According to Dictionary.com, sympathy can be defined as “the act or power of sharing the feelings of another, especially.” in sorrow or trouble; feeling of camaraderie, compassion or pity. (dictionary.reference.com/browse/Sympathy) This definition is relevant, as well as the information provided after reading both, The Poem Beowulf translated by Burton Raffel. and the novel Grendel by John Gardner, it seems obvious that the character of Grendel arouses more sympathy from the reader than that of the character of Beowulf. The definition of sympathy, as previously stated, implies that one, in this case the reader, can share feelings with another, Grendel, most often says that the feelings are those of grief. One instance where you can particularly sympathize with Grendel is when he finds himself stuck in a tree, and Hrothgar and his men stumble upon him, about to be attacked: I shouted at them, trying to scare, but they They simply hid behind the bushes and took long sticks from the saddles of their horses, bows and javelins. …I had never screamed louder in my life. Darts like hot coals flew through my legs and arms and I screamed even louder. (27) The reader can interpret and feel the pain and fear that Grendel endures, as well as the confusion as to why these men are attacking him, when all he was asking for was food. As the story progresses, Grendel becomes bewitched by the Thanes and keeping constant vigilance over them, one night Grendel follows the Thanes as they set out to defeat another group, the Hemlings, as they were becoming much too numerous and the king feared that they would take over. Once they arrived at the Hemling camp, the two kings spoke of the imminent battle, Hrothgar wanted the fight, while... middle of paper... path, glancing furtively like an old mustachioed voyeur, wet. -with red lips, red eyes, chest filled with insignificant anguish, I watch the old man work up the courage to let his heart stop. (143) Grendel is overcome by the sadness surrounding the Shaper, and is overcome with grief, once again leaving readers to share his feelings about the situation. Then, once the old man is dead, Grendel watches a messenger leave to tell the news to a woman, and Grendel then seems to have a revelation: "So we must all, sooner or later, pass through." (145) Works cited Bateson, F . W. “Grendel and Beowulf were two pretty boys.” The New York Review of Books. 3rd. New York: 1971. Print. Gardner, John. Grendel. New York: Vintage Books, 1989. Pages 27, 100, 109, 110, 143, 145. Print. “Sympathy” Dictionary.com, LLC http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Sympathy