Preview

Examples Of Free Will In Grendel

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
239 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Examples Of Free Will In Grendel
Fate and free will are two of the most discussed topics in Grendel. Grendel, the main protagonist, states that all the actions done by animals including feeding and reproduction are mindless tasked control by instincts. In this statement, Grendel is alluding to fate which he describes as an unbreakable cycle that will ultimately be completed. However, throughout the book Grendel is trying fight back against fate by determining his own future through his own actions, free-will. While speaking with the all-knowing dragon Grendel learns that no matter what he does that he will always be portrayed as an evil monster. Although Grendel likes to think he does have free-will, it doesn’t make a difference since his fate has already been sealed.
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    An Analysis Of Grendel's 'Trapped In A Tree'
    • 137 Words
    • 1 Page

    An Analysis Of Grendel's 'Trapped In A Tree'

    In chapter two of Grendel, Grendel gets trapped in a tree.While in that tree he learned or understood three things about life.For example he states, “...I understand the emptiness in the eyes of those humpbacked shapes back in the cave” (Grendel 21). He can now relate to those who suffered in his cave until they became a pile of bones.Also while Grendel was stuck in the tree he , “ understood that the world was nothing” (Grendel 21). To him all we do is pose our hopes and fears to a “mechanical chaos of casual, brute enmity” (Grendel 22). The last thing Grendel got out of his experience is that “I alone exist” (Grendel 22). He makes this last statement because he has been calling upon anyone to come to his rescue and no one has arrived.…

    • 137 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    John Gardner's 'Grendel In Beowulf'
    • 406 Words
    • 2 Pages

    John Gardner's 'Grendel In Beowulf'

    It gives the reader the feeling that he does not possess the same thought processes as humans do; therefore, he is characterized as a monster. However, in this novel, Grendel’s point of view and thoughts are more developed and deeper than how he is portrayed in Beowulf. The readers get a glimpse of the story through his eyes and it may change their view of Grendel. He is a solitary and disoriented creature who is misunderstood by humans and all those around him. He looks for a place to belong and his quest is to know who and what he…

    • 406 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Grendel And The Dragon Analysis
    • 206 Words
    • 1 Page

    Grendel And The Dragon Analysis

    Meanwhile this can be followed by the idea of hope for the world that lies within Grendel. This hope provides evidence for Grendel’s lack of damnable intentions. This is demonstrated during his time spent with the dragon, pages fifty-seven through seventy-four. The dragon is largely selfish and nihilistic, however Grendel refuses to believe the negativity presented by the dragon. On page seventy, one may read the dragon speaking of all of the world being consigned to oblivion. That is, he states that eventually all current occurrences will be meaningless. “You don't know that!” Grendel simply debates. Additionally, page seventy-one the dragon is speaks of the little to no effect that even an apocalyptic age would have on the world over time.…

    • 206 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Journal #2 Fate in Beowulf
    • 603 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Journal #2 Fate in Beowulf

    how beowulf has proposed that it is his fate to fight and battle grendel, it is…

    • 603 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Beowulf And Grendel Research Paper
    • 659 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Beowulf And Grendel Research Paper

    Grendel’s goodness is continuously suppressed by the misunderstanding of humans. When Grendel first encounter’s humans, the humans immediately mistake Grendel for a bloodthirsty monster because of his appearance. In the beginning when Grendel is still developing his moral and spiritual understandings of the world,…

    • 659 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Grendel's Injustice
    • 61 Words
    • 1 Page

    Grendel's Injustice

    In the poem Beowulf one of the characters Grendel has displayed evil among others and injustice throughout his life which has lead Beowulf to want to defeat Grendel and end him once and for all. His powers although scary, are plain. His background unknown, until the book begins and we find out who the real Grendel lying beyond the shadows is.…

    • 61 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Nihilism And Solipsism Analysis
    • 636 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Nihilism And Solipsism Analysis

    Grendel was puzzled by the way nature worked, “He is frustrated by the stupidity of an old ram, the unresponsiveness of the sky to his complaints, and the very existence of the trees, birds, and animals around him.” (masterplots). From the very beginning Grendel was unsure of the meaning of the world, it was just reassured when Grendel ran into the Dragon. The dragon says, “The beginning, the present, the end. Everything” (62 Grendel). At this point the dragon believes the the whole universe will come to an end so in all reality there is no point to anything. But he does not always fully believe nihilism is the sole philosophy of the Universe, “I have not committed the ultimate act of nihilism. I have not killed the queen.” (93 Grendel). By not killing the queen, as he sees humanity in her, he does not act upon his belief in nihilism because he feels that there is a point in Queen Wealthow. Without believing in nihilism, Grendel never would have developed into the…

    • 636 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Grendel Vs Goat
    • 196 Words
    • 1 Page

    Grendel Vs Goat

    Grendel has a difficult time trying to find his place in his own world, and this is made even more difficult by watching the brute, unthinking creatures who seemed to live and breathe without one iota of angst. Towards the end of the novel every piece of mechanical imagery comes together when the goat arrives. Even as it is injured, bleeding, and dying, the goat keeps climbing forward. Unlike the ram, which frustrates Grendel, and the bull, which amuses him, the goat haunts him with its mindless persistence. As the goat keeps climbing toward its imminent death, it also foreshadows Grendel’s upcoming death. While Grendel scorns the stupidity of nature, the novel also asks us to consider whether Grendel, who goes willingly to Beowulf, though…

