1. Grendel
John Gardner

2. John Gardner (1933 – 1982) Born in New York on July 21, 1933.
His father was a dairy farmer and Presbyterian preacher; his mother an English teacher.
Nicknamed “Budd”(Welsh for “poet”)

3. Gardner’s Youth
Gardner attended public school and worked on his father's farm.
In April 1945, his younger brother Gilbert was killed in an accident with a small tractor.
1977 short story "Redemption"
Gardner was driving the tractor during the fatal accident and carried guilt for his brother's death throughout his life. He suffered nightmares and flashbacks due to this.
The incident informed much of Gardner's fiction and criticism — most directly in the 1977 short story "Redemption," which included a fictionalized recounting of the accident.

4. Early Career In 1953, he married Joan Louise Patterson
They wrote several novels
Gardner was a professor of English in the late 60’s early 70’s specializing in medieval literature
Acclaimed thesis “Four Short Stories”
Doctoral studies

5. Began work on the novel in 1969
The Novel, Grendel
Began work on the novel in 1969
Completed in April of 1970; published in 1971
Instant national recognition
The novel is an account of Grendel’s thoughts and feelings
It is essentially the story of Beowulf written from Grendel’s point of view (Grendel is the protagonist)

6. The Novel, Grendel The missing 12 years
Hrothgar serves as Grendel’s foil charater (opposite)
The author’s tone is sympathetic- it is the story of a teenager seeking acceptance , meaning and identity and trying to find his place in the world
He experiences frustration when no one can understand him

7. The Novel, Grendel
Grendel observes a group of people called Scylding (Danes) and observes their development as humans- he wants to be a part of these people they isolate him and therefore he wants to terrify them

8. The Novel, Grendel
Grendel is torn between his hatred for humanity and his admiration of them

9. The Novel, Grendel
The book has a deeper meaning than monster vs. human- it’s underlying message is about the “Counter-Culture Revolution” which took place in the 1960’s

10. The Novel, Grendel
These “hippies” tried to change the viewpoint of society- people became more liberated
They believed in something called nihilism- the viewpoint that traditional values and beliefs are meaningless
the rejection of all religious and moral principles, often in the belief that life is meaningless

11. STRUCTURE 12 chapters: Twelve years of Grendel’s raids and 12 zodiacs
Not chronological: Flashbacks, Allusions, Foreshadowing
Tense: Present tense
Flashbacks of events leading up to this 12th year (when the Danes are at war with Grendel)
Each chapter presents a different branch of philosophy
Chapter 1: Aries, god of war
Chapter 1: Astrology and idea of cyclical nature of existence
Chapter 2— Grendel as solipsist: “I exist nothing else” Chapter3—sophistry of Shaper—who can by power of own words make his listeners believe anything.
Chapter 4—Shaper articulates Old testament
Chapter 5—Dragon expresses Alfred Whitehead’s philosophy of fundamental connection of all things
Chapter 6—skepticism: Stromme “accepts that others exist but they are all enemies.
Chapter 7—Wealtheow’s Christianity
8—Machiavelli
9- hypocrisy of young priests
10- pessimism of Nietzsche
11—nihilism of Sartre

12. The Characters

13. Grendel--intelligent, sensitive, immature monster
Grendel--intelligent, sensitive, immature monster. He’s curious, seeks answers; becomes cynical, hollow brutal creature

14. The dragon-A bitter, omniscient old beast. He can see all of time
The dragon-A bitter, omniscient old beast. He can see all of time. His life is pointless. He steals and protects huge amounts of gold. Nothing has meaning for him. He resents the universe.

16. Beowulf--Leader of the Geats
Beowulf--Leader of the Geats. He is fearless, supernaturally strong and confident. He represents the natural reflex against chaos and emptiness. He is the ultimate hero, the ultimate answer.

17. The Shaper--Hrothgar’s chosen harper, a blind and fragile old man
The Shaper--Hrothgar’s chosen harper, a blind and fragile old man. The shaper is gifted and his music inspires the thanes. Grendel is excluded, so he grows to both hate and adore the old man.

18. Hrothgar--Leader of the Danes. In youth, he was ambitious and clever
Hrothgar--Leader of the Danes. In youth, he was ambitious and clever. He brought order to the land. He created a great kingdom. Representing all mankind, he’s the focus of Grendel’s rage.

19. Wealtheow--The queen, beautiful, sad, and young
Wealtheow--The queen, beautiful, sad, and young. She was given to Hrothgar and he thinks her beauty is wasted on him, an old man. She is one of Grendel’s ties to humankind. He both loves and hates her.

20. Unferth--A half-hero. He attempts to kill Grendel but fails
Unferth--A half-hero. He attempts to kill Grendel but fails. Grendel will not kill Unferth, and amuses himself by denying him martyrdom. When the other thanes scorn him, Unferth loses self-respect.

