Grendel (novel)

Did You Know?

• The novel was nominated for the 1972 Mythopoeic Award for best novel.
• Several editions contain pen and ink line drawings of Grendel's head by Emil Antonucci.
• In 2024, The Jim Henson Company announced a live-action adaptation directed by Robert D. Krzykowski, with Jeff Bridges voicing Grendel.

Background

The plot of Grendel derives from the Old English heroic poem Beowulf, preserved in a manuscript from around AD 1000, which recounts the Geat warrior Beowulf's battles with Grendel, Grendel's mother, and a dragon. Gardner's retelling presents the story from Grendel's existentialist viewpoint, exploring events before Beowulf arrives. Beowulf himself plays a small role, though he remains the only hero who can kill Grendel. The dragon appears as an omniscient, bored character who tells Grendel to seek gold and sit on it, and grants him immunity to swords. Gardner modeled Grendel on Jean-Paul Sartre, with whom he had a love-hate relationship, stating that everything Grendel says Sartre has said in some mood.

Plot

The novel opens with Grendel fighting a ram and mockingly questioning the sky. He passes his mute mother and attacks Hrothgar's mead hall, Hart. Grendel recalls his childhood, including being stuck in a tree and rescued by his mother. A blind poet, the Shaper, arrives at Hart and orates a myth that moves Grendel despite its falsehood. Grendel visits a dragon, who espouses existential nihilism, leaving Grendel angry and confused. While listening to the Shaper, Grendel is spotted; in the ensuing fight he discovers the dragon's enchantment makes him impervious to weapons. He begins attacking Hart. The thane Unferth challenges Grendel, who mocks him and refuses to fight. Unferth follows Grendel to his cave in desperation; Grendel mocks him until he faints, then returns him to Hart, depriving him of a heroic death.

Characters

Grendel tells the story from his own point of view as the main character and narrator, a monster by his own description. His mother shares their underwater cave but cannot speak and shows no interest in the outside world. Beowulf, the Geat who eventually kills Grendel, is never called by name in the book and is portrayed with traits similar to the dragon. Hrothgar is the Danish warrior-king. The Shaper, a blind storyteller and harpist, creates the Danes' fearful image of Grendel through his fictional tales; after his death, his young apprentice takes over. Unferth, a Scylding warrior, tries and fails to beat Grendel. Wealtheow is Hrothgar's queen, and Hrothulf is his orphaned nephew. Freawaru is their teenage daughter, and Hygmod is Wealtheow's brother and king of the Helmings. The dragon is an ancient, all-knowing beast guarding a treasure hoard, possibly imaginary or the same dragon from the original poem. Red Horse advises Hrothulf, and Ork is an old blind priest.

Musical adaptations

In 1982, the British neo-prog band Marillion recorded a 17-minute song titled 'Grendel' based on the book, released as a B-side and later on compilations. The American alternative rock band Sunny Day Real Estate recorded a song called 'Grendel' on their 1994 debut album Diary. An opera based on the novel premiered on June 8, 2006, at the Los Angeles Opera, with music by Elliot Goldenthal and libretto by Julie Taymor and J. D. McClatchy, directed by Taymor. The cast included Eric Owens as Grendel, Denyce Graves as the dragon, Richard Croft as the Shaper, Laura Claycomb as Wealtheow, Jay Hunter Morris as Unferth, and Desmond Richardson as Beowulf in a dancing role. The opera was also produced in New York City during summer 2006 at the New York State Theater.