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Beowulf vs. Grendel Beowulf and Grendel are two tales. They share subject matter. They share plot. They share setting and tell of the exact same events, but Beowulf and Grendel have two entirely different themes. Beowulf is an epic poem about the honesty, bravery, and humility that defined the ideal Dane. John Gardner's Grendel, a retelling of Beowulf, is a story about growing up and searching for the answers to "Why?" and "How?" Gardner shows …

…has a conscience and makes mistakes, just like any other man. He also seeks the truth as to why this is the case. When both stories are examined in this light, we see that Grendel is a man, and Beowulf is a god. Gardner's reasoning behind Grendel is as much a mystery as is the the author of Beowulf. The point is that plot and setting are not the most important parts of a story.