Grendels Selfrealization Chapter 4

1
GrendelsSelf-realizationChapter 4
2
Herot

• He would build a magnificent mead hall high on a
  hill, with a view of the western sea, a
  victory-seat near the giants work, old ruined
  fortress from the worlds first war, to stand
  forever as a sign of glory and justice of
  Hrothgars Danes (Gardner 47).
• My heart was light with Hrothgars goodness, and
  leaden with grief at my own bloodthirsty ways. I
  backed away, crablike, further into darkness-
  like a crab retreating in pain when you strike
  two stones at the mouth of his underwater den
  (Gardner 48).

3
Herot

• Built honor and celebrate Hrothgar
  Danes
• Grendel scoffs but he is caught up in the
  celebration is persuaded to think of Hrothgar
  as good.
• Brings out Grendels true nature
• I listened, huddled in the darkness, tormented,
  mistrustful. I knew them, had watched them yet
  the things he said seemed true. (47)
• Blames the Shaper for good image projected onto
  the Danes

4
Herot

• I could feel it all around me, that invisible
  presence, chilly as the first imitation of death,
  the dusty unblinking eyes of a thousand snakes
  (Gardner 50).
• Feels a dark force in the forest upon him
• Foreshadowing

5
Self-realization

• The harp turned solemn. He told of an acient
  feud between two bothers which spilt all the
  world between darkness and light. And I,
  Grendel, was the dark side, he said in effect.
  The terrible race God cursed. I believed him.
  Such was the power of the Shapers harp (Gardner
  51).
• Christian aspects
• Story of Cain Abel- feud
• Split into darkness light
• Grendel is part of the dark side- he is doomed
  (51)
• Grendels first conversion- his acceptance as his
  role in society, the humans world

6
Self-realization

• Friend! Friend They hacked at me, yipping
  like dogsI understood, as shocked as Id been
  the first time, that they could kill me-
  eventually would if I gave them the chance
  (Gardner 52).
• He tries to join them through peace, but
  ironically, can only join them as their enemy.
• They can and will kill him
• Appears as a friend- appearance contradicts his
  intentions
• Place purpose- savage, brute one
• Join them only in fighting

7
Brute Existence

• Why he doesnt have someone to talk to
• Comforts himself the humans are doomed knows
  enough about human nature and Hrothgar
• Returns b/c hes addicted
• Lies of Shaper which Grendel into a brute
  existence- self-realization

8
Self-realization

• Imagination, I knew. Some evil inside myself
  pushed out into the trees. I knew what I knew,
  the mindless, mechanical bruteness of things, and
  when the harpers lure drew my mind away to
  hopeful dreams, the dark of what was and always
  was reached out and snatched my feet (54).
• Feels the presence in the forest
• Vine is a snake- represents??? Evil
• what Grendel is becoming
• he is accepting his role

9
Self-realization

• Woe to the manwho shall through wicked
  hositites shove his soul down into the fires
  hug! Let him hope for no change he can never
  turn away! But lucky the man who, after his
  deathday, shall seek the Prince, find peace in
  fathers embrace! (54).
• Sees men kill each other- evil nature
• Hrothgar and Shaper influence the townspeople

10
Self-Realization

• It came to me with a fierce jolt that I wanted
  it. As they did too, though vicious animals,
  cunning, cracked with theories. I wanted it,
  yes! Even if I became the outcast, cursed by the
  rules of his hideous fable (55).
• Wants to believe the Shaper
• Has a bad feeling
• Causes fear, paranoia and confusion