Throughout Grendel, a fictional book about Grendel, the monster in Beowulf, by John Gardner, our main character, Grendel, changes how he sees himself many times throughout the story. Most of these changes occur after he meets a character in the story. These changes in Grendel's self-image are most apparent when he meets/sees the Dragon, The Shaper, and Beowulf. All of these characters have very different attitudes towards life, and live very different ones, but all play a central role in the changes that occur to Grendel’s self-image.
Grendel meets the Dragon in Chapter five. The dragon is described by Grendel, who says “Vast, red-golden, huge tail coiled, limbs sprawled over his treasure-hoard, eyes not firey but cold as the memory of family …show more content…
Grendel first describes the shaper going into the mead hall with his harp saying “The blind old man went in” (Gardner 41). This gives Grendel an odd curiosity for the old man, being that not only is he old, but he is blind, yet they let him into the mead hall of the great Hrothgar. Then the shaper plays his first song, leaving Grendel confused of what had happened. Although the shaper spoke of such great deeds done by Hrothgar, Grendel knew the truth of it all, but was still affected by the shaper's words. He expresses this when he describes himself fleeing saying “Thus I fled, ridiculous hairy creature torn apart by poetry..”(Gardner 44). This shows Grendel’s ever learning mind, that is curious of the human world, but finds it to be terribly wasteful and untruthful. Lastly, the shaper’s words seem to have a profound impact on Grendel’s emotions. After hearing all the lies sung by the shaper so hypnotically, Grendel expresses his emotions, saying “ I was so filled with sorrow and tenderness I could hardly have found it in my heart to snatch a pig!” (Gardner 44). This shows Grendel’s more ‘human’ side, to which he lingers on throughout much of the story, leading him to do certain things and think in very odd
Grendel meets the Dragon in Chapter five. The dragon is described by Grendel, who says “Vast, red-golden, huge tail coiled, limbs sprawled over his treasure-hoard, eyes not firey but cold as the memory of family …show more content…
Grendel first describes the shaper going into the mead hall with his harp saying “The blind old man went in” (Gardner 41). This gives Grendel an odd curiosity for the old man, being that not only is he old, but he is blind, yet they let him into the mead hall of the great Hrothgar. Then the shaper plays his first song, leaving Grendel confused of what had happened. Although the shaper spoke of such great deeds done by Hrothgar, Grendel knew the truth of it all, but was still affected by the shaper's words. He expresses this when he describes himself fleeing saying “Thus I fled, ridiculous hairy creature torn apart by poetry..”(Gardner 44). This shows Grendel’s ever learning mind, that is curious of the human world, but finds it to be terribly wasteful and untruthful. Lastly, the shaper’s words seem to have a profound impact on Grendel’s emotions. After hearing all the lies sung by the shaper so hypnotically, Grendel expresses his emotions, saying “ I was so filled with sorrow and tenderness I could hardly have found it in my heart to snatch a pig!” (Gardner 44). This shows Grendel’s more ‘human’ side, to which he lingers on throughout much of the story, leading him to do certain things and think in very odd