Beowulf and Grendel Essay
-This essay is worth 500 points
-It must be at least 2 types pages, double spaced, 12-point font, 1”
margins
-Have a strong thesis and make sure every paragraph is related to
that thesis in a clear way.
-Use very specific examples and be sure to cite your source using
MLA style citations (the page number following the quote
contained within parenthesis). If you use one of our handouts you
need to cite those as well.
-Make sure you write both an outline and a rough draft. You’ll find
that’s a good time to check and see if you’ve got a strong thesis.
You can choose from these three questions:
How does Grendel “deconstruct” (tear down or argue against
the fundamental ideas of) Anglo-Saxon heroism? If you choose
this essay be sure to take a close look at both Grendel’s encounters
with Unferth and Beowulf as well as the dragon’s view of
Grendel’s purpose in life and how that fits in with heroism.* Be
sure to go over your groupworks on heroism (including High
Noon).
Or
How is the incident in John Gardner’s life involving the death
of his younger brother reflected in his book, Grendel? If you
choose this essay be sure to talk about the literal connections (such
as Beowulf arriving at the 12th year – and yes there are many others like this) as well as a discussion of an
accidental versus a purposeful view of life and how that may have
come out of the author’s early tragedy.*
Or
John Gardner’s novel Grendel presents three very different
philosophical views on the purposefulness (or lack thereof) of life.
How do the events of September 11, 2001 fit in with each of
these views; how does what happened afterward and how the
media (shaper?) explained those events fit into each of the
three schemes of Gardner’s novel? Again, you must be very
specific in your answer – both in quoting from Grendel and from
media accounts of 9/11.
These papers are due a week from today – DO NOT wait until the
night before to begin them. Putting a day or more between your
rough draft and final paper is one of the best and most effective
These are beginning points for your thinking – they shouldn’t restrict you and you’ll need to go beyond these ideas and show your
own creative insight.
*
ways to improve the quality of your essay.