Theme By: Eleanor, Hortencia, Cynthia, & Eva

Hrothgar-King of the Danes, who Grendel stalks and respects Hrothgar-King of the Danes, who Grendel stalks and respects Wealtheow-offered to Hrothgar as a gift from Hygmod, a rival king; her extreme kindness inspires Grendel Wealtheow-offered to Hrothgar as a gift from Hygmod, a rival king; her extreme kindness inspires Grendel Unferth-challenges Grendel to a battle & wants to die as a hero, but he fails to defeat Grendel Unferth-challenges Grendel to a battle & wants to die as a hero, but he fails to defeat Grendel The Dragon-gives Grendel advice. He confuses & scares Grendel w/his long speeches. But his speeches stay with Grendel & follow him around. The Dragon-gives Grendel advice. He confuses & scares Grendel w/his long speeches. But his speeches stay with Grendel & follow him around. The Meaning and/or Meaninglessness of Life

The Shaper-influences & convinces Grendel to not kill the Danes w/his beautiful songs & harp The Shaper-influences & convinces Grendel to not kill the Danes w/his beautiful songs & harp Red Horse-an old man who’s an anarchist & Hrothulf’s guide Red Horse-an old man who’s an anarchist & Hrothulf’s guide Ork-a priest, who moves Grendel w/his emotional description of God. Ork-a priest, who moves Grendel w/his emotional description of God. Hrothulf-Hrothgar’s nephew, who’s like a little Grendel & plots to overthrow Hrothgar in a revolution Hrothulf-Hrothgar’s nephew, who’s like a little Grendel & plots to overthrow Hrothgar in a revolution Beowulf-a strong & confident hero, who kills Grendel and leads him to “his accident” Beowulf-a strong & confident hero, who kills Grendel and leads him to “his accident”

Mechanical Universe Grendel can’t make changes in his life whereas humans can. Grendel can’t make changes in his life whereas humans can. He’s doing the same thing over & over again in the "universe" that he has created for himself. He’s doing the same thing over & over again in the "universe" that he has created for himself. Grendel likes to believe that he has the power to make change, but he knows that he has no control over his life that he has created & that he can’t change fate. Grendel likes to believe that he has the power to make change, but he knows that he has no control over his life that he has created & that he can’t change fate. Grendel’s meaning of life is somewhat skeptical b/c he knows that he can’t change it, but he thinks that other people can, so he is viewing it like he was dealt a bad hand at life & that nothing will ever go well for him. Grendel’s meaning of life is somewhat