Final answer:
The narrative of John Gardner's Grendel is in the first-person point of view, with Grendel narrating his own story and expressing personal thoughts and emotions, which characterizes him as a complex and conscious entity.
Step-by-step explanation:
In John Gardner's Grendel, the correct statement regarding the narrative point of view is that the narrative is told from first-person point of view. This is evident as the story is narrated by Grendel himself, expressing his own thoughts and emotions directly to the reader. Grendel is clearly the speaker as he uses the first-person pronouns I and my, which is characteristic of a first-person narrative.
Grendel is characterized in this passage as a conscious being with complex emotions and a unique perspective. This narrative approach allows the readers to get a deep understanding of Grendel's character and his experiences, humanizing him beyond the monstrosity depicted in the more traditional Beowulf narrative. This also brings a sense of immediacy and intimacy between Grendel's mind and the reader, letting the audience explore his motivations and the world from his singular viewpoint.
In contrast, the other narrative points of view, such as third-person limited and third-person omniscient, are not applicable in this context as they do not utilize the I pronoun or provide a direct insight into the narrator's internal thoughts in the same manner. Second-person point of view is also incorrect as it would involve the narrator speaking directly to the reader as 'you', which is not the case with Grendel.