In the novel Grendel, the Shaper’s messages connect strongly with human society as to how people influence each other. Nowadays, many leaders such as the President of the United States who convinces people to do many things. For instance, in the states, we can find a modern day shaper, Donald Trump. He is trying to convince people to “kill evil", by sending his messages via Twitter. This can also be found in Grendel, in which the Shaper shows that humans need a message that convinces them to fight evil. In the story, Grendel is the evil one, and The Shaper mainly tells stories through singing and his harp to inspire and influence the Danes to fight evil whom is Grendel. The Shaper’s myths, or the way he has told stories have inspired shows how humans need a message that would convince them into not only killing evil, but many acts. By doing so, he sang while playing his harp to influence the warriors and people such as Grendel. He had a scene when Grendel came into his forest where the Shaper started singing a song about how the world is split into light and darkness because of an argument between two brothers. This made the Shaper claim that Grendel is on the evil side, cursed by God. Because of the Shaper's words being really powerful, Grendel almost believes it. This made Grendel …show more content…
In the Grendel novel, the warriors, or the Danes take action to fight against Grendel according to Shaper's words. Beowulf, one of the warrior who tried to most to fight Grendel. "finding quote". In this quote, it shows how the warriors were really hostile just to prepare to fight against Grendel. It mainly explains how the influence the warriors had from the Shaper's word were really meaningful. But in Donald Trump's case, people would take action by getting tweets from Trump himself which influences the people in the states to "kill
Throughout John Garder’s novel and the poem Beowolf the reader can tell that Grendel is a complex character that does not relate much to anyone else in the novel or the poem. Grendel in Garder’s novel is also different compared to the Grendel in the poem Beowolf by many different standards. Grendel in Garder’s novel is more a complicated character then the Grendel in Beowolf because the novel is set in first person point of view, the reader can have a deeper understanding of Grendel in the novel, and there is more modern philosophy in Grendel the novel. The novel Grendel is all written in first person which gives a deeper understanding of how Grendel interprets what is happening and how he reacts too many of the conflicts that happen to him.
Since the beginning of time, people have debated about whether we make our own choices or if we live out a predetermined life. In literary works, the idea of fate being the reason for a character’s actions leads to empathy toward him/her. Free-will, however, makes the character responsible for his/her actions. In many literary cases, fate seems to be the reason for everything. In the epic poem Beowulf, Grendel is a murderous monster that terrorizes the people of Herot.
Grendel was a being sung about in the songs of the shaper, who twisted tales to fit his own means. In the song Grendel was made out to be a wretched monster, without intellect, who only sought to kill. This wasn’t the case entirely. Grendel was determined to enter society, to be a part of their gatherings, instead at every turn he was chased away, cursed, and attacked. He was only a monster to those in the mead hall, a beast who could never be a part of them.
He takes out his loneliness on the prosperous hall of the Danes. The news of Grendel terrorizing the kingdom became a tale overseas, which is how Beowulf hears of Grendel and his acts. The kingdom had not received successful help, and Beowulf believes that he is capable of helping and takes this as his calling. After the call in a Hero Quest, the hero must make a decision.
Iago vs. Grendel In well written short stories, movies, and books, readers are always drawn to the villians or characters with the dark backstories, and sometimes may even root for them. This is no difference when it comes to Grendel in the epic story of Beowulf, and Iago in Shakespeare’s Othello. But between these two fictional characters, most readers can feel for one more than the other.
At the end of Chapter 12, Grendel’s last words were “Poor Grendel’s had an accident … So may you all.” (Gardner 174). Such words are meant as a curse to affect mankind. To start off, Grendel’s relationship with humans are not great.
He attacks his mead-hall, Heorot every evening. Grendel seems to be killing and torturing the Danes for fun, and they want revenge.
In lines 432-438, “That shepherd of evil, guardian of crime, knew at once that nowhere on earth had he met a man whose hands were harder; his mind was flooded with fear-but nothing could take his talons and himself from that tight hard grip. Grendel’s one thought was to run from Beowulf, flee
Grendel begins attacking the humans, “I eat and laugh until I can barely walk, my chest-hair matted with dribbled blood... my belly rumbles, sick on their sour meat” (Gardner 12). Grendel went from crying for his mother when his foot got stuck in a branch to killing and eating dozens of people. Seeing the events that lead up to this how Grendel did helps us further see the transformation he is making. It’s the isolation from the humans that transforms Grendel, “Not, of course, that I fool myself with thoughts that I'm more noble.
Taking a Stand In the epic, “From Beowulf” translated by Burton Raffel, a warrior from the Geats comes to rescue Hrothgar, the king of the Danes whose land is being attacked by a monster, Grendel. Beowulf succeeds and defeats Grendel. Sometimes, it isn’t the winning, but it’s the taking a stand that counts. Taking a stand is more important because you are standing up for what you believe in. When you take a stand for what you believe in, it shows bravery.
Early in the novel, Grendel listens to the Shaper and says “he told of an ancient feud between two brothers which split all the world between darkness and light. And I, Grendel, was the dark side” (Gardner 51). Grendel believes the words of the Shaper and is overcome with sadness at the truth in it. In most cases, truly evil characters take pride in being viewed as threatening figures. Grendel, on the other hand, is ashamed and does not wish to be viewed as a dark figure.
This is the beginning of Grendel falling directly into the role that the dragon said he would need to fill. Grendel’s murderous tendencies completely reflect the monstrous side of his personality and the more he kills the more he grows insane, separating from rational, humanistic thought. “I am swollen with excitement, bloodlust and joy and a strange fear that mingle in my chest like the twisting rage of a bone-fire... I am blazing, half-crazy with joy” (168). It is clear that, by the time Beowulf arrives, Grendel has embraced the fact that he is required to be evil, despite the fact that he previously claimed he would oppose that destiny.
He states, “A shock goes through me. Mistake!”. Grendel realizes he has been tricked because Beowulf’s eyes were open. What disturbs Grendel most is when Beowulf whispers to him “spilling words like showers of sleet, his mouth three inches from my ear. I will not listen.
Grendel in the novel displays the idea that he is far more superior than mankind. He mentions, "I am swollen with excitement, bloodlust and joy and a strange fear that mingle in my chest like the twisting rage of a bonfire" (Gardner 167-168). Grendel knows that that the people fear him because he is different and he uses that to his advantage. The "Monster", Grendel, seems to be fascinated in attacking Meadhall and is not frightened at all. Although he is brave in the novel, Grendel in the epic poem is described in being scared and weak on the attack at Meadhall.
Therefore, ultimately resulting in the use of violence and brutality to restore order and peace once again. Grendel whole existence is shrouded in darkness and mystery, which foster widespread fear among the mass due to their inability to control or comprehend