GrendelGrendel by John by John GardnerGardner

Key Symbols and the Key Symbols and the Philosophies that Illustrate Philosophies that Illustrate

Grendel’s Search for MeaningGrendel’s Search for Meaning

Chapter One: Aries the RamChapter One: Aries the RamSymbol of Spring and the Proliferation of Symbol of Spring and the Proliferation of

LifeLife

Philosophy: Orphism—the endless cycles Philosophy: Orphism—the endless cycles of lifeof life

a. Grendel deals death in the war with a. Grendel deals death in the war with HrothgarHrothgar

b. He faces his mortality when he speaks of b. He faces his mortality when he speaks of chasmschasms

c. He longs for meaning, but rejects it as c. He longs for meaning, but rejects it as meaninglessmeaningless

d. He sees the funeral scene: the celebrants d. He sees the funeral scene: the celebrants of the cycleof the cycle

OrphismOrphism

• Zeus and Persephone had a son, Dionysus Zagreus, whom Zeus wanted to make ruler of the Universe.

• This angered the Titans so they killed him. Athena, though, saved the kid’s heart which Zeus ate. He then destroyed the Titans with a lightning bolt.

• The Human race rose from these ashes.

More OrphismMore Orphism

• Humans are part Dionysus (divine) and part Titan (evil). This double nature is essential to Orphism.

• Humans are divine by nature, but it is only through ritual that the soul can be liberated from its Titanic ancestry and achieve eternal blessedness.

Journal Quick Write • How is Plato’s Allegory of the Cave

reflected in chapter 2?

Chapter Two: Taurus the Bull

• Philosophy: Solipsism and Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” from The Republic – Grendel likens himself to a puppy,

happily playing, innocent, self-centered, solipsistic. “I alone exist” (22); “I create the universe blink by blink” (22).

– He leaves the underground cave, through the pool of “fire-snakes”,venturing first up to moonlight; later, he emerges into sunshine and painful knowledge of the world. He begins to grow up.

– His encounter with the bull, the tree, and men:• He discovers that his mother cannot hear

him.• He sees the bull operates by instinct.• He sees that men are “dangerous,”

“pattern makers.”

• When he returns to the cave his life is irrevocably altered.

• Grendel can reason, but he can not communicate.

3 Gemini the Twins. Gemini is flexible, versatile, restless, a jack-of-all-trades, lively, alert, quick-witted, literary, communicative, a good conversationalist, changeable, sociable, logical, ingenious, agile, dexterous, intellectual, and mentally ambitious.

Chapter Three: Chapter Three: Gemini the TwinsGemini the Twins

Application of Symbol: Twin sheep and Application of Symbol: Twin sheep and goats, the two shapers, and Grendel’s goats, the two shapers, and Grendel’s torn nature: he knows the truth about torn nature: he knows the truth about men, but the new Shaper’s art men, but the new Shaper’s art mesmerizes him. mesmerizes him.

SophismSophism

The word sophist at one time simply The word sophist at one time simply meant poet; by the 5meant poet; by the 5thth century B.C.E., the century B.C.E., the term applied to intellectuals, particularly term applied to intellectuals, particularly one who received a fee for his one who received a fee for his knowledge.knowledge.

Structure of the Chapter: Structure of the Chapter: Grendel watches men from the safety of Grendel watches men from the safety of

trees, sees their destructiveness, notes trees, sees their destructiveness, notes Hrothgar’s strategy for expanding his power: Hrothgar’s strategy for expanding his power: his roads and ability to get tribute from other his roads and ability to get tribute from other tribes.tribes.

Grendel realizes the Shaper creates Grendel realizes the Shaper creates illusions; however, he longs for the “lies” of illusions; however, he longs for the “lies” of the Shaper’s vision. the Shaper’s vision.

How does Grendel distinguish himself How does Grendel distinguish himself from men?from men?

Why Does he long for the Shaper’s Why Does he long for the Shaper’s vision?vision?

Why, ultimately, does Sophism fail?Why, ultimately, does Sophism fail?

Why does Grendel reflect,”Thus I fled, Why does Grendel reflect,”Thus I fled, ridiculous hairy creature torn apart by ridiculous hairy creature torn apart by poetry . . .” (44)?poetry . . .” (44)?

• Chapter 4 Cancer the Crab. Cancer is introverted, reserved, emotional, sensitive, moody, sympathetic, security-conscious, prudent, retentive, domestic, maternal, protective, quiet, calm, imaginative, conscientious, and quite the traditionalist.

Chapter Four: Cancer the CrabChapter Four: Cancer the Crab

• Philosophy: Old Testament basic values: Philosophy: Old Testament basic values: good vs. evil good vs. evil

• Symbols: Crab and home are Symbols: Crab and home are synonymous. synonymous. – Crab’s shell gives it protection and retreat Crab’s shell gives it protection and retreat

from threatsfrom threats– The snake: many references to a “presence” The snake: many references to a “presence”

that hisses, hints at, tempts Grendel to seek that hisses, hints at, tempts Grendel to seek out the void and the darkness of the dragonout the void and the darkness of the dragon

• Structure of the Chapter:Structure of the Chapter: – The building of Heorot in response to the Shaper’s song—a sign The building of Heorot in response to the Shaper’s song—a sign

of the glory and permanence of a great civilizationof the glory and permanence of a great civilization– Grendel speaks to the snake about the Danes’ past: “I knew him Grendel speaks to the snake about the Danes’ past: “I knew him whenwhen!” (48). !” (48).

– He hears the Shaper’s story of creation from the book of He hears the Shaper’s story of creation from the book of Genesis and the story of the division between good and evil, Genesis and the story of the division between good and evil, Abel and Cain, thus believing in his own guilt though guiltlessAbel and Cain, thus believing in his own guilt though guiltless

– He seeks forgiveness at the mead hall, but is misunderstood He seeks forgiveness at the mead hall, but is misunderstood because his physical appearance and strange language because his physical appearance and strange language frightens the people.frightens the people.

