John Gardner’s Grendel

Grendel is derived from Beowulf.

John Gardner turned the one-sided “evil”
monster into a 3-dimensional character.

We see Grendel struggle to find meaning in
life. This work is ultimately philosophical.
Grendel explores what it means to be “human.”
Gardner wrote,
“Hopefully all readers will enjoy [Grendel] and
recognize the central question, namely:
if the world really is meaningless,
how should I live?”

We will discuss the many possible answers to
this question.
 a philosophical movement that
views the individual and the
individual’s experience as the basis
for understanding the nature of
human existence.
 In other words, each individual
creates his or her own meaning.

is a belief in freedom and accepts the
consequences of individual actions

acknowledges the responsibility that comes
with the making of choices.

prefers subjectivity

views humans as “subjects” in an indifferent
and often uncertain universe.

The belief that all values are baseless and that
nothing can really be known or communicated.
 associated with extreme pessimism
 associated with skepticism
 condemns existence.

A true nihilist would
 1) believe in nothing,
 2)have no loyalties, and
 3) have no purpose other than, perhaps, an impulse to
destroy the things and people around them.

The idea that people can abandon free will and
become mindless parts in a “machine,” often times
without realizing this is happening.

In a “machine” there is no need to worry about the
right/wrong of functioning – one simply does.
 Grendel seems to think we are all machines, “blind,
mindless, mechanical.”

“Mechanism” is in direct opposition to existentialism,
which emphasizes human freedom, choice, and
responsibility.

Images and references to “machinery” appear
often in Grendel’s thoughts.

We will booknote these references!

These images of machinery help us
understand how Grendel views himself and
his world.
DEF = a reference to another text that an
educated reader would know.
 An allusion adds layers of meaning to the text
in which the allusion appears. An allusion
allows an author to add meaning without
didactically explaining the meaning to the
reader.
 In this text we will specifically be looking at
Biblical allusions.

Be sure to booknote references to Grendel’s
cave.

We will be looking at Gardner’s deeper
meaning and the reasons he has Grendel use
allusions to describe his cave.

A form of deductive reasoning consisting of a major
premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion.

EXAMPLE:
Premise –
If a triangle is scalene then it has 3 unequal sides.
Premise –
If a triangle has 3 unequal sides, then it has 3 unequal angles.
You can use the law of syllogism to conclude that:
If a triangle is scalene, then it has 3 unequal angles.
DEF = a Latin expression, used in English to mean
an essential or necessary quality or condition.

The Dragon will use this term to criticize the
human tendency to only acknowledge isolated
facts.
 “There are no facts,” the dragon says.
How does this quote connect to existentialism?
DEF = a Latin phrase meaning,
“Nothing comes from nothing.”
Grendel thinks, “Nihil ex nihilo” at the end of
Chapter 10. He is fitful and upset –
Does this mean HE is “nothing”?