Grendel’s Perspective
{
British Literature
September 25, 2014
Objectives
Students will be able to critically analyze
Grendel and other characters in Beowulf
by unpacking motivation, values, and
characterization.
HOW?
 Read an excerpt from John Gardner’s
Grendel.
 Character Narratives


Turn to a partner and read
your creative paragraph that
incorporates the vocabulary
words.
THESAURUS
THURSDAY
Prominent
Themes
{ in
Existentialism
{ 1.) Life is suffering.
{ 2.) Life is not fair.
3.) Individuals are alienated
from themselves by the
highly complex,
sophisticated,
{ technological,
bureaucratic world in
which they live.
4.) Individual alienation,
the loss of a sense of
identity, is perpetuated
{ by the labels and
categories we use to
describe people.
5.) Individuals are free
to choose how they
will respond to the
painful
existence
in
{
which they find
themselves.
6.) Because they are
free, individuals
are also
{ responsible for
their own actions.
7.) Reality is not
objectively
{ knowable. All
knowledge is
subjective.
8.) Knowledge that is
presumed to be
objective and factual is
actually of minimal
{ value because it is
superficial. (Science is
not all it's cracked up to
be.)
9.) Knowledge that is
recognized as subjective is
the most valuable, because
it consists of internalized,
integrated, self-initiated
{ meanings. It is not merely
cognitive (thought based),
but is also affective
(emotionally based).
10.) The knowledge we
attain subjectively may
not lend itself to
{ logical, propositional
statement. It may be
best expressed through
metaphors.
What Existentialism
Does Claim:
Mankind has free
will

What Existentialism
Does Claim:
Life is a series of choices,
which creates stress

What Existentialism
Does Claim:

Few decisions are without
any negative
consequences
What Existentialism
Does Claim:
Some things are
irrational and absurd,
without explanation

What Existentialism
Does Claim:
If one makes a
decision, he or she
must follow through

What Existentialism
Does Not Claim:
The good life is one of
wealth, pleasure, or
honor

What Existentialism
Does Not Claim:
Social approval and
social structure trump
the individual

What Existentialism
Does Not Claim:
Accept what is and
that is enough in life

What Existentialism
Does Not Claim:
Science can and will
make everything
better

What Existentialism
Does Not Claim:
People are good by
nature, ruined by
society or external
forces

John Gardner’s Grendel
Grendel is a 1971 novel by American author John
Gardner. It is a retelling of Beowulf from the
perspective of Grendel. Grendel is portrayed as an
antihero. The novel grapples with finding meaning
in the world, the power of literature and myth, and
the nature of good versus evil.
 EXISTENTIALISM: A philosophical movement
begun in the 19th century that denies that the
universe has any intrinsic meaning or purpose. It
requires people to take responsibility for their
own actions and shape their own destinies.
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBqgXNNRW
GE

Grendel Socratic Circle
Why does Grendel take a cloth to make a napkin for his
attack? What does this reveal about his character?
 What is the purpose of Beowulf’s words? Why do they
affect Grendel so deeply?
 What is the significance of the wall?
 Is Beowulf portrayed as an angel or a demon? With whom
are we sympathetic?
 What elements of existentialism do we see in the story?
 What is the purpose of Grendel’s last words?
“Poor Grendel’s had an accident…So may you all.”

Character Narrative
In your journals, as Journal #6, you will write a narrative from the point of
view of a character in Beowulf (including characters from the various
allusions). You may choose any character of your liking (be careful with
Grendel—it must be different from Gardner’s).






Beowulf
Grendel
Grendel’s
Mother
Hrothgar
Unferth
Welthow






Shild
Sigmund
Signy
Siggier
Fitla
Finn



Hnaf (or his
wife)
Hengest
Any other
character of
your choice!
Be sure to include an engaging voice, a clear hook, imagery,
sensory details, figurative language (simile, metaphor,
personification, onomatopoeia), precise word choice (using
connotations), thematic significance through tone/mood,
and varied sentence structure.
Homework
Complete your Character Narrative.
You will be sharing your stories on
Monday.
