By Thursday before class, you must post once on the blog. In your response, you will be assessed by the same qualities of discussion that we generated in class (evidence, uptake, etc.). You must also post another time by Friday before class in response to the same question. No response should exceed 100 words.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Post #1 -- Group 3
Using Gardner’s Grendel, answer the following questions:
How do monsters function and deal with the dominant society? How do his values interact with those of the dominant society?
Grendel is forced to observe King Hrothar's society. After trying to be a part of that society and being rejected, Grendel has done everything he can to oppose it. Whenever Grendel hears the Shaper’s songs, he is tries to convince himself that they’re lies. Grendel's values contradict the people's society, but a part of him will always be willing to conform to the rules of that society if they would accept him.
I agree with Alexandra that Grendel tries to do everything to oppose the Danish society after trying to desperately to join them, ,. He tried to join them so that he could belong to a group,which unfortunately did not want him. After being treated cruelly, he responds to the same way to the Danes. Grendel's action in my opinion mimic that of humans, if a human is pushed out or rejected from a certain society, then the person feels lonely and starts to hate everything that the society which rejected them. By still going off Alexandra's idea, Grendle's values after the encounter then start to interfere more violently since he now starts to purposely attack them and is driven by avenging those who had rejected him.
I forgot to put in the evidence, which is suppose to go between the two commas in the first sentence, so here it is :
"I understood, as shocked as I'd been the first time, that they could kill me - eventually would if I gave them a chance" (52). This event takes place when Grendel tries to join them, but learns of the harsh reality of being rejected by their society.
I disagree because I think Grendel is very interested in the society and that he wants to a part of it. At the same time however, he hates the society and performs very harmful acts against it. Because of his love and hate for society and because he is so confused, Grendel will take any suggestion of a direction. Especially if that direction is against the society.
I agree Nick that Grendel is interested in the society but he goes against it after trying to join it. The joy which he portrays when he is raiding that mealhall shows the satisfaction of taking revenge on their decision, "I felt a strange, unearthly joy" (79). As for the confusion part,it motivated Grendel to seek a place for himself in the world and after not being accepted into society, that confusion is cleared up since he now realizes that he is an outcast and motivates him to harassing the Danes.
I agree with Nick that Grendel is very confused about how he fits into King Hrothgar's society and that is why Grendel goes and visits the dragon, to try and make sense out of everything that he's been thinking. After hearing that the dragon believes that Grendel should continue to kill the humans, Grendel is still hesitant and thinks, "...but it was another thing to scare them, give them heart attaacks, fill their nights with nightmares, just for sport" (Garnder 60-61). Even after hearing from the dragon who can see the past, present, and future, and is all knowledgable, Grendel still has the desire to be accepted into society, but is confused as to why he wants to be so badly accepted.
I agree with you Alexandra but I think he wants to be accepted because he has nothing. He has no society, no family, no support, not even anyone to talk to. He wants to be with anyone. He also believes that he understands the world and life better than the humans. He thinks he is superior to them. But how long can he go without a friend, a companion, someone to talk to, or some acceptance? He is desperate. He doesn't want to believe the dragon that he should kill them. He says “I was sure he was lying.” (Pg 73) But Grendel is so confused, that he turns himself around right after that and says “Or anyway half-sure.” Hoping that he can side with the dragon and have somebody on his side.
I agree with Alexandr, Grendel is confused about where he fits, his desire to fit comes from a basic want to be accepted. He leads a solitary lifestyle and seeking answers, and a place to belong. He tries to seek acceptance from the dragon but ends up more lost and confused. He has a lasting want to fit in with the people in Anglo-Saxon, and the dragon tries to explain to him that he has his own place in life. But Grendel doesn't understand, and end up feeling more lost about life.
Grendel is forced to observe King Hrothar's society. After trying to be a part of that society and being rejected, Grendel has done everything he can to oppose it. Whenever Grendel hears the Shaper’s songs, he is tries to convince himself that they’re lies. Grendel's values contradict the people's society, but a part of him will always be willing to conform to the rules of that society if they would accept him.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Alexandra that Grendel tries to do everything to oppose the Danish society after trying to desperately to join them, ,. He tried to join them so that he could belong to a group,which unfortunately did not want him. After being treated cruelly, he responds to the same way to the Danes. Grendel's action in my opinion mimic that of humans, if a human is pushed out or rejected from a certain society, then the person feels lonely and starts to hate everything that the society which rejected them. By still going off Alexandra's idea, Grendle's values after the encounter then start to interfere more violently since he now starts to purposely attack them and is driven by avenging those who had rejected him.
ReplyDeleteI forgot to put in the evidence, which is suppose to go between the two commas in the first sentence, so here it is :
ReplyDelete"I understood, as shocked as I'd been the first time, that they could kill me - eventually would if I gave them a chance" (52). This event takes place when Grendel tries to join them, but learns of the harsh reality of being rejected by their society.
I disagree because I think Grendel is very interested in the society and that he wants to a part of it. At the same time however, he hates the society and performs very harmful acts against it. Because of his love and hate for society and because he is so confused, Grendel will take any suggestion of a direction. Especially if that direction is against the society.
ReplyDeleteI agree Nick that Grendel is interested in the society but he goes against it after trying to join it. The joy which he portrays when he is raiding that mealhall shows the satisfaction of taking revenge on their decision, "I felt a strange, unearthly joy" (79). As for the confusion part,it motivated Grendel to seek a place for himself in the world and after not being accepted into society, that confusion is cleared up since he now realizes that he is an outcast and motivates him to harassing the Danes.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Nick that Grendel is very confused about how he fits into King Hrothgar's society and that is why Grendel goes and visits the dragon, to try and make sense out of everything that he's been thinking. After hearing that the dragon believes that Grendel should continue to kill the humans, Grendel is still hesitant and thinks, "...but it was another thing to scare them, give them heart attaacks, fill their nights with nightmares, just for sport" (Garnder 60-61). Even after hearing from the dragon who can see the past, present, and future, and is all knowledgable, Grendel still has the desire to be accepted into society, but is confused as to why he wants to be so badly accepted.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Alexandra but I think he wants to be accepted because he has nothing. He has no society, no family, no support, not even anyone to talk to. He wants to be with anyone. He also believes that he understands the world and life better than the humans. He thinks he is superior to them. But how long can he go without a friend, a companion, someone to talk to, or some acceptance? He is desperate. He doesn't want to believe the dragon that he should kill them. He says “I was sure he was lying.” (Pg 73) But Grendel is so confused, that he turns himself around right after that and says “Or anyway half-sure.” Hoping that he can side with the dragon and have somebody on his side.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Alexandr, Grendel is confused about where he fits, his desire to fit comes from a basic want to be accepted. He leads a solitary lifestyle and seeking answers, and a place to belong. He tries to seek acceptance from the dragon but ends up more lost and confused. He has a lasting want to fit in with the people in Anglo-Saxon, and the dragon tries to explain to him that he has his own place in life. But Grendel doesn't understand, and end up feeling more lost about life.
ReplyDelete