To an Athlete Dying Young

Beowulf concretely establishes the traditional hero/villain roles only to have Grendel pulverize this concept proving that just as Grendel the character cannot exist without Beowulf the character, Grendel the novel cannot exist without Beowulf the poem.

Gardner utilizes alliteration, demonic kennings, negative diction, pathos, first point of view, pleading repetition, innocent tone, and beastlike imagery to manipulate the villain role and create compassion for Grendel. Through the use of pathos, pleading diction, innocent tone, demonic kennings, creates Grendel look as if not evil. Grendel is portrayed as a confused creature passing through life looking for answers. Surprisingly Grendel walks the forest in harmony with animals. He does not act like the blood hungry beast he is seen as in Beowulf. Another aspect of the humans in the story that Grendel defines is their concept of a hero. Not only does he allow for heroes to exits he gives them their purpose in life. Grendel evokes sympathy toward the hideous monster by making him seem like the victim, while Beowulf portrays him as being the most loathsome of enemies.

Another aspect of the humans in the story that Grendel defines is their concept of a hero. Not only does he allow for heroes to exist he gives them their purpose in life. Grendel is the monster in the darkness that every loyal thane would defend his king against. Without Grendel this unique situation would not exist. On the other hand, Grendel has the ability of humiliating and causing a man to be named a coward. He does this to none other than Unferth. Unferth is treated like a hero because he would defeat the "monster" Grendel, or die trying. When Grendel does not allow him to complete this task he is shamed by his fellow thanes. Grendel realizes that by killing the man he will be defining him as a hero in the eyes of the humans. Considering the way Grendel was treated by Unferth, and others like him, it becomes easy to