Journal 8

How is Grendel a parody of Beowulf? A parody is a mocking imitation of human literature.

Artistic dipiction of Grendel



      John Gardner’s Grendel is in many ways a tribute to Beowulf. However, because of John Gardner’s strong Christian values, Grendel is also partially a parody of Beowulf in the sense that he uses the story to criticize nihilism and existentialism. In Grendel, we see the conflicts between religion and existentialism at a few points. When Grendel initially begins listening to the sharper, he is attracted to his poems about religion. Unfortunately, when the sharper says that beings descendant of Cain such as Grendel are evil, Grendel is conflicted about religion and decides to turn to his self fabricated dragon, embracing the dragon’s philosophical existentialist views. By letting the reader watch Grendel after taking up this new ideology, Gardner is able to show the reader the pitfalls of this way of thinking. This is particularly true later on when Grendel has to face Beowulf and Beowulf poetically preaches to Grendel about rebirth during their battle, dazing Grendel and giving Beowulf a strong upper hand in the battle.