I'm not sure specifically which top stories are related to John Witherspoon without more context. He could be known for his acting, so perhaps top stories about his most memorable roles, like in the 'Friday' movies.
In 'Grendel', the main character is obviously Grendel himself. He is a complex character, not just a simple monster as in the traditional Beowulf story.
Definitely not. John Travolta's role in Pulp Fiction doesn't end in death. The plot takes many twists and turns, but his character remains intact until the credits roll.
There are also often characters who are double agents or suspected double agents. These characters add a lot of tension to the stories as their true loyalties are often in question. For instance, in some of his novels, the young and ambitious agents who might be lured by the wrong side due to various reasons such as money or ideology.
I'm not entirely sure as I haven't read the novel recently, but typically in such horror novels, there are likely to be some brave protagonists who try to fight against the undead. There might also be some supporting characters like friends or family members of the main characters.