GRENDEL
By John Gardner
Exam Review Study Guide
Chapters 1-12
Characters:
Know who the following characters are and why they are important.







Grendel
Grendel’s mother
Hrothgar
Wealtheow
Hrothulf
Red Horse
Ork







Unferth
Beowulf
The Shaper
Hygmod
Danes
Scyldings
Geats
Places:
Helmings
The Dragon
The Great
Destroyer
The Zodiac:
Know why the following places are important:








Hart
The fen
Denmark
Grendel’s cave
The dragon’s cave
Know what zodiac signs represent
what characters. Be able to explain
how they represent the characters.
Terms:
Know what the following terms mean and how they relate to the story. The –isms in bold are
especially important.




Existentialism
Nihilism
Atheism
Altruism




Marxism
Fatalism
Solipsism
Rationalism



Postmodernism
Relativism
Determinism
Grendel’s Quest for Identity, Meaning and Purpose:
Know how the following (and the characters who represent each) influenced
Grendel’s quest:






Existentialism
Determinism
Altruism
Atheism
Nihilism



Marxism: struggle for equity
and justice
Faith in God
Heroism
Love
Animals:
Know why the following animals are important:





Ram
Bull
Goat
Fish
Lion