ThemeTheme

By: Eleanor, By: Eleanor, Hortencia, Hortencia,

Cynthia, & EvaCynthia, & Eva

Hrothgar-King of the Danes, who Grendel Hrothgar-King of the Danes, who Grendel stalks and respectsstalks and respects

Wealtheow-offered to Hrothgar as a gift Wealtheow-offered to Hrothgar as a gift from Hygmod, a rival king; her extreme from Hygmod, a rival king; her extreme kindness inspires Grendelkindness inspires Grendel

Unferth-challenges Grendel to a battle & Unferth-challenges Grendel to a battle & wants to die as a hero, but he fails to wants to die as a hero, but he fails to defeat Grendeldefeat Grendel

The Dragon-gives Grendel advice. He The Dragon-gives Grendel advice. He confuses & scares Grendel w/his long confuses & scares Grendel w/his long speeches. But his speeches stay with speeches. But his speeches stay with Grendel & follow him around.Grendel & follow him around.

The Meaning and/or The Meaning and/or Meaninglessness of LifeMeaninglessness of Life

The Shaper-influences & convinces Grendel The Shaper-influences & convinces Grendel to not kill the Danes w/his beautiful songs & to not kill the Danes w/his beautiful songs & harpharp

Red Horse-an old man who’s an anarchist & Red Horse-an old man who’s an anarchist & Hrothulf’s guideHrothulf’s guide

Ork-a priest, who moves Grendel w/his Ork-a priest, who moves Grendel w/his emotional description of God.emotional description of God.

Hrothulf-Hrothgar’s nephew, who’s like a Hrothulf-Hrothgar’s nephew, who’s like a little Grendel & plots to overthrow Hrothgar little Grendel & plots to overthrow Hrothgar in a revolutionin a revolution

Beowulf-a strong & confident hero, who kills Beowulf-a strong & confident hero, who kills Grendel and leads him to “his accident”Grendel and leads him to “his accident”

Mechanical UniverseMechanical Universe Grendel can’t make changes in his life whereas Grendel can’t make changes in his life whereas

humans can.humans can. He’s doing the same thing over & over again in the He’s doing the same thing over & over again in the

"universe" that he has created for himself. "universe" that he has created for himself. Grendel likes to believe that he has the power to Grendel likes to believe that he has the power to

make change, but he knows that he has no control make change, but he knows that he has no control over his life that he has created & that he can’t over his life that he has created & that he can’t change fate. change fate.

Grendel’s meaning of life is somewhat skeptical b/c he Grendel’s meaning of life is somewhat skeptical b/c he knows that he can’t change it, but he thinks that other knows that he can’t change it, but he thinks that other people can, so he is viewing it like he was dealt a bad people can, so he is viewing it like he was dealt a bad hand at life & that nothing will ever go well for him.hand at life & that nothing will ever go well for him.

The image of a mechanical universe is used to relate The image of a mechanical universe is used to relate to Grendel’s life & how it goes round and round w/o to Grendel’s life & how it goes round and round w/o stopping & is never changing or stopping. stopping & is never changing or stopping.

The HeroicThe HeroicGrendel mocks the idea of Heroic b/c Grendel mocks the idea of Heroic b/c

he doesn't believe that something that he doesn't believe that something that can possibly be better than him exists. can possibly be better than him exists.

He tried to deny the idea because he He tried to deny the idea because he wants to be in control & if he doesn’t wants to be in control & if he doesn’t want to believe something, then he will want to believe something, then he will convince himself that it doesn’t exist in convince himself that it doesn’t exist in his world or anyone's for that matter. his world or anyone's for that matter.

The Power of The Power of Art/Song/Language/ShapingArt/Song/Language/Shaping The Shaper's songs greatly affected Grendel. The Shaper's songs greatly affected Grendel. Grendel had seen the world as one-sided but when Grendel had seen the world as one-sided but when

he heard the Shaper, he found out the world is more he heard the Shaper, he found out the world is more than just one-sided. than just one-sided.

He felt that he had something in common w/the He felt that he had something in common w/the humans. humans.

When the Shaper mentioned Grendel & said that When the Shaper mentioned Grendel & said that Grendel was "the dark side of the Earth," Grendel Grendel was "the dark side of the Earth," Grendel believed it himself & just started attacking people believed it himself & just started attacking people b/c he was angry that this was true. b/c he was angry that this was true.

Grendel was enraged that the Shaper gave him & Grendel was enraged that the Shaper gave him & the people hope & happiness & he refused to have the people hope & happiness & he refused to have hope or happiness. hope or happiness.

He was very confused & he wanted to know what He was very confused & he wanted to know what was the real truth. was the real truth.

Craft & ArtCraft & ArtHumans don't use a craft or an art Humans don't use a craft or an art

because they choose to battle to because they choose to battle to gain control & therefore change the gain control & therefore change the world.world.

It has to do w/power & how much It has to do w/power & how much influence someone has over people. influence someone has over people.

The Need for CommunityThe Need for Community The 1st time Grendel went to the mead hall was The 1st time Grendel went to the mead hall was

after hearing the shaper once again. after hearing the shaper once again. The shaper sang of the days when the earth was The shaper sang of the days when the earth was

created & how it was divided into darkness & created & how it was divided into darkness & light. He said Grendel was the darkness. light. He said Grendel was the darkness.

When Grendel approached the mead hall, he When Grendel approached the mead hall, he cried, "friend! friend!" but no one understood. cried, "friend! friend!" but no one understood.

The humans attacked him instead & Grendel had The humans attacked him instead & Grendel had to fight back. to fight back.

After that, humans just made Grendel twist After that, humans just made Grendel twist w/revolsion. His attempt to belong only brought w/revolsion. His attempt to belong only brought hatred to his heart. hatred to his heart.

Strengths & Weaknesses of Strengths & Weaknesses of Human CommunityHuman Community

The strength of the human community is the The strength of the human community is the control over their lives.control over their lives.

To Grendel, the humans are able to control their To Grendel, the humans are able to control their lives w/help of the shaper, who changes the past lives w/help of the shaper, who changes the past w/his songs.w/his songs.

This is also their weakness; Hrothgar & his people This is also their weakness; Hrothgar & his people run away from reality & truth by listening to the run away from reality & truth by listening to the shaper. shaper.

When they hear his songs, the humans forget When they hear his songs, the humans forget what truly happened. They start to look up to the what truly happened. They start to look up to the so-called heroes from the old stories. so-called heroes from the old stories.

The greed & pride of every man leads each of The greed & pride of every man leads each of them to their death. them to their death.