grendel review a brief overview of the novel; themes; main concepts; & big points

Grendel ReviewGrendel ReviewA Brief overview of the novel; themes; A Brief overview of the novel; themes; main concepts; & big pointsmain concepts; & big points

Chapter ReviewsChapter Reviews

Chapter 1:Chapter 1:

12 year war12 year war

humans gaining dignity etchumans gaining dignity etc

““blind prejudice”--talking about deer but ppl blind prejudice”--talking about deer but ppl in general too (man hating him w/o knowing in general too (man hating him w/o knowing him)him)

Scaring ppl used to give him pride but now Scaring ppl used to give him pride but now just lonelyjust lonely

Chapter Review cont.Chapter Review cont.

Chapters 2-3Chapters 2-3

Words are Grendel’s escape--barrier for Words are Grendel’s escape--barrier for protection from the reality that protection from the reality that hehe is creating is creating

whole world is mechanical chaos--stupidly whole world is mechanical chaos--stupidly imposing hope & fear on undeserving pplimposing hope & fear on undeserving ppl

He creates (blink-blink) meaning that only he He creates (blink-blink) meaning that only he truly existstruly exists

Grendel is the lack in the universe--the void that Grendel is the lack in the universe--the void that ppl will always strive for but never reachppl will always strive for but never reach


Chapters 2-3Chapters 2-3

Hrothgar--throwing his axHrothgar--throwing his ax

Nothing to stop the advance of man (against nature)Nothing to stop the advance of man (against nature)

Remember that Grendel created natureRemember that Grendel created nature

Grendel becomes the force to stop himGrendel becomes the force to stop him

His nemesis=the ShaperHis nemesis=the Shaper

unreality “fire that is more dangerous than real fire”unreality “fire that is more dangerous than real fire”

Romantic idealism is more dangerous than realityRomantic idealism is more dangerous than reality


Chapter 4Chapter 4

Shaper--reshaping the world to fit dreamsShaper--reshaping the world to fit dreams

Grendel, however, wants the shaper’s tale to Grendel, however, wants the shaper’s tale to be reality even if he is the cursed race--force be reality even if he is the cursed race--force reality on man by using their dreams & ideals reality on man by using their dreams & ideals as his mediumas his medium


Chapter 5--the DRAGONChapter 5--the DRAGON

Knowledge is not cause--recollection does not CAUSE an accidentKnowledge is not cause--recollection does not CAUSE an accident

Accidents happen w/o knowledge or w/ knowledgeAccidents happen w/o knowledge or w/ knowledge

Idea is that accidents will happen w/o being created by any Idea is that accidents will happen w/o being created by any being (Grendel, man etc are all accidents w/o knowledge)being (Grendel, man etc are all accidents w/o knowledge)

Man--creates theories w/o making connections; creating same Man--creates theories w/o making connections; creating same mistakes over and over againmistakes over and over again

This causes their insanityThis causes their insanity

Grendel--improves man by scaring “life” into themGrendel--improves man by scaring “life” into them

However--if he doesn’t push then something else will; man is However--if he doesn’t push then something else will; man is Grendel’s cause for existenceGrendel’s cause for existence


Chapter 6--UnferthChapter 6--Unferth

Agrees that songs are trash--romantic ideal of Agrees that songs are trash--romantic ideal of a hero is stupid BUT he still goes along w/ man a hero is stupid BUT he still goes along w/ man b/c he wants to fit in--wants that heroes deathb/c he wants to fit in--wants that heroes death

Grendel never kills him b/c he understands Grendel never kills him b/c he understands realityreality


Chapter 7--progression into insanity for Grendel (switching from Chapter 7--progression into insanity for Grendel (switching from 1st to 3rd person pt of view)1st to 3rd person pt of view)

Wiltheo--the wife of HrothgarWiltheo--the wife of Hrothgar

lives within the falsehood but she sees reality; comes to Herot lives within the falsehood but she sees reality; comes to Herot for an ideal--only sees it as a duty not an idealfor an ideal--only sees it as a duty not an ideal

Chapter 8Chapter 8

Snapshots of reality--Hrothulf--danger for the ppl but they Snapshots of reality--Hrothulf--danger for the ppl but they choose not to see itchoose not to see it

Similar to how Grendel is not dangerous but b/c of his looks Similar to how Grendel is not dangerous but b/c of his looks they hate him whereas Hrothulf is dangerous but b/c he looks they hate him whereas Hrothulf is dangerous but b/c he looks normal they are not afraid of himnormal they are not afraid of him


Chapter 9Chapter 9

Something coming “Religion is sick”Something coming “Religion is sick”

the priest of the King of Godsthe priest of the King of Gods

limitations “ultimate irrationality; concrete limitations “ultimate irrationality; concrete actuality”actuality”

Actual=created; involves death (so God is merely Actual=created; involves death (so God is merely created in the minds & dreams of man)created in the minds & dreams of man)

Things fade, alternatives exclude: God is limited Things fade, alternatives exclude: God is limited and excludes creation from reality of thisand excludes creation from reality of this


Chapter 10Chapter 10

Shaper is dyingShaper is dying

Working up nerve to die b/c when he dies so Working up nerve to die b/c when he dies so will their hopes & dreamswill their hopes & dreams

thinking about one’s actions is illogical & thinking about one’s actions is illogical & wastes time b/c you cannot have that time wastes time b/c you cannot have that time backback

It wastes the nowIt wastes the now



Beowulf finally comingBeowulf finally coming

Grendel’s humor--apple fight; mocking coast guard; war Grendel’s humor--apple fight; mocking coast guard; war humor; bloody humorhumor; bloody humor

Tedium is the worst pain (the waiting)Tedium is the worst pain (the waiting)

Order is theoretical=man madeOrder is theoretical=man made

Beowulf--scares Grendel b/c he is more insane than Beowulf--scares Grendel b/c he is more insane than Grendel; believes the liesGrendel; believes the lies

Irony: Grendel is “fate” but Beowulf can shapeIrony: Grendel is “fate” but Beowulf can shape



Beowulf whispering--creating Grendel into man’s reality (which is dreams)--Beowulf whispering--creating Grendel into man’s reality (which is dreams)--shapes the unrealityshapes the unreality

This way he could kill the “monster”This way he could kill the “monster”

““Nothing made remains. Now man remembers”--his curse on man; remembering Nothing made remains. Now man remembers”--his curse on man; remembering what they could have hadwhat they could have had

Why must Grendel die?Why must Grendel die?

man made the decision to go w/ fantasy over realityman made the decision to go w/ fantasy over reality

Picked man’s unconnected; unrealistic dreams over realityPicked man’s unconnected; unrealistic dreams over reality

Grendel’s death is accident--entire existence was to teach reality but failed Grendel’s death is accident--entire existence was to teach reality but failed b/c of man’s decisionb/c of man’s decision

For Gardiner: going w/ religion & believing in God when reality/experience/etc. For Gardiner: going w/ religion & believing in God when reality/experience/etc. tells us differentlytells us differently

grendel review a brief overview of the novel; themes; main concepts; & big points

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realitychapter review

nowchapter review cont

existencechapter review

mediumchapter review

lonelychapter review

reachchapter review

w man bc

scares grendel bc