Point of View in Grendel How POV determines an audience’s perception

Identify the POV… What is the POV in Beowulf? What is the POV in Grendel? How do readers view Grendel in Grendel as distinctly different from the Grendel presented to them in Beowulf? Identify POV of Beowulf: 1st person scop/minstrel who frequently intrudes to foreshadow, comment while telling story as a removed narrator using the third person pronoun. Thus, believability of an “I” yet able to still move focus where narrator would like. POSSIBLE ACTIVITY – find examples of scop intrusion in Beowulf. Identify POV of Grendel: 1st person from character Grendel. Increases sympathy of reader for this character as we are literally seeing the world through his eyes. However, this limits our ability to see/understand what other characters are thinking. Grendel in Grendel: Can speak, reason, bleed, feel pain, other emotions, search for meaning.

More POV differences. . . How do readers view humans in Grendel as distinctly different from the humans presented in Beowulf? How do readers view Unferth in Grendel as distinctly different from the Unferth presented in Beowulf? Humans: Instead of heroic ideal, portrayed as more vicious to each other than wolves, filled with drunken bragging, pointless ambition, and worship of worthless idols. Nonetheless, they still strive for a higher purpose/meaning, doing the best they can in a puzzling universe. Unferth: A comi-tragic figure, bound to warrior/hero code that he is unable to live by as Grendel won’t kill him. More than an angry challenger/brother-killer in Beowulf, he is trying to live nobly.

Redefining Characters through POV Below are descriptions of characters from Beowulf. Describe each character as Grendel would see them. Grendel’s mother: “monstrous hag”, ”rabid and raging”, “resolved on revenge” Hrothgar: “high-born”, “gentle manners”, “gracious”, “wise of word” In general, most characters are made more ordinary, especially the men. Wealtheow seems more real and important. Mom: ineffective yet caring. Tries to comfort Grendel, even nursing. Afraid of the world outside. Handicapped by lack of language. Hrothgar: petty, ambitious king. Impotent in confronting Grendel. Has loyalty of people, burdened by kingship.

More characters redefined Wealthow: “high-born, gentle manners, gracious, wise of word” Shaper: “sings a sweet song, a skillful poet, knows ancient stories” Danes: “might host, lordly warriors, living in gladness, boldly boasted” Unferth: jealous of his warrior reputation, challenging Beowulf at first, later admitting Beowulf’s heroism Wealtheow: Young, beautiful, smart. Clear role is to prevent feud between her people and Hrothgar. Accepts her position with grace rather than mere resignation. Shaper: Inspiration of the people. Blind, yet has a beauty and power to his songs, which even Grendel can’t resist. Danes: Already hit this one, but. . .Ordinary soldiers, boastful, drunken, dreaming of being heroes but falling short. Unferth: Already hit this one, but. . .Dreaming of heroism, and willing to risk all, but cruelly humiliated by Grendel’s refusal to fight fairly or to kill him. Living in disgrace and suicide or fleeing would be cowardly.

Another Monster’s defense: "How can I move thee? Will no entreaties cause thee to turn a favourable eye upon thy creature, who implores thy goodness and compassion? Believe me, Frankenstein: I was benevolent; my soul glowed with love and humanity: but am I not alone, miserably alone? You, my creator, abhor me; what hope can I gather from your fellow-creatures, who owe me nothing? they spurn and hate me. The desert mountains and dreary glaciers are my refuge. I have wandered here many days; the caves of ice, which I only do not fear, are a dwelling to me, and the only one which man does not grudge. These bleak skies I hail, for they are kinder to me than your fellow-beings. If the multitude of mankind knew of my existence, they would do as you do, and arm themselves for my destruction. Shall I not then hate them who abhor me? I will keep no terms with my enemies. I am miserable, and they shall share my wretchedness. Yet it is in your power to recompense me, and deliver them from an evil which it only remains for you to make so great, that not only you and your family, but thousands of others, shall be swallowed up in the whirlwinds of its rage. Let your compassion be moved, and do not disdain me. Listen to my tale: when you have heard that, abandon or commiserate me, as you shall judge that I deserve. But hear me. The guilty are allowed, by human laws, bloody as they are, to speak in their own defence before they are condemned. Listen to me, Frankenstein. You accuse me of murder; and yet you would, with a satisfied conscience, destroy your own creature. Oh, praise the eternal justice of man! Yet I ask you not to spare me: listen to me; and then, if you can, and if you will, destroy the work of your hands." Read aloud famous explanation the monster gives to his creator from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.

Reading Journal Task… DUE Tomorrow! If Grendel were to give a similar speech to Hrothgar explaining his murders of Hrothgar’s thanes, what would he say? DUE Tomorrow!