulf and Grendel

"Beowulf" tells of a warrior named Beowulf who engages in countless battles throughout his life, starting with defeating Grendel. Grendel is described as a ruthless monster: "no savage assault quench his lust for evil" (Beowulf, p. 8, lines 137-138). Grendel is a vicious beast, enjoying the terrorizing and killing of people at the mead-hall. He attacks at night, killing and eating people, and is characterized as a murderer and brute. In contrast, Beowulf is portrayed as a hero, celebrated with treasure despite also killing people. Grendel relishes in the fear he instills because he is "conceived by a pair of those monsters born of Cain, murderous creatures banished by God, punished forever for the crime of Abel’s death" (Beowulf, p. 6, lines 105-108).

In conclusion, the contrasting perspectives in "Beowulf" and "Grendel" offer a deeper understanding of the themes of heroism, monstrosity, and morality. Each character's actions are justified in their own eyes, providing a complex exploration of right and wrong in the context of their worlds.