Sunday, March 13, 2011
Grendel & Language
Throughout Beowulf, Grendel's language skills increase with each chapter. Grendel uses the language that the Danes use to try to define himself and explore his world. At the beginning of the novel Grendel understands the Danes but they don't understand him. When he tries to speak to them they don't understand a word he is saying. Later on in the story,Grendel's laguage improves. He is able to communicate with Unferth and hold an entire conversation with Unferth. Throughout Beowulf his language changes from simple to complex. In chapter seven he begins to use quotations, bulleted lists, and the shape of his narration also changes. He even advances to expressing himself poetically. As Grendel learns more about himselfand the humans, his language advances more and more.
Problem Solution Paper
Jezzett Anderson
English IV
March 13, 2011
Problem Solution Essay
Juvenile Crime & Violence
“Violence kills one million people in the US annually and young people its number one victims.”(Arbetta) Why is today’s youth behind bars before they are old enough to drink? Why are teens being killed before they are old enough to even drive? Why are kids killing kids and what can we do to help? The biggest crisis that we have in society today is juvenile crimes. “The crisis encompasses not only young people and public safety but also the failure and neglect of families, schools, communities, and social systems for which adults are responsible.” (Bilchik)Groups, organizations, community leaders, schools, and many others have all proposed solutions. The previously implemented solutions have proved to be complete failures, as crime is rising. Youth violence is too serious to be brushed off or kicked to the side. This problem affects millions every day. The problem with the alarming increase in juvenile crimes due to poverty, lack of education, lack of leaderships, and harsh living environments can be solved by implementing good leadership and examples into the lives of the youth.
The number of rates of juvenile crimes has been extremely too high. Lots of teens die every year from violence. There are several reasons why juvenile crime has been on the rise. “The most prominent ones are lack of education, the increased use and availability of firearms and the increase in use and availability of drugs.” (Nancy Rose) Many teens even murder other teens. They fight at school, carry weapons, and bully each other. Many teens are violent in school as well as out of school. Even though juvenile crime rates have dropped over time they still need to be lowered. This violent behavior stems from various social problems. Youths are affected by family life, school, and leaders in the community. If all three of the following are unstable then this plays a great role in that child’s life and leads to violent youth. More teens are committing crimes with guns today than ever before. This speaks to the community leaders and the parents. Where are the kids getting guns from and why aren’t these children being monitored? Lots of high school student also bring weapons to school because they feel threatened. In the life of a teen the schools and communities are filled with violence. Statistics show exactly how bad the problem is.
In 2007, 5,764 people from the age of 10 to 24 were murdered; that is an average of 16 each day! Also, Homicide was the 2nd leading cause of death for people from the ages of 10 to 24. These rates for death are alarming. The rates of violence inside of schools are alarming also. In a 2009 sample 31% of youth in grades 9-12 reported being in a fight in the past month and 17.5% of the youth reported to have carried a weapon more than once in the past month. More important than the youths committing the crime are the youths being injured by them. 7.7% of students reported being injured with a weapon at school one or more times in the past month.
There are many proposed solutions. Many communities and leaders suggest that more recreational centers for teens be built. They believe that the youth need to do something constructive with his time so that they stay out of trouble. Many people believe that recreational time encourages youth, teaches them life skills, and also allows them to have fun while expressing themselves. Other’s believed that the source to the solution is school. People who support this believe that the youth are extremely influenced by school and their peers. Improving the school’s environment might improve the youth’s behavior. Some leaders believe that by implementing education on violence and how to act in different situations that youth violence can be lowered. By Trying and sentencing every 15 to 17 year old who commits a murder, rape, or armed robbery as an adult law makers believe that less youths will commit crimes. This solution doesn’t even prevent violence it just punishes it more severely. A solution that does prevent violence is importing good leadership. This solution includes role models in the lives of youth such as pastors and ministers that encourage success. The government blames the crime rates of the accessibility of guns and proposes that the solution is stricter laws and regulations on such fire arms. “ Since the 1960s, the growth of federal gun control has been dramatic………… For example, it was not a federal crime for those younger than 18 to possess a handgun until 1994.” (Lott)
The best solution for the alarming youth crimes is implementing leadership and improving the community in the youth’s lives. Besides school, teens are mostly hanging out in the community. Things teens are exposed to everyday affects them weather they notice it or not. A child’s environment affects the choices they make concerning their own life. Also, everybody needs someone to look up. Teens need good examples placed before them so that they can be encouraged. Good leaders and examples influence teens to be better. Most violent teens tend to have similarities that portray low, no, or bad leadership. “ They tend to be the black and brown fatherless youth who inhabit our inner cities, and who lack mentors, ministers and monitors.” (Rivers)
Reverend Eugene created and establishment called the Ten Point Plan to put responsible adults, mostly men in the lives of miners. In his community since the establishment of the program there has been a 61% drop in youth violence. This has proved to be a very successful approach to solving the problem of youth crime.
