Grendel is a novella written by John Gardner. Released in 1971, it retells the epic poem Beowulf from the point of view from the titular monster.
Characters[]
- Grendel
- Grendel's mother
- Beowulf
- Hrothgar
- The Shaper
- The Shaper's assisstant
- Unferth
- Wealtheow
- Hrothulf
- Freawaru
- Hygmod
- The dragon
- Red Horse
- Ork
rest to be added
Publisher's summary[]
When Grendel is drawn up from the caves under the mere, where he lives with his bloated, inarticulate hag of a mother, into the fresh night air, it is to lay waste Hrothgar's meadhall and heap destruction on the humans he finds there. What else can he do? For he is not like the men who busy themselves with God and love and beauty. He sees the infuriating human rage for order and recognises the meaninglessness of his own existence.
GRENDEL is John Gardner's masterpiece; it vividly reinvents the world of Beowulf. In Grendel himself, a creature of grotesque comedy, pain and disillusioned intelligence, Gardner has created the most unforgettable monster in fantasy.
See also[]
| Title | Author | Release date | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| The House of Asterion | Jorge Luis Borges | 1947 | A short story which similarly recontextualizes an ancient legend |
Sources[]
- Wikipedia
- Goodreads