Attacking Grendel

Group Assignment Sheet

Group Name: Fabulous 4 Members: Marissa Spinner, Lorenza

Medley, Natalie Kioroglo

The Reading- copy and paste a blank table as needed for each nightly reading
assignment. Do not forget to specify the reading assignment associated with each table.
● Reading Assignment: Chapter(s) 1-2 (specify the reading assignment here)
Group Member Questions
Lorenza Medley 1. How would you explain the ram in
Chapter 1?
2. What is the significance of killing
Hrothgar’s men in Chapter 1?
3. What relationship exists between
Grendel and his mother?
4. What is the reason for the bull in
Chapter 2?

Marissa Spinner 1. What could be a reason for

Grendel feeling empty
immediately after killing
people?
2. What is significance of Grendel
understanding the humans but
the humans not understanding
him?
3. What would the result be if the
humans did understand
Grendel?
4. What relationship exists
between Grendel and man?

Natalie Kioroglo 1. Determine what could of caused

the way Grendel seems to be
angry at inanimate things.
2. What assumptions can you
make about the amount of detail
put into Grendel's foul mood
and hatred for nature?
 3. How does the detail used to
describe the humans differ
when we see it from Grendel’s
perspective?
4. How do you think Grendel’s
loneliness affects the amount of
detail he notices throughout the
book?
bhjujjj Morgan Mayhew 1. How does the use of detail help
reveal Grendel perspective?
2. What is the meaning behind
describing the space in lots of
detail?
3. What is the purpose of
describing the scenery in
Grendel?
4. When describing characters
why does the author describe
the eyes?

Reading Assignment: Chapter(s) 3-6 (specify the reading assignment here)

Group Member Questions
Lorenza Medley 1. How would you explain
Grendel’s reaction to the men’s
threats against the other group
in Chapter 3?
2. List three characteristics that
signify Cancer being the zodiac
sign for Chapter 4?
3. What assumptions can you
make about the dragon’s
speech throughout Chapter 5?
4. What is our opinion on
Unferth’s “heroism” near the
end of Chapter 6?
Marissa Spinner 1. What is the significance in
Chapter 3 when Grendel makes
the correlation that he must be
related to humans somehow
since they speak a common
language?
2. Why did the Shaper’s words
have such an impact on
Grendel’s opinion of men in
 Chapter 4?
3. What do you conclude from
Grendel continuously trying to
come up with a logic that
proves the dragons ideas wrong
in chapter 5?
4. How would you explain the
change is Grendel’s personality
in Chapter 6?

MOrgan Mayhew what is the irony in the

way the dragon sees Grendel?
What is the purpose of
repealty describing the other animals
and their relationship to people?
What is the dragon symbolize?
How is the theme developed
with the symbol of the harp.
Natalie Kioroglo 1. Why do you think Grendel
explains the way the humans
act as completely primal, even
though he is technically a beast
that eats people?
2. Why do you think the author
made the dragon sound so
casual and almost human-like?
3. Why do you think Grendel was
so upset when the dragon told
him that God didn’t exist and
was made up by the humans,
but he had accepted previously
that the world was just a
complex mechanism going
around in circles?
4. Why do you think the dragon
chooses to steal worldly gold as
his whole goal in life when he
completely understands the
world and all its fakery?
 ● Reading Assignment: Chapter(s) 7-8 (specify the reading assignment here)
Group Member Questions
Lorenza Medley 1. Why did Grendel feel so
distraught when he saw
Wealtheow, the young king’s
gift to Hrothgar?
2. Predict what would happen if
the young king took over
Hrothgar’s kingdom?
3. What is the purpose of the play
type of sentence structure at
the beginning of chapter 8?
4. What would you conclude
about Halga’s death and how it
affected Hrothgar?
Morgan Mayhew
1. What is the purpose of the changing
the syntax in chapter 7 and 8?
2. What does the queen symbolize?
3. What is the significance of the
dragon sent?
4. What does Grendel's character shift
reveal?
Marissa Spinner 1. How does the Grendel’s tone
impact his characterization
when he comes in contact with
the Shaper, Wealtheow and
heroism?
2. What is the reason for the fast
paced switches in Grendel’s
opinion, tone and
methodology?
3. How does Grendel’s tone
impact the author’s message?
4. What is the reason for Grendel
always watching the humans?
Natalie Kioroglo 1. Why does it switch to an
almost play-like script in
chapter seven?
2. Why would Grendel describe
changing his mind every few
minutes as “balance?”
3. Why was Grendel so set on
 killing the woman when he
was absolutely obsessed with
her?
4. How does the tone change
from the beginning of chapter
seven to the end of chapter
seven?
● Reading Assignment: Chapter(s) 9-12 (specify the reading assignment here)
Group Member Questions
Lorenza Medley 1. How does Grendel’s diction
and use of figurative language
in the beginning of Chapter 9
affect the tone?
2. How does the repetition of
lines from Chapter 1 in
Chapter 10 enhance one of the
themes?
3. What assumptions can be made
about Grendel’s character in
the beginning of chapter 11?
4. What is the purpose of the
italicized words in chapter 12?
Marissa Spinner 1. What is the purpose for
switching who the speaker is
back and forth during the same
scene?
2. How does the speaker have an
impact on the author’s
message?
3. What could be a reason for
Beowulf reciting a quote the
dragon said, when he was not
there?
4. Why do you think the author
decided to have a different
ending to Grendel, than in
Beowulf?
Natalie Kioroglo 1. Why does Grendel feel
“unsatisfied” by the Shaper
dying?
2. Why did Grendel admire this
random, strange woman?
3. Why do you think Grendel
describes Beowulf as having a
“voice of a dead thing?”
 4. Why is it so significant that
Grendel made a mistake?

