Beowulf Vs. Grendel

The two fabled Norse epics, Beowulf and Grendel, naturally invite the question of perspective. After all, both are basically describing the same line of events with some minor differences that are so insignificant as to be readily overlooked. It is, however, the precise perspective and the viewpoint from which the similar stories are told that is significant. The main character as well as the viewpoint in Beowulf is obviously the hero - Beowulf, a legendary warrior invited to rid a neighboring kingdom of the scourge that is Grendel. In Grendel, on the other hand, the story is told from the perspective of the monster rather than the hero.

Beowulf is a heroic epic that is told in the best traditions of such. The readers follow Beowulf as he travels and hear about his great deeds, unbelievable strength, and heroic intentions. It is clearly presented that Beowulf is a symbolic Good, whereas Grendel, a monster whom Beowulf has come to kill, is a symbol of Evil. The attention in Beowulf is obviously drawn solely to him with rather minor mentioning of the monsters, and Grendel in particular, that he has to fight. On the contrary, in Grendel, it is the monster that is a center of the events. What the readers see as they move from one book to another is not only how relatively the same story is told "by" Beowulf and Grendel, but rather how it looks from the side of good and evil. In Beowulf, we see Grendel as a monster whose sole purpose is to kill, destroy, and demolish. In Grendel, however, the author shows us the life of the monster himself, the conflicts that he is going through, his search for identity, and his eventual tragic demise at the hands of Beowulf. Even though in Beowulf we notice that Grendel has a human side to him, this theme is rather undeveloped; it is seemingly meant for the reader not to have even a slight bit of sympathy toward the monster. It is not difficult, however, to have the personal perspective changed dramatically in regards to the monster after reading Grendel. In some aspects, Grendel is perhaps even relatable. This is because his search for the meaning of life, for beauty, and truth has never been revealed to the readers in Beowulf. Ultimately, therefore, Grendel is quite a complex character that deserved to have his own story written about him, and this sort of analysis of his nature is an appropriate way to extend reader's horizons as well as perspectives on the original Beowulf.