{

Grendel’s Perspective

British LiteratureSeptember 25, 2014

Students will be able to critically analyze Grendel and other characters in Beowulf by unpacking motivation, values, and characterization.

HOW? Read an excerpt from John Gardner’s Grendel.

Character Narratives

Objectives

Turn to a partner and read your creative paragraph that incorporates the vocabulary words.

THESAURUS THURSDAY

{

Prominent Themes in Existentialism

{1.) Life is suffering.

{ 2.) Life is not fair.

{

3.) Individuals are alienated from themselves by the highly complex, sophisticated, technological, bureaucratic world in which they live.

{

4.) Individual alienation, the loss of a sense of identity, is perpetuated by the labels and categories we use to describe people.

{

5.) Individuals are free to choose how they will respond to the painful existence in which they find themselves.

{

6.) Because they are free, individuals are also responsible for their own actions.

{

7.) Reality is not objectively knowable. All knowledge is subjective.

{

8.) Knowledge that is presumed to be objective and factual is actually of minimal value because it is superficial. (Science is not all it's cracked up to be.)

{

9.) Knowledge that is recognized as subjective is the most valuable, because it consists of internalized, integrated, self-initiated meanings. It is not merely cognitive (thought based), but is also affective

(emotionally based).

{

10.) The knowledge we attain subjectively may not lend itself to logical, propositional statement. It may be best expressed through metaphors.

What Existentialism Does Claim:

Mankind has free will

What Existentialism Does Claim:

Life is a series of choices, which creates stress

What Existentialism Does Claim:

Few decisions are without any negative

consequences

What Existentialism Does Claim:

Some things are irrational and absurd, without explanation

What Existentialism Does Claim:

If one makes a decision, he or she

must follow through

What Existentialism Does Not Claim:

The good life is one of wealth, pleasure,

or honor

What Existentialism Does Not Claim:

Social approval and social structure

trump the individual

What Existentialism Does Not Claim:

Accept what is and that is

enough in life

What Existentialism Does Not Claim:

Science can and will make everything

better

What Existentialism Does Not Claim:

People are good by nature, ruined by society

or external forces

Grendel is a 1971 novel by American author John Gardner. It is a retelling of Beowulf from the perspective of Grendel. Grendel is portrayed as an antihero. The novel grapples with finding meaning in the world, the power of literature and myth, and the nature of good versus evil.

EXISTENTIALISM: A philosophical movement begun in the 19th century that denies that the universe has any intrinsic meaning or purpose. It requires people to take responsibility for their own actions and shape their own destinies.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBqgXNNRWGE

John Gardner’s Grendel

Why does Grendel take a cloth to make a napkin for his attack? What does this reveal about his character?

What is the purpose of Beowulf’s words? Why do they affect Grendel so deeply?

What is the significance of the wall? Is Beowulf portrayed as an angel or a demon? With

whom are we sympathetic? What elements of existentialism do we see in the

story? What is the purpose of Grendel’s last words?

“Poor Grendel’s had an accident…So may you all.”

Grendel Socratic Circle

Beowulf Grendel Grendel’s

Mother Hrothgar Unferth Welthow

Shild Sigmund Signy Siggier Fitla Finn

Hnaf (or his wife)

Hengest Any other

character of your choice!

Character NarrativeIn your journals, as Journal #6, you will write a narrative from the point of view of a character in Beowulf (including characters from the various allusions). You may choose any character of your liking (be careful with Grendel—it must be different from Gardner’s).

Be sure to include an engaging voice, a clear hook, imagery, sensory details, figurative language (simile, metaphor, personification, onomatopoeia), precise word choice (using connotations), thematic significance through tone/mood, and varied sentence structure.

Complete your Character Narrative.

You will be sharing your stories on Monday.

Homework