Grendel

8/14/2012

***PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING IMPORTANT NOTE:

After reading through each of your Beowulf blog posts, I have discovered several incidents of plagiarism. I am disappointed and intend to address those incidents via the Academic Integrity Committee when we begin school. Please be sure the words you are posting on the blog and subsequent assignments are your own. Remember, these initial blog posts are a way for me to begin to get to know you academically; a plagiarized post demonstrates dishonesty and lack of commitment to the course.

Assignment #1: Beowulf Analysis
Average Grade: 72%

The most successful responses analyzed the Anglo-Saxon culture and lifestyle in complete, or nearly complete, detail. The prompt instructed you to analyze what the reader learns about Anglo-Saxon culture and lifestyle by reading the poem (not a novel, by the way). Strong responses analyzed the role of religion, warfare, fate, reputation, loyalty to the king, the practice of revenge, etc. and not the role of the hero.

The least successful responses did not address the prompt or did so in a very limited way. The prompt did not instruct you to argue whether or not Beowulf is an epic hero. Nor did the prompt instruct you to analyze the traits of an epic hero.

Good luck with the Grendel prompt!

Assignment #2: Grendel

Due Date: Tuesday, August 21 by 5:00 P.M. (10% off each day late/Zero after Thursday, 8/23 at 5:00 P.M.)

Points Value: 100

Write a well-organized, detailed response to the following questions. Provide textual support from both Beowulf and Grendel to strengthen your response. No more than two hundred words, please!

1. Why would John Gardner choose to retell Beowulf from the monster’s point of view? What is to be gained from such a shift?

2. How does Grendel’s telling of his own story affect your response to him? How is this response different from the way you thought of him in Beowulf?

RUBRIC: Scale of 1-5; 1 = poor; 2 = average; 3 = very good; 4 = excellent; 5 = outstanding

Originality/Creativity (the first student to post a response may earn more points in this category)

Critical Thought & Intellectual depth

Use of textual evidence (direct quote and/or paraphrase)

Efficacy of Analysis

Organization & Development

Conventional English & Level of Sophistication

Avoid being penalized for providing more summary than analysis. Also, proofread your work!

47 Comments

SHayet

8/15/2012 06:14:03 am

Beowulf makes Grendel seem one-dimensional. His terrible actions are blamed on his pure wickedness and nothing else. However, seeing events from Grendel’s perspective shows that motive is never so straightforward. At one point in the novel, Grendel states, “Theorem: Any action (A) of the human heart must trigger an equal and opposite reaction (A1).” (113) This is one of the main points that Gardner is trying to get across: There are bits of good and bad in all people, even “monsters” like Grendel.

By reexamining Grendel, Gardner also makes the reader reexamine society. In this retelling, Grendel is infinitely more sympathetic, and certainly not evil, although he often commits acts that are wrong. Oftentimes, the Danes seem more monstrous than him. It is not that the author makes Grendel out to be blameless; rather, Gardner makes him and the supporting cast much more realistic. Is Grendel at fault, or are the Danes? The answer is not clear which is, of course, the point.

McCarthyS

8/15/2012 11:01:20 pm

Gardner’s retelling of Beowulf from a different vantage point exposes readers to Grendel's side of the story. After reading Grendel, readers gain sympathy for the monster that they did not previously have in Beowulf. They also learn the important lesson of not judging someone based on an archetype. Gardner’s novel creates a three-dimensional Grendel, rather than the stereotypical monster.
The reader forms a softer opinion of Grendel after experiencing the story from his perspective. Grendel isn’t simply a vicious beast who kills without thought, as he is depicted in Beowulf. As described in Beowulf, “God-cursed Grendel came greedily loping. The bane of the race of men roamed forth, hunting for a prey in the high hall.” (711-713). In Gardner's novel, Grendel has feelings, family, a history, and a heart. Grendel says after listening to the Shaper’s stories, “Thus I fled, ridiculous hairy creature torn apart by poetry-crawling, whimpering, streaming tears, across the world like a two- headed beast, like mixed-up lamb and kid at tail of the baffled, indifferent ewe.” (pg.44). Grendel suffers a lonely existence and only wants to belong, which is something that everyone can understand. It is much easier to sympathize with humanized creatures than thoughtless beasts.

Morgan Mostow

8/16/2012 11:57:15 pm

John Gardner retells “Beowulf” from the monster’s point of view in order to help the reader better understand Grendel’s feelings. Naturally, a story told about Beowulf’s triumphs will portray him as a hero and Grendel as a horrific beast, but Gardner aimed to make Grendel seem less monstrous. Through this different portrayal of Grendel, the reader gains sympathy for him. Grendel seems more human than in the way “Beowulf” depicts him to be. Even his manner of speaking is similar to that of a human. “Grendel” gives the reader insight into deeper thoughts and feelings that the monster has and allows the reader to better picture his lonely lifestyle. He feels lost and misunderstood, even by his own mother. At one point, Grendel hears the Shaper singing the story of how Grendel had supposedly been part of a human clan that had been banished from the rest. Grendel is upset by the story and tries to gain acceptance from the Danes by walking into the mead hall crying and shouting, “Mercy! Peace!... Friend! Friend!” It is the humans’ immediate attack and Grendel’s subsequent visit to the dragon that cause Grendel to become bitter towards the humans and ultimately attack them.

MM

Jeffrey Diament

8/17/2012 12:00:08 pm

John Gardner chose to retell the one-sided epic poem, Beowulf, from the point of view of the monster. One of his goals was to show the reader that the distinction between human and monster is not so clear-cut. In Beowulf, the reader despises the mindless beast that is the “captain of evil” (Beowulf, line 749), but Grendel causes the reader to rethink his original hatred. In the novel, Grendel proves that he is rational being with human feelings and complex thoughts. When Grendel is portrayed as more human-like, the reader is more likely to sympathize with him. For example, when Grendel asks the Dragon, “Why can’t I have someone to talk to?” (Grendel, page 53), the reader feels bad for the lonesome creature. Furthermore, the new narrator points out how humans take part in many monstrous activities themselves, like when the Danes kill people, animals, and the forest. The other side to this epic saga causes the reader to scorn the humans, who sometimes act like monsters, and gain respect for Grendel, who has surprisingly human traits. The shift in perspective forces the reader to ponder what the true difference is between a human and a monster.

JD

Bailey Falco

8/18/2012 11:19:44 pm

BF
John Gardner has written a retelling of Beowulf in the sentiment of Grendel. Monsters are often portrayed as evil-beings who do not deserve to thrive on earth; however, Gardner develops sympathy towards Grendel as the reader discovers Grendel is not who he appears to be. The façade of being “monster-like” can be granted to any species causing a threat to humans. The old-English language and organized poem style that Beowulf is written in portrays elegance and caliber, for the modern English language that Grendel is written in depicts forlornness and naïvety. To Grendel, wars did not make sense; “I was sickened, if only at the waste of it: all they killed-cows, horses, men-they left to rot or burn”(36). On the contrary, wars bestow a profusion of material possessions and power that control Beowulf's society. Beowulf is aware of his purpose and prospers to be the strongest and most heroic man he can be to obtain the resplendency and gifts he envies. On the other hand, Grendel, alone excluding his mother, acts like a venturesome child throughout the novel. The slaying of Grendel impacts the reader; Grendel's innocence devises the reader to believe that Beowulf is in fact heinous.