    • 196 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Curse Of Grendel In Beowulf
    • 318 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Curse Of Grendel In Beowulf

    “Poor Grendel’s had an accident, I whisper. so may you all” (Gardner 174). I think it is Grendel’s hatred of the society of mankind that develops throughout the novel, leading to his ultimate curse he lays upon them with those words. “I knew I was dealing with no mechanical bull, but with thinking creatures, pattern makers, the most dangerous things i'd ever met” (Gardner 27). This quote is an example of why I think Grendel's last words refer to a curse to mankind. Grendel believes mankind are the most dangerous and terrifying creatures out there and deserve to be cursed as they have treated him so bad. For example “But they were doomed, I knew, and I was glad. No denying it. Let them wander the fogroads of Hell” (Gardner 53). Grendel wishes…

    • 318 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Example Of Grendel Theme Essay
    • 573 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Example Of Grendel Theme Essay

    In the story Grendel, there are a lot of different themes and lessons one of the main themes in this story is isolation. Grendel is a very isolated character who is looking for his purpose in life. Grendel has a lot of hate in his heart, but there is also a lot of love in it at the same time. So throughout the story, there are a lot of moments when Grendel has a battle within his self. For example when Grendel first hears the Shaper playing in chapter 3 it starts to make Grendel think different about what he knows is true and what he wishes were true. Grendel understands the world as a brute, emotionless place that follows no meaningful pattern or laws. He knows that all the beautiful concepts of which the Shaper sings about heroism, religion, love and beauty are merely human projections on how the humans would like to see the world.…

    • 573 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Grendel Character Analysis Essay
    • 511 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Grendel Character Analysis Essay

    In the novel Grendel, by John Gardner, portrays Grendel's characteristics altering as he meets new characters; throughout his journey to mankind. Mankind teaches him vast new knowledge he's never understood. His nihilistic and solipsism is formed through the characters in the novel; envy and anger are also shown. He plays big roles in terrifying the Danes and somewhat of the Geats; they mold him into the monster they fear the most. The characters, shaper, man, and the dragon shape Grendel into the monster he so desires. They teach him of lies, false glory, brutality, never ending violence, and wisdom.…

    • 511 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How Fate and Free Will Play a Part in the Odyssey
    • 802 Words
    • 4 Pages

    How Fate and Free Will Play a Part in the Odyssey

    Fate and free will are epic subjects in life. When we cannot control something we blame it on fate, but we try to change the way things are with our free will.…

    • 802 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Theme Of Grendel In Beowulf
    • 639 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Theme Of Grendel In Beowulf

    The dragon rebuffs each of Grendel’s questions with a cold, empirical retort. The dragon refuses to let Grendel slip into what he feels are negative emotions. “ I was Grendel, Ruiner of Mead Halls, Wrecker of kings! But also, as never before, I was alone.” (P.80) We are given an intriguing backdrop into internal battle the lost Grendel attempts to find a purpose in any part or role in life, even that Grendel is the monster. Grendel is merely portrayed as an emotionless, unintelligent furious monster incapable of anything beside hate and murder. “Tedium is the worst pain.” (P.138) Grendel life is filled with violence and hate, Grendel’s boredom torments him more. Being lived for a long time and invulnerable to weapons has made the person he is now. He does not get surprises or thrills for life any longer. He fights as much out of habit as to achieve any real goal in his…

    • 639 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Grendel: a true hero
    • 450 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Grendel: a true hero

    Grendel’s intelligence saved him from being killed by Unferth and his army. When Unferth attacked Grendel, he ran and hid in a tree. When they let him be, Grendel was knew not to go back to his cave because he they would be waiting for him there. “I was sure, going back to my cave (it was nearly dawn), that he wouldn't follow. They never did. But I was wrong; he was a new kind of Scylding.” (Grendel Pg. 86). Grendel knew they would be waiting for him at his cave, even if it meant staying there all night.…

    • 450 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Is Grendel Truley Evil?
    • 1119 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Is Grendel Truley Evil?

    The first evidence of this is found with observing his circumstances in which he is forced into. The first and foremost distinct difference between Grendel and any other typical monster is that Grendel never made a conscious choice to be evil. In Beowulf, Grendel’s circumstances were given to him, he did not choose them. “He had dwelt in for a time/ in misery among the banished monsters,/ Cain’s clan, whom the Creator had outlawed/ and condemned as outcasts.” (Beowulf 104-107). Grendel was punished for not only a crime he didn’t commit, but a crime that was carried out by a person who we merely was a descended from, a very long time ago. The punishment for what, a long past family member did, was a life of loneliness and banishment. This given circumstance is another huge way in where Grendel has a gigantic impact on the story. Grendel is a representation and symbol of evil for Christianity, but at the same time it also symbolizes the unfairness and the closed minded way of thinking that…

    • 1119 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics