Analysis of John Gardner's Grendel as being an illustration of the shattered innocent/fallen from grace archetype, as well an accurate depiction of human nature

People believe in things. They believe strongly. And when those beliefs are broken, they often feel personally betrayed by that. This is the idea expressed in John Gardner's Grendel. In this story, Gardner illustrates what can happen when everything a person believes is challenged and how they may react to that. Grendel, in this story, represents the common man. He is not overly intelligent, but nor is he stupid. He illustrates human emotions and thought …

…Grendel is both an intriguing tale, as well as a lesson in human behavior. It allows us to glimpse the ideas behind human actions from an angle often unseen. Gardner's Grendel is an amazing example of literature reflecting a hidden aspect of society and can be enjoyed on a philosophical level, as well as a form of entertainment. Not many books can achieve this, and Gardner deserves praise for completing this difficult task so masterfully.