Caitlin Herod

8/19/2012 01:54:48 am

Throughout the epic poem Beowulf the character Grendel is portrayed as a horrible man eating monster. The author of Grendel, John Gardner, must have read Beowulf and seen another side to this so called horrific being. In Beowulf, Grendel is clearly depicted as the villain, “So times were pleasant for the people there until finally one, a fiend out of hell, began to work his evil in the world”. The value from retelling the story from the monster’s point of view is to gain a new perspective.
In Grendel, the reader sees that there are contributing factors to why Grendel is so evil. Grendel is able to speak, but has no one with which to share his thoughts. A light in the darkness is shown, when even in the heat of battle, Grendel has pity on Unferth. In Grendel, it shows he is scared of humans, “…and suddenly I knew I was dealing with no dull mechanical bull but with thinking creatures, pattern makers, the most dangerous things I’d ever met”. I, as the reader, am led to believe that at the first meeting of Grendel and humans, if they had shown kindness, things would have ended differently.

Dan Verderese

8/19/2012 07:15:22 am

A relatively minor character in Beowulf, Grendel shifts to being the protagonist and narrator in John Gardner’s novel. In the novel, Grendel is not just portrayed as a monster, but as a multidimensional character that displays human characteristics. He is similar to any human child whose youthful ignorance causes him to be heavily influenced by his surroundings. The lack of a role model cause Grendel to venture off and try to find someone who will give him answers about life. Unfortunately he meets the dragon who enforces the idea that there is no purpose to existence. After explaining that nothing Grendel does will matter he says, “My advice to you, my violent friend, is to seek out gold and sit on it.”
The way Grendel tells his own story makes the reader feel much more sympathetic for his demise at the end when he is killed by Beowulf. In Beowulf, it seemed that Grendel was killing the Danes for no reason, but in this story, the humans attack him when he is stuck to the tree even though he presents no threat. I feel badly for Grendel in this story because he is confused, corrupted, and lacks a maternal influence.

Dan Loizos

8/20/2012 02:44:36 am

In Grendel, John Gardner chooses to retell Beowulf from the monsters point of view in order to show a different perspective. In Beowulf, the reader sees Grendel as a vicious monster, while viewing Beowulf as a hero. We are able to see these characters in another context when reading Grendel. Gardner uses the alternate aspect in order to show a more sensitive and intellectual Grendel. He tries to change the reader’s feelings toward Grendel from negative to positive.
The readers’ response to Grendel changes drastically. We are able to see him in a more human way, rather than a barbaric beast. He is emotional and highly intelligent, which allows the reader to relate to his human qualities. We also see Grendel in a more innocent manner when he states, “I am sick at heart. I have been betrayed before by talk like that. ‘Mama!’ I bawl.” The reader sympathizes with Grendel. In contrast, we are only able to see him through the eyes of the Anglo-Saxons in Beowulf as a violent beast, with the inability to speak, but only to kill. Gardner allows the reader to know this “monster” as more of a blameless creature, rather than a ferocious animal.

Diana Lee

8/20/2012 04:07:07 am

Diana Lee
Ms. Hanley
AP English III
21 August 2012

John Grendel chose to retell "Beowulf" from the monster’s point of view because Gardner probably wanted to address another side of Grendel to his audience. In "Beowulf", we notice that the monster is displayed as evil that does not possess any feelings. However, once reading "Grendel", we subtly encounter the conclusion that Grendel only performs such immoral actions when provoked and does have feelings. On page 173, bottom paragraph, he experiences pain and does have emotions; “Is it joy I feel…” This line illustrates human-like feelings that Grendel expresses. We gain from such a shift that we only saw one side of Grendel in "Beowulf," and the other side of him was not revealed. Grendel’s telling of his own story affects my response to him in a constructive way. I now view him not merely as an evil creature as portrayed in “Beowulf”, but as a somewhat moral figure. This response is different from the way I thought of him in Beowulf because in this epic poem, I viewed him as immoral and wicked. Conversely, in "Grendel", another side of the monster is exposed to make us realize that we have not seen him in another perspective other than in a corrupt manner.

Phoebe Abramowitz

8/20/2012 10:02:51 am

John Gardner, author of "Grendel," takes the epic poem, “Beowulf,” a story of a twelve year war, and tells the same story, but through the mind of the enemy. In most wars, each side believes in their own cause. The observers or readers in this case, therefore favor the side of the story teller. John Gardner takes a chance with his idea of portraying the enemy in a lighter mood, one within the monster’s own mind. This shift can provide evidence that the "villain" is not evil, but that he is confused, and simply standing up for himself. The separate views of the same event can cause feuds between the readers, leaving an open ending to the true hero of the war.
The epic poem “Beowulf” clearly makes Grendel resemble an enemy who receives his true fate. However, as Grendel tells his own story, it is clear he is trying to help the humans and ultimately find his place in the world; as stated in Chapter 2, "I understood that, finally and absolutely, I alone exist" (22). While reading Grendel the reader can't help but have empathy for this monster who loves even those who hate him most.

PA

Matthew Fullerton

8/20/2012 11:02:34 am

John Gardner retold the famous epic, “Beowulf,” from Grendel’s point of view in “Grendel” so the reader can understand the monster’s life through his own eyes. This is important because “Beowulf” displays a biased view of the situation, especially when describing Grendel’s actions with excessively grotesque language. However, Grendel describes his encounters with humans more objectively; instilling ideas that Grendel is not solely evil. This result’s with the reader recognizing that Grendel may not be a monster but another ordinary creature with uncanny habits.

Grendel’s version of the story has me believe that he is a curious creature that is still young and acts like a child. Like a child, Grendel is pleasured with toying around with another species. Most children have at once killed ants out of pleasure, and Grendel is the same except with humans. Grendel states, “… I saw myself killing them, on and on, as if mechanically…” (Gardner, 81). On the other hand, “Beowulf”, in my opinion, portrayed Grendel as a ravenous monster. It was stated that he, “… bit into his bone-lappings, bolted down his blood and gorged on him…” (741). These two readings of the same story portray a complex antagonist who is just trying to survive.

-MJF

Nicolette Merlino

8/20/2012 11:17:32 am

Grendel, portrayed as “the captain of evil” in the epic poem Beowulf, shows a different side to readers in the novel Grendel. Although the violent acts committed in both Beowulf and Grendel are considered heinous, seeing the story in Grendel’s point of view helps to justify his actions. John Gardner chose to retell Beowulf from the monster’s point of view in order to give readers a fair assessment of who the character Grendel really is. There is much to be gained from such a shift. To begin with, in the novel Grendel you get a good look at why Grendel is the way he is. You cannot fully blame Grendel for his actions toward humans. During his first encounter with man, Grendel is almost attacked. He then goes on to describe humans as “more dangerous than any creatures he has thus far encountered.”
After hearing Grendel tell his own story, my opinion of him definitely changed. In Beowulf when Grendel is finally killed most are relived. In Grendel, on the other hand, most are left mournful. Grendel is a lonely creature that is confused by the world around him. After being portrayed as the protagonist, Grendel does not appear to be the monster he once was.

