Grendel
Philosophical study
CONSIDER...
Vietnam
War
University protest (Kent State)
Cold War
Threat of Nuclear War
THE INSPIRATION

Grendel is obviously derived from Beowulf.

John Gardner, turned the one-sided “evil”
monster into a 3-dimensional character.

We will see Grendel struggle to find meaning
in life. This work is ultimately philosophical.
Grendel explores what it means to be
“human.”
Gardner’s Central
Question
Gardner wrote,
“Hopefully all readers will enjoy [Grendel] and
recognize the central question, namely:
if the world really is meaningless, how should I
live?”

As we read Grendel, we will discuss ,many
possible answers to this question.
12 chapters: Twelve years of
Grendel’s raids and 12 zodiacs
Not chronological: Flashbacks,
Allusions, Foreshadowing
Tense: Present tense is interspersed
with past telling of events leading
up to this 12th year
Each chapter presents a different
branch of philosophy – some will
overlap.
Philosophies
Solipsism-The
belief that
the self can know only
itself and that it (the self) is
the only existent thing
A weak defense
Universe functions
independently
Nihilism-The
belief that
nothing has meaning; that
life is a long series of
accidents and is in itself an
accident
Why? It does not matter
anyway.
Sophism - Arguments can be made on either
side of an issue. It is the argument rather than
the content that is important.
Metaphysics Looking for "the Big Picture" unifying concepts that explain existence
Existentialism We are alone in a hostile world.
We are free to make our own meaning and
are responsible for our own life decisions
Old Testament Theology An eye for an eye. A
harsh punishing God
Machiavellian Statecraft - The end justifies the
means. The smart leader does whatever is
necessary to secure and continue power.
New Testament - A philosophy of forgiveness
and personal sacrifice for the well-being of the
group
Empiricism What is real is what we experience. All
knowledge comes from experience.
Natural Philosophers
Life is an endless cycle -
The Character
Grendel--intelligent,
sensitive, immature monster.
He’s curious, seeks answers;
becomes cynical,
hollow brutal creature
chapter 1
Natural Philosophers
Life is an endless cycle 
how new life starts
with spring
chapter 2
Solipsism Denies the importance of
anything except the individual
person's consciousness. The self can
only know the self. The self is the only
existent thing.
young Grendel, not
knowing the world
yet – no “mom” help
Weak defense
Separate universe
chapter 3
Sophism - Arguments can be
made on either side of an issue.
It is the argument rather than the
content that is important.
Grendel's observation of how
people think and act
Grendel’s Reaction to the
(Scop’s) Shaper’s Songs
He feels torn between what
he observes (reality) and
what he hears (the beauty
and idealism)
chapter 4
Old Testament Theology An eye
for an eye. A harsh punishing God.
after Grendel brings the body
and is attacked again, he
comforts himself in knowing
human nature and how
Hrothgar's dependents won’t
be as nice and as loved
chapter 5/9
Metaphysics Looking for "the Big
Picture" -unifying concepts that
explain existence
 ch
5 conversations between
the dragon and Grendel
AND
 ch 9 the priest's belief in the
Destroyer
chapter 5/10
Nihilism Life is meaningless.
We just exist.
-
ch 5 the dragon
AND
 ch 10 Grendel thinks of the
dragon
chapter 6/11
Existentialism We are alone in a
hostile world. We are free to make
our own meaning and are
responsible for our own life decisions.
ch 6 Grendel's reaction to what
the dragon told him
AND
ch 11 Beowulf's decision
chapter 7
New Testament - A philosophy
of forgiveness and personal
sacrifice for the well-being of
the group
the queen
 What evidence of balance is in this chapter?
 How does Grendel attack this balance?
 What does Grendel mean by comments such as “Pity poor
Grengar, Hrothdel’s foe”? and “What will we call the Hrothgarwrecker when Hrothgar has been wrecked?”
 What qualities are evident in Wealtheow?
 What effect does she have on the Danes? On Grendel?
 Why does Grendel stop himself from raping or killing
Wealtheow? Note that he has never attacked the Shaper,
either.
chapter 8
Machiavellian Statecraft - The end
justifies the means. The smart
leader does whatever is necessary
to secure and continue power.
how Hrothulf thinks
Hrothgar rules
chapter 12
Empiricism What is real is what we
experience. All knowledge comes
from experience.
conversation between
Grendel and Beowulf
A Tale Told By an Idiot?
 Grendel
says often that he is stupid and that
life is meaningless (and he tells the story)
 He whispers, cannot be understood by the
Danes (his language is older)
 His voice is too loud and frightful to be
understood.
 His killings, an expression of anger and the
meaning of his tale he summarizes at the
close of chapter 10: “Nihil ex nihilo.” (Latin for
Nothing comes from Nothing)