Readers of Beowulf will likely view Grendel as a villain. Readers of Grendel, however, will likely view the character as more sympathetic.
Explanation:
Beowulf is one of the most famous epic poems of all time. It takes the name of its main character, who fights and defeats three monsters: Grendel, Grendel's mother, and a dragon. In the poem, Grendel is described as a man-eating monster, incapable of feeling, whose only purpose is to kill.
However, in John Gardner's version "Grendel", we are presented with this character under a completely different light. He is not a monster as portrayed in Beowulf. Grendel has feelings; he suffers. People are, unfortunately, incapable of understanding him due to his appearance and his inability to communicate. He is likely to be more sympathetic to readers as someone who wishes to be accepted, but is mistreated instead.
These differences are an example of how language may influence our views of the world
A language is a formalised form of speech. A language's grammar is its structure, while its vocabulary is its free-form elements. Humans primarily communicate using languages, which can be expressed orally (spoken language), visually (sign language), or in writing. Many languages, including the most extensively used ones, have writing systems that make it possible to record sounds or signals for later activation. Being independent of a single channel of transmission (such as sight, sound, etc.), highly changeable between cultures, and providing a considerably greater spectrum of expression than other systems make human language distinct from other systems of animal communication.