Sam Green

8/20/2012 11:39:25 am

“Grendel,” by John Gardner, is a novel that illustrates a twist on the epic poem “Beowulf,” by Seamus Heaney. Instead of demonstrating acts of heroism and valor of the Anglo-Saxons, Gardner describes the events in Grendel’s perspective, the brute monster. Gardner’s retelling of the poem in Grendel’s point of view shows how Grendel’s vengeance and ferocity began. The novel serves the purpose of justifying Grendel’s actions in attempts to convince the reader to rethink his impression on the alleged monster. Throughout the novel, Grendel was seen politely stalking the Danes at a distance, desperately wanting to get in on the action. Gardner lures the reader into sympathizing with Grendel by displaying his emotional side towards the Shaper and his playful attitude with Unferth.
Initially, I was shocked by the monsters animosity and audacity. However, once I learned Grendel’s perspective, my opinion of the monster changed drastically. In “Beowulf,” Heaney describes Grendel as a vicious monster that has threatened the Danes at Heorot for twelve years. In “Grendel,” Gardner describes Grendel as a friendly being who is lonely, misunderstood, and confused about his life. Through describing Grendel as depressed and secluded, Gardner evokes a type of sympathy and compassion from his audience that is absent in Heaney’s depiction of the monster.

(NOTE: Since italics do not show up on the blog, I put the name of book in quotes so you could differentiate between the name of the book and the name of the character.)

Emily Lang

8/20/2012 11:44:07 am

In the responsive novel, "Grendel," Gardner challenges the epic poem, "Beowulf," with an insightful alternate viewpoint. Through relating the monster’s perspective, Gardner encourages the reader to believe certain aspects of "Beowulf" have been distorted in order to convey a biased, pro-Anglo-Saxon tone. For example, after reading "Beowulf," the reader is disgusted by Grendel’s callousness and immorality, while inspired by Beowulf’s heroic audacity. At the climax of Beowulf’s fight with Grendel, the narrator states: “Then he who had harrowed the hearts of men/ with pain and affliction…found that his bodily powers failed him” (808-811). The narrator justifies Beowulf’s murderous actions by exaggerating Grendel’s malevolence. In contrast, in "Grendel," Gardner conveys the monster’s thoughts and feelings, provoking sympathy from the reader; “Drunken men rushed me with battle-axes. I sank to my knees, crying, ‘Friend! Friend!’ They hacked at me, yipping like dogs” (52). After Grendel expresses his desire to be accepted as a “friend” and is consequently met with violence, the reader can rationalize Grendel’s cruel attacks on the Danes. Through Grendel’s narration, the reader is encouraged to consider what unfavorable detail has been omitted from biased literature and to understand the importance critical thought.

EDL - (I enclosed the titles of the poem and novel in quotes since the website would not let me underline them.)

Tom Cunningham

8/20/2012 11:45:45 am

John Gardener retells Beowulf from Grendel’s point of view because it shows the true motivation behind Grendel's actions.The novel transforms Grendel into a three-dimensional character instead of the mindless killer he is portrayed as in Beowulf. This quote from Grendel explains the motives behind his attacks:
“The king snatched an axe from the man beside him, and, without any warning, he hurled it at me” (27). This excerpt shows that Grendel is motivated by revenge. It shows that Hrothgar was the one who started the fight, “without any warning”, causing Grendel to retaliate.
“It wasn’t until later, when I was fullgrown and Hrothgar was an old, old man that I settled my soul on destroying him- slowly and cruelly”(30). This quote shows that while Grendel may choose to pursue his “cruel” revenge, he is not without reason.
By reading the story from Grendel’s perspective you sympathize with his emotions like fear and loneliness, unlike in this quote from Beowulf, which shows him only as a monster:
“Suddenly then the god cursed Brute was creating havoc; greedy and grim” (11). By describing Grendel as “god-cursed”, we are given the impression that Grendel is an evil and soulless creature, with bad traits such as greed. Gardener’s Grendel lets us see a different side of him.

TC

Alyssa Cichy

8/20/2012 12:23:26 pm

When the Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf finally reached its peak of success in American literature, John Gardner was finally encouraged in the late 1960’s to narrate the epic poem from the perspective of the antagonist, Grendel. In his retelling of the classic poem, Gardner transforms an evil, frightful beast into a lonely but intelligent, outside observer who seeks an understanding of the meaningless world around him. There could be lots of reasons as to why John Gardner wrote Grendel, but I believe his creative idea to write the novel was to let readers see life through Grendel’s eyes. I imagine it changed all the readers’ perspectives by showing an incredible new side to someone that they assumed was just a monster. People always read stories from the hero’s perspectives and it was a pleasant change by Gardner to read the story from the outcast’s view.
Another important reason for Gardner’s approach to retell Beowulf was to create sympathy for the villain. As I read this book, I do come to understand Grendel a bit better. Although Grendel in Beowulf represents evilness, violence, and malice, Gardner seems to take a different, more complex approach. Beowulf describes him as a “creature of evil, grim and greedy” (Beowulf, 114-124) but I soon recognize that Grendel is an outsider, but he does sometimes express or show a desire to be part of a community - even the human community. In Grendel, the monster makes a miserable statement to himself; “I was Grendel, Ruiner of Meadhalls, Wrecker of Kings! But also, as never before, I was alone” (Grendel, p. 80). Besides his unpleasant appearance, very little separates him from humans. I think we all can relate to Grendel and that we are caught in a world we don’t fully understand. Grendel’s evilness is explained but will never be justified, which is what makes this novel so distinguishing to readers like myself.

Dan Schmidt

8/20/2012 12:24:45 pm

D.S.
In Grendel, John Gardner shifts the scene from the hero’s to monster’s viewpoint. Through this alteration, the reader gains new perspective on the seemingly cut-and-dried story of Beowulf and the monster Grendel. In the age-old epic poem, Grendel is portrayed as a blood-thirsty, ruthless murderer who has terrorized a village for over a decade. In the novel, new insight is given to the monster’s place in the Danish society. As the dragon points out to Grendel, “ You drive them [mankind] to poetry, science, religion, all that makes them what they are…You are, so to speak, the brute existent by which they learn to define themselves,” (Grendel, 73). Grendel now becomes less of a murderer and more of a force which drives man into the future and pushes him to reach his full potential. This new optimistic stance of Grendel’s place in the world creates an interesting contrast with his depiction in Beowulf, as a, “fiend out of hell,” who, “began to work his evil in the world,” (Beowulf, 100-101). John Gardner takes the epitome of evil and reshapes him into a creature which is capable of emotion and thought, which makes Grendel much more relatable in modern society.

