Grendel can be considered to be a
modern-day monster primarily because
there are so many human characteristics in
him, and in the old days that wasn't the way
in which monsters were portrayed. Here
we can see that Grendel feels hatred
towards the soldiers, that he is also afraid
when he sees Beowulf, he isn't just a
mindless monster lusting for blood, there is
a reason behind him doing all the killings.