More and more kids are dying. The problem of youth violence and juvenile crime rates stretches across the world. No child should be a victim of violence victim of violence? Every child deserves a chance to live in a violence free environment. The violence and crime rates are too high. Through cooperation we can help. “To fight the problem, we must all get serious about valuing human life..” (Arbetta) The problem with the alarming increase in juvenile crimes due to poverty, lack of education, lack of leaderships, and harsh living environments can be solved by implementing good leadership and good role models into the lives of the youth.
Citations
"Addressing Youth Crime." Interview by Eugene F. Rivers. GALE. General One File. Web. 17 Feb. 2011.
Arbette, Sandra. "Violence - a Growing Threat." Current Health 2, a Weekly Reader Publication. General One File. Web. 17 Feb. 2011.
Bilchik, Shay. "Breaking the Cycle of Juvenile Crime." Trial. General One File. Web. 17 Feb. 2011.
Lott, John R. "Availability of Guns Is Not the Cause of Youth Violence." Insight on the News. General One File. Web. 17 Feb. 2011.
Rose, Nancy. "The Solution to Juvenile Crime Is Simple by Nancy Rose." Arizona State University. ASU. Web. 04 Mar. 2011.
English IV
March 13, 2011
Problem Solution Essay
Juvenile Crime & Violence
“Violence kills one million people in the US annually and young people its number one victims.”(Arbetta) Why is today’s youth behind bars before they are old enough to drink? Why are teens being killed before they are old enough to even drive? Why are kids killing kids and what can we do to help? The biggest crisis that we have in society today is juvenile crimes. “The crisis encompasses not only young people and public safety but also the failure and neglect of families, schools, communities, and social systems for which adults are responsible.” (Bilchik)Groups, organizations, community leaders, schools, and many others have all proposed solutions. The previously implemented solutions have proved to be complete failures, as crime is rising. Youth violence is too serious to be brushed off or kicked to the side. This problem affects millions every day. The problem with the alarming increase in juvenile crimes due to poverty, lack of education, lack of leaderships, and harsh living environments can be solved by implementing good leadership and examples into the lives of the youth.
The number of rates of juvenile crimes has been extremely too high. Lots of teens die every year from violence. There are several reasons why juvenile crime has been on the rise. “The most prominent ones are lack of education, the increased use and availability of firearms and the increase in use and availability of drugs.” (Nancy Rose) Many teens even murder other teens. They fight at school, carry weapons, and bully each other. Many teens are violent in school as well as out of school. Even though juvenile crime rates have dropped over time they still need to be lowered. This violent behavior stems from various social problems. Youths are affected by family life, school, and leaders in the community. If all three of the following are unstable then this plays a great role in that child’s life and leads to violent youth. More teens are committing crimes with guns today than ever before. This speaks to the community leaders and the parents. Where are the kids getting guns from and why aren’t these children being monitored? Lots of high school student also bring weapons to school because they feel threatened. In the life of a teen the schools and communities are filled with violence. Statistics show exactly how bad the problem is.