Tyler Harlow

8/20/2012 12:46:33 pm

T. H.

John Gardner, in his retelling of Beowulf from Grendel’s point of view, understood that for greatness to exist there must be something in contrast. Gardner put himself in Grendel’s position to gain a better understanding of the murderous mind of the so-called “monster.” To the heroic Danes, (but in the dragon’s words) Grendel is “the brute existent by which they learn to define themselves.” While to Grendel, his aggressors are “mechanical,” “never speaking, walking dead men.” John Gardner saw through Grendel’s shaggy, blood matted exterior and saw a lost, purposeless creature, his only scrap of comfort being his mother who can no longer speak and has chained herself to the familiarity of their dark cave dwelling. Thus feeling trapped, frustrated, and alone, Grendel lashes out.
By reading both pieces of literature, walking a mile in Grendel and Beowulf’s shoes so to speak, we gain a new perspective, seeing things in a new light that make you question who the monster truly is. After reading Beowulf I thought Grendel to be a monster and Beowulf a hero. John Gardner has opened my eyes. I sympathize with Grendel not the so-called heroes the Danes, who killed for mere glory and egotistical power.

Andrew MacNeille

8/20/2012 02:25:17 pm

The perspective a story is told from plays a large role in the development of characters and how the reader views them. The story Grendel, retold by author John Gardner, sheds a new light on the epic poem Beowulf, but from a different perspective. Grendel is narrated by Grendel himself and gives the reader a different position to analyze the monster. In Beowulf Grendel is seen an evil villain, callous to all emotions and human life. When this story is retold from the perspective of Grendel we learn about him, his feelings, intentions and motivations. The reader can do nothing but empathize.
In Beowulf, we see Beowulf as a metaphor for the threshold of civilization. In Grendel, Grendel is a tragic hero. He is given a noble role in life, which is to promote civilization by frightening the Danes. The all-knowing dragon that Grendel meets with says this, “You stimulate them! You make them think and scheme. You drive them to poetry, science, and religion. You are so to speak, the brute existent by which they learn to define themselves.” Without Grendel the Anglo- Saxon people would never pass the threshold of civilization and would forever remain a barbaric, hunter-gatherer, society.
Grendel was written in 1971, many years after the original Beowulf was written. Why would Gardner choose to retell a story so many years later? From the reading of Beowulf we have already decided that each character is a metaphor for society. For example a noble hero can slay a monster and gain large amounts of land. This is a metaphor for feudal Anglo-Saxon society. Gardner is retelling the story to give each character a different role based on current society in the 1960’s. Grendel, who is seen as an evil villain in Beowulf, is a tragic hero in Grendel. Hrothulf, who is an orphan from nobility, favors the peasants, and is given a significant role in the story. John Gardner, ultimately wrote Grendel in an attempt to give the reader an incite into social system of his time and to glorify characters that had lesser roles in Anglo-Saxon culture.

AM

Connor Walsh

8/20/2012 05:14:35 pm

John Gardner’s novel, Grendel, acts as a retelling of Beowulf, as it boldly shows the events of the epic poem through Grendel’s perspective. By having Grendel act as the protagonist in the novel, the author portrays him in a much different light than the way he is depicted in Beowulf. In Beowulf, Grendel is simply seen as a “grim demon haunting the marches…” (102-103). Grendel is never given a motivation to attack Heorot in Beowulf and is looked upon as a ravenous monster with no emotions. Gardner’s novel allows the reader to see that Grendel is actually a tragic hero. The others’ hatred and fear of him cause Grendel to believe that all moral, political, and philosophical systems in life are irrelevant with his conclusion that “the world was nothing.” This gives Grendel a reason for the attacks and also develops his character. Gardner’s version of Grendel allows the reader to better understand Grendel and begin to sympathize for the misguided creature. When reading Beowulf, the reader eagerly awaits the battle in which Beowulf will kill the terrible, unforgiving beast. However, in Grendel, the reader ultimately dreads the final battle as they feel sympathy for the poor, misguided “creature”.

John Waldron

8/20/2012 11:17:16 pm

John Waldron
Ms. Hanley
AP English III
21 August 2012
Blood Thirsty, or Misunderstood?

Grendel, written by John Gardner, is a novel pertaining to the epic story of Beowulf through the eyes of the hated monster, Grendel. John Gardner tells Grendel’s side of the story. The novel allows the reader to decide whether or not Grendel is as evil and vile as he is made out to be in Beowulf. Mr. Gardner does a very good job of allowing the reader to sympathize with Grendel and think twice about the behavior of the human race.
John Gardner chose to retell Beowulf from Grendel’s point of view in order to suggest that the story told in Beowulf may not have been the entire story. This shift allows John Gardner to implant his own ideas into the minds of his readers. After reading Grendel’s story, I feel he is nothing more or less than a huge, powerful, confused brute, whose “innocence” does not allow him to understand the ways of the human race. After reading Beowulf, the reader is left feeling that Grendel is a blood thirsty monster who deserves to perish. Grendel allows the reader to clearly see both sides of the epic story and make an educated decision as to who is right and wrong.

Robyn Intveld

8/21/2012 12:23:43 am

In the epic poem Beowulf, readers learn about the terrible monster Grendel; “this grim demon haunting the marches, marauding round the heath and the desolate fens...” John Gardner chose to retell Beowulf in Grendel’s point of view; which is an excellent way to show the difference in perspectives.
After reading from Grendel’s point of view, readers learn that Grendel is good, yet misunderstood. An example is when he finds the injured man in the clearing. “I staggered out into the open and up toward the hall with my burden, groaning out, “Mercy! Peace!”…I sank to my knees, crying, “Friend! Friend!” Grendel wants to help, but because of his appearance the people in the meadhall are frightened.
After reading Grendel, I have learned that Grendel turns into the monster everyone expects him to be. Grendel’s talk with the Dragon is what really changes Grendel’s perspective. Grendel realizes that anything he tries to do to prove that he is good will not work. The people will not take the time to listen to his reasoning. In Beowulf, none of the people understand that Grendel is only trying to help. Grendel is a way for readers to see the innocent side of Grendel.

Kayla Ventola

8/21/2012 12:29:12 am

John Gardner, the author of Grendel, chose to rewrite Beowulf from the monster’s point of view to show two sides of the story. Beowulf describes Grendel as: “the captain of evil,” “God- cursed brute,” “malignant by nature,” portraying him as nothing more than a cruel monster with no thought or emotion. In Grendel, however, the reader learns the logic behind Grendel’s attacks and understands that the monster thinks rationally. Such a shift in points of view gives the reader the ability to make his own conclusion about the events that occur. Both Beowulf and Grendel are biased towards the protagonist. By showing both views, the reader is able to determine which one is more accurate based on his opinion.
I am compassionate as Grendel’s tells his story. He tries befriending the humans but they attempt to assassinate him. Grendel states, “I’d meant them no harm, but they’d attacked me again, as always.” By this response, Grendel is clearly fearful of the violent humans. Initially, I thought of him as nothing more than an irrational monster that thirsts for human blood however, my ultimate opinion of Grendel has changed; he is an intelligent monster who does not differ greatly from humans.

