By choosing to tell the story from Grendel’s perspective, Gardner is able to address certain issues in a way he wouldn’t be able to otherwise address with any other characters from Beowulf. Grendel is a monster. Therefore, Grendel is mostly isolated from the outside world. This makes it possible to tackle subjects like language, art, and religion from the perspective of an intelligent outsider that can be fascinated with people. For example, when it comes to language Grendel is unable to communicate with anybody, and despite being able to understand the Danes, Grendel is still unable to communicate with them. Later on, when Grendel becomes more fascinated with language, it is reflected in the way Grendel’s narrative changes and in his relationship with the sharper, showing language’s influence on the way Grendel thinks.
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