Journal #10

Why do you think Gardner made the decision to use Grendel as a narrator? How does Grendel’s status as a monster affect the way he tells the story?

I think Gardner made the decision to use Grendel as a narrator because it provides a different and interesting point of view to the plot of Beowulf. It allows readers to see the story of Grendel and Beowulf from a completely different judgment. Because Grendel is a monster, he provides a different approach to everything that men can’ see. Grendel’s being a monster affects the way he tells his story by adding an element of realism, in a sense. Man is so caught up in the heroism of everything, they are blinded from reality. Grendel, not being concerned with heroism, sees everything as it is. He is an outcast and observes everything from afar – man, animals, how everything works. He is able to look at the world itself unbiased.

Journal #8

How is Grendel a parody of Beowulf? A parody is a mocking imitation of a work of literature?

In Beowulf, Grendel is a heartless monster who needs to be destroyed. In Grendel, Grendel is an outcast who only wants to be accepted by men. John Gardner wrote Grendel so the reader would pity him, feel sorry for him, but in Beowulf, Grendel is written to where he kills and kills ruthlessly. Also, in Beowulf, Beowulf is portrayed as the hero who saved Herot and the Danes from the evil monster Grendel. In Grendel, Beowulf is portrayed as the evil monster that savagely kills Grendel, and makes him cry for his mother.  In Beowulf, the reader, along with the Danes, is blinded with the idea of heroism. In Grendel, the reader can see the truth, how Herot really is. Grendel is a parody of Beowulf because it mocks all the main aspects of the literature by changing the ideas and execution behind them. 

Journal #6

What themes and techniques do poems of the Anglo-Saxon period have in common with heroic narratives like Beowulf?

Poems of the Anglo-Saxon period and heroic narratives like “Beowulf” have common themes, such as bravery, loyalty, fate and journey. Beowulf is brave throughout, battling Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and a dragon that threatens his kingdom. In, “The Seafarer”, the soldier pushes through cold, harsh waters without any thought of stopping. Another theme that is prevalent in both is the epic hero archetype. Beowulf is the archetypal epic hero, and the hero is implied in stories such as “The Seafarer.” Also God is important to both Beowulf and other Anglo-Saxon heroic narratives.

Some techniques that Anglo-Saxon poems and “Beowulf” share are kennings, and alliteration. Kennings are compound expressions made from two nouns, for example: oar-steed means ship. “Beowulf” is full of them, as are Anglo-Saxon poems such as “The Seafarer” and “The Wanderer.” Anglo-Saxons liked to use alliteration in their poems and narratives. It gives them a sense of emphasis, which would come in handy especially during a boast. Another technique is the use of boasting from the characters. It just wouldn’t be an Anglo-Saxon story without a boast or two. 

Journal #3

What is Grendel’s attitude toward language? How does it change throughout the novel? Begin marking your novel as we discuss it in class with a critical lens to answer this journal topic.

            In the beginning of the novel, Grendel is excited by man and by language. He is eager to experiment with different literary styles in his narration. He tries writing in different formatting, writing in different peoples’ voices, and narrating it as if it were an epic. As Grendel rows older and wiser, he realizes the world is not as he thought it was, or not as he wants it to be. He gets mad with man and the world in general and slips into a sort of depression. As this occurs, Grendel’s language and use of language gets more and more straightforward. He goes back to concepts similarly used in the beginning, and even his last sentence he utters is grammatically incorrect.

Journal #2

Grendel is portrayed as a character born form evil, but is he really evil, or just misunderstood? The story of “Beowulf” starts out with King Hrothgar of Denmark. He builds a mead-hall called Herot where his warriors can have a drink, dance around and listen to the heroic tales of the Scops. Because of all this noise, Grendel attacks and attacks often. Beowulf, a Geat, hears of this monster and seeks out the challenge of destroying it. Hrothgar throws a feast in his honor so they can lure Grendel out. Beowulf stays afterward and when Grendel comes, fights the monster unarmed, so he can prove he is stronger. He defeats the monster by tearing off its arm (Grendel goes back to the swamplands where he dwells to die). Grendel’s mother wants revenge so Beowulf goes to her lair and kills her with a sword forged for a giant. He finds Grendel’s corpse and cuts of his head to bring back to Hrothgar. Beowulf returns home and, in time, the king and his heir die, making Beowulf the king for fifty years. A dragon is disturbed and attacks the Geats. Beowulf senses it is his time to die and sacrifices himself; he kills the dragon, but in the process it kills him. Beowulf’s vassals fulfill his wishes and burn his body in a barrow overlooking the sea. At first, Grendel’s character is kind of vague – you don’t really know his motive. His actions are animalistic, yet influenced by human emotions and impulses. He is jealous, lonely and innately evil. The character of Grendel is portrayed as evil but somewhat human. This is proven through the study of Grendel’s character and actions through the Anglo-Saxon poem “Beowulf”.