In 2007, 5,764 people from the age of 10 to 24 were murdered; that is an average of 16 each day! Also, Homicide was the 2nd leading cause of death for people from the ages of 10 to 24. These rates for death are alarming. The rates of violence inside of schools are alarming also. In a 2009 sample 31% of youth in grades 9-12 reported being in a fight in the past month and 17.5% of the youth reported to have carried a weapon more than once in the past month. More important than the youths committing the crime are the youths being injured by them. 7.7% of students reported being injured with a weapon at school one or more times in the past month.
There are many proposed solutions. Many communities and leaders suggest that more recreational centers for teens be built. They believe that the youth need to do something constructive with his time so that they stay out of trouble. Many people believe that recreational time encourages youth, teaches them life skills, and also allows them to have fun while expressing themselves. Other’s believed that the source to the solution is school. People who support this believe that the youth are extremely influenced by school and their peers. Improving the school’s environment might improve the youth’s behavior. Some leaders believe that by implementing education on violence and how to act in different situations that youth violence can be lowered. By Trying and sentencing every 15 to 17 year old who commits a murder, rape, or armed robbery as an adult law makers believe that less youths will commit crimes. This solution doesn’t even prevent violence it just punishes it more severely. A solution that does prevent violence is importing good leadership. This solution includes role models in the lives of youth such as pastors and ministers that encourage success. The government blames the crime rates of the accessibility of guns and proposes that the solution is stricter laws and regulations on such fire arms. “ Since the 1960s, the growth of federal gun control has been dramatic………… For example, it was not a federal crime for those younger than 18 to possess a handgun until 1994.” (Lott)
The best solution for the alarming youth crimes is implementing leadership and improving the community in the youth’s lives. Besides school, teens are mostly hanging out in the community. Things teens are exposed to everyday affects them weather they notice it or not. A child’s environment affects the choices they make concerning their own life. Also, everybody needs someone to look up. Teens need good examples placed before them so that they can be encouraged. Good leaders and examples influence teens to be better. Most violent teens tend to have similarities that portray low, no, or bad leadership. “ They tend to be the black and brown fatherless youth who inhabit our inner cities, and who lack mentors, ministers and monitors.” (Rivers)
Reverend Eugene created and establishment called the Ten Point Plan to put responsible adults, mostly men in the lives of miners. In his community since the establishment of the program there has been a 61% drop in youth violence. This has proved to be a very successful approach to solving the problem of youth crime.
More and more kids are dying. The problem of youth violence and juvenile crime rates stretches across the world. No child should be a victim of violence victim of violence? Every child deserves a chance to live in a violence free environment. The violence and crime rates are too high. Through cooperation we can help. “To fight the problem, we must all get serious about valuing human life..” (Arbetta) The problem with the alarming increase in juvenile crimes due to poverty, lack of education, lack of leaderships, and harsh living environments can be solved by implementing good leadership and good role models into the lives of the youth.
Citations
"Addressing Youth Crime." Interview by Eugene F. Rivers. GALE. General One File. Web. 17 Feb. 2011.
Arbette, Sandra. "Violence - a Growing Threat." Current Health 2, a Weekly Reader Publication. General One File. Web. 17 Feb. 2011.
Bilchik, Shay. "Breaking the Cycle of Juvenile Crime." Trial. General One File. Web. 17 Feb. 2011.
Lott, John R. "Availability of Guns Is Not the Cause of Youth Violence." Insight on the News. General One File. Web. 17 Feb. 2011.
