Grendel is a novel by john gardner that was first published in 1971. This brief book is a brutally powerful conjuring of the monster grendel from beowulf. The first and most terrifying monster in english literature, from the great early epic beowulf, tells his own side of the story in this frequently banned book. The main characters of this fiction, fantasy story are beowulf, grendel. Grendel by john gardner, emil antonucci 9780679723110. It was given special mention by diana athill in her memoir stet, covering her. Analysis of the 1971 novel by the late american john gardner often goes hand in hand with an literary need to shape his anthropomorphizing of the monster, grendel, to the philosophy of icelandic sagas, shakespeares the tempest and any other codex of human thought on the nature of duality where the latter is a battle between good and evil, savage and civilised. Read a plot overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter summary and. The story is narrated in first person by john gardner s reimagined grendel, who is both horrifying and sympathetic. Grendel is a horrible monster who greedily gobbles up warriors in the danish mead hall guarded by beowulf. Grendel by john gardner, emil antonucci, paperback barnes. Grendel is a 1971 novel by american author john gardner. In gardner s version of the epic, instead of lauding the helmeted hero, beowulf, the spotlight shines on grendel, a beast whose grotesque body and blood thirst condemn him to the life of an outlaw.
He was born in batavia, new york, in 1933, and taught english, anglosaxon, and creative writing at oberlin college, chico state college, san. The novel deals with finding meaning in the world, the power of literature and myth, and the nature of good and evil. Summary read a plot overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter summary and analysis. Analysis of the 1971 novel by the late american john gardner often goes hand in hand with an literary need to shape his anthropomorphizing of the monster. Mythopoeic fantasy award for adult literature nominee from the publisher world renowned critic john gardner has received prestigious awards for his. Grendel is a beautiful and heartbreaking modern retelling of the beowulf epic from the point of view of the.
Gardner s novel although really its a novella, at barely pages literally gives a voice to the villain of the story. The first and most terrifying monster in english literature, from the gr. Pdf grendel book by john gardner free download 174 pages. The book has been awarded with mythopoeic fantasy award. In addition to the inhuman grendel, the book includes a shorter, very striking evocation of a dragon who sees both past and future. The prose is often wonderful, earthy yet poetic, laced with wit. John gardner s 1971 novel grendel, as the books title suggests, tells this story but from the point of view of the monster rather than the hero. The story is narrated in first person by john gardners reimagined grendel. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 174 pages and is available in paperback format. Published in 1971 by the american author, john gardner, grendel is a powerful novel using the voice of the monster in beowulf, an old english epic poem.