ipl-logo

Analysis Of The Monster In 'Grendel' By John Gardner

1809 Words8 Pages

Monsters are described as big, ugly, no-feelings creatures. They are also described as creatures of hell or creatures that are not acceptable in the society. This is disagreeable, not all monsters are ugly, and some monsters do have some feelings. The monster Grendel, in the book Grendel by the author John Gardner, shows that he is sensitive and has human's feeling traits even though he is a monster. Different events in the book, prove that the monster is impressionable and afraid. Everyone describe Grendel from his physical appearance. For example, "When a man-eating beast meets an epic hero (Coleman 24)" was the title of an play. The title described Grendel as a beast because of his appearance and the way humans looked at Grendel. Grendel …show more content…

He doesn't think like a beast such as a lion or a grizzly bear. A beast is a animal that would do anything to kill someone. Grendel, …show more content…

Whatever the coach say, the player do it without any questions. Usually the players be scare of the coaches. In this relationship, Grendel is the player and the dragon is the coach. Apparently, the dragon can see the future so he tells Grendel what he should do, so the future can turn out just like the dragon's vision. "I discovered that the dragon put a charm on me: no weapon could cut me (Gardner 75)". So the dragon told Grendel to start killing the knights and people at the meadhall because it would keep the society alive. If Grendel keeps killing people in meadhall every year, the knights and the king would keep planning a defense every year to keep the monster away from the valley. Grendel did what the Dragon told him, on the first night of Grendel attack. Grendel didn't know what he was doing because that was his first time. He made his appearance seeable quick, he try to kill other one knight to see how it really felt to kill someone but other knights saw him and that's when they all attacked Grendel. One knight had a good shot at Grendel, the knight brought his sword behind his head and swung the sword as if that was his last time cutting someone or something. Grendel was very scared, he thought that was the end of his life so he just hugged himself and hoped that a miracle would happen. Well Grendel forgot about the charm, so when the sword came in contact with him, the sword bounced right off

Show More
Related
865 Words | 4 Pages

He also explains that they destroy nature and that animals cower in fear of them. This is interesting because it can be considered a parallel to the relationship between Grendel and the humans, as Grendel considers himself steps ahead of the idiotic humans, who cower before him. Similarly, humans consider themselves superior to the animals, and would be considered their tormentors. In addition, during his many thought processes, Grendel explains how humans treat each other and mentions their murderous ways or how they partake in several apparently mindless acts of violence. In this way, humans also embody many characteristics that could lead to their classification as

Read More
225 Words | 1 Pages

In chapter 12 of the book Grendel , Grendel’s last words were “ poor Grendel’s had an accident... So may you all ” Grendel’s last words were meant as a curse. When Beowulf ripped Grendel’s arm off and Grendel slipped on blood .The animals , also his enemies were watching him die. Grendel hopes the animals that they will all die.

Read More
639 Words | 3 Pages

Later on , he decides to take his advice. Ever since Grendel started talking to the Dragon he felt a sudden change in him. For Instance , Grendel was thinking to Hrothgar’s thanes for nothing “( Gardner 6 ). This shows that Grendel has no intention of going to the Hrothgar’s thanes because he thinks it would be a waste of his time. Moverover , Grendel would get offended when The Shaper would sing songs about him.

Read More
809 Words | 4 Pages

Grendel identifies with modern day monsters because both threatened the lives or safety of a certain society, both had some form of support from someone else, and Grendel and modern day monsters were both created by themselves. Grendel threatened the lives of the Danes by intruding their safe place, the mead hall, and slaughtering innocent Danes. Much like Dylann Roof, who stormed into a sacred place, a church, and

Read More
621 Words | 3 Pages

Beowulf accepts Hrothgar's favor to fight Grendel, and Beowulf goes off and boasts about his accomplishments. He fights Grendel and wins! Towards the end, Beowulf dies due to a dragon bite. Grendel does not deserve sympathy because he invaded the Mead Hall, killed humans, and was irredeemable. Grendel invades the Mead Hall unwelcome by the humans.

Read More
439 Words | 2 Pages

Caelan Barranta Mr. Miller English 10: Period 3 19 February 2015 Throwing Persistence and Reality Swinging Back Like a Boomerang: An Analysis on the Similar Behavior and Thoughts Displayed By the Monster and Grendel In Frankenstein, the monster tells his story to Frankenstein, starting as a confused and innocent monster that observes a family, desiring domestic affection. As the story proceeds, the behavior he demonstrates can be compared to Grendel, as both monsters exist in a society that ignores their existence and finds them frightening based on their monstrous and inhuman appearance. No matter how much times the monster and Grendel attempt to reach out to humans, they are “kicked away,” realizing their grotesque characteristics. Both characters struggle to find a place in society, as well as find respect from humans.

