John Gardner's Grendel is remembered for its novel retelling of the Anglo-Saxon epic poem Beowulf from the perspective of the monster. Gardner's Grendel was much more sinned against than sinning.
Sure, he slaughtered that beer hall full of drunken humans but have some understanding, Gardner seemed to be saying. There was a history there, with interlopers treading on Grendel's home turf. Things escalated quickly, as Ron Burgundy would rationalize it. Men treated Grendel like an enemy and practically drove him to dispatch them en masse.
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