erics

"'Poor Grendel's had an accident,' I whisper. '//So may you all'//" (Gardner 174).

John Gardner (1933-1982) Though most famous for his novels, John Gardner was a jack-of-all-trades, publishing children's books, collections of short stories, translations, opera lyrics, and essays on fiction (Daly). Born and raised on a farm, John Gardner's early life was shaped by a farm accident where his younger brother was killed. Gardner blamed himself, and this would cause many of his later works to focus on ideas of guilt, remorse, and salvation (Daly). He first gained success in 1971 with his novel //Grendel,// and became well-known for putting surprising turns on myths and fairy tales ("John Gardner"). Publishing his first book opened the door to many more works that he had written earlier, but never published. Gardner continued writing and publishing until his death in 1982. To learn more about John Gardner, read his biography on [|The Literary Encyclopedia]. A picture of John Gardner ([|todayinliterature.com])  Grendel-by John G ardner The novel __Grendel__ is John Gardner’s interpretation of the epic tale of Beowulf, told from the monster’s point of view. The legendary monster, Grendel, narrates the story of his own life, from his lonely youth to his gruesome end. Grendel grows up alone, his only companion being his abomination of a mother, who has forgotten even how to speak. As he ventures out of his cave home, Grendel comes upon humans and is amazed by their ways. He takes to silently watching them, slowly learning that he will never be accepted. When he hears of God, Grendel struggles with his conscience, knowing that he is on the side of darkness. When he is finally able to speak to someone, it is the dragon, who tells him that there is no God and it doesn't matter whether he kills or not. "'If you withdraw, you'll be instantly replaced. Brute existents, you know, are a dime a dozen. If it's man's irreverence that interests you, stick with him! Scare him to glory! It's all the same in the end. . .'" (Gardner 73). Grendel continues to stick to his perception of good, replying "'Let them find some other 'brute existent,' whatever it is. I refuse'" (Gardner 73). When he is later caught by the guards and attacked, Grendel learns that the dragon has put a charm on him: he is invincible. This pushes him over the edge, and Grendel kills his first guard, biting off his head with glee. In this moment Grendel discovers his purpose. "'I was Grendel, Ruiner of Meadhalls, Wreaker of Kings!'" (Gardner 80). An artist's interpretation of Grendel ([|websays.ca]). While it had its fair share of fantasy and epic battle scenes, this was not the only aim of Gardner's __Grendel__. This great book depicted the forming of Grendel's mind as he grows up, all alone. Gardner expertly describes the twists and turns of Grendel's strange mind, tainted by the ideas of the foul dragon. Most of the battles in the novel are not carried out with swords and claws, but within Grendel's mind. Inside, Grendel battles loneliness, tedium and his conscience, searching for his place in life. This is why Grendel is so joyous when he discovers his "purpose." "I had //become// something, as if born again" (Gardner 80). Grendel is so happy to have found a purpose; he doesn't care how evil it is. While Grendel's bizarre mind can confuse readers at times, it also gives us all a look from a very different perspective.

"But also, as never before, I was alone" (Gardner 80). Grendel's story is obviously one of fantasy and monsters, but it is also a metaphor for real life. Grendel is violent monster, but he is also a lonely child. The story shows how parents and teachers influence thoughts, and how devastating the lack of any positive influence can be. The example of Grendel is quite extreme, but it is not so very different from what can happen in real life. Grendel was written long before the time of the recent school violence, but his book creates an eerily accurate metaphor for what has happened. This imagery, along with Gardner's ability to look at the story of Beowulf from a different angle, makes __Grendel__ an outstanding book. media type="youtube" key="v9qpqyO_dmU" height="295" width="480" Trailer for Robert Zemeciks' movie __Beowulf__ ([|youtube.com]).

To hear the story from the point of Beowulf, watch the movie or check out the full translation of __Beowulf__ at [].

Report by Eric Schwen, 22 Mar 2009.

Works Cited Gardner, John. __Grendel__. New York: Random House, 1971.

"John Gardner." __Prentice Hall Literature__. 8 Mar 2009. http://www.phschool.com/atschool/literature/author_biographies/gardner_j.html.

Daly, Robert. "John Gardner." __The Literary Encyclopedia__. 24 Jan 2006. 8 Mar 2009. http://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=1682.