Grendel(1971) An overview of John Gardner’s work
THEMES • Artists in Society and the Power of Art • The Importance of Language • Nihilism • Death • Heroism—a moral force • The Struggle Between Good and Evil--MORALITY
PARODY • Grendel both imitates and ridicules specific forms of literature and authors • Beowulf—most of plot and characters borrowed • Grendel becomes a “case history of a bad artist” whose words are constantly misunderstood; thus, he inspires acts of violence versus the Shaper who inspires great deeds. • Various characters represent specific philosophies (Dragon, Hrothulf, Red Horse, etc.)
STRUCTURE • 12 chapters: Twelve years of Grendel’s raids and 12 zodiacs • Not chronological: Flashbacks, Allusions, Foreshadowing • Tense: Present tense is interspersed with past telling of events leading up to this 12th year • Each chapter presents a different branch of philosophy
CHAPTERS 1-4 • Book opens in April, month of the ram and there is an immediate concern with language: • “Talking, talking. Spinning a web of words, pale dreams, between myself and all I see” • Grendel’s mother lives in a cave, mute, beast-like. • Chpt. 2 when Grendel is trapped in tree, most important element is the encounter with the men who speak a language
Chapter 3: summary of Grendel’s years watching the Danes who are slowly developing civilization • Hrothgar becomes powerful because he has a theory about the purpose of war • The Shaper appears; he does more than make poetry; he retells history and inspires men • Also the Shaper names Grendel as one of the race of Cain, everything that is dark and evil—this is what Grendel becomes
CHAPTERS 5-7 • Grendel visits the dragon who tells him the Shaper’s words are an “illusion of reality” leading men to believe there is meaning in the universe. • Dragon denies existence of God and meaning and advises Grendel to “seek out gold and sit on it.” • Grendel discovers dragon has put a “curse” on him: he can no longer be injured by men’s weapons.
Grendel finds the “heroic” and idealistic Unferth, and in acting in unexpected ways, completely humiliates the would-be hero. • When Unferth seeks Grendel in his cave, Grendel shows that life is meaningless; he refuses to engage in battle; he returns Unferth unharmed, “So much for heroism.” • The arrival of Wealtheow (“holy servant of the common good”) as a peace offering
CHAPTERS 8-12 • Hrothgar’s nephew arrives after the murder of his father. • Hrothulf’s resentful attitude and desire for power allows Grendel to ponder “the idea of violence.” • Encounter with priest leads to observations about religion. • Chapter 10, Grendel deals with boredom
Chapter 11: strangers arrive • Beowulf tells him about the cycles of existence before destroying him. • “Though you murder the world . . . Strong searching roots will crack your cave and rain will cleanse it: The world will burn green, sperm build again. My promise.” • But Grendel attributes his end to a random accident.
GRENDEL: “Profile of a Killer” Worksheet Discussion
Grendel’s War • Chpt. 2: First encounter w/ men, the most dangerous things”: • Grendel is trapped in a tree. • The men think he is a fungus at first, then a spirit that eats pigs • King, in fear, attacks him with an ax • He is saved by his mother • Men are dangerous because “they think and scheme”
Grendel’s Reaction to the (Scop’s) Shaper’s Songs: • Chpt. 3: Grendel is emotionally affected by the songs, the lies • He feels torn between what he observes (reality) and what he hears (the beauty and idealism)
Grendel’s Conversion • Chpt. 4: Hearing that he, himself, is considered the dark side of creation, he wishes to convert. • He goes to the mead-hall calling for mercy and peace, but is attacked • He wishes for someone to talk to • He returns because he is addicted • He wants the songs to be true, even if he has to be the outcast
The Dragon’s Answer • Chpt. 5: The dragon says that Grendel inspires and improves the Danes • That if there were no Grendel, they would invent one: they need the monster • Thus, Grendel is irrelevant. • It makes no difference if he stops or not.
The Dragon’s Charm • Chpt. 6: Grendel at first feels the charm causes his enemies defeat • Then he realizes he has nothing to fear and nothing to stop him, so his raids become inevitable. • He discovers the charm when he accidentally runs into a guard, trips and is not hurt by the sword. • He discovers a reason for his existence: he is now “Ruiner of Mead-halls, Wrecker of Kings.”
Psychology Vs. Strength • Grendel’s feelings? • Beowulf’s trick? • Grendel’s defense of Beowulf’s superiority? • The whispering? • Explanation for defeat?
Psychology Vs. Strength • Amplifies fight details • Beowulf’s image • Grim humor
“The Anti-Hero” Both Grendel and Unferth exhibit characteristics of the anti-hero.
Grendel as Anti-Hero • He murders and cannot be punished • He sneaks around at night, spying • He makes fun of the Danes and rejects all that they stand for • He searches for answers but can find only meanness • He is crude, but not stupid or dishonest (He is successful in his feud but a failure at finding happiness) • He says he is angry very often
Unferth as Anti-Hero • 1-3 do not fit: while he did kill his brother, he has made restitution according to the law. • 4 He tries for greater heroism in chasing Grendel, but is forced to achieve an ideal the Danes do not understand. • 5. He seems a failure as a hero, yet achieves an even more difficult kind of heroism by not giving up even when faced with humiliation; did commit a crude and stupid mistake in the past. • Yes, he is angry
To Be or Not to Be a Hero • Hrothgar • Unferth • Wealtheow • Beowulf
“Nothing from Nothing”
Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow Creeps in this petty pace from day to day To the last syllable of recorded time; And all our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle! Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player, That struts and frets his hour upon the stage And then is heard no more. It is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing. (Macbeth, Act V, Scene v)
How Grendel Sees Time (Ch. 10) • Grendel says “tedium is the worst pain” as the sun walks overhead. • He waits for the Shaper to die. • Chapter filled with references to past and a dark future. • Time passes slow and boringly
Grendel Believes • That the Danes are fooled by the shaper’s lies • That Unferth is a fool for clinging to his heroic ideals • That his war with Hrothgar is “an idiotic war” (Ch 1) • That he, himself” is a “pointless, ridiculous monster” (Ch 1)
Macbeth's Shadow and Grendel • Grendel describes himself as a shadow (Ch. 10) and as walking around the edges of the world, outside the mead-hall at dusk. • Chapter I, Grendel plays game of looking at himself as he postures, as standing outside himself • Also Hrothulf’s arrival and encounter w/ the Priest read like scenes from a play
A Tale Told By an Idiot? • Grendel agrees with Macbeth, he says often that he is stupid and that life is meaningless (and he tells the story) • He whispers, cannot be understood by the Danes (his language is older) • His voice is too loud and frightful to be understood. • His killings, an expression of anger and the meaning of his tale he summarizes at the close of chapter 10: “Nihil ex nihilo.”