– He rejects men: “Let them wander the fogroads of Hell” (53). He rejects men: “Let them wander the fogroads of Hell” (53). – He seeks out the “invisible presence” following him throughout He seeks out the “invisible presence” following him throughout

the chapter; he drops into the void and darkness to encounter the chapter; he drops into the void and darkness to encounter the dragon.the dragon.

– He seeks forgiveness at the mead hall, but is He seeks forgiveness at the mead hall, but is misunderstood because his physical misunderstood because his physical appearance and strange language frightens appearance and strange language frightens the people.the people.

– He rejects men: “Let them wander the He rejects men: “Let them wander the fogroads of Hell” (53). fogroads of Hell” (53).

– He seeks out the “invisible presence” He seeks out the “invisible presence” following him throughout the chapter; he following him throughout the chapter; he drops into the void and darkness to encounter drops into the void and darkness to encounter the dragon.the dragon.

Chapter Five: Leo the Lion• Symbol: The lion—king of animals• Philosophy: Nihilism—the belief in nothingness (See

the links below)• Structure: Grendel goes to the underworld for

advice and knowledge, much as Odysseus goes to the underworld to seek information from Tiresias. He emerges armed with despair. The Dragon has omniscience, but offers Grendel no redeeming vision of the world. His only advice? Seek out gold and sit on it. This approach suggests that material goods are the only thing that gives meaning to life.

• 5 Leo the Lion. Leo is ambitious, a lover of limelight, speculative, extroverted, optimistic, honorable, dignified, confident, proud, exuberant, sunny, flamboyant, charismatic, dramatic, competitive, a leader and an organizer.

• The black sun—Grendel sees deeply into the dragon’s eye and sees nothing, a void

• The dragon is golden and fiery as a lion.• The dragon suggests that the quest for

meaning ends in nothiningness because nothing will remain except a silent universe. This anticipates the discovery of matter speeding up after the ‘bang” and the universe stretching out to nothingness.

• He understands time and space, and the connectedness of all.

Chapter 6: Virgo the VirginChapter 6: Virgo the Virgin

Virgo the Virgin.Virgo the Virgin. Virgo is practical, Virgo is practical, responsible, sensible, logical, responsible, sensible, logical, analytical, highly discriminating, a analytical, highly discriminating, a careful planner, precise and careful planner, precise and punctual, dedicated, perfectionist, punctual, dedicated, perfectionist, critical, and health conscious.critical, and health conscious.

Chapter 6: Virgo the VirginChapter 6: Virgo the Virgin

Symbol: Unferth, thwarted virgin, wants to Symbol: Unferth, thwarted virgin, wants to fight Grendel, but is concerned only with fight Grendel, but is concerned only with himself.himself.

Philosophy: Egotism sometimes called Philosophy: Egotism sometimes called ObjectivismObjectivism• Man—every man—is an end in himself, not the Man—every man—is an end in himself, not the

means to the ends of others. He must exist for means to the ends of others. He must exist for his own sake, neither sacrificing himself to his own sake, neither sacrificing himself to others nor sacrificing others to himself. The others nor sacrificing others to himself. The pursuit of his own rational self-interest and of pursuit of his own rational self-interest and of his own happiness is the highest moral purpose his own happiness is the highest moral purpose of his life of his life

Structure of the Chapter: Structure of the Chapter: • Grendel discovers the charm; nothing can harm him, and Grendel discovers the charm; nothing can harm him, and

his “heart becomes darker because of that” (76). It is his “heart becomes darker because of that” (76). It is harvest time in the first year of his war with Hrothgar.harvest time in the first year of his war with Hrothgar.

• Grendel kills a guard, eating him, horrifying the Danes, Grendel kills a guard, eating him, horrifying the Danes, reacting himself with :a strange, unearthly joy. He feels reacting himself with :a strange, unearthly joy. He feels reborn. “I was Grendel, Ruiner of Mead Halls, Wrecker of reborn. “I was Grendel, Ruiner of Mead Halls, Wrecker of Kings!,” he says (80). He realizes also, “as never Kings!,” he says (80). He realizes also, “as never before,” that he is “alone” (80).before,” that he is “alone” (80).

• Unferth comes forth to challenge him, speaking in lofty, Unferth comes forth to challenge him, speaking in lofty, formal language about how he is going to send Grendel formal language about how he is going to send Grendel to hell. to hell.

• Unferth swims down to the mere; he fails in his mission Unferth swims down to the mere; he fails in his mission to kill Grendelto kill Grendel

• Grendel returns Unferth to the mead hall; Grendel kills Grendel returns Unferth to the mead hall; Grendel kills two more people to prove that he Grendel was there.two more people to prove that he Grendel was there.

• Unferth futilely attempts to kill Grendel through the Unferth futilely attempts to kill Grendel through the years, “crazy with shame” (90).years, “crazy with shame” (90).

1 Aries the Ram. Aries is energetic, innovative, original, pioneering, assertive, quick-tempered, strong drive, leader, ambitious, extroverted, sometimes aggressive, competitive, enthusiastic, self-reliant, and self-assured.

2 Taurus the Bull. Taurus is determined, efficient, stubborn, cautious, placid, persistent, enduring, introverted, conservative, conventional, materialistic, security conscious, stable, industrious, dependable, and one generally having significant financial ability.

3 Gemini the Twins. Gemini is flexible, versatile, restless, a jack-of-all-trades, lively, alert, quick-witted, literary, communicative, a good conversationalist, changeable, sociable, logical, ingenious, agile, dexterous, intellectual, and mentally ambitious.