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Death is inevitable, whether people like to believe this to be true or not. But while we are still on earth we have different views about death. Some people are frightened to die and others cannot imagine death will happen to them. In Grendel, the aspect of death is looked upon differently. This is shown by the actions and beliefs of several of the characters in the novel, principally, Grendel, Beowulf, and Unferth. It is obvious that the way one views death reflects a view of the significance of life. For instance, Unferth strongly believes that dying a hero makes life meaningful and because of that he time striving to be a hero. In the novel Grendel, John Gardner displays through Beowulf’s attitude that death is a part of life and life has the meaning people chose to give it; through Grendel’s attitude that his death is a mere accident, hence his belief that life is meaningless; and through Unferth’s obsession with dying a hero and his belief that his life is meaningless if he does not die a hero, through all these reactions Gardner shows their differing attitudes toward death which, in turn, shows their own beliefs about the meaning of life. Beowulf is a remarkably strong and courageous character who is accepting of dyi