● Reading Assignment: Chapter(s) (specify the reading assignment here)

Group Member Questions

✓ Analyzing the Text

Chapter Questions- copy and paste the chapter questions below and then answer each
question.

o Chapter 1 Marissa Spinner, Lorenza Medley, Natalie Kioroglo, Morgan Mayhew

1. What does Grendel's relationship with nature -- the ram, the sky, grass, the doe, the baby
bird, owls, and wolves -- reveal about his own personality?
His relationship with nature is a direct result of his loneliness. Since his mother is not that
close with him and he has no one else but her, he is only able to have a relationship
with nature.
His relationship with nature is almost an annoyance of how the only purpose they serve is to
eat, mate, sleep, and die. He feels that these aspects of nature are just part of the
machine of life in order to keep it going, but do not actually make an actual impact in
it.
2. Quote the various phrases Grendel uses to describe himself. What do they reveal about his
self-image and how it was developed?
Grendel in the text will describe himself as someone “no one will ever miss” (Gardner 18).
This Reveals that grendel has a low self esteem. Not thinking highly of himself or
other creatures.

3. What is the significance of the scene wherein Grendel challenges the "dark chasms"?
When grendel challenges the chasm, he understands that at any time he could jump
into it and commit suicide, but when he says “they will not snatch me in a thousand
years, unless, in a lunatic fit of religion, I jump,” (Gardner, 10) he emphasizes that he
hasn’t reached that level of erratic behavior. This could also be foreshadowing of
something that happens to him with that chasm later on in the book.
4. What does Grendel mean when he speaks of "playing cat and mouse with the universe"?
What does it mean to "see all life without observing it"?
The relationship between a stereotypical cat and mouse is a cat without question chasing the
mouse and the mouse is naturally afraid. Neither one stops to think why am I doing
this. They just follow their natural instincts they just do.
5. Describe Grendel's mother and his relationship with her.
Grendel’s mother is a protective mother who does not talk, and is said that “she ponders the
dustry mechanical bits of her miserable life’s curse” (Gardner 11). Despite Grendel
 talking about her with negative words, he still feels comforted when she pulls him
close to her, and called for her to come help him when he was in trouble.
6. From Grendel's point of view, what is man?
In Grendel’s eyes, man is food and something he strongly dislikes. On page 7, he describes
the taste of an old woman he ate as “usrine and spleen, which made me spit.” This
shows how he thinks of humans as food. He did not think much of this woman as he
says “Here, where the startling tiny jaws of crocuses snap at the late-winter sun like
the heads of baby watersnakes, here I killed the old woman with irongray hair”
(Gardner, 7). He seems to think back on this memory fondly, further proving that he
does not think much of the people he devours, showing his disdain for man.

o Chapter 2
1. In a flashback to his early childhood, what is Grendel's relationship with the "large old
shapes" and with his mother? When Grendel was younger, he explains that he would
often explore every inch of the underground with his imaginary friends and him shadow.
The large old shapes that he questions being his “brothers, my uncles, those creatures
shuffling brimstone-eyed from room to room, or sitting separate, isolated, muttering
forever like underground rivers, each private, inviolable gloom” (Gardner, 21) could
symbolize his loneliness for wanting to have other people he could have connections with
other than his silent mother.
2. What is the significance of the scene wherein Grendel catches his foot in the crack in the
tree trunks and is attacked by a bull? Grendel’s encounter with the bull is a very
important part of this book because it was when he first discovered that the world is a
“machine” and that everyone and everything is just living their lives around and around
in circles. When he discovers the bull was just going back and forth, attacking the same
part of the tree trying to get to him, he realizes the mechanism that envelopes all living
things and himself and how the life they were living had no meaning.
3. What does Grendel mean when he says "there was nothing, or, rather, there was
everything but my mother"? How is this a loss of innocence?
When Grendel says this, he means that he was so panicked in that moment that he would
find everything in the woods but his mother. On page 19, he said “Thing after thing tried,
cynical and cruel, to foist itself off as my mama’s shape - a black rock balanced at the
edge of the cliff, a dead tree casting a long shadow, a running stag, a cave entrance…”.
This describes how he was frantically looking for his mother, so much so, that he would
look at objects thinking that they were her. He lost his innocence by realizing that his
mother was not there for him this time. Since he stayed out too late and spent about a day
crying for her, he was crying for her without getting any response. The only response he
got was an attack from a bull.
4. Explain what Grendel means when he says, "I create the whole universe, blink by blink."
Grendel is saying that the his “universe” or perspective is his what he sees. All he knows
is what he thinks. No one else will see things the way he sees things. In a way it is an
ignorant comment, saying he is the only perspective that matters because that is what he
sees.

