Mighty Sea answers “Must students read Beowulf before reading...”

Jill asked this question about Grendel:

Must students read Beowulf before reading Grendel, or can they read the novel without having any context of the poem?

Mighty Sea I was going to give (essentially) the same answer as Cricket Muse...but the more I think about it the more I feel like the answer is no. You can read …moreI was going to give (essentially) the same answer as Cricket Muse...but the more I think about it the more I feel like the answer is no. You can read Grendel without any knowledge of Beowulf and still get the novel. Grendel is the story of a misanthrope looking for meaning in a seemingly uncaring universe, with some viking neighbors he doesn't like very much. Knowing about Beowulf definitely adds texture to several characters such as the Dragon and the King, but doesn't change anything in Grendels' "journey."
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