Grendel (novel)

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Grendel is a 1971 novel by John Gardner, retelling the epic of Beowulf from the point of view of the monster Grendel.

It was animated in Australia, under the title Grendel Grendel Grendel.

Tropes used in Grendel (novel) include:

• Alternate Character Interpretation - Grendel is a poor lonely misunderstood guy who can't communicate with humans despite not meaning them any harm. At first.
• Angst - Lots of it - mainly of the "What's the purpose of it all?" vein. Leads to Wangst.
• Black Comedy
• Deadpan Snarker: Grendel himself has at least two such moments while Beowulf is smacking his head against a wall.

"I sing for the hardness of walls. Hooray for the hardness of walls."

• Dirty Old Man - This version gives us the dragon that Beowulf fights at the end of the poem as one.

"Boobies, hemorrhoids boils, slaver (nyeh heh heh)..."

• Faux Symbolism - Lots, fueling many an English Literature professor.
• He-Man Woman Hater - Apparently being raised by a barely-sentient monster doesn't help one's view of women. Grendel might be applying little bit of Ho Yay jealousy to the king's wife as well.
• Humanoid Abomination - What Grendel perceives Beowulf as. Aside from his strength, Grendel can't help but notice something wrong about his face and shoulders, which isn't helped by Grendel's pain-induced hallucinations featuring Beowulf sprouting flaming wings.
• Humans Are the Real Monsters - Grendel means no harm to the people, but they treat him as a horrible monster.
• Nietzsche Wannabe - The dragon, who also manages to convince Grendel to stop trying to make up with the Danes and just kill them instead.
• Perspective Flip
• Straw Character - a variety of viewpoints are mocked without a satisfactory rebuttal.
• Sympathetic POV
• Twice-Told Tale
• Villain Protagonist