In both works, Beowulf and Grendel, Grendel himself is generally given the same connotations. He is given kennings, names, referred to as the evil offspring of Cain and even seen as a monster; but why? Why in both books is he an evil, horrible person, harshly excluded by everyone? After coming across John Gardner's book, one half expected that some excuse would be found for Grendel; that he was not really the inexorable monster as Beowulf's nobles had described him. But it actually only made it worse. What message is being sent to us about Grendel? In Beowulf we know almost nothing about Grendel. His name is barely mentioned and instead he is given a copious amount of kenning. In Grendel we learn everything about him; his philosophy of life, his "family", and even his childhood. But why do we get the genealogy of every major character in Beowulf except Grendel? The only certain thing we know about him is that he is the offspring of Cain. It's almost as if the Anglo-Saxons didn't want you to know how Grendel became what he became. I...