5. How does Grendel's first meeting with men affect him? Why does he fear them more than
he fears the bull?
Grendel’s first encounter with men set the precedent of how much smarter they are than
all other creature he has ever met. When he had this first encounter he was stuck in a tree,
 and starving. He is desperate for food, and he was able to understand them, but they
could not understand Grendel which made him feel more isolated, and result in the
humans trying to kill him. Grenel fears humans more than the bull because humans are
are “... thinking creatures, pattern makers, the most dangerous things I’d ever met”
(Gardner, 27).
6. How is Grendel's worldview and self-concept affected by his experience with men? How
does this event affect his relationship with the "old shapes" and with his mother?
Grendel’s worldview has different layers to it. In this chapter Grendel had different views
of how the world goes, which involve existentialism, mechanism, and nihilism in order to
express that things are born to die and just are there to keep life going with not actual
purpose. Grendel's worldview is impacted by his relationship with humans by making
him feel more isolated and that his mother and “old shapes” are still the only things that
are on his side.
7. Explain the meaning of "the world is all pointless accident."
The author is saying that the world just is, not for any reason. The world is here because
it just happens to be. Meaning that everything, everyone does has no meaning.
o Chapter 3
1. As a detached observer, what does Grendel learn about Hrothgar and his theories? What
shocks Grendel about man's behavior to other men and to nature? Why does Grendel fear
Hrothgar? Grendel learns that Hrothgar is a king who wants his people to show their
loyalty by giving him money and in return he will protect them and give them land.
Grendel is shocked about man’s behavior to other men and to nature of how they would
do anything to get what they wanted, if that meant killing someone else knowing the
possible consequences. When the ox would run away they would chase after it any cost
even if it hurt themselves just to kill it, in order to prove their dominance. Grendel fears
Hrothgar due to the Shaper describing him as power hungry.
2. Why is Grendel so impressed and affected by the Shaper? Why does he fear the Shaper?
When Grendel first discovers the Shaper, he becomes very transfixed by the way the
Shaper can control and manipulate people without doing any harm to them. Grendel
almost seemed jealous of that power and was completely moved by the music and poetry
himself. At one point, he is so moved by the Shapers power that he bursts out into the hall
and begs for forgiveness and friendship with the humans, which completely backfires,
and they attack him. He fears the Shaper because he can move beowulf just as easily as
he moved all the humans.
3. According to Grendel, what is the truth about poetry? To Grendel, the poetry had such a
great influence on him and the humans around him. It made Grendel go to talk to the
humans, and made the humans go make a road. It emphasizes that the truth of poetry is
that is has a great influence on everyone that listens or reads it in someway.
4. Why does Grendel scream "Lost!" and crawl on all fours as the chapter ends?
He is “lost” as he does not know what to think, about himself, the world and the humans.
He wants to be seen as more than a monster. Listening to the harp gave him new ideas,
conflicting with what he knows.
o Chapter 4
1. How can mor(t)ality be the creation of the Shaper?
The shaper tells stories of those heroes who have died, if he does not speak of the a hero
anymore that person can will be forgotten. It could also mean that he can kill one's
reputation, such as how he sings about the Grendel, shaping the villages perspective.
2. Why does Hrothgar build Heorot, the Hall of the Hart?
 Heorot, the Hall of the Hart, was built by Hrothgar to be “a sign of glory and justice of
Hrothgar’s Danes” (Gardner, 47). This would also show how great Hrothgar is since he
wants to distribute gold to all the soldiers and people who live on his land.
3. What is the power of the "projected possible"? The power of the projected possible is
what keeps most people in check and have a purpose for life. The power of hope to one
day have a relationship with humans is this possible for Grendel. After listening to the
Shaper, Grendel gained a sense of hope and he wanted to better and tried to fight the bad
within himself.
4. How does the story of Cain and Abel affect Grendel?
That is when he realized that he wanted to be a part of the humans, even if he was the
monster who ate them.
5. What is Grendel's "conversion"? The conversation between the dragon and Grendel was
discussing that humans are bad, and that nothing has a purpose. The dragon explain to
Grendel that he needs to be himself and embrace the darkness because he is what keeps
the humans have a purpose and not take the monster role on themselves.
6. What is "the presence" Grendel feels in the darkness?
The darkness is his inner conflict between the good and bad. The darkness that is
following him is him trying to escape his cruelty, it is following him like his shadow. In
the end of the chapter he accepts it and surrendered it.

o Chapter 5
1. Why does Grendel visit the dragon? What does the dragon tell him about himself and
about the "word"?
He visits the dragon because he is alone and does not know what to make of the world.
He feel a calling to see the dragon, almost as if that is how it is suppose to happen. The
dragon tells him the world is fixed, as he is seeing the past present and future. That in the
end the world will be gone so notting has meaning or matters.

2. How does the dragon's mind differ from Grendel's and from men's? The dragon’s mind
differs from from Grendel’s and the humans because he completely understands how the
world works. He can not only see the past and the present, but he can see the future as
well and everything that leads up to it. He even know how he dies and who will kill him,
yet he chooses to accept it. He also understands what the world is made up of and that
these religions that humans believe in are all fake and made up to simulate a purpose.
Even though the dragon is above almost everyone and understands everything within the
world, he is still of the world and still chooses steal gold and “sit on it.”
3. From the dragon's point of view, what is man? What is man's mind? The dragon sees
humans as simple minded creatures that try to find or create anything to give them
purpose. That is what the dragon was saying about Grendel; how grendel is the reason
they act the way they do. The humans live, molded by a brute force in the world, whether
it’s Grendel or not.
4. How does the dragon explain the role of the Shaper? The dragon explains the role of the
Shaper as someone who can show the people that they have a purpose in life and that
there is someone greater than them that has everything in control. The Shaper helped
keep the people in check, he even convinced Grendel that God was real.
5. Explain the following statements made by the dragon:
 a. "Knowledge is not cause." Just because the dragon knew about what was going to
happen, doesn’t mean he was the cause of it. Just like someone who knew about
the past wasn’t the cause of what happened in the past.
b. "Connectedness is the essence of everything."
Kind of goes back to how Grendel is not connected to anyone expect his mother,
who he can not talk to. He is saying that all living things are connect in some way
through their actions.
c. "The essence of life is to be found in the frustrations of established order."
People start questioning life when they have no freewill or freedom because they
have nothing to distract them from it.
d. "Novel order (is) a primary requisite for important experience." “Not today.” -
McFadden
e. "Importance is derived from the immanence of infinitude in the finite."
Importance comes from those who make it important.
f. "Expression is founded on the finite occasion. It is the activity of infinitude
impressing itself on its environment."
Expression is found all the time. It is when someone changes the world around
them.
6. In his attempt to explain the difference between Importance and Expression to Grendel,
the dragon uses the examples of the difference between vegetables and animals and the
difference between an angry man and a rock. Explain.
He is saying that there is no meaning for importance and expression is just one showing
one's feelings to no one. They both do not matter.
7. How does Grendel "improve" men? Grendel improves men because he “stimulates
them.” Grendel causes them to worry and scheme and to use their minds instead of sitting
all fat and lazy with nothing to fear. Grendel causes the people find reasons as to why
they exist and their identities.
8. What is the dragon's ambition? His final advice? His motto?
His ambitions were to count all the treasures and sort them into piles. This was probably
to nod to how the dragon told Grendel to sit on gold if he wanted a purpose. His final
advice to Grendel is to “seek to gold and sit on it” (Gardner, 74). This is to help Grendel
to help him find his purpose. Since he did not want to kill people anymore, he should
guard something. His motto is to sit on gold. This is, again, to help find purpose. This
gives the dragon a reason to exist since the humans want gold, the dragon has gold, so he
has a purpose since he guards it.
9. How is Grendel "caged in a limited mind"? The dragon says that Grendel is “caged in a
limited mind” because he doesn’t understand the things the dragon tries to explain to him.
The dragon is aware of how the entire world and universe works, yet when he tries to
explain a small amount to him, Grendel doesn’t understand a word of it, and that he
understood, he would not accept.
o Chapter 6
1. How is the dragon's charm a curse?
The dragon's charm is a curse because he is unable to die which makes him more
depressed, lonely, and evil. It can make Grendel completely lose himself, and feel even
more detached from everything.
2. How does Grendel now react to the Shaper's song?
 Grendel reacts to the Shaper’s song by filling with rage because of how humans were
pompous and ignorant but they also had the ability to hope which Grendel cannot do.
3. How is Grendel "transformed" by his first raid on Heorot? In what sense does he
"become" himself?
Grendel is “transformed” by his first raid on Heorot by becoming what the humans had
needed him to be, which in this case he has “become” a ruiner according to Grendel, but
he has become the monster that everyone had needed him to be.
4. According to Unferth, what is heroism? What is poetry?
According to Unferth, heroism is wither killing a monster or dying due to fighting a
monster. On page 87, Unferth tells of how he will die due to Grendel and get praised and
waits for him to kill him. On page 82, Unferth tried to kill Grendel in a very
melodramatic way to make himself look more heroic and brave. Also on page 88, Unferth
says “Poetry’s trash, mere clouds of words, comfort to the hopeless.” This is to show how
Unferth sees poetry as an escape from the harsh reality of the world. People use this to
comfort themselves when something terrible happens.
5. Why doesn't Grendel kill Unferth? And why is Unferth so bitter?
He does not kill him because he wants to cause him pain, not giving him the satisfaction
of death. Unferth wants to be seen as a hero who died a hero death.
6. Who or what is the dragon?
The dragon is an all wise creature who knows about the past, present, and future but
cannot alter it, somewhat like God allowing humans to choose their own path. He has
guards all the things the the humans wants almost to antagonize them.

