Question

which comparison of beowulf and grendel is most accurate? grendel is characterized as sensitive in the poem, but he is characterized as cruel in the novel. both the poem and the novel are all about grendel, he is the main character in both stories. in the poem, grendel seems like a heartless monster, but in the novel he is emotionally complex. the poem and the novel are very similar, and both characterize grendel in the same way.

Explanation:

In the original Beowulf poem, Grendel is depicted as a menacing, heartless monster. However, in John Gardner's Grendel (the novel), Grendel is given more depth. He is shown to have complex emotions, thoughts, and a sense of his own place in the world. This makes the comparison in the third option valid. The first option is incorrect as Grendel is not characterized as sensitive in the poem. The second option is wrong because Beowulf (the poem) is mainly about Beowulf, not Grendel. The fourth option is false as the poem and the novel do not characterize Grendel in the same way.

Answer:

In the poem, Grendel seems like a heartless monster, but in the novel he is emotionally complex.