Rose, Nancy. "The Solution to Juvenile Crime Is Simple by Nancy Rose." Arizona State University. ASU. Web. 04 Mar. 2011.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Anglo-Saxon Style Riddle
I am filled with foolish fanciful dreams
Frequently fighting against facts
I am sometimes massive and momentarily minute
I contain secrets unseen and truths unknown, and unheard
I am a truth-sower, a soul-seeker
I am sometimes trusting and sometimes suspicious
I am red revealing and round
I can be warm and wishful and wanting at times
At other times I’m fragile frail and feeble
The mouth-piece of the soul, I speak sporadically
Hole to your soul ,honest and highly valued
Frequently fighting against facts
I am sometimes massive and momentarily minute
I contain secrets unseen and truths unknown, and unheard
I am a truth-sower, a soul-seeker
I am sometimes trusting and sometimes suspicious
I am red revealing and round
I can be warm and wishful and wanting at times
At other times I’m fragile frail and feeble
The mouth-piece of the soul, I speak sporadically
Hole to your soul ,honest and highly valued
Charecteristics of Grendel
“And that night Grendel came again, so set on murder that no crime could ever be enough, no savage assault quench his lust for evil.” (pg.2, 49-54) Beowulf is a tale of a powerful hero Beowulf and numerous monsters he had to defeat to protect the people of England. One of the monsters he fights was Grendel. An epic, originally written in old English and transcribed around 1030, Beowulf tells about the lives of people living in Denmark or southern Sweden around 550 and 600 AD. Grendel brought terror to the Danes and Beowulf came to their rescue. In the epic tale Beowulf, Grendel’s character is the protagonist. He is a descendant of Cain. He lives amongst the Danes in dark, terrible places. The character of Grendel is portrayed as evil. This is proven by study of Grendel’s Actions, motives, and the diction used to describe him throughout Beowulf.
Grendel’s action throughout Beowulf, are both evil and inhumane. Grendel terrorizes the Danes killing as much as he wants. He visited in the middle of the night and slaughtered whoever he could. “Grendel snatched up the first Geat he came to, ripped him apart, cut his body with powerful jaws, drank the blood from his veins.”(pg.32, 421-424) Grendel was a murderous monster and acted as such. He didn’t care about anyone or anything. He killed with no remorse and took pleasure in his actions. He was full of evil. Grendel acted as if he had no conscience or heart, relentlessly and hateful. All of his actions throughout Beowulf portray the evil in his heart.
The words describing Grendel’s character in Beowulf, all have evil meanings behind it. At the beginning of the epic Grendel is presented as a monster and a descendant of Cain, a murderous creature banished by God. “Conceived by a pair of those monsters born of Cain”. (pg.21,20-21) Even Grendel’s origins were evil. He began evil and his parents were of evil origins also. Beowulf, uses a specific diction when describing Grendel. His character has historical, evil roots. He even had the appearance of evil: claws, powerful jaws. All of Grendel’s characteristics were described as being some type of evil.
Grendel’s motives all stemmed from his lust for evil. After the first attack Grendel continued to kill and wreak havoc on the hall of Herot. King Hrothgar was full of sorrow and wanted his people to e freed from the monster. Everyone who fought against Grendel lost. “Keeping the bloody feud alive, seeking no peace, offering no truce, accepting no settlement, no price in gold or land.” (pg.22, 68-69) Grendel’s motives behind his malicious actions stemmed from his lusts for evil. He has no real reason at all to kill the Danes. His motives are pure evil. His heart and soul are filled with evil. He kills simply because he can. He gets pleasure out of killing.
Every aspect of Grendel portrays evil from his actions and motives to the words used to describe him in the epic Beowulf. He relentlessly killed and destroyed whenever he pleased. His lust for evil powered his actions. Spawned from monsters creatures banished by God, he was evil from the beginning. The words used to describe him portray his evil characteristics to the reader. The character, Grendel, was depicted as monstrous to the reader threw every aspect of his personage.
Grendel's Journey
Throughout Beowulf, Grendel goes on both a physical and mental journey. Grendel embarks upon a mental journey as his philosophy changes throughout the story. Grendel’s philosophical journey is greatly related to the cycles of astrology. From the beginning of the story to the last chapter Grendel’s belief’s about life, the humans, himself, and time change and become more enhanced. At the beginning of the epic Grendel is trying to discover who he is and what is the meaning of life. Grendel begins to travel around Herot and develop his language creating his own philosophy about life. In the end Grendel realizes the harsh realities of life.
The beginning of the epic starts with Grendel observing a ram (Aries and the Ram). He begins to develop his world-view. Grendel was aggravated at the Ram’s mindlessness and concludes that he is no better than the animal himself. At this point Grendel believes that the world and the way it works is pointless. Further into the story Grendel begins to think as if he was the only one who existed and mattered. When the Bull (Taurus the Bull) attacked Grendel, Grendel developed a thought that the world was nothing but forces pushing one another, chaos. At the end of chapter two he believes that he alone exists.
