In classical literature, characters often grow a tremendous amount throughout the entire work; this is evidently noted in the novel "Grendel", written by John Gardner. Grendel's point-of-view transforms dramatically throughout the course of the novel, he begins as a young, ignorant, adolescent then conforms into a delusional adult who is trying to find his place in society.
             In the beginning, John Gardner exhibits a form of solipsism through Grendel, by him revisiting his past as a naive child. By traveling back through his memories, he recalls the exact moment when his greatest question came to stand: "What exactly am I, and why am I so utterly separated from the rest of the world?" His world as he knew it, of being a solipsist had been changed forever when he met man, another "pattern-maker" as he referred to them. Gardner writes, "What I see I inspire with usefulness, I think, trying to suck in breath, and all that I do not see is useless, void. I observe myself observing what I observe. It startles me. 'Then I am not that which observes!' I am lack. Alack! No thread, no frailest hair between myself and the universal clutter! (Gardner, 29)
             By making that statement, Grendel then starts his transformation. All he had known previously in his life was only his mother and the underground cave they lived in. Once he met man his beliefs that he and his mother were the only reality was shattered. In coming to this immense realization, he asks himself where he stands. If there were other beings that were as smart as he, and could speak the same language, than where did he stand? With these pondering questions, Grendel began to amuse his imagination by watching and learning more about the Thanes and their culture, while at the same time continuing his bitter war with himself and the Thanes. "He sings to a heavier harpsong now, old hear
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