o Chapter 7
1. What is Grendel's law? What does it mean? Grendel's law is “There is no limit to desire
but desire’s needs” which is explaining how once you have a desire to do something there
is no limit that someone will go to in order to satisfy their desires which in Grendel’s case
is killing (Gardner, 93).
2. How is Wealtheow like the Shaper's songs? How is she different? Wealtheow and the
Shaper both make Grendel have an internal conflict concerning why he is killing people.
Wealhtheow is different from the Shaper’s songs because whenever Grendel hears the
songs he immediately gets angry, but when he sees the queen he will sometimes want to
kill her, but he also said that he felt almost human around her and was willing to go to her
feet and drool over her.
3. Why doesn't Grendel rape, torture, and murder Wealtheow? Or does he? Grendel decides
not to torture and kill Wealtheow because he decided it would be as worthless as letting
her go.The only difference between him letting her go and him killing her is that her life
would be snuffed out and instantly vanish into eternity. So he decided to let her go and go
against what everyone thought he would do.
4. What does Grendel mean by "balance is everything"?
Grendel is talking about the balance of hating and liking things equally. We see that
Grendel has a balance of hate and cruelty to sympathy and understanding.
5. What is "meaning as quality"? (pg 102)
 He is talking about feminine power. The power they have in their sacrifices create peace
in others.
6. What is the parallel between Wealtheow and Grendel's mother?
Wealtheow and Grendel’s mom both have a respect and admiration coming from Grendel
but yet at the same time he also gets very frustrated with them and thinks he doesn;t need
them.

7. What has happened to Unferth? How does the Queen affect him? Unferth killed his
brother when he was incredibly drunk and when other thanes were laughing at Unferth,
the queen said that what happened in the past happened, and that they should just let it
go. Unferth eventually had a great admiration for the queen and even slept at her door at
night.
o Chapter 8
1. What threats surround Hrothgar after Hrothulf's arrival? How is Hrothulf like a scorpion?
Hrothgar’s power is threatened by Hrothulf, because he is younger and stronger. He was
waging war around him, and Hrothgar knew that Hrothulf would be able to kill and
defeat him. He is threatening to Hrothgar, and violent making Hrothulf like a scorpion.
2. What is Grendel's Theorum? What does it mean?
His Theorem is on page 113 and states “Any action (A) of the human heart must trigger
an equal and opposite reaction”. This sounds like the law of gravity. It means that any
human action that stems for strong emotion will create a reaction of the same emotions
and the optiste emotions in people.
3.How can violence be creative? What do Grendel and Red Horse have to say about
violence and "legitimate force"?
Violence can be creative because it can be the source of change, and unite a group of
people that other, and can make people do what they want. Grendel and the Red Horse
agree that violence and “legitimate force’ has a role to play in society and that violence is
attached to the good, and utilized by those in power to suppress those who are not.
3. Describe Red Horse's political idology.
The red horse believed that the social hierarchy protects those in power while supress
those who are not, that all governments are evil, and some violence is necessary.
4. What is the meaning of the "horrible dream which Grendel imputes to Hrothgar"? I feel
like the dream that Hrothgar has represents Grendel is the way of him being that two-
sided tree that twists around itself, trying to pick a dominant side. When a blade is
impaled into the tree, I think it means that Grendel will eventually have to choose a side
instead of circling around himself all the time.
5. How can the old king Hrothgar be a giant? In what ways is he like Job?
Old king Hrothgar is a giant by sitting tall in his chair and has a powerful mind. Ths
relates to his job as king since kings are known to sit tall and be smart.

