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Grendel “I observe myself observing what I observe”

Grendel “I observe myself observing what I observe”. John Gardner. Quintessential Website. www.brtom.org/gr/grendintro.html. John Gardner. 1933 – Born in Batavia, New York 1945 – Accidentally kills his brother 1951 – Goes to college 1953 - Marries his cousin

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Grendel “I observe myself observing what I observe”

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  1. Grendel“I observe myself observing what I observe” John Gardner

  2. Quintessential Website • www.brtom.org/gr/grendintro.html

  3. John Gardner • 1933 – Born in Batavia, New York • 1945 – Accidentally kills his brother • 1951 – Goes to college • 1953 - Marries his cousin • 1958 – Ph.D. in Anglo-Saxon, Medieval Studies • 1971 – Publishes Grendel • 1976 – Leaves his wife • 1977 – Colon cancer • 1978 – Accused of plagiarism • 1982 – Dies in a freak motorcycle accident in Pennsylvania • 1999 – journals published – “Lies! Lies! Lies!”

  4. Organization • Chapter 1- post dragon/Grendel’s world • recalling of events already taken place • Chapter 2- childhood past/Grendel’s world • crosses over and loses innocence • Chapter 3- human world/observer • becomes student of humanity • Chapter 4- human world/observer • becomes part of Shaper’s story, role defined

  5. Settings • Grendel’s world- youth • Innocence and ignorance • The lake- loss of innocence • Transitional setting • Human world forest- many questions • Voyeurism and student of humanity • Dragon’s lair- searching for truth • Student of philosophy • Human world Hart- acceptance of role • Kill and cause havoc

  6. Characters • Grendel • Grendel’s Mother • Hrothgar • Shaper • Wealtheow • Unferth • Dragon • Hrothulf • Red Horse • Ork • Beowulf

  7. Themes • Meaning of Life/Lack of Meaning • Grendel’s search throughout the novel • Each character seems to have own perspective • The Power of Art/Stories/Music • Shaper as storyteller and prophet • Grendel’s love/hate relationship with the stories • Isolation/The Need for Community • Grendel is willing to be the “monster” to have a place in the human world • What does having no one to talk to do to a person? • Good vs. Evil • Are there clear lines/definitions of good and evil? • Coexistence/Overlapping • “rose with a nail through it” p. 18

  8. Characters & Religion • Shaper • Religious undertones in stories • Prophetic tales • Ork • Oldest and wisest priest • Cain and Abel • Grendel’s mother is a descendant of Cain, therefore Grendel is a descendant • Beowulf • Represents the coming of Christ • Grendel’s mother warns of the “fish”

  9. Hrothulf and Red Horse Hrothulf parallels Grendel in that he does not like hierarchy in the social system Red Horse parallels Dragon in that he is Hrothulf’s mentor on anarchy, the anti-government point of view Grendel and Dragon Grendel parallels Hrothulf in that he is an existentialist and has a hard time finding meaning in life The Dragon parallels Red Horse in that he is Grendel’s mentor in nihilism, the viewpoint the life is meaningless Character Parallels

  10. Nature vs. Nurture • Naturehas made Grendel a monster (spawn of Cain). Still he longs for meaning, purpose. Rejects given nature. • Nurtureisolates Grendel. He has no one to turn to who can provide solace, love, emotional support or truth. Also, no one provides social boundaries. • “Nurtured” by watching humans • -caught in the tree • -p.9 decision to kill, p.13 still empty • -p.16 indifference of world and fear

  11. Philosophy • Solipsism • the theory that only the self exists, or can be proved to exist • “I understood that, finally and absolutely, I alone exist…I create the whole universe, blink by blink.” Grendel p. 22 • “I exist, nothing else” p. 28

  12. Philosophy • Existentialism • Life is meaningless, a series of chance events; therefore, one must put meaning into his/her life. • Morality is up to the individual. • “I understood that the world was nothing: a mechanical chaos of casual, brute enmity on which we stupidly impose our hopes and fears.” Grendel p. 22

  13. Philosophy • Nihilism • “Nothing comes from nothing” • Life is meaningless, a series of chance events; therefore, one must live as one wishes. • Morality is inconsequential. • “Why? Ridiculous question. Why anything?” Dragon p.72

  14. Views on Faith/Religion • “lunatic theory” Grendel, p. 14 • “crackpot theories” Dragon, p. 13 • “Let them wander the fogroads of Hell” Grendel p. 53 • “Ashes to ashes and slime to slime, amen” Dragon p. 73 • “What god? Where? Life-force, you mean? The principle of process? God as the history of Chance?” Dragon p. 74

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