Postmodernism in Literature
What is it?
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Movement began around/after
WWII
Reaction to Modernism (revolution
against tradition)
Difficult to define
Inconsistent and contradictory
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How do these characteristics apply
to the novel Grendel?
Basic Premises
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Claims there is NO TRUTH
The truths of human nature and society
actually change throughout the course of
history
NOTHING retains meaning
Skepticism
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Consider: How does Grendel change the
meaning of human nature and society
from that which we see in Beowulf?
Basic Premises
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Attack against theory and methodology
Identifies, questions and breaks down
thought paradigms
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Paradigm is an example that serves as a
pattern or model for something
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Who uses theory and paradigms in
Grendel?
Where in the novel does Grendel destroy
a theory or paradigm for the humans?
Deconstruction
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Deconstruction is a form of literary analysis
Identifies hierarchies and presuppositions of a
work of literature
Examines what the text does NOT say
Creates multiple interpretations so that there is
no finality or completion, a reader cannot finish or
attain closure
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No unity, every interpretation is neither right nor
wrong
Interpretation is introspective and anti-objective,
self-indulgent subjectivity
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Does the character Grendel use deconstruction in
the novel? How so? Can you give an example?
Nihilism
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Total rejection of social conventions
and beliefs
Belief that nothing is worthwhile
Disbelief in objective truth
Belief in destruction of authority
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How is Grendel nihilistic?
Rejecting Rationalism (modernist idea)
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Rationalism
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thought and action should be governed by reason
reason and logic are primary sources of knowledge
and truth and should be relied on in search for and
testing the truth of things
Rejection—Rationalism is a myth, bias affects
everything
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To what theme does this notion connect?
When and where does Grendel try to use
rationalism? When and where does he reject it?
Problem of Identity
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Search for identity, but it is
impossible to grasp
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Identity changes—not consistent
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How does this apply to the
character Grendel in the novel?
Helpful websites
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Post Modernism & It’s Critics
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Mapping Modernism and Postmodernism
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http://www.as.ua.edu/ant/Faculty/murphy/43
6/pomo.htm
http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~amerstu/573/pom
ochart.html
Comparing Postmoderism, Modernism and
Theism
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http://www.xenos.org/classes/papers/pomoch
1.htm