Raul Mendoza

8/21/2012 12:50:53 am

Grendel
There are always two sides to a story, and very rarely do both sides ever match up similarly. “Beowulf” depicts the epic quest of a noble and pure hero who, with time, will mature and become the greatest king his land has ever seen. Beowulf comes to rid the Danes of Grendel, who is supposed to be an evil, corrupt beast that terrorizes their mead hall. Interestingly enough, as Grendel tell the story he loses his evilness and takes on a more playful and innocent personality.
“Beowulf” from Grendel’s point of view reminds people that, perhaps, some details were stretched and others forgotten to glorify Beowulf and demonize Grendel. In “Beowulf” the description of Grendel goes as this, “A fiend out of hell, began to work his evil in the world. Grendel was the name of this grim demon” (Heaney 100-102). Yet, in the bull scene in Grendel, the reader does not see a wicked monster, but a childish, innocent creature, “’I’m going to die,’ I wailed. ‘Poor Grendel! Poor old Mama!’ I wept and sobbed” (Gardner 18). Winston Churchill wisely said that history is written by the victors; nonetheless it does not make it necessarily true.
Upon reading “Beowulf” I believed that Grendel was an evil fiend that deserved his painful death. However, while reading Grendel my whole perspective changed. I lost the idea of Grendel being wicked, but instead, misunderstood and lonely. Grendel is no more than a mischievous child who went too far, and he paid the price for it.

Samantha Chang

8/21/2012 01:02:35 am

SHC
John Gardner's purpose for writing in Grendel's point of view is to give the reader a better understanding of Grendel's actions and motives. The epic poem, Beowulf paints Grendel as a merciless creature who is a descendant of Cain and is“insensible to pain and human sorrow”(Heaney, 11). Beowulf does not provide any insight to Grendel's true thoughts on the events in the poem. In Grendel, Gardner conveys Grendel's thoughts in a way that the reader sympathizes with the creature. Grendel strives to find companionship but is continually looked down upon by humans as a monster. When Grendel hears stories about himself told by the Shaper, Grendel begins to believe the tales and loathe himself. He states, “Stood wriggling my face, letting tears down my nose, grinding my fists into my streaming eyes...” (Gardner, 51). The example from the text depicts his raw emotions when he believes the Shaper’s words. My first impression of Grendel was one of fear and disgust; I was aghast by all the cruel deeds Grendel did to the Danes. After getting to know Grendel more, I feel that he is a lonely creature who needs love and compassion rather than blind prejudice from those around him.
SHC

Haa-Young Lee

8/21/2012 01:13:45 am

The novel Grendel by John Gardner elaborates on the desolate, grim life of the monster known in the epic poem Beowulf as Grendel. In this way, the reader can somewhat sympathize with Grendel as he painfully lives his days in mental torture and frustration at the world: “"Why can't I have someone to talk to?" I said. The stars said nothing (53).” The reader additionally benefits from the novel by understanding Grendel’s motives and process of thought. His frustration and jealousy against the people of Heorot are his main driving force in cruelly murdering them. When Wealtheow is offered to Hrothgar, Grendel weeps in agony; he is aware that such a beautiful creature as herself would never convey any sympathy or love for him. Fueled by jealousy and desire, he raids the hall once more and almost murders Wealtheow.

Within the epic poem Beowulf, I feel intense hatred and fear of Grendel, similar to the people of Heorot. Grendel mercilessly tears through the mead hall, gruesomely murdering and consuming defenseless soldiers for no apparent reason: “And his glee was demonic, picturing the mayhem (730-731).” After reading the novel Grendel, however, I can sympathize with his motives and realize that it was only jealousy and madness that drove him to commit these unforgivable acts.

Jordan Black

8/21/2012 01:44:29 am

Point of view is used to evoke different feelings from a reader about characters: therefore, John Gardner choosing to retell the story of Beowulf from Grendel’s perspective drastically changes the reader’s feelings toward the perceived monster Grendel. Gardner clearly feels that Grendel is misportrayed as a heartless monster but in his novel, Grendel, a different, curious and confused side of the monster is shown. In Grendel, Grendel says, “I understood that the world was nothing: a mechanical chaos of casual.” At this point Grendel has an epiphany that the world has no plan or reason. In Beowulf, Grendel is portrayed as a mindless killer who slays more Danes nightly.
My opinion towards Grendel after reading his perspective of the story is that he is an extremely curious organism. Also, I believe Grendel is a fair organism as he will not kill the Danes who spared his life. This response vastly differs from my opinion of Grendel after reading Beowulf. During Beowulf I was hoping Beowulf was triumphant over Grendel, as I believed he was a mindless killer. Now, I wish that Grendel and Beowulf could have found a way to solve their problem peacefully.

Justin Silverberg

8/21/2012 01:57:08 am

A change in perspective is all it takes to open up the mind of a human. John Gardner wrote Grendel from Grendel’s point of view to give the reader a true feel that Grendel is not as bad as people make him out to be. In a sense, it is actually unfair how bias Beowulf is in describing Grendel’s character. Beowulf makes Grendel out to be a vicious human eater, but he simply is a misguided being with a caring soul. Gardner’s side shift makes the reader think of Grendel not as a blood thirsty monster, but as a confused creature trying to find his place in the world.
Through Grendel’s telling of the story, the reader develops an emotional attachment towards Grendel. Grendel says in Grendel, “I understood that the world was nothing: a mechanical chaos of casual, brute enmity on which we stupidly impose our hopes and fears.” Grendel proves to the reader in this quote he understands life, but is just simply confused by society. Beowulf describes Grendel in an unfair way and the narrator states, “Malignant by nature, he never showed remorse.” Grendel is never given a fair chance in Beowulf, so the reader thinks of Grendel as a heartless killer.
JS

Kelly Conway

8/21/2012 02:11:50 am

By providing the notoriously malicious beast, Grendel, with charisma and agreeability, John Gardner provokes sympathy within readers for this outcast. Grendel, whom “the Creator had outlawed and condemned as an outcast” in Beowulf, displays grief over his loneliness in Gardner’s Grendel. Through a new perspective, readers see Grendel as more than a killing machine, rather a thinker capable of affection and insight on human behavior.
Although Grendel himself is cruel, he highlights the absurdity and injustice that humans show to each other, none of which a reader can deny. “No wolf was so vicious to other wolves,” Grendel observes about humans. Grendel remarks that “the saved race” is pompous and self-righteous, manipulating each other with lies and deception. Through super-human eyes, the Danes seem to be playing a petty game in ignorance. Grendel becomes enraged by humans’ “blissful, swinish ignorance, their bumptious self-satisfaction, and, worst of all, their hope.” His killing sprees no longer seem as harsh and unwarranted.
Amid his terrifying and irrational rants, Grendel expresses reliance upon the Danes that provide him with an identity. He terrorizes them to make a better bread of people. Gardner uses Grendel, a non-human, to highlight man’s triviality and faults.
- KC

Noah Chomsky

8/21/2012 02:34:38 am

Grendel, a novel written by John Gardner is used as a strategy to retell the events of the epic poem, “Beowulf”, through the thoughts and feelings of Grendel. John Gardner is able to effectively provide an argument as to whether or not Grendel is truly a monster, who only has the desire to provide death and terror to all living beings. Although in Beowulf, Grendel seems to be a ruthless killer; Gardner introduces additional ways to view this misunderstood fiend, through the prodigious novel Grendel.
Grendel telling his own story has made him appear more human. I learned that Grendel is not as wicked as he seems. In the book, after killing many Danes, Grendel confronts a dragon and decides to stop tormenting the humans. Grendel states, “From now on I’d stay clear of them.” After the confrontation Grendel is given an incredible power to withstand the Dane’s weapons. This power overwhelms Grendel and forces him to torment the Danes. Grendel did not wish to murder the Danes but his power took control of him, allowing him to do anything he wanted. The dragon should have most of the responsibility for how Grendel acts, but Grendel is not entirely blameless.

