In chapter two of Grendel, Grendel gets trapped in a tree.While in that tree he learned or understood three things about life.For example he states, “...I understand the emptiness in the eyes of those humpbacked shapes back in the cave” (Grendel 21). He can now relate to those who suffered in his cave until they became a pile of bones.Also while Grendel was stuck in the tree he , “ understood that the world was nothing” (Grendel 21). To him all we do is pose our hopes and fears to a “mechanical chaos of casual, brute enmity” (Grendel 22). The last thing Grendel got out of his experience is that “I alone exist” (Grendel 22). He makes this last statement because he has been calling upon anyone to come to his rescue and no one has arrived.…
Meanwhile this can be followed by the idea of hope for the world that lies within Grendel. This hope provides evidence for Grendel’s lack of damnable intentions. This is demonstrated during his time spent with the dragon, pages fifty-seven through seventy-four. The dragon is largely selfish and nihilistic, however Grendel refuses to believe the negativity presented by the dragon. On page seventy, one may read the dragon speaking of all of the world being consigned to oblivion. That is, he states that eventually all current occurrences will be meaningless. “You don't know that!” Grendel simply debates. Additionally, page seventy-one the dragon is speaks of the little to no effect that even an apocalyptic age would have on the world over time.…
John Gardner’s novel, Grendel, takes place in the fourth century A.D. in Denmark. The novel is about Grendel, a monster that lives in a cave with his mother who is unable to communicate with him due to her lack of ability to speak, and fails to fit in among humans, causing him to live a secluded life. Grendel was written in order to help people understand the very nature of mankind.…
As Grendel is trapped in the tree he learns that not everyone will be there, especially when you need them the most. “Please, Mama!’ I sobbed as if heartbroken.” (Gardner 19) As Grendel stands with his foot trapped he is utterly hopeless and yells for his mother however she is nowhere to be found. Grendel learns that he must be by himself and be his own person, even in the most dire of times. As the bull rushes in too pulverize Grendel the bull hits too low. “But that was all. The tree shuddered as he banged it with his skull,” (Gardner 21) Grendel physically learns how to dodge a bull but most importantly he learns that he can handle things on his without the help of anyone which furthers this belief that he can be his OWN person, not one…
Grendel is the horrid creature that lives in the lake near Heorot Hall. Heorot is a mead hall of King Hrothgar. Citizens go there do drink, eat, laugh, tell stories, and do whatever they please. The creature (Grendel) is known to be the descendant of Cain, which is one of the reasons for all of his hatred. Grendel terrorizes and consumes the occupants of the mead hall. Another reason for his disgust towards the people of Heorot is that he was rejected from the community of people that occupy Heorot and the adjacent area. The main reason for Grendel’s attack on the mead hall is that he envious. The people of Heorot get to enjoy there delicious foods and intoxicating liquor, while Grendel has to live out in the cold forest and hunt for his food. Another reason for his attacks is that he just has a natural hatred for humans due to Cain’s sin and his family lineage makes him hate. In this story, lineage is extremely important, due to the time period that this story was based on. Grendel displays quality of a traditional villain.…
Grendel is a fictional character, designed by John Gardner. Throughout the book Grendel develops new philosophies as he continues to explore the world and encounters new surroundings. Solipsism is an idea that everything is created out of your own mind, that your mind is the only thing to actually exist. Nihilism is the thought that life is meaningless. Solipsism is developed after Grendel explores his new world for the first time. Nihilism is created in Grendel after he has a discussion with a Dragon who tells him the world is pointless. Grendel shows Nihilism and Solipsism throughout the story.…
In defining the isolation and hatred that Grendel has experienced throughout his whole life, Gardner creates an anti-hero that has more defining characteristics than that in the “Beowulf” text. In all, without “Grendel” the reader would not be able to experience a different perspective that differs from its medieval origins but adds a new layer to complex…
In writing from Grendel’s perspective, I think Gardener is trying to makes us sympathize with Grendel. While reading the story from Grendel’s point of view we can see that he also felt fear at some point in his life. Like when he caught his foot in the crack where two old treetrunks joined Grendel says “I shrieked in fear; still no one came.” In Grendel’s story he says men are dangerous thinking creatures, “Suddenly I knew I was dealing with no dull mechanical bull but with thinking creatures, pattern makers, the most dangerous things I'd ever met”. In his story we can see that they were the ones that made him a monster because they could not understand him. They just saw that he was an ogre an assumed he was a monster, so they attacked him…
In the first chapter of Grendel, I believe that Grendel is more animal than human. In Grendel he is portrayed as a sensitive, intelligent, and immature creature.Grendel is more animal than human because he does act like an animal. For instance, When Grendel states “I cry and , and hug myself, and laugh, letting out all the salt tears…”(Gardner 6). Even animals have feelings. I feel Grendel is not welcomed within society. He feels as though he has worthless. As an example, “Pointless, ridiculous monster crouched in the shadows...”(Gardner 6). He hides in the shadows as he looks for his prey not being welcomed by anyone else. Grendel feasts upon other animals and humans. He eats more cattle than anything. For example, “Cows have more meat and,…
In the book Grendel by John Gardner you are taken on a journey through the mind of Grendel the beast that terrorized the land of old Denmark. In this story you get to experience what Grendel is thinking as the story plays out in a first-person point of view. This helps the reader create a connection with the reader as they go through his thoughts. John Gardner’s Grendel says, “I understood that the world was nothing; a mechanical chaos of casual, brute…
In the novel Grendel, John Gardner, through Grendel’s character, portrays the universal struggle all humans face to find meaning in life. Grendel, just like everyone else wants to find his meaning, and purpose. Though he struggles, Grendel is ultimately trying to find himself in all of the things that he does.…
In the novel Grendel, by John Gardner, portrays Grendel's characteristics altering as he meets new characters; throughout his journey to mankind. Mankind teaches him vast new knowledge he's never understood. His nihilistic and solipsism is formed through the characters in the novel; envy and anger are also shown. He plays big roles in terrifying the Danes and somewhat of the Geats; they mold him into the monster they fear the most. The characters, shaper, man, and the dragon shape Grendel into the monster he so desires. They teach him of lies, false glory, brutality, never ending violence, and wisdom.…
Grendel views the world as an open space of “nothingness” to which he entered, to which the nothingness where it must end. He comes to the realization that his own, along with every other individuals existence is merely just a flash in time, "in a billion billion billion years, everything will have come and gone several times, in various forms" (page70). He possesses the belief that all men are mechanical. He is given the opportunity to observe and study them, introducing him to the idea of conformity, with the desire that he too can find meaning in this…
He is the hero of the story because he is proud. After his encounter with the dragon, Grendel begins to see the world as a meaningless place. Despite this new outlook, he still has no intention of systematically terrifying the Danes. “I was Grendel, Ruiner of Meadhalls, Wrecker of Kings! But also, as never before, I was alone.” (Grendel Pg.80) Grendel makes this miserable statement when he discovers the dragon's enchantment has left him invulnerable to harm from the Scylding’s weapons. He glories in his power, but realizes that his impervious hide now separates him even more from the world of mortal men. He’s proud because he can survive any attack, yet he’s sad because he has become even more different from the mortal men.…
Is Grendel Evil or Victim to Circumstance? : How humanity has a tendency to put labels on people they don’t really understand.…