Read More
673 Words | 3 Pages

This reinforces the idea that Grendel would be open to friendship if only the Danes were. Unlike Grendel, the Monster struggles to justify his actions; he is beyond remorseful, asking if Walton thought “that the groans of Clerval were music to [his] ears? [His] heart was fashioned to be susceptible of love and sympathy; and when wrenched by misery to vice and hatred, it did not endure the violence of the change” (Shelley 164). By stating that his heart was brought to vice and hatred by misery, the Monster implies that no life would have been lost had he been given a companion with whom he could be happy; with a mate he could have remained a being of love and sympathy.

Read More
577 Words | 3 Pages

Grendel also asked why he doesn’t have anybody to talk to, giving away that he has no friends. Grendel feels lonely and in need of company as well as "the monster" in Frankenstein. In the middle of the novel "the monster" has a conversation with Frankenstein, "These bleak skies I hail, for they are kinder to me than your fellow beings." (70) "The monster" compares the sky to the men and how kinder it is, revealing to the reader that the sky has too much meaning and that he talks to

Read More
590 Words | 3 Pages

The story says “…angry because a thief has stolen a jeweled cup/ from the dragon’s hoard of gold, is laying waste to the Geat’s land…” (“from Beowulf.” pg. 28). This shows the dragon was hoarding gold which was a crime to the Anglo-Saxons. I think this quote was to encourage warriors and kings not to be selfish. Like Grendel and Grendel’s Mother the dragon was a human that committed a crime and broke rules that were important to keep order among the tribe so they were sentenced to repeat their action for end of

Read More
703 Words | 3 Pages

This is the beginning of Grendel falling directly into the role that the dragon said he would need to fill. Grendel’s murderous tendencies completely reflect the monstrous side of his personality and the more he kills the more he grows insane, separating from rational, humanistic thought. “I am swollen with excitement, bloodlust and joy and a strange fear that mingle in my chest like the twisting rage of a bone-fire... I am blazing, half-crazy with joy” (168). It is clear that, by the time Beowulf arrives, Grendel has embraced the fact that he is required to be evil, despite the fact that he previously claimed he would oppose that destiny.

Read More
607 Words | 3 Pages

What makes someone or something a monster? Throughout Grendel by John Gardner there are plenty of explanations of what makes a monster and what the qualities monsters must have to be a monster. There are a lot of examples of monsters throughout Grendel including the Dragon, Grendel, and Grendel’s mother. One scene in Grendel stuck out as the perfect example of a monster, which was when Grendel and the Dragon were talking. This scene really stuck out because it shows how it is to be a monster and how monsters act with each other.

Read More
542 Words | 3 Pages

He is illustrated as a large figure with the strength to pick up the weight of a grown man and consume him whole. He haunts the moors and marshes and attacks the warriors while they sleep at Herot. Grendel is carnivorous; he feasts on human flesh and drinks human blood. He is so incredibly strong, that he once smashed thirty men at one time before dragging them all back to his lair. Both instances listed above, how he patiently waits until nighttime to attack unsuspecting people and how he smashes men out of anger and just because he can proves how he is a true

Read More
1468 Words | 6 Pages

Grendel’s actions are so chilling because they seem so thoughtless and unprompted. In Beowulf, it is very unclear as to why Grendel decides to attack and eat the Dains, and this lack of justification for his actions makes them that much more terrifying. Anyone who would argue that Grendel’s actions are not scarier because they are seemingly unprompted would be proven incorrect with a reading of John Gardner’s Grendel. Grendel gives Grendel’s backstory and

Read More
980 Words | 4 Pages

In response, Grendel runs to the hall and shouts “Mercy! Peace!” (51). His willingness to ask for peace shows the remorse he feels for his actions. He realizes his actions have resulted in him being viewed by others in a negative

Read More
637 Words | 3 Pages

The common characteristics of what makes a monster have remained constant throughout society: evil, isolated, violent. Monsters have no regards for social normatives, and cause chaos and destruction wherever they go. Grendel is no exception. In Beowulf, Grendel manifests every characteristic of a stereotypical monster. He is considered inherently evil, and is an outcast; he roams alone and commits devilish atrocities whenever he pleases.

Read More

More about Analysis Of The Monster In 'Grendel' By John Gardner

Open Document