GRENDEL CHAPTER 5John Gardner, 1971

OBJECTIVES

Review the techniques of satire, allusion, and metaphor

Find examples of each of these elements

Relate these topics back to theme

BACKGROUND INFO

Grendel is a monster who terrorizes Hrothgar, killing many humans

He ponders the meaning of life, as well as whether he should just kill himself

He never meant to be a killer, but the humans treated him poorly so he was left with no choice

SATIRE

Definition: An exaggeration, often a humorous one, that is used to criticize people’s stupidity

WHAT MAKES THE DRAGON SATIRICAL Reread pages 64-65 Find two examples of satire from this passage Now, get into a group of two to four people

Discuss the following in your group: What point is the dragon trying to make? What makes this point important? Record your answers on the worksheet

Relate this importance back to the following theme: Humans make vast generalizations which lead to them becoming judgmental Record relation on worksheet

SIMILES

Definition Reminder: comparing two things using like or as

WHY THE AUTHOR USES SIMILES

Find two to three examples of simile on pages 57-60

Now, in the same group, look at what each of the quotes does to enhance character description, and what specific enhancement it uses

See any patterns? Record any patterns you see on your worksheet

How do these patterns relate back to the theme previously stated? What do they do to enhance the satire? Write your answers in the space provided

ALLUSION: CASSANDRA

Review: Who was Cassandra? Greek seer who knew the future and was

always right, yet no one believed her

THE DRAGON AND CASSANDRA

Record your answers to the following on the worksheet:

How could the dragon be an allusion to Cassandra? Find a quote to back up your claim

Why would the author use this allusion? What does it do to make the story more understandable?

HOMEWORK

On the back of your worksheet: Write a twelve sentence paragraph based

on chapter 5 and the rest of the novel using the following prompt:

How does Gardner use similes and the allusion to Cassandra to enhance the satire used by the dragon, and furthermore, how do all three of these techniques enhance the theme of the novel?

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