Grendel is the embodiment of evil. In the beginning of “Beowulf,” the author explains how Hrothgar’s men built their mead-hall Herot, and how they have such a great time in it. A few lines later, the author introduces Grendel. It says in lines 17 trough 21, “Grendel, who haunted the moors, the wild/ Marshes, and made his home in a hell/ Not a hell on earth. He was spawned in that slime,/ conceived by a pair of those monsters born/ Of Cain…” This quote proves Grendel was born from Cain, the father of all evil beings. This is important because it explains to the reader that Grendel is the offspring of evil itself and channels that through man. From talking about Hrothgar and Herot, and going to introducing Grendel as a monster born from the root of all evil, the reader can infer that Grendel is going to attack and kill man in his merriment, making Grendel seem truly evil.

On the inside though, Grendel is just a lonely, jealous outcast. It is said throughout the story that Grendel lives only with his mother at the bottom of a marsh. In the story, this quote takes place when the narrator is describing what Grendel does to the Danes’ mead-hall. “So Grendel waged his lonely war,/ inflicting constant cruelties on the people,/ atrocious hurt. He took over Herot,/ haunted the glittering hall after dark,/ but the throne itself, the treasure-seat,/ he was kept from approaching; he was the Lord's outcast.” It is implied that he is an outcast of that society – just as Cain is considered an outcast. Cain is considered an outcast because he killed his brother because he was jealous. It could be that Grendel is jealous of man and that is why he kills so freely. Men have celebrations, drink mead, and dance and get to be loud. However Grendel stays in his den at the bottom of a marsh, with only his mother for company (which she is of little). Grendel is an outcast of society who is lonely and exiled, and jealous of man.

Grendel’s actions are animalistic because he is, in nature, a monster, yet they are influenced by human emotions and impulses. When Grendel comes to the mead-hall and finds Beowulf, he gets his arm torn off. “His mind was flooded with fear—but nothing/ Could take his talons and himself from that tight/ Hard grip. Grendel’s one thought was to run/ From Beowulf, flee back to his marsh and hide there…Screams of the Almighty’s enemy sang/ In the darkness, the horrible shrieks of pain/ And defeat, the tears torn out of Grendel’s/ Taut throat, hell’s captive caught in the arms/ Of him who of all the men on earth was the strongest.” This quote proves that he is an animal; he is a monster—different from man. He howls like an animal when hurt, but his first thought when grabbed is to run and hide. He is afraid and he knows what is coming next—he knows this is a different enemy. Grendel is able to think and process that, like man. Even though Grendel is a monster with an animalistic nature, his thinking is still influenced by human impulses.

After reading “Beowulf,” the reader can infer that Grendel character is portrayed as evil and animalistic but with a little humanity. First of all, Grendel is considered evil because he is born from the offspring of evil itself. Also, Grendel’s character can be described as lonely and jealous: an outcast. Though his actions are driven by animalistic instincts, they are influenced by human emotions and impulses. 

Journal #1

Beowulf is a story about a hero from the misty reaches of the British past, a hero who faces violence, horror, and even death to save a people in mortal danger.  The epic’s events took place many centuries ago, but this story still speaks to people today, perhaps because so many of us are in need of a rescuer, a hero. Take a moment to write about a contemporary hero, real or fictional, and the challenges he or she faces. Describe your hero, and then briefly analyze him or her using these questions:

1.) What sort of evil or oppression does your hero confront?
2.) Why does he or she confront evil? What’s the motivation?
3.) For whom does your hero confront evil?  

                                        4.) What virtues does your hero represent?            

         

            Captain America is a contemporary, fictional hero. Captain America is a super soldier during WWII; he fights bad guys with just his shield and his fists. The kind of evil Captain America faces is his arch-nemesis Red Skull, and his fellow Nazi soldiers.  Captain America confronts this evil because he wants to save his country from the tyranny of Nazi Germany. He wants to serve his country by defeating the Axis powers. He confronts these evils for the United States of America and its citizens. Captain America represents wholesomeness, good morals, bravery, humbleness, and selflessness. He is willing to risk his life to serve his country, no matter the cost, and doesn't brag or act boastful. 

Anglo-Saxon Riddle

Bathed in urine I sit,

Ready to restore a residence.

I send out heaven-tears

Through a long hollow tube used by a water-knight

And am exposed by a blue indication.