o Chapter 9
1. What ironies occur in this section?
When Grendel came into contact with the priest, he said that he was the Destroyer who
would one day defeat Grendel. It presents situational irony because he does destroy
things but he is not the God who is one day suppose to defeat Grendel.
2. How can Time be inside the hunter and the hart?
When time runs out it is “hunting” some as it comes closer to the end and hart. When
someone is looking for time or beats death it makes time “hunted”.
3. What is Grendel's opinion of religion?
Grendel understands that the humans find religion and believing something greater than
them to be necessary, but he only believed that death was certain and action does more
than theories and words.
4. What is the significance of Grendel's encounter with Ork? What does Ork have to say
about the King of the Gods and about the nature of Evil?
Grendel’s encounter with Ork is significant to show a perspective on religion that
Grendel would have never thought of. Since he always dismisses religion, he would have
never thought of how significant it could be to the humans. Ork says that, “The King of
Gods is the actual entity in virtue of which the entire multiplicity of eternal objects
obtains its graded relevance to each stage of concrescence. Apart from Him, there can be
no relevant novelty” (Gardner, 132). He also says that “the ultimate evil is that Time is
perpetual perishing, and being actual involves elimination” (Gardner 132).
5. Why is Grendel so disgusted by the speeches of the Fourth Priest?
He is disgusted because, he still has faith in the world, where the other people lack. He is
disgusted because he has never felt such comfort.
o Chapter 10
1. Explain the saying "Tedium is the worst pain."
“Tedium is the worst pain” means that repetition is exhausting. Since he describes life as
a constant cycle, it gets tiring for him to just see this happen over and over again.
2. Why is Grendel so frightened and so infuriated by the goat?
Grendel is frightened by the goat because when he tries to kill it, the goat survives and
still tries to charge at him despite having its head split open. He is infuriated by it because
it did not respond the way he wanted to his violent advances. When he yells and throws a
boulder at it, it disregards it and continues to climb the mountain.
3. How does the Shaper's death affect Grendel?
Grendel felt a sense of relief when the Shaper died since whenever he heard his song he
questioned his views which made it difficult for him. So now that he is gone, he does not
have to worry about it anymore. He acted like he didn’t care but in actuality he did.
4. What is "the pastness of the past"?
“The pastness of the past” is referring to Grendel being unable to relive the past, and just
has to live in the present.
5. How has Grendel's mother changed? What is their relationship now?
Grendel’s mother has changed by going insane with worry, and any time Grendel tried to
leave she tried to stop him, and even spoke in hopes to try and stop him from leaving
instead of just hugging him. Grendel will pick her up like a child and move her aside
since he feels he has all the power, but yet if something were to go wrong, he would still
call for his mom.
6. Who is the other monster Grendel meets on the moors?
The monster he said he met in the moors was an old wild woman who had murderous
eyes (pg, 149).
7. Explain "Nihil ex nihilo, I always say."
“Nihil ex nihilo, I always say” is kind of like Grendel’s motto. He “Nihil ex nihilo”
means nothing comes from nothing, so he is trying to say that he believes that life is
nothing and all creatures are nothing.
o Chapter 11
1. How does Grendel perceive Beowulf and the Geats?
 He preserves them as foolish. He sees them as entertainment, hoping they will start a war
with the village. When describing them physically though he is excited about their
strength.
2. In what ways are Beowulf and Grendel alike?
Both find joy in the pain of others
Both have illusions of their strengths
Both full of themself
3. What has Grendel come to understand about the "dark realities" of self and the world?
He has realized that all things are mortal, and will end. Also that everything is pointless.
4. What does Grendel mean when he says he has seen "the vision of the dragon"?
Grendel meant that he felt the dragon's presence and his wisdom. He is most likely seeing
the dragons vision of how Grendel dies.
5. How does Grendel divide the world?
Grendel divides the world by things that will be murdered and things that will be
murdered and what will postpone the murder of those things.
6. Explain the saying "Things fade; alternatives exclude."
“Things fade; alternatives exclude” means that over time, things will start to go away.
This means that whatever may have been seen as the alternative to that things will no
longer be viable as an alternative.
7. What happens when Unferth challenges Beowulf about Breca?
When Unferth challenges Beowulf about Breca, Beowulf brings up the fact the Unferth
killed his brothers and how he is going to Hell.
8. How does the Queen respond to Beowulf?
The queen says that Beowulf is “a man with courage” (Gardner, 163) that she finds
trustworthy.
o Chapter 12
1. How and why is Grendel defeated? Grendel was defeated by Beowulf when he decided to
sneak into the mead hall and kill them in their sleep. Beowulf was pretending to sleep
while Grendel killed one of the Geats in his sleep. Once Grendel finished eating the Geat,
Beowulf caught him off-guard and grabbed his arm in a vice-like grip, ripping into his
arm and taunting him while Grendel slipped and fell worse into Beowulf’s attack.
Eventually Beowulf ripped off his arm and Grendel escaped wounded and half dead.
Grendel was defeated because of the fatal mistakes me made while fighting.
2. How do illusion and words help cause Grendel's death? When he was fighting Beowulf,
Grendel kept switching between illusions and reality. He kept trying to ignore the fire
breathing he saw Beowulf do and as Beowulf was whispering all of Grendel’s wrong-
doings, Grendel tries to ignore them and whispers himself to distract himself. In the end,
his illusions and surprise at Beowulf’s attacks cause him to slip over his own blood and
cause Beowulf take the upper hand in the wrestle.
3. Why does Beowulf make Grendel sing of walls?
Beowulf is sadist, this is a side of him we have not seen before. He makes Grendel sing
because he likes the power. He is like a phycopath.
4. How does this last chapter echo lines, events, characters, and images from early chapters?
Chapter 12 repeats how Grendel called for his mother in Chapter 2. On page 173, he cries
for his mother as he is dying and on page 18, he cries for his mother because he is caught
in a trap and is hanging upside down. The dragon also repeats as he mentioned dragons
before and Chapter 5 was just the dragon’s monologue.
 5. Explain Grendel's last words: "Poor Grendel's had an accident. . . So may you all." When
Grendel lays dying from his ripped arm, he feels it’s incredibly unfair that he is a all-
powerful monster that no one has been able to defeat, but he dies because of a few
“accidents.” One being him not realizing Beowulf is awake and also slipping on the
blood on the floor. When he runs away, bleeding to death, he mutters a final curse saying
that if he dies, everyone else will die with him.