N.C.

Jake Yasser

8/21/2012 02:41:50 am

Varying viewpoints create diversity and uniqueness. Perhaps John Gardner, author of Grendel, was hoping to create some debate over the cynical nature of the epic poem Beowulf. He wrote his novel from the viewpoint of the antagonist called Grendel, a monster who attacks a Danish kingdom. Gardner could have written this story for a couple reasons. Maybe he wanted to stop stereotypes. In any type of movie or book today, the public is led to like the protagonist, and the antagonists never get to justify their actions. Grendel is Gardner’s way of doing so because he explains why Grendel attacks the Danes. In addition, Gardner may be living through Grendel vicariously to display his viewpoint of the world.
By writing Grendel, Gardner causes readers to have mixed emotions. Some feel pity for the monster’s loneliness and inability to fit in. After all, “he was the Lord’s outcast” (Heaney 169). Others end up agreeing with Grendel because they agree that the humans deserve it. Humans are violent and corrupt; governments, for example, “protect the power of the people in power and keep the others down” (Gardner 118). Gardner expresses his viewpoints through Grendel and challenges Beowulf accurately with his unique view.

Alex Arnold

8/21/2012 02:52:35 am

Antagonists are usually portrayed as villains in literature. This is not the case in John Gardner’s “Grendel,” which retells the epic poem “Beowulf” from Grendel’s point of view. Grendel’s perspective depicts the reasons he is evil and vindictive toward man. Grendel’s viewpoint shows how isolation causes hostility. It also exemplifies how humans fabricate stories of themselves. After reading “Grendel,” relief is gained by discovering Grendel is not a monster. Grendel has fears and reasons for his actions, although they are deemed violent from the human perspective.
In “Beowulf,” Grendel is portrayed as one “who haunted the moors, the wild Marshes, and made his home in hell.” Contrarily, in “Grendel,” Grendel is delineated as a lonesome creature seeking companionship, as depicted in his quote, “Why can’t I have someone to talk to?” The reader is affected by Grendel’s outlook, for it evokes sympathy toward Grendel. The more monster-like Grendel acts, the more solitary he feels. When the reader comprehends “Beowulf,” he feels hostility toward a malefic creature, but after reading “Grendel,” the reader feels sorry for Grendel and his desolate life. After reading two distinct portrayals of Grendel, the reader believes one must see both sides to make a characterization.

Sabrina Batista

8/21/2012 03:01:36 am

Grendel's motives are not explained in detail in the poem Beowulf; John Gardner, however, chooses to write a novel based on Grendel's point of view. Most people see Grendel as the “God- cursed brute” and nothing would be able to justify his acts. Unfortunately, I believe that John Gardner’s terrible accident when he was younger changed his perspective on many things. Gardner caused an accident that ultimately killed his brother; he did something terrible but it was not his intentions. Consequently, he writes Grendel in order to find the monsters intentions. Even though Grendel should not have attacked the innocent people, I have a little sympathy for the monster. His mother does not teach him right and wrong, does not tell him the reason he was put onto the world, or even speaks to him. Moreover, he has no communication with any other being aside from himself. He listens to what the Danes believe and their theories as to why he is attacking; soon enough Grendel is forced to believe them. Hrothgar's harper impacts him the most; you are able to tell his words are most effective when Grendel "fled, ridiculous hairy creature torn apart by poetry- crawling, whimpering, streaming tears…like a mixed-up lamb and kid at the tail of a baffled, indifferent ewe-- and I gnashed my teeth and clutched the sides of my head as if to heal the split, but I couldn't." My perspective is different from solely reading Beowulf because John Gardner gave somewhat of a reason behind Grendel while the poem only mentions his gruesome attacks.
SB

Mona Patel

8/21/2012 03:45:47 am

“Don’t judge a book by its cover” is an old English idiom basically stating, know the whole story before you give your opinion. Without getting to know Grendel much in the play Beowulf, Grendel would be described as a human swallowing, terror causing monster who wants to do whatever he wants whenever he wants. After we read the book Grendel however, we realize that Grendel acts the way he does because of what he was taught as a little kid. Grendel’s mother is barely helpful due to her occasional moans and groans, her means of conversing, therefore, Grendel is left on his own to find his place in the world. As we recall, Grendel is innocent at times, when he frolics with his imaginary friends or when he decided to leave Freawaru, daughter of Hrothulf, in peace. In order to live up to the quote mentioned above, Gardner retells the story of a man killing a monster by giving it little twists and turns. Due to this shift, Gardner wants to inform readers to have an open mind, and not to judge, because after all, everything is not what is seems.

Emily Howson

8/21/2012 04:13:49 am

In the epic poem “Beowulf,” the inaugural beast in a string of many is one by the name of Grendel. In this Anglo-Saxon epic poem, the superhuman monster is portrayed as acting out of pure cruelty and a distaste for jubilation and noise (“It harrowed him/to hear the din of the loud banquet/every day in the hall…” [Heaney 87-89]). However, in the companion novel “Grendel,” written by John Gardner, Grendel is portrayed as acting mainly out of fear and annoyance of the human race, of which he is undoubtedly related, but still quite different (Gardner 36). This portrayal of a monster that initially seems as though he is nothing but a killer gives the reader much-needed space to be sympathetic. He is not acting simply out of coldblood.

The alternate interpretation of Grendel presented in the novel suggests a glimpse into what exactly constitutes a monster, and what makes a hero. Gardner’s point-of-view shift presents the idea that timeless hero Beowulf is little more than a monster himself. Both titular characters represent the concept that it is indeed possible to possess the qualities of both a monster and a hero, with the qualities only being dominant depending on the point-of-view.

Rachel Zacharczyk (RMZ)

8/21/2012 04:14:53 am

RZ

The reader’s experience is synonymous with that of a juror’s; he reads of the prosecutor’s view—Beowulf—as well as the defendant’s—Grendel. The initial view of Grendel, as given by Seamus Heaney’s translation of the poem Beowulf, is that of a classic epic villain. John Gardner wrote Grendel to fulfill the needed to achieve a three-dimensional perspective of Grendel’s situation established in Beowulf. Gardner takes the villain—Grendel— and, like a lawyer, attempts to justify Grendel’s actions to make him appear to be the victim.

