The Anti-hero as a Critic in John Gardner s Grendel

This article aims to examine from a Mennippean perspective John Gardner‟s novel Grendel (originally published in 1971), in which the anti-hero, here Grendel, acts as the author s critical voice that invites the reader to revise his own world. Besides the use of the Mennipean satire, Bakhtinian approach of the carnival is present in the paper to highlight the role and the status of the anti-hero in the world he lives in. To endow authority upon the marginalized is a postmodern strategy that allows for the maximum degree of critical distance; hence, freshness of perception. Thus, the scope of the anti-hero s objective intelligence and ability to raise awareness is upgraded; so, he is the one who observes and criticizes, demystifying the illusions and the fake values that govern the life of the community, if not humanity at large; language, political “games” and power are the main phenomena that Grendel confronts. This paper is meant to incite the reader to have a new insight into the role of the anti-hero, a role that transcends the attributed status of the monster.