Grendel (novel)

Grendel is a 1971 book published by John Gardner. It is a narrative epic poem of the ancient Beowulf from the perspective of the antagonist, Grendel. The book is about the search for meaning in the world, as well as literature and mythology, and the nature of good and evil.

Grendel is one of Gardner's most famous and most acclaimed books. Various editions of the book contain abstract woodcut images of Grendel's head, by Emil Antonucci. Ten years after its publication in 1981 filmed the book in an animated film: Grendel Grendel Grendel.

Plot

The basic features of the action taken directly from the Beowulf, a heroic poem unknown author, which written in Old English, and has been handed down as a manuscript from the year AD 1000. The poem is about the battles of Beowulf, which has to fight against three villains: Grendel, Grendel's mother and a dragon. Gardner's book, however, shows the story from the existential point of view of Grendel, starting with the history of the character before Beowulf's appearance. Beowulf itself plays a relatively small role in the book: Although he is the only human hero who can keep up with Grendel, he is never named in the book directly by name. The book deals with none of the events which have happened after Grendel's death.

Film Adaptations

  • An Australian film Grendel Grendel Grendel with the title based on Gardner's book.
  • The film Beowulf & Grendel, published in 2005 is inspired by the book.

Swell

  • John Gardner: Grendel. Illustrations by Emil Antonucci. Vintage Books, New York 1971, ISBN 0-679-72311-0.
  • SparkNotes Grendel
  • The Grendex
  • Literary work
  • Literature ( 20th century)
  • Literature (United States)
  • Literature ( English )
  • Novel, epic
  • Beowulf
  • Reception of Germanic mythology
John Gardner (American writer)
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