• Astrology question (thematic-based) - copy and paste the assigned Astrology

question(s) below and answer them. Be sure to include documented textual support
within your answer.
1 Aries the Ram. Aries is energetic, innovative, original, pioneering, assertive, quick-tempered,
strong drive, leader, ambitious, extroverted, sometimes aggressive, competitive, enthusiastic,
self-reliant, and self-assured.
In the beginning of the chapter Grendel come face to face with a bull. Most animals he
encounters run from him. The ram is subborend and does not. This upsets Grendel who is also
stubborn, seen when the text states “the 12th year of my idiotic war” (Gardner 5). Referring to
the face off with the bull and his “war” with the humans. His eating of humans is out of his
stubbornness, aggressive and other characteristics of Aries.

2 Taurus the Bull. Taurus is determined, efficient, stubborn, cautious, placid, persistent,
enduring, introverted, conservative, conventional, materialistic, security conscious, stable,
industrious, dependable, and one generally having significant financial ability.
Throughout these two chapters Grendel has depicted his life as being lonely. Grendel states “Of
all the creatures I knew, in those days, only my mother really looked at me” (Gardner, 17). This
not only fits with the characteristic trait of being introverted and has lived in isolation, but also
makes him very conservative and and aware of his surroundings,

3 Gemini the Twins. Gemini is flexible, versatile, restless, a jack-of-all-trades, lively, alert,
quick-witted, literary, communicative, a good conversationalist, changeable, sociable, logical,
ingenious, agile, dexterous, intellectual, and mentally ambitious.
The humans in chapter three are seen as two sided because Grendel was watching them always
attacking each other and spilling so much blood, yet the next second they would be drinking in
the great hall together and “they’d all fall asleep on each other like lizards.” The humans would
wage war on each other and spill it everywhere, yet sing songs of their bravery and courage and
how victorious they were. “Then the wars began, and the war songs, and the weapon making. If
the songs were true, as I suppose at least one or two of them were, there had always been wars,
and what I’d seen was merely a period of mutual exhaustion.”
4 Cancer the Crab. Cancer is introverted, reserved, emotional, sensitive, moody, sympathetic,
security-conscious, prudent, retentive, domestic, maternal, protective, quiet, calm, imaginative,
conscientious, and quite the traditionalist.
In this chapter, Grendel became very emotional about the Shaper’s harp. “Such was the power of
the Shaper’s harp. Stood wriggling my face, letting tears down my nose, grinding my fists into
my streaming eyes” (Gardner, 51). Grendel also shows his introversion because he “backed away
further into the darkness - like a crab retreating in pain” (Gardner, 48).
 For the astrology questions chapters 5 & 6, each of you must individually answer them on the
specified document. All of your individual responses must be different.
5 Leo the Lion. Leo is ambitious, a lover of limelight, speculative, extroverted, optimistic,
honorable, dignified, confident, proud, exuberant, sunny, flamboyant, charismatic, dramatic,
competitive, a leader and an organizer.
In this chapter, the dragon symbolizes the zodiac sign of Leo, the Lion. He portrays this by being
very pompous about how he knows all. “I know, everything you see … The beginning, the
present, the end. Everything” (Gardner, 62). He is also very dramatic when Grendel almost
throws an emerald at the dragon. Grendel gets very agitated with how the dragon is laughing at
the way he is sitting and picks up an emerald to throw at the dragon, the dragon has a very
melodramatic reaction to the whole ordeal. “‘Don’t touch,’ he said. The old-man voice was as
terrible now as his eyes. It was as if he’d been dead for a thousand years. ‘Never never never
touch my things’” (Gardner, 60).
The dragon is the symbol of the astrological sign Leo due to the wisdom, confident and proud
perspective that he gives Grendel. While he is not the stereotypical Lion, he still instills Grendel
with the wisdom of how society and life functions. The dragon tell Grendel to do “‘Whatever
you like. Do as you think best’’’ whatever that may be (Gardner, 72). The dragon however, then
proceeds to influence what that his purpose is by stating “‘You improve them, my boy?” which
only makes Grendel embrace his monster like ways (Gardner, 72). He is defining the
characteristic trait of organizing the future of what the humans need.
In this chapter, the astrology sign is seen as Leo the Lion and lions are seen to be to “kings of the
jungle.” Grendel is very often seen as the apex predator that all the humans fear, yet once he
meets the dragon, he quickly understands how they feel. He is incredibly intimidated by the
dragon and has personal identity problems, trying to figure out what his purpose is as a “brute
force,” as the dragon says.”Now you know how they feel when they see you, eh? Scared enough
to pee in their pants!”
In the chapter the Dragon is brave, wise and strong. No creature would dare cross him such as
seen in the quote “I clench my fist, though it is absurd, of one does not swing at a dragon”
(Gardner 72).
6 Virgo the Virgin. Virgo is practical, responsible, sensible, logical, analytical, highly
discriminating, a careful planner, precise and punctual, dedicated, perfectionist, critical, health
conscious, and somewhat introverted.
This is basically Grendel in this chapter he introverted, analytical and precise about how he
thinks. In this chapter he spares someone, showing these traits. In the quote “he is ashamed that
he is always paired” revealing that Grendel is using his sensibilities to spite his Unferth.

In this chapter, Grendel is very practical when Unferth came into his cave. As Unferth tried to
get Grendel to kill him, Grendel just watched and left him alive. On page 90, Grendel took him
back to the meadhall. It says “I picked him up gently and carried him home. I laid him at the
door of Hrothgar’s meadhall, still asleep.” Also it shows Unferth’s determination by going to
Grendel’s cave after Grendel had left the meadhall after the fight between him and the soldiers.
On page 86-87, it talks about how Unferth came to the cave to be killed by Grendel and even
going through a lake which he had no idea how deep it was.
In this chapter Grendel displays the qualities of the astrological sign of Virgo. When having the
encounter with Unferth and his death wish in order to be known as heroic he carefully planned a
logical solution. When Unferth threatened to kill himself Grendel made the comment ‘’’but
you’ll admit it may seem at least a trifle cowardly to some”’ which allows Grendel to not let him
get the effect that he wanted since it was not a practical action to do(Gardner, 90).