In Beowulf Grendel is viewed as a “terror-monger”, “the captain of evil”—“God-cursed Grendel came greedily loping. The bane of the race of men roamed forth, haunting for prey.” (Heaney 711-713)—and it is not until Grendel that the reader sympathizes with Grendel when reading of his background, thoughts, emotions, and influences—all essential in understanding a character’s decisions. Additionally, the reader can identify with Grendel as if he is human: “I (Grendel)…hold conversation with the only friend and comfort this world affords, my shadow” (Gardner, 8).

While comparing and contrasting Grendel to Beowulf a readers sees Gardner’s empathizes in the importance of knowing all perspectives of a situation before judging someone an action.

Emily Poloniaj

8/21/2012 04:27:50 am

EP-

Everyone has heard the saying that there is always two sides to one story and that somewhere in the middle of those two stories lies the truth; this is exactly why John Gardner chose to write "Grendel." The novel "Grendel" tells the story of the epic poem "Beowulf" from Grendel's, the monster's point of view. From reading from the other side the reader learns many alarming new things. For example we find out the real story of the rising of the Danes, how Hrothagar became so powerful, and the unknown encounter that Unferth had with Grendel. We also discover the origen of the beautiful Wealtheow. "'I offer you my sister,'the young king said. 'Let her name from now on be Wealtheow, or holy servant of common good.'" (pg. 100) this is the moment in which King Hygmod offers his sister as a peace offering to King Hrothogar. The reader also realizes that Grendel is not an emotionless monster as he is depicted in "Beowulf." "Suddenly then the God cursed brute was creating havoc: greedy and grim, he grabbed thirty men/ from their resting places and rushed to his lair." this is how the Danes recall their first visit from Grendel in "Beowulf." "I staggered out into the open and up toward the hall with my burden, groaning out, 'Mercy! Peace!'...they could kill me-would if I gave them a chance. I struck at them, holding the body as a shield, and two fell bleeding from my nails at the first little swipe." (pgs. 51-52). This is the attack from Grendel's view. From reading Grendel after reading Beowulf, the reader grows to liking and understanding Grendel, instead of thinking him a heartless bloodthirsty monster.

Radwa Nassar

8/21/2012 04:40:08 am

Grendel was written by John Gardner solely to retell Beowulf through the monster's point of view. Reasoning behind Gardner's change in perspective is to offer the reader another explanation for the turn of events. In other words, John Gardner chooses to justify Grendel's actions. For instance, in Beowulf, Grendel is portrayed as "a fiend out of hell" (9). He is viewed as a ruthless monster who attacks Hrothgar's people and feasts on the Danes. Whereas in Grendel, though his actions are the same, Grendel is displayed as a victim who is simply protecting himself and his home from the humans. He merely acts in self defense at first; eventually, Grendel's murderous behavior escalades to revenge when he states "I have come to call my war with Hrothgar" (76).
My view on Grendel's character changed when I read the story from his perspective. When reading Beowulf, I found myself disliking Grendel's character. Rather than taking Grendel as a ruthless monster, I found that he had his reasons for his attacks. I didn't grow fond of him after reading Grendel, but I did become more sensitive toward his character. Gardner's shift in perspective is sensible, for it provides readers with both points of view, thus giving them the opportunity to form their own opinion on Grendel.

Maryum Butt

8/21/2012 04:46:49 am

The novel Grendel illustrates a significantly different picture of Grendel than the epic poem Beowulf. In Beowulf, Grendel is a vicious creature with no compassion; however, in Grendel, he is just a befuddled beast struggling to find his place in a world he does not understand. John Gardner chose to retell the story from the monster’s point of view to give Grendel deeper feelings and a more defined past. Gardner makes Grendel a creature that is very intelligent and attentive of the world. Through Grendel’s eyes, its seems that he is moral, whereas the humans are evil and untruthful.
Grendel’s telling of his own story establishes sympathy and understanding. For example, when Grendel says, “I do not listen. I am sick at heart. I have been betrayed before by talk like that. "Mama!" I bawl” (p. 170), it shows that Grendel has human emotions. He is hopeless, and I feel compassion towards him. I wanted Grendel to win; whereas in Beowulf, I wanted him to die because I thought he was nothing more than just a monster who showed no mercy when killing innocent warriors. John Gardner gave Grendel a new dimension, which made Grendel more sympathetic and easier to understand.
-M.B.

Maryam Srouji

8/21/2012 05:20:00 am

John Gardner chose to write an adaptation of Beowulf from Grendel, the monster’s, point of view. He did so because from the point of view of the hero, Grendel is a terrible monster wreaking havoc across Hrothgar’s kingdom. However, from Grendel’s point of view, the reader starts to see the mistreatment of the poor creature that leads him to such horrific acts. For example, as the narrator states in lines 152-155 of Beowulf, “…the vicious raids and ravages of Grendel,/ his long and unrelenting feud,/ nothing but war; how he would never/ parley or make peace with any Dane.” On the other hand, in Grendel’s account, Grendel explains that he once tried to make peace with the men but they attacked him relentlessly (Gardner 51). The adaptation gives reason to Grendel’s attacks and therefore changes the opinion of the readers about the hero and the supposed “monster.” Another reason Gardner decided to write from Grendel’s point of view was to give background information about the characters that are not discussed thoroughly in Beowulf, such as Unferth and Wealtheow. In Grendel, the reader learns the reason of Unferth’s pessimism and Wealtheow’s impact on the people. For those reason, Garner decided to write the masterpiece known as Grendel.

~M.S.

Dillon Yasser

8/21/2012 06:14:59 am

When John Gardner chose to retell Beowulf from Grendel’s point of view he may have been trying to emphasize the Anglo-Saxon religion, showing it from an outsider’s point of view. Grendel does not understand why the men make such gruesome statements about how they would attack the other groups out of loyalty to their King and their group. Grendel shows a completely different way of life despite being from the same time period. The monster experiences the same things but sees them in a different light, and this helps to explain what these times were like.
Grendel’s telling of his story makes him seem like more of a monster to me. In Beowulf, I almost felt bad for Grendel, that he was just trying to survive. After reading the second book I found that he did not kill out of necessity but just for joy sometimes. When a battle seemed like it was about to happen he said to himself “I could smell the blood that would drench the ground before morning came,” and you can tell that he just likes violence at that point. He seems like a much more complex creature in his own telling of the story.

DY

Tyler Roman

8/21/2012 06:37:41 am

The book “Grendel” by John Gardner masterfully gives another viewpoint to the epic poem “Beowulf”. There is an old saying that states that there are two sides to every story, and it is clearly prevalent when reading these two stories. John Gardner saw this when he read “Beowulf” and realized that the monster may not have been monstrous at all, just misunderstood. For example, during the epic poem, Grendel breaks into Heorot and brutally murders people almost every night. However, in the novel “Grendel”, the monster claims that he “…walked up and tried to join them” (76), hence the accidental smashing of the door and the killing of the people due to them attacking Grendel first. The reader gains specific insight from this quote: Grendel has feelings too and is not just a merciless killing-machine. However it is not just this quote that changed the image of Grendel in my mind; it was the entire book. Throughout “Beowulf”, I see Grendel as a ferocious, dastardly beast, destroying anything and anyone in his path. However, during “Grendel”, I see him as a lonely, depressed outcast whom I feel great sympathy for. Grendel is simply a confused and misunderstood creature.

