READING JOHN GARDNER’S GRENDEL

English IV AP / Mrs. Ramos

Read the book by: ______

Overview

Grendel is a modern novel (1971) that attempts to explain the state of mind of literature’s oldest and most notorious monster. John Gardner sets out to discover and reveal the underlying personal, philosophical, and emotional issues that would cause a creature like Grendel to plague humans. In doing so, the reader begins to see that Grendel cannot be viewed assimply a man-eating machine. Instead, he is a thinking being who makes choices and tough decisions.

What causes Grendel to attack? What kind of creature is he? How much of him is human? How does he live? What does he think about? In what does he believe? What kinds of philosophical conflicts does Grendel have to grapple with? These are John Gardner’s concerns in his master work, Grendel.

ReadingGrendel

The novel is complex. As you read through it on your own, keep in mind that it is NOT your job to try to figure out every little element and nuance of the book. You will be confused. You will think you missed something (or several somethings). You will be shocked. You will have questions about meaning. IT IS O.K. We learn out of confusion because trying to figure things out is advanced thinking. It is my job to help you fine tune your understanding of the novel and we will do just that after you’ve read it all. It is your job to:

  • read the entire book
  • get a basic timeline of events in your head (or, even better, in your notes!)
  • re-read sections that confuse you and attempt to understand them
  • think about ways Grendel overlaps with Beowulf
  • think about ways Grendel is totally different from Beowulf
  • look up words that you don’t know and apply them to the text (when not knowing them creates a block for your understanding of the book)
  • come in before or after school if you are having trouble with any of the items listed here

[Repeat after me: “It is O.K. to be confused. It is not O.K. to stay confused.”]

Reading Focus

As you read, keep the following focus questions in mind:

-Is Grendel evil?

-Is Grendel insane?

-What does Grendel want?

-Of what purpose is Grendel?

-What are Grendel’s flaws? What effects do his flaws have on him?

Questions to Think About:

- How does Grendel’s attitude toward the world change as the novel progresses?

- In what ways do the minor characters (Hrothgar, Grendel’s mother, Shaper, Dragon, Wealtheow, Ork, Red Horse, Hrothulf, Unferth) affect Grendel and his perception of the world?

- How can Grendel’s relationships with the minor characters be characterized?

- What do the minor characters represent / symbolize?

- Which philosophical theories are represented in Grendel and at what point in Grendel’s

life does he entertain them? Is there a progression of beliefs?

- How does the end of the novel manage to solidify our understanding of Grendel’s

journey and, at the same time, create doubt about it?

- In what ways does the structure of the novel impact the reader?

- What is Beowulf’s role in Grendel’s life?

- What does Grendel seem to be seeking?

Comments on Gardner’s Grendel:

from Amazon.com

“The novel works--and is so disturbing--because it thrusts the reader into a completely alien mind.Gardner's Grendel is a self-absorbed devil, as in Beowulf, but he has psychological depth, which is the book's greatest strength. He sees human foibles with an unforgiving eye and hates humanity for its perfection. He hates himself for being himself.”

“Grendel is more than just a story about monster. It is a novel chronicling every human's search for meaning in life.”

“John Gardner's piece puts you, the reader, in a front row seat to one of the finest orchestrations of the classic beast's, Grendel, mind and method to madness.”

“Gardner describes Grendel's life in detail giving the reader a story barely touched upon in Beowulf. This story details his journey, starting from early life in a cave with his mother and ending with his last battle against Beowulf. Each chapter Grendel must confront a new conflict whether external or internal, the nature, he must overcome them or lose.”

NOTE: This book has been challenged, banned, and questioned. It has a few graphic scenes and some “adult” language. We will talk about why. If you feel that the book is objectionable in some way, see me for an alternative reading.