Point of View

The novel is told from Grendel’s point of view. It is told in first person, so much of the novel is Grendel’s inner thoughts. Grendel is a very pensive and contemplative creature, so he sometimes will narrate the story from another person’s point of view. However, he is always the narrative voice. His tone is very sarcastic because Grendel has such a cynical view of humanity. There are times, though, where Grendel tries to have compassion for people. But for the most part, Grendel keeps his distance from the civilization.

Setting

Grendel takes place during the fourth century in Denmark. The people live in a feudal society, so there is a large divide between the upper and lower classes. Many of the different towns are also trying to remain independent. Once a smaller town is conquered by a larger area, the remaining...