7 Libra the Scales. Libra is idealistic, a peacemaker, diplomatic, refined, poised, gracious, kind,
courteous, fair-minded, sociable, charming, artistically creative, affable, cooperative,
extroverted, and usually somewhat indecisive.

In this chapter the queen Wealtheow is the astrological sign Libra. When there was a feud
between her brother and the king she was completely cooperative when that she had to go with
the king and accept her new name in order to avoid war. She also displayed this peacemaker and
diplomatic role when all these men kept bringing up Unferth’s past when she intervened and said
“‘That’s the past”’ in order to make everyone drop it (Gardner, 104). She was also described as a
selfless woman who would give up her life for those she cares about which demonstrates the
kind and gracious part.

In this chapter, Wealtheow, the sister of the young king, is the zodiac sign Libra. She showed
qualities of this trait when she told Unferth to let go of him murdering his brothers. “Impossible,
like roses blooming in the heart of December, she said, ‘That’s the past.’ And it was” (Gardener,
104). This demonstraites how she is a peacemaker and kind.

In this chapter, Grendel would often say “balance is everything,” relating to the scales of Libra.
He would often erratically change his mind last second before doing certain things. For example,
at one point in chapter 7, he was completely set on killing himself when, all of a sudden, he
decided not to and changed his mind. In the book it’s quotes as “I resolved, absolutely and
finally, to kill myself, for love of the baby Grendel that used to be. But the next instant , for no
particular reason, I changed my mind. Balance is everything, sliding down slime…”

Wealhtheow is the representation of libra in the chapter. She is used to create peace between the
two. The people in the town are amazed by her with her social charm and beauty. In the chapter
is is described as “beautiful, as innocent as dawn on winter hill”, being the perfect queen. That
has the qualities of a libra.

8 Scorpio the Scorpion. Scorpio is intense, determined, powerful, strong-willed, forceful, bold,
courageous, enduring, competitive, resourceful, researcher, an investigator, secretive,
mysterious, penetrating, psychic, self-reliant, and somewhat introverted or closed.

In this chapter, the zodiac sign Scorpio is shown when Hrothulf was describes as a “sweet
scorpion” on page 113. Red Horse is also the sign of a Scorpio because he is very strong-willed.
When he is speaking of the institutions and the rich and the poor, he sounds like he wants to
make a difference. On page 118, he tells Hrothulf, “Rewards to people who fit the system best,
you know. King’s immediate thanes, the thane’s top servants, and so on till you come to the
people who don’t fit at all.” This quote shows how Red Horse was very bold in his word choice
and strong-willed in his beliefs of how community works and how he hates it.
In this chapter the red horse can be seen with the political ideas that capture a Scorpio. He is
determined in his ways and bold with his options. He is mysterious in who he is competitive and
courageous to openly go asingst the kingdom in front of royalty. The system he describes
operates like the qualities of Scorpio. In the text he describes government as “freedom for the
winners and enslavement of the rest” ( Gardner 119). Revealing a competitive system of
government, describing a scorpio.

In this Chapter the Red Horse can be related to the astrological sign Scorpio. The red horse is an
old man who still had very strong opinions when it comes to politics and how society should be
ruled. Even when Hrothulf completely shut down the old man's idea of violence he remained
determined and was resourceful in his response when he said “All governments are evil”
(Gardner, 120). While we never learn any actual information about the man, his opinions are
very clear and he was not satisfied until the boy understood his purpose was to destroy a
government.

In chapter eight, Grendel is describing a conversation going on between Hrothulf and his adviser
about the way he is treating the kingdom and where he should go next and Grendel describes him
as a “sweet scorpion” on page 113. Grendel also explains how he is the cause of Hrothulf’s
change and how without him and his bold and determined actions of raiding the halls, Hrothulf
and Hrothgar would be the same “swollen-headed raider, full of boasts and stupid jokes and
mead. No more noble than Red Horse, Hrothulf’s friend” and he defends himself by saying that
he is meant to be a monster and “why does the lion not wisely settle down and be a horse?”

For the astrology questions this week, each of you must individually answer them
on the specified document. All of your individual responses must be different.
● 9 Sagittarius the Archer. Sagittarius is idealistic, optimistic, freedom-loving, casual,
friendly, buoyant, gregarious, enthusiastic, philosophical, studious, farseeing, direct,
outspoken, honest, loyal, restless and loves travel.

In this chapter the priest Ork represents the astrological sign Sagittarius. In this chapter
Grendel lies to the priest and says that he is the Great Destroyer, even though he did have
a slight amount of doubt he was optimistic that he was telling the truth. He states “‘ The
King of the Gods is the ultimate limitation”’ which emphasizes he philosophical and
idealistic views on the God, that many no longer believe in (Gardner, 131).

In this chapter, the zodiac sign Sagittarius is shown using the priests and religion. The
priest, Ork, shows many traits associated with a Sagittarius. On page 132-133, Ork gives
a very philosophical speech about the King of Gods and how great he is. He says “The
King of Gods is the actual entity in virtue of which the entire multiplicity of eternal
objects obtains its graded relevance to each stage of concrescence. Apart from Him, there
can be no relevant novelty” (Gardner, 132-133). This shows Ork’s loyalty to the King of
Gods, his philosophical mind, and his outspoken nature.

In chapter nine, Sagittarius the Archer can be seen throughout the beginning of the
chapter when Grendel narrates that “the days are an arrow in a dead man’s chest”
(Gardner, 125). Grendel vividly describes the toll winter has on the world around him and
he describes a lot of the scenery as being dead and empty. This is the time when many
 hunters have to go out and hunt for themselves and their families, connecting to
Sagittarius, the hunter.

Grendel comes in contact with some priest. There is a young and old priest. Together
they have the characteristics of sagittarius. The older priest is wise and philosophical, speaking
about how “the universe rise through the slow process of unification”. Then the younger priste
who is outgoing and enthusiastic comes in later, amazed with it.