Elizabeth Howson

8/21/2012 06:51:46 am

Elizabeth Howson
Ms. Hanley
AP English III
7 August 2012
Grendel: An Analysis
In all of history, there is a classic plotline that exists in any time period: the story of the hero versus the monster. In the poem Beowulf, it is the identities of the hero and the monster are obvious. However, John Gardner chose to tell a different side of the story in Grendel. By shifting this point of view to the “monster” instead of the “hero”, Gardner achieves the ultimate control of the character, and builds it into a completely different personality than the one the audience knows in the description from Beowulf. This way, the audience can have a way into the “monster’s” mind, to see what it is experiencing.
Through Grendel telling the audience his story the view of who is a monster and who is a hero changes dramatically. In the poem, Grendel is a monster that does nothing but add destruction to an otherwise peaceful realm. However, in his own retelling, Grendel allows us to understand that the real monsters are the humans, fighting cruelly and swelling with vanity, being disgusting excuses for creatures. His story of lonesomeness in a mankind-infested world is heartbreaking enough to understand why he was made out to be a monster.

Sabrina Batista

8/28/2012 12:08:47 am

From the Mines of Moria to the Old Forest, the fellowship face terrible creatures trying to end their voyage to Mordor. In The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring each character acquires a symbolic weapon that reveals something about its owner. The hobbits, Frodo, Samwise, Peregrin, and Meriadoc are the least experienced of the fellowship. They are each given a strong sword to help them fight. Frodo's sword, given to him by Bilbo, is a great help throughout the journey; it glows blue whenever the orcs are near. Their strong swords and courage contribute a lot and even Galadriel believes it when she says, "Even the smallest person can change the course of the future." Boromir is a noble fighter; his sword is as strong as he is and even at his downfall he has his sword in hand. Gandalf the Grey’s staff of power is his primary weapon along with his sword. These two weapons show how infinite Gandalf is. He channels his Wizard powers but he is not limited by that. Gimili is small but a brave, strong, and muscular dwarf. These characteristics explain why the axe is his weapon of choice. Legolas, a cautious elf that is light on his feet, is not very strong but is very quick. He is brilliant with a bow which allows him to fight effectively from a distance. Aragorn’s weapon symbolizes him the most. He recreates the sword of Elendil and names it Anduril. When Aragorn is first introduced he appears to be a worn-down, fallen apart Ranger. In contrast, he is the heir of an important lineage. Likewise, the sword transformed from broken metal to a powerful weapon. Each weapon suits the members of the fellowship and without them, the journey to Mordor would be close to impossible.
SB

Emily Howson

8/28/2012 06:27:28 am

Here is my Film as Text response. I emailed it to you as well, but just to be sure I am posting it here.

Similar to epic poem "Beowulf" and novel "Grendel," film "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" is essentially an argument about the difference between what constitutes a hero and what constitutes a monster. In "Fellowship," hero Frodo Baggins embarks on a quest to protect his people by destroying a Ring of power he inherits. Frodo demonstrates many aspects of the typical hero, including the immense voyage he embarks on and the courage and internal strength he displays. His journey is long and treacherous, across the uncertain and dangerous lands of Middle Earth. Throughout his entire quest an evil looms over him, a dead King by the name of Sauron who lives on through the Ring Frodo journeys to destroy. The viewer is meant to feel for the trials the characters experience, but not consider the fact that the heroes could themselves be monsters.

Frodo is joined by the titular Fellowship along his travels, a haphazard gang of men, hobbits, elves, and dwarves who attempt to protect both Frodo and the Ring. However, the power of the Ring eventually reaches the members, and their greed takes the better of them, seriously threatening Frodo. Frodo begins doubting his trust of the people he relies on.

In the beginning, there is an obvious separation between the men sworn to protect the Ring and the forces attempting to reclaim it. As the story progresses, however, that line becomes blurry. As the men turn into monsters themselves, consumed by the power of the Ring, it raises the idea that if they can drift in and out of being monsters so quickly, the same way that the creatures “Nazgul” were once power-hungry kings, maybe Sauron, the looming evil, was once a hero.

Kayla Ventola

8/28/2012 06:41:32 am

Heroes are known to be brave, thoughtful, and wise. That is how the protagonist, Frodo Baggins, is in the film Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. The way that one can come to this conclusion is by analyzing the major themes in the film.
One major theme in the movie is wisdom. Frodo shows his wisdom when he rejects the temptations to put on the One Ring. This ring contains much of the power of the evil Sauron. Because of the evil power that lies inside the ring, Frodo is destined to destroy it. This leads to another theme, fate. Fate is unpredictable and unknowable. For example, Gandalf’s fate of suddenly falling off the bridge. The relationship between fate and will power is strong in this film. A situation is when Boromir succumbed to the Ring and he did not have the power to control himself. Later within the film, Boromir dies.
Friendship is a vital theme. The support between the Fellowship is the main source of friendship. However, the bond between Sam and Frodo is also very strong. At one point, Sam states, “I made a promise. ‘Don’t you leave him behind Samwise Gamgee.’ And I don’t mean to. I don’t mean to.” This shows the loyalty that Sam possesses. The last two themes are sight and surveillance. Like most heroes, the Fellowship goes on a journey. However, the thing that makes these heroes different is that they are running and hiding from their enemies. Members of the Fellowship often get attacked at night, when hanger cannot clearly be seen. When one looks into the details of the themes, a lot of questions can be answered.

Max Natanagara

9/2/2012 01:20:45 pm

MN-
“Beowulf” is widely regarded as one of the most important pieces of English literature. It was a brilliant decision by author John Gardner, then, to write “Grendel,” a work that forces readers to rethink their own prejudices and biases. In “Beowulf,” I saw the monstrous antagonist Grendel as he was portrayed, virtually one-sided and “malignant by nature.” Gardner’s novel presents the creature in a multifaceted light, however, and I found myself sympathizing with Grendel much as I sympathized with Holden Caulfield in “The Catcher in the Rye.” Both protagonists are lonely outcasts who observe the world around them with both skepticism and criticism. Such a dramatic reversal is John Gardner’s novel that I could not believe that the trapped beast that cries “Mama! Waa! Waa!” could ever be called the “captain of evil.”
While Grendel still takes part in occasional acts of brutality, he is hardly alone. As Beowulf grapples with Grendel, the Nordic “hero” cruelly mocks him, whispering “Feel the wall: is it not hard?...Now sing of walls! Sing!” Along with the morality-questioning aspects of “Grendel,” Gardner’s novel cleverly includes back-stories that give explanation to Unferth’s bitterness and Grendel’s invulnerability, to name a few.
“Grendel” isn’t intended to pardon its eponymous protagonist. It’s a book that proves the non-existence of flawless heroes and incorrigible villains in fantasy, just as in real life.

(I had been told to post this after I got back, so here it is. Hopefully it has already been received in e-mail form...)

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