Answer:
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.