● 10 Capricorn the Goat. Capricorn is ambitious (power, position, money),

organizational, self-disciplined, rigid, thrifty, prudent, security-conscious,
conservative, responsible, practical, persistent, political, business oriented,
methodical.

In Chapter 10, the goat climbing up the mountain was the astrological sign Capricorn.
The goat despite how many times Grendel yells at him to go back, or throws rocks at him
he continues to go up the mountain. Even when Grendel threw a tree trunk at him he was
methodical and persistent climbing up even when “It splits his skull, and blood sprays out
past his dangling brains…” (Gardner, 140).

In this chapter, the zodiac sign Capricorn is shown with the goat that Grendel is yelling
at. The goat is very persistent on surviving. When Grendel throws a rock at the goat, yet
the goat “finds his feet the same instant that my second stone hits. It splits his skull, and
blood sprays out past his dangling brains, yet he doesn’t fall” (Gardner, 140). It also
shows Grendel’s persistence on killing the goat.

Grendel was pressistent when the goat tried to get into his cave. He was security
conscious as seen when he worries that the goat will lead to other animals visiting him
“what if everybody decide the place is public”.

In chapter ten, Grendel watches a horned goat climb the mountain towards the mere and
he get aggravated by its determination and lack of fear. He becomes violent when the
goat continues no matter how many times he tries to reason with it and scare it, it
continues to climb because that’s what it was meant to do. Eventually Grendel throws a
few rocks and even a log at it and no matter how battered and bleeding it was, it
continues to climb. In the passage it says, “He threatens me, blind. It’s not easy to kill a
mountain goat. He thinks with his spine.” This quote shows the ambitious and persistent
behavior of a Capricorn.

● 11 Aquarius the Water-bearer. Aquarius is individualistic, unconventional,

progressive, unique, independent, humanitarian, altruistic, visionary, perceptive,
intellectual, logical, ingenious, inventive, unpredictable, detached, friendly, and
scientific.

In Chapter 11, Beowulf was the astrological sign Aquarius. Not only was Beowulf tell the
story of him independently going and defeating a sea monster while swimming 7 days, he
made the comment “‘I don’t boast much of that”’ referring to battles that he has fought
(Gardner, 162). He proceeding to take a jab at Unferth in a very detached manner. He
was able to be friendly and sociable when he needed to be, but for the most part he is
very logical with every move he makes.

In this chapter, the zodiac sign Aquarius is shown because water is mentioned a lot
throughout the chapter. This gives a great hint into what the zodiac sign will be. On page
151, it says, “At least I think it’s joy. Strangers have come, and it’s a whole new game. I
kissed the ice on the frozen creeks, I press my ear to it, honoring the water that rattles
below, for by water they came…” This quote shows how Grendel is taking joy in how
there are new people coming to accompany the current people he knows in Herot and
how this will affect things. He is showing friendliness in the way he is acting my being
peaceful in kissing the ice and honoring the water.

In chapter eleven, it introduces Beowulf and his small group of Geats into the story.
Grendel is very wary of Beowulf and even describes his features compared to death.
Grendel narrates that Beowulf had a “voice of a dead thing, calm as dry sticks and ice
when the wind blows over them.”(Gardner, 153-154). He even says “He talked on. I
found myself not listening, merely looking at his mouth, which moved-or so it seemed to
me-independent of words, as if the body of the stranger were a ruse, a disguise for
something infinitely more terrible.”(Gardner, 155). Although Grendel sees Beowulf as
something “terrible” and deathly, it seems that all the danes love him. They see him as
individualistic, unique, altruistic and logical. When he told stories of his adventures and
voyages, everyone, except Unferth, seemed to admire him unconditionally.

In this chapter Grendel is observing Beowulf and his warriors. Revealing the
charlistics shown above. He is waiting and thinking right before his death. The
quote “tedium is the worst pain” (Garden 157) repeated in the chapter is Grendel
reflecting and observing his life before he dies.

● 12 Pisces the Fish. Pisces is receptive, supersensitive, impressionable, peace-loving,

serious, sympathetic, charitable, compassionate, artistic, creative, dreamer, dedicated,
imaginative, psychic, shy, introverted, spiritual, and reclusive.

In Chapter 12 Beowulf was the astrological sign Pisces. While he was not compassionate
or peace-loving during this chapter when he was antagonizing and brutality killing
Grendel. However, he was very creative whenever he slept waiting to watch how
Grendel killed people. Beowulf made the comment “Observe the hardness, write it down
carefully runes. Now sing of walls!” which brings out an artistic and serious aspects of
the sign in order to humiliate Grendel before he brutality kills him (Gardner, 171).

In chapter twelve, Grendel was so convinced he would be able to defeat and eat all the
geats that he wasn’t ready for the attack and trick Beowulf played on him. His arrogant
behavior made him unaware and he even gave Beowulf the upper hand when he
accidently slipped in a pool of his own blood. At this moment, Grendel acts serious and
receptive to everything Beowulf was telling him to do because he knew he was at his
mercy. He even started crying for his mother when Beowulf begins to torment Grendel
with all his wrong-doings. “I do not listen. I am sick at heart. I have been betrayed before
by talk like that. ‘Mama!’ I bawl.” (Gardner, 170).
In this chapter we see Grendel reverting back to his childhood ways.Pisces characteristics
are childlike in a way. He captures his child like ideas as he sees the end of his life. He
learns that he was not in fact invinceable. When he is in pain he will yell “mama”, as the
pain will remind him of his childlike ways and his mother, The only person he cares
about (Gardener 170).
In chapter 12, the zodiac sign Pisces is shown when Grendel says that he understands
Beowulf. On page 172, Grendel says, “I understand him all right, make no mistake.
Understand his lunatic theory of matter and mind, the chilly intellect, the hot imagination,
blocks and builder, reality as stress.” This shows the compassion towards Beowulf and
his lunatic mind. Since Grendel also knows how it feels to be sadistic and kill with joy.