John Gardner 1933-1982 Born to a preacher/farmer and an English teacher At less than 12 years old, he accidently killed his younger brother in a farming accident. His work is often classified as postmodernist, although he rejected this label himself, as he associated it with a school of writers he considered too harsh and cynical. Died in a motorcycle accident just days before his third marriage.

Modernism Modernist pieces of literature are often subjective, and impressionistic, focusing on how people look at the world rather than what they actually see; Modernist pieces display an acute sense of meta-awareness, meaning they are conscious of their status as artistic works- representations of reality instead of reality itself.

Postmodernism Ontology : a branch of metaphysics concerned with the nature and relations of being The world is chaotic; there are no universal truths Ambiguous endings

Grendel Example of metafiction – fiction about fiction. The plot and characters of the novel come from the 6th century Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf; Beowulf is a heroic epic chronicling the deeds of the great Geatish warrior Beowulf. Gardner’s twist on the tale is his choice to narrate the story from the monster’s point of view, transforming a snarling, terrible beast into a lonely but intelligent outsider who bears striking resemblance to his human adversaries.

Philosophy in Grendel

Existentialism The foundation Man is a conscious being rather than a thing to be predicted or manipulated Existence precedes essence the individual is the source of all value the individual is free to choose his or her own character Began with Nietzsche (1844-199) & Kierkegaard (1813-1855) Mid-20th century Sartre & Camus propelled the philosophy forward to where it became world renowned.

Existentialism Common themes Disorientation Isolation Hopelessness Despair Angst (dread, anxiety) Indifferent universe Nausea, sickness, pain Meaninglessness These all come from Sartre’s beliefs and philosophical literature

XII The laws of God, the laws of man, He may keep that will and can And how am I to face the odds Of man's bedevilment and God's? I, a stranger and afraid In a world I never made by A. E. Housman (1859-1936) This is the first stanza of the poem by Housman—written from an existential viewpoint…

In Greek mythology, the cunning king of Corinth who was punished in Hades by having repeatedly to roll a huge stone up a hill only to have it roll down again as soon as he had brought it to the summit. Page 14 in Grendel The Myth of Sisyphus

Existentialism in Grendel Grendel’s reaction to the ram he sees in the opening scene (page 6) Grendel standing on the cliff’s edge (pages 9-10) Find 3 examples of existentialism in Grendel

Solipsism Only the self exists, or can be proven to exist No individual can truly understand another individual’s existence Existence for me is my existence, based on my mental states. Pages 22 & 28 of Grendel Discuss where else in the novel solipsism is seen.

Which character in Grendel is a Nihilist? Nihilism All values are baseless and nothing can really be known. Nihil is the word for nothing in Latin A true Nihilist believes in nothing, has no loyalties, and has no purpose. Which character in Grendel is a Nihilist? Discuss which character in Grendel is a Nihilist.

1973 AP QUESTION 3 An effective literary work does not merely stop or cease; it concludes. In the view of some critics, a work that does not provide the pleasure of a significant “closure” has terminated with an artistic fault. A satisfactory ending in not, however, always conclusive in every sense; significant closure may require the reader to abide with or adjust ambiguity and uncertainty. In an essay, discuss the ending of a novel or play of acknowledged literary merit. Explain precisely how and why the ending appropriately or inappropriately concludes the work. Do not merely summarize the plot.

1982 AP Question 3 In great literature, no scene of violence exists for its own sake. Choose a work of literary merit that confronts the reader or audience with a scene or scenes of violence. In a well-organized essay, explain how the scene or scenes contribute to the meaning of the complete work. Avoid plot summary.

1988 AP Question 3 Choose a distinguished novel or play in which some of the most significant events are mental or psychological; for example, awakenings, discoveries, changes in consciousness. In a well-organized essay, describe how the author manages to give these internal events the sense of excitement, suspense, and climax usually associated with external action. Do not merely summarize the plot.