When shown that our world is but a loop, we choose to continue. When shown that everything we do is simply the same struggle, over and over, forever the same waste of time, we don’t break away. We still go down this path of the least resistance, because we believe that that’s the way the world is. No matter what we as human beings do in life, we seem to be forever trapped in cycles, whether it be a cycle of work, a cycle of love, or any other type. But why do we follow monotonous cycles in life and even conform to such cycles? Why do we choose to lead unfulfilling lives? Although such questions are not easily answered through one’s own life experiences, the use of other means, such as the book Grendel, written by John Gardner, and the ten-episode …show more content…
As we know, Grendel is the story of a lone monster trying to find his way in a world that despises him. Throughout his journey, Grendel is thrown into situations where he is challenged, both physically and psychologically, until he finally discovers what he was looking for all along: peace, and in this case, peace through death. Ultimately, Grendel is meant to show us that cycles will always exist in our lives, may they be considered good or bad cycles, and the only true escape is to notice these cycles and break away. A similar connection to this story can be made when observing Over the Garden Wall, a story in which two brothers, Wirt and Greg, find themselves lost in a mysterious place called the Unknown, where it is said that long forgotten stories can be revealed. Along their …show more content…
In Over the Garden Wall, fear is shown to be the most disastrous feeling to the protagonists in the Unknown, causing Wirt to give in to hopelessness and nearly get his brother killed in the process. Wirt’s fear of abandonment first developed after he believed that he had lost his chance with Sarah, a girl that he liked. This first initial fear was the very thing that brought the boys to the Unknown, and it resurged after he thought that Beatrice had tricked himself and Greg into a trap. “I shouldn’t have trusted anyone” (Episode 6 McHale). Wirt’s fear of abandonment causes him to want to trust no one, even to point where he tells Greg to leave him out of frustration. As well as this, in the episode Into the Unknown, it is shown that Wirt is a pessimistic boy with low self-esteem who has always felt like an outcast due to his unique interests, and this is why he reacts so violently to rejection and betrayal that he assumes have occurred. After Wirt’s first attempt at trying to talk to Sarah in an attempt to ‘enter the unknown’, he immediately bails at the first sight of risk, and this leads him to desire isolation in an effort to never be hurt
Equally important, the innocence Grendel had as a child provide an outline for his lack of baneful intentions. One act of innocence that has shown through Grendel’s entire life, from childhood until death, was a tendency to call for his mother when in danger of any kind. Putting this into perspective, shortly before the death of Grendel, on page one-hundred and seventy, he calls for his mother for the final time. “Mama!” he is heard bellowing.
Karissa Adams Katie Jo LaRiviere ENG 220 October 27, 2015 Close Reading Assignment The passage for my close reading and my paper is found in lines 88 to 91. The words used in this passage to describe the sound of the great hall show evidence of interlace between Grendel’s view and the view of the Danes.
Between the story, "Grendel", and the beliefs of the Anglo Saxon culture, there are many similarities. Such as in the story, there is a setting of a place named, "Herot" which is a mead hall and in the Anglo Saxon culture, mead halls were also present at the time. Although in the poem, the hall is attacked by the beast, it was actually a place where everyone can meet up and be friendly with one another. In Anglo Saxon culture, that is exactly what they are used for.
The world seems timeless, as life goes on. While things may change due to various events, the world still spins. Until the Earth is destroyed, nothing will stop that process. People within society are the ones to determine how they live on Earth. We only live in a minuscule part of time of Earth’s lifespan.
1. Find an example of a literary device and write the example. Be sure to label what device it is and explain how your example fits the description. 1. On line 265 it describes how Grendel "Drank the blood from his veins and bolted him down, Hands and feet; death and Grendel's teeth came together, snapping life shut.
Up until the end of Chapter 7, Grendel’s actions are influenced by the dragon. He believes nothing matters, there is no good or bad, and everybody eventually dies. The people of Heort know Grendel as a monster and a killer and he lives up to his reputation.
Grendel was once described as “that shadow of death” (Raffel 74). He is known to be “mankind’s enemy” (Raffel 79). Through the whole poem, Grendel is made out to be this “violent and cruel, and evil” monster (Line 108). Kylie is often talked about in a negative connotation. She once said that “like, every single day I see something negative about me” (Heyman).
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.
“Grendel should be home now, what is wrong with that child,” the mother of the descendant of Caine thought. Just then Grendel burst through the ceiling, deep dark red blood gushing from his shoulder. He trails blood through the chalet towards his room where he collapses from his injuries on his bed. His mother instantly falls to his side trying to save him but it is too late for he has passed. “SO MUCH BLOOD.
In most stories there is a very distinguishable character that carries the traits of a hero. However in John Gardener’s Grendel, the word hero becomes blurred. With the thoughts and perspective from the monster himself you see the world in a whole new perspective. During an attack one brave soul stands up and begins a conversation with the monster. His name is Unferth and according to the 9 noble viking virtues he is the real hero in the story.
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.
Pointless, ridiculous monster crouched in the shadows, stinking of dead men, murdered children, martyred cows” (Gardner 54). Grendel recognizes that it is the isolation that has turned him into what he is. He has seen how the humans have rejected him and tried to kill him, the first person viewpoint allows us to share this experience with
Grendel is classified as a monster due to his outsider status of being an outcast, unreligious, and dishonorable, which establishes him as the antithesis of Anglo Saxon culture. As an outcast of society, Grendel represents the idea that in Anglo Saxon culture unity and cooperation is what holds society together. In a world classified by kinship and strong family lineage, Grendel is “conceived by a pair of those monsters born of Cain, murderous creatures banished by God” (Heaney 22). In a society focused upon blood lineage and strong family ties, to be related to a “monster“ in any form is something sinful, and cause enough for complete hatred.
In the book Grendel he seems to change throughout the book. At the beginning of the story Grendel is sensitive , immature and very lonely. Giving a feeling of sympathy . That all changes when Grendel talks to The Dragon. When Grendel first meet The Dragon he was afraid of it. He was so terrified to ask him questions.
Through the eyes of an author, there could be many ways to write a story, but their goal is to pick the best way the story would be told. Many times authors who write in the third person perspective, lack major details about how the main character feels; but when written in the first person point of view, it allows the reader to interpret the tone through the character's feelings because the character expresses their thoughts and actions in deeper detail. The book Grendel by John Gardner, engages the reader in a first person point of view, allowing the reader to further analyze the main characters views on society, thoughts on the attack on the mead hall, and the final battle: on the contrary, the epic poem, Beowulf, tells the same story in