21. Hrothulf--Hrothgar’s nephew, a young, sullen man of great ambition
Hrothulf--Hrothgar’s nephew, a young, sullen man of great ambition. He seeks the crown, and knows the only way to through revolution. His words and ideas are ahead of his time. He is a socialist.

22. Red Horse--Hrothulf’s counselor
Red Horse--Hrothulf’s counselor. He is an old bitter peasant who preaches violence for violence’ sake. He believes all political systems are evil. He is an anarchist. He,too, seems out of place.

23. THEMES Artists in Society and the Power of Art
The Importance of Language
Nihilism
Death
Heroism—a moral force
The Struggle Between Good and Evil--MORALITY
Grendel has a weakness for poetry. A would-be artist, Grendel strives to escape his baseness. While kings unite countries politically, they could not do so w/o the courage and selflessness of individuals who have been inspired by the poets to accomplish great deeds.
Grendel’s inarticulate mother shows importance of development of language in civilization. Language is the only thing that gives meaning in an otherwise meaningless universe. Language is the only way humans can break through the wall that isolates them from others and from a world of meaning. The wall, then, is a recurring image. The most pathetic character is Grendel’s mother, confined to her dark cave, picking through bones—total linguistic isolation.
Gardner uses the dragon to express the philosophy that there is no meaning, no purpose to existence. To Grendel, the solipsist (one who believes in nothing but the self,) killing others means nothing. Red Horse preaches total anarchy, a result perhaps of nihilism where violence for its own sake rules.
Poetry/art is one’s defense against nihilism: Grendel is driven back to poetry. Once having destroyed the mead hall in chapter 6 Grendel realizes that now “as never before I was alone.” He recognizes that “physical destruction is finite” that anarchy and violence are futile is seeking a meaning for existence.
Heroism is a moral force that enables a society to advance, by elevating the minor character of Unferth to major one and one who plays foil to Grendel, Gardner says much about the hero. Death is insignificant to the hero if it brings the chance for immortality. The hero sees beyond what is possible and so furthers civilization. He creates meaning through his acts of heroism.
Good Vs Evil = morality vs. immorality. This struggle occurs within Grendel and between characters. If Grendel is evil, then Beowulf (ultimate good, non-nihilist). Beowulf comes and preaches the gospel of death and rebirth. It is through creation, imagination, and inspiration that one may kill evil and achieve immortality—even if heroic acts only live through poetry and song.
Other characters also represent “good” or “moral” values. Wealtheow (comforting old men to whom she has sacrificed all personal comfort: peace keeper between warring kingdoms) and even Hrothgar (forces of society against anarchy) and Unferth are forces of morality.

24. Artists in Society and the Power of Art
Grendel has a weakness for poetry. A would-be artist, Grendel strives to escape his baseness. While kings unite countries politically, they could not do so w/o the courage and selflessness of individuals who have been inspired by the poets to accomplish great deeds.

25. The Importance of Language
Grendel’s inarticulate mother shows importance of development of language in civilization. Language is the only thing that gives meaning in an otherwise meaningless universe. Language is the only way humans can break through the wall that isolates them from others and from a world of meaning. The wall, then, is a recurring image. The most pathetic character is Grendel’s mother, confined to her dark cave, picking through bones—total linguistic isolation.

26. Nihilism
Gardner uses the dragon to express the philosophy that there is no meaning, no purpose to existence. To Grendel, the solipsist (one who believes in nothing but the self,) killing others means nothing. Red Horse preaches total anarchy, a result perhaps of nihilism where violence for its own sake rules.
Poetry/art is one’s defense against nihilism: Grendel is driven back to poetry. Once having destroyed the mead hall in chapter 6 Grendel realizes that now “as never before I was alone.” He recognizes that “physical destruction is finite” that anarchy and violence are futile is seeking a meaning for existence.

27. Heroism
Heroism is a moral force that enables a society to advance, by elevating the minor character of Unferth to major one and one who plays foil to Grendel, Gardner says much about the hero. Death is insignificant to the hero if it brings the chance for immortality. The hero sees beyond what is possible and so furthers civilization. He creates meaning through his acts of heroism.

28. The Struggle Between Good and Evil--MORALITY
Good Vs Evil = morality vs. immorality. This struggle occurs within Grendel and between characters. If Grendel is evil, then Beowulf (ultimate good, non-nihilist). Beowulf comes and preaches the gospel of death and rebirth. It is through creation, imagination, and inspiration that one may kill evil and achieve immortality—even if heroic acts only live through poetry and song.
Other characters also represent “good” or “moral” values. Wealtheow (comforting old men to whom she has sacrificed all personal comfort: peace keeper between warring kingdoms) and even Hrothgar (forces of society against anarchy) and Unferth are forces of morality.