Grendel (Gardner) Works Notes
Grendel Major Works Notes
Title
Grendel by John Gardner (American)
Original date of publication: 1971 by Knopf, Inc.
Gardner writes this from Grendel’s point of view in Beowulf, an Old English heroic poem, where Grendel is the antagonist
Setting:
Time: 4th ~5th century A.D.
Place: Denmark
Social environment: 1. Grendel is lonely * Nobody understands him except the dragon * He can’t understand his own mother. * The only ones he can understand other than the dragon are human beings, who ostracize him for being a monster. This loneliness causes him to feel a jealousy for those with companionship that fuels his contemptuous attitude toward the humans. 2. Danes: system of strong king supported by brave/loyal warriors * ↳ code of honor * Ex. Unferth and other Danes try killing Beowulf, but Danes die trying, while Unferth shamed because he’s so pitied by the “monster” he’s let free * Beowulf defends own honor against Unferth * Warriors come up with belief that they’re fated to die→ follow fate by going into battle * If they’re supposed to die, they’ll die, and if they’re not supposed to die, they won’t. There’s no way to prevent death, so they might as well face it.
Atmosphere:
There is a satirical attitude towards humans and their propensity for violence. The narrator often mocks humans and their sense of honor, which he believes doesn’t really exist. The narrator’s writing style also gets more mature throughout the story, which shows Grendel’s maturation.
Significance:
* Gives a place representative of both Grendel (& his mother) and the Danes * Grendel & his mother: under his mere * Dark, mysterious * The Danes: Hart * Name comes from “heorot” * a male deer, especially a male red deer over five years old ~ American heritage * Is always the place where Grendel confronts/observes the Danes * Danes’ thoughts/
Title
Grendel by John Gardner (American)
Original date of publication: 1971 by Knopf, Inc.
Gardner writes this from Grendel’s point of view in Beowulf, an Old English heroic poem, where Grendel is the antagonist
Setting:
Time: 4th ~5th century A.D.
Place: Denmark
Social environment: 1. Grendel is lonely * Nobody understands him except the dragon * He can’t understand his own mother. * The only ones he can understand other than the dragon are human beings, who ostracize him for being a monster. This loneliness causes him to feel a jealousy for those with companionship that fuels his contemptuous attitude toward the humans. 2. Danes: system of strong king supported by brave/loyal warriors * ↳ code of honor * Ex. Unferth and other Danes try killing Beowulf, but Danes die trying, while Unferth shamed because he’s so pitied by the “monster” he’s let free * Beowulf defends own honor against Unferth * Warriors come up with belief that they’re fated to die→ follow fate by going into battle * If they’re supposed to die, they’ll die, and if they’re not supposed to die, they won’t. There’s no way to prevent death, so they might as well face it.
Atmosphere:
There is a satirical attitude towards humans and their propensity for violence. The narrator often mocks humans and their sense of honor, which he believes doesn’t really exist. The narrator’s writing style also gets more mature throughout the story, which shows Grendel’s maturation.
Significance:
* Gives a place representative of both Grendel (& his mother) and the Danes * Grendel & his mother: under his mere * Dark, mysterious * The Danes: Hart * Name comes from “heorot” * a male deer, especially a male red deer over five years old ~ American heritage * Is always the place where Grendel confronts/observes the Danes * Danes’ thoughts/