Grendel
John Gardner
Grendel knows! Of course, that's because he's peeking through your windows. Poor Grendel, always an outsider. Oh well.
For anyone not familiar with the original source, Grendel was inspired by the epic poem Beowulf, sung by scops and transcribed by monks between the 8th and 10th centuries. Beowulf describes the feats of the Geat warrior of the same name, and only one such example is his killing of the monster Grendel. Grendel, however, focuses solely on the monster, humanizing him and presenting a complex being not found in the original. While Grendel meets the same end in each, the focus here is entirely shifted to the “enemy” of the original.
As one might expect, Gardner turns labels like “hero” and “enemy” on their heads. The novel documents the origins of Grendel’s hatred of humans, including the time he is stuck in a tree and found by a band of humans. When he tries to speak to them, they cannot understand him and, hearing only vicious howls, attack him. This band of humans, led by Hrothgar (who becomes their king), colonize the area and lose their nomadic ways. Such an event allows Grendel to observe these strange creatures further and he soon learns he is similar to – yet fatally different from – them in several key ways.
John Gardner
Grendel knows! Of course, that's because he's peeking through your windows. Poor Grendel, always an outsider. Oh well.
For anyone not familiar with the original source, Grendel was inspired by the epic poem Beowulf, sung by scops and transcribed by monks between the 8th and 10th centuries. Beowulf describes the feats of the Geat warrior of the same name, and only one such example is his killing of the monster Grendel. Grendel, however, focuses solely on the monster, humanizing him and presenting a complex being not found in the original. While Grendel meets the same end in each, the focus here is entirely shifted to the “enemy” of the original.
As one might expect, Gardner turns labels like “hero” and “enemy” on their heads. The novel documents the origins of Grendel’s hatred of humans, including the time he is stuck in a tree and found by a band of humans. When he tries to speak to them, they cannot understand him and, hearing only vicious howls, attack him. This band of humans, led by Hrothgar (who becomes their king), colonize the area and lose their nomadic ways. Such an event allows Grendel to observe these strange creatures further and he soon learns he is similar to – yet fatally different from – them in several key ways.
Why is he carrying a purse?
For one, Grendel remains tragically misunderstood by the humans with whom he wants to connect. In fact, one could say that Grendel examines the effects of miscommunication, as Grendel is unable to truly communicate with anyone, except perhaps the Dragon, a fatalistic character who transcends time. The dragon informs Grendel that existence is meaningless, an idea Grendel finds confusing; nevertheless, coupled with the Dragon's spell which renders him invulnerable to human attack, Grendel begins his 12-year attack on the meadhall of the Danes, an attack which eventually leads to the arrival of Beowulf and consequently Grendel's demise.
Another way in which Grendel differs from humans involves the philosophical elements of perception and meaning. The novel proposes that we create the universe by observing it: Grendel comes to see this as a reason to destroy; humans, however, use this idea positively, creating for themselves meaning where before there was none.
Ultimately, as Beowulf explains, "whether you make it a grave or a garden of roses is not the point." Of course, whether one makes her life a personal grave or rose garden is meaningless to the world at large; it is everything, however, to the individual doing the perceiving. We could all do with the reminder that life is what we make of it; even the best of lives can be a grave for those too foolish to see it otherwise.
In a nutshell: An excellent read, regardless of one's familiarity with the original source. Grendel has much to say about humanity, meaning, and perception.
Bibliolatry Scale: 5.5 out of 6 stars
Another way in which Grendel differs from humans involves the philosophical elements of perception and meaning. The novel proposes that we create the universe by observing it: Grendel comes to see this as a reason to destroy; humans, however, use this idea positively, creating for themselves meaning where before there was none.Ultimately, as Beowulf explains, "whether you make it a grave or a garden of roses is not the point." Of course, whether one makes her life a personal grave or rose garden is meaningless to the world at large; it is everything, however, to the individual doing the perceiving. We could all do with the reminder that life is what we make of it; even the best of lives can be a grave for those too foolish to see it otherwise.
In a nutshell: An excellent read, regardless of one's familiarity with the original source. Grendel has much to say about humanity, meaning, and perception.
Bibliolatry Scale: 5.5 out of 6 stars
2 comments:
I've got this on my list. I keep intending to read it and then get distracted. I haven't read Beowulf, maybe someday I'll get to that too. Glad to see you liked it.
I've had this one on my bookshelf (unread) for ages. Now I might actually read it!
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