Grendel Analysis
John Gardner's Grendel is a story based on the epic tale of Beowulf. Gardner writes his story in the eyes of the monster, Grendel. Gardner decides to go through human society and write about how humans view themselves. As the story proceeds and Grendel explores his inner self, a hidden progression of philosophies are introduced.The twelve chapters all reveal the twelve different phliosophies and differnt phases of characteristics Grendel experiences. Chapter one explores the cynical understanding of the universe. In this chapter a ram is introduced to symbolize the beginning of spring. The change of seasons results in the change of human character. Chapter two explores solipsism or
Related to society are internal conflicts between lust, love, good and evil. Chapter four is based around the old testament of the bible. The dragon here is meaningless, nothing matters as the feeling rises. An example used is a man cheating on his wife. "Humans can act and understand no further than they have observed in either the operation or the contemplation of the method and order of nature. Grendel observes his own observations when feeling his mother's fur. Weltheow is the symbol of balance just as Jesus was supposed to bring balance to the world. The dragon is the symbolic figure in this chapter which represents passion for luxury. The bull is the only thing that exists in this scene. Grendel wants to embrace but he's seen to much evil and corruption to understand to love. In this chapter the shaper, a very demi-god like character, dies. Darkness emerges here as the chaos of nature.
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