Chapter three is related to “Gemini the Twins”. In this chapter Grendel hear the Shaper’s song and his belief’s begin to change again. The Shaper’s words manipulate Grendel. In chapter three Grendel begins to think of the human’s violent nature remembering their wars. Later when he hears the shaper’s song his views are transformed and he begins to believe the shaper’s version of the human’s history. In chapter three the way Grendel views himself and the humans change.
In chapter four, “Cancer the Crab,” Grendel discovers from the Shaper that he is descended from Cain, a brother-murderer and the father of demons, and is brought into Old Testament theology and references. The Biblical story begins when Cain is angered by God’s rejection of his gift. After hearing god tell him that “sin is a demon crouching at the door. It shall be eager for you, and you will be mastered by it,” Cain kills his brother, Abel, and is cursed for eternity. Grendel is willing to go along with the Old Testament story of his being a demon and an evil monster, so long that he can be a part of the Anglo-Saxon society. He is a child of darkness amongst children of light and wants to be accepted into human life.
In chapters five and four Grendel comes to accept his role. Chapter four is related to “Cancer the Crab”. In this chapter Grendel discovered his origins from the Shaper’s songs. He learned that he had come from darkness. The Shaper’s song described him as evil and he was willing to accept that role just to be a part of their society. Chapter five is related “Leo the lion”. In this chapter Grendel’s philosophical views are affected dramatically by the dragon. In chapter five the dragon tells him that nothing has meaning and all things will pass and be forgotten in time. Grendel struggles to accept the dragon’s views but he does except that his role in the Anglo-Saxon society is to be their enemy. Grendel begins to view the world as having no meaning and him being able to anything he wants. There’s a constant battle in his mind between the Shaper’s views and the Dragon’s views.
In chapter six, “Virgo the Virgin,” skepticism is the philosophy that Grendel adopts. Basically, he becomes distrustful of the world. After meeting the Dragon, he believes the world is meaningless and that the Shaper is ignorant about life. Grendel stumbles over a dead man’s body, shocked that humans would murder each other in hatred. Also, while he accepts that other beings besides him exist, he has concluded that he cannot fit in with their society and that they are all his enemies. Up until now, Grendel has been trying to befriend the humans at Herot. However, after meeting the dragon and losing hope in the Shaper, he gives up hope on the humans and becomes a skeptic.
Chapter six is related to “Virgo the Virgin”. In this chapter Grendel begins to believe that the world has no meaning. His thoughts of the Shaper change drastically. Once convinced by his stories he now thinks that he is ignorant. He has excepted that he can’t fit into the Anglo-Saxon society and that they are his enemies. Grendel essential gives up hope on the humans. In chapter seven which is related to “Libra the Balance” , Grendel’s philosophical views are challenged once again. When Grendel observed Wealtheow he was touched by the kindness she showed. Wealtheow’s kindness tore at Grendel. He in the end decides to kill her but changes his mind.
In chapter eight which is related to the “Scorpio the Scorpion” Grendel’s view toward Hrothgar and the human’s systems become even more negative. In this chapter Grendel’s nephew come to live with him and begins to play a revolution because of the unfair government that he observes. By listening to Hrothful, Hrothgar’s plotting nephew, Grendel becomes more in dislike of the way the Anglo-Saxons live. In chapter nine which is related to “Sagittarius the Archer”, Grendel forms his final views about the Anglo-Saxon religion. In chapter nine Grendel convinces a blind priest that he is their god The Destroyer and observes their meaningless rituals. He realizes that their rituals are just acts that they perform. Little Anglo-Saxon people believe in the ancient religion. Grendel comes to the conclusion that they are blindly following ancient religions.
