Journal 10

Gardner made the decision to use Grendel as the narrator to create a parody of Beowulf. He uses Grendel to develop his philosophies and to be against other philosophies. As a monster Grendel tells the story not like a human would. He tells more in a destructive and slower way, as if he doesn’t know exactly what to say. Grendel has the best view of the whole story; he is able to explain it like no other thing would either human or other monster. Grendel sees the world differently because he is curious and goes out not like his mother or the dragon. He takes a step away from the situation and looks at the whole while a human wouldn’t have. If a Dane would have told the story, they would only talk about the war and how Grendel is evil. The shaper told lies and the Danes believed him, Grendel however knew the truth. He had witnessed everything the shaper describes.