Answer and Explanation:
The epic poem "Beowulf" tells the story of the homonym hero who fights against and kills monsters. While Beowulf is the perfect main character - brave, strong, and honorable -, the monster Grendel is described as a man-eating creature. Grendel is incapable of feeling. A descendant of Cain, his sole purpose is to kill.
However, in John Gardner's version of the story "Grendel", a new light is shone, and Grendel is described as a victim rather than a villain. He is not a monster, even though he has a monstrous appearance. Grendel is incapable of communicating with human beings, which causes them to misunderstand his actions. His feelings are never conveyed, so Grendel is in a constant blend of anger and frustration.
As we can see, both works use a very different perspective concerning the same character. By reading "Beowulf" alone, we would not hesitate before condemning Grendel. However, after reading Gardner's work, we are more inclined to think twice and to empathize with Grendel.