In chapter 10, “Capricorn the Great”, Grendel comes to believe that there is no longer any meaning, no morals, traditions, social values, political values, or religious values left. He believes that humans put their own meaning on things and therefore everybody’s values on different things are different. He believes that that the things that the human’s value has no meaning, except in their head. In this chapter Grendel was angered by a goat continually trying to climb up the side of the cliff. He is angered at the goat and throws rocks at it and splits its skull. At this point Grendel believes in nothing and is aggravated at of the Anglo-0Saxon mechanical way of life.
In the end of the story Grendel faces the harsh realities of life. When the Geats arrive he is happy that his boredom will be over. He looks forward to another chance to prove the human’s philosophies wrong. He believes that order doesn’t exist and one single act of violence can disrupt everything. In the end the Dragon’s philosophical views win.
The beginning of the epic starts with Grendel observing a ram (Aries and the Ram). He begins to develop his world-view. Grendel was aggravated at the Ram’s mindlessness and concludes that he is no better than the animal himself. At this point Grendel believes that the world and the way it works is pointless. Further into the story Grendel begins to think as if he was the only one who existed and mattered. When the Bull (Taurus the Bull) attacked Grendel, Grendel developed a thought that the world was nothing but forces pushing one another, chaos. At the end of chapter two he believes that he alone exists.
Chapter three is related to “Gemini the Twins”. In this chapter Grendel hear the Shaper’s song and his belief’s begin to change again. The Shaper’s words manipulate Grendel. In chapter three Grendel begins to think of the human’s violent nature remembering their wars. Later when he hears the shaper’s song his views are transformed and he begins to believe the shaper’s version of the human’s history. In chapter three the way Grendel views himself and the humans change.
In chapter four, “Cancer the Crab,” Grendel discovers from the Shaper that he is descended from Cain, a brother-murderer and the father of demons, and is brought into Old Testament theology and references. The Biblical story begins when Cain is angered by God’s rejection of his gift. After hearing god tell him that “sin is a demon crouching at the door. It shall be eager for you, and you will be mastered by it,” Cain kills his brother, Abel, and is cursed for eternity. Grendel is willing to go along with the Old Testament story of his being a demon and an evil monster, so long that he can be a part of the Anglo-Saxon society. He is a child of darkness amongst children of light and wants to be accepted into human life.
In chapters five and four Grendel comes to accept his role. Chapter four is related to “Cancer the Crab”. In this chapter Grendel discovered his origins from the Shaper’s songs. He learned that he had come from darkness. The Shaper’s song described him as evil and he was willing to accept that role just to be a part of their society. Chapter five is related “Leo the lion”. In this chapter Grendel’s philosophical views are affected dramatically by the dragon. In chapter five the dragon tells him that nothing has meaning and all things will pass and be forgotten in time. Grendel struggles to accept the dragon’s views but he does except that his role in the Anglo-Saxon society is to be their enemy. Grendel begins to view the world as having no meaning and him being able to anything he wants. There’s a constant battle in his mind between the Shaper’s views and the Dragon’s views.
In chapter six, “Virgo the Virgin,” skepticism is the philosophy that Grendel adopts. Basically, he becomes distrustful of the world. After meeting the Dragon, he believes the world is meaningless and that the Shaper is ignorant about life. Grendel stumbles over a dead man’s body, shocked that humans would murder each other in hatred. Also, while he accepts that other beings besides him exist, he has concluded that he cannot fit in with their society and that they are all his enemies. Up until now, Grendel has been trying to befriend the humans at Herot. However, after meeting the dragon and losing hope in the Shaper, he gives up hope on the humans and becomes a skeptic.
Chapter six is related to “Virgo the Virgin”. In this chapter Grendel begins to believe that the world has no meaning. His thoughts of the Shaper change drastically. Once convinced by his stories he now thinks that he is ignorant. He has excepted that he can’t fit into the Anglo-Saxon society and that they are his enemies. Grendel essential gives up hope on the humans. In chapter seven which is related to “Libra the Balance” , Grendel’s philosophical views are challenged once again. When Grendel observed Wealtheow he was touched by the kindness she showed. Wealtheow’s kindness tore at Grendel. He in the end decides to kill her but changes his mind.
In chapter eight which is related to the “Scorpio the Scorpion” Grendel’s view toward Hrothgar and the human’s systems become even more negative. In this chapter Grendel’s nephew come to live with him and begins to play a revolution because of the unfair government that he observes. By listening to Hrothful, Hrothgar’s plotting nephew, Grendel becomes more in dislike of the way the Anglo-Saxons live. In chapter nine which is related to “Sagittarius the Archer”, Grendel forms his final views about the Anglo-Saxon religion. In chapter nine Grendel convinces a blind priest that he is their god The Destroyer and observes their meaningless rituals. He realizes that their rituals are just acts that they perform. Little Anglo-Saxon people believe in the ancient religion. Grendel comes to the conclusion that they are blindly following ancient religions.
In chapter 10, “Capricorn the Great”, Grendel comes to believe that there is no longer any meaning, no morals, traditions, social values, political values, or religious values left. He believes that humans put their own meaning on things and therefore everybody’s values on different things are different. He believes that that the things that the human’s value has no meaning, except in their head. In this chapter Grendel was angered by a goat continually trying to climb up the side of the cliff. He is angered at the goat and throws rocks at it and splits its skull. At this point Grendel believes in nothing and is aggravated at of the Anglo-0Saxon mechanical way of life.
In the end of the story Grendel faces the harsh realities of life. When the Geats arrive he is happy that his boredom will be over. He looks forward to another chance to prove the human’s philosophies wrong. He believes that order doesn’t exist and one single act of violence can disrupt everything. In the end the Dragon’s philosophical views win.
Grendel is a Parody of Beowulf
The story Grendel is a parody of the epic Beowulf. Both Grendel and Beowulf essential tell the same story. They are told from different point of views. Beowulf is a more concise and quick tale of what happened between the Danes, Beowulf, and Grendel. Grendel goes more into detail noticing the times and seasons and placing different philosophies within the story. Grendel is essential an imitation of Beowulf. Beowulf was created first; year’s later Gardner told the same story from a different perspective with more in the plot. Grendel is an imitation of Beowulf.
Grendel as a narrator
By using Grendel as a narrator Gardner allowed the reader’s to experience the tale of Beowulf from another perspective, the monster’s perspective, and observe both the mental journey of Grendel and the physical journey of Beowulf. In the story Grendel Gardner used Grendel as the narrator so that the reader can see the tale from the monsters point of view and not the human’s point of view for a change. This would allow us to understand why Grendel attacks the humans and almost cause the readers to sympathize with Grendel. By allowing Grendel to tell the story the reader observes that changes in the seasons of his surroundings, his different philosophical views, and the true nature of the humans. Grendel’s perspective allows the reader to observe the Anglo-Saxon world from the outside looking in.
Anglo Saxon Values & Universal Themes
The epic poem, Beowulf, embodies many values of the Anglo-Saxon society. Some of the Anglo-Saxon values that Beowulf embodies include heroism, loyalty to leaders, and the importance of obtaining fame and fortune before death. Beowulf made a commitment to Hrothgar that he would kill Grendel or die trying. He battled many creatures just to receive riches and to make his name great. He was a true hero who put himself in danger for the safety of others.
Beowulf also reveals many universal themes. Some of the universal themes that Beowulf reveals include good versus evil, bravery, courage, and the passage of time. The battle between Beowulf an Grendel represent good versus evil. Grendel’s struggle within himself also represents good versus evil. Beowulf decided to fight Grendel with his bare hands to show his courage and bravery. The passage of time was revealed through Beowulf getting older. Beowulf shows us the affect of time on age while the dragon reveals the times effect on memories and the meaning of life.
Beowulf also reveals many universal themes. Some of the universal themes that Beowulf reveals include good versus evil, bravery, courage, and the passage of time. The battle between Beowulf an Grendel represent good versus evil. Grendel’s struggle within himself also represents good versus evil. Beowulf decided to fight Grendel with his bare hands to show his courage and bravery. The passage of time was revealed through Beowulf getting older. Beowulf shows us the affect of time on age while the dragon reveals the times effect on memories and the meaning of life.
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