BritLit1 Context: Illustrations of Grendel

As one of the first and most vivid monsters of English literature, Grendel has understandably inspired many artistic representations. Here are some of my favorites!

This is from The Stories of Beowulf (1908), illustrated by J.R. Skelton. Note Grendel's satchel: this is probably an interpretation of the dragon-skin "glove" Beowulf mentions as part of Grendel's equipage when telling of his exploit to Hygelac. Sadly, this is the only picture of Grendel in the book, so we get no sense of scale between Beowulf and Grendel.

These three are from Maud Ebbutt's Hero Myths and Legends of the British Race (1910); I'm not sure who the illustrator is. What's fascinating about these images is not only Grendel's emphatic monstrousness, but also the unflinching gore. This Grendel seems only slightly bigger than a human.

These are some of Lynd Ward's amazing illustrations for a 1939 edition of Beowulf. I love the emphasis on Grendel's eyes and talons--his two most prominent features--in the first picture. The second picture gives us a sense of scale: this Grendel is HUGE.

Grendel from the first issue of the DC Beowulf comics (1975). I love Grendel's inner dialogue: "Kill the light!" This Grendel went on to be a recurrent Wonder Woman villain, of all things.

Another 1975 Grendel by Brian Froud (the genius behind the art design of Labyrinth). This was my first Grendel, an illustration in a Childcraft supplement, The Magic of Words. Pure, unadulterated nightmare fuel and immensely cool.

A Grendel from Alan Lee, better known for his copious illustration of Middle-earth. This is from Castles (1984). This may be the biggest Grendel I've ever seen. Also, he looks like Gollum, but, hey, it's Alan Lee.

The cover of the 1989 edition of Grendel. This is Grendel as teddy bear/sasquatch, I guess. He looks sad and cuddly.

This may be the closest we have to a period Anglo-Saxon illustration of Grendel. It is, in fact, a demon lurking at a hellmouth, waiting for foolish mortals to wander too close. This comes from the 11th century Wonders of the East, a book of exotic marvels apparently designed to suppress travel abroad. (That's a joke. Mostly.)

This is William Blake's Ghost of a Flea (ca. 1820). It's not meant to be Grendel, but there's something about it that's distinctly Grendel-ish.

Last, one of Goya's "Black Paintings," commonly called Saturn Devouring His Son (ca. 1820). Again, this isn't an illustration of Grendel, but it is a depiction of a myth of cannibalism that Anglo-Saxons were aware of. (Aelfric calls this an "unfatherly" act.) It could very easily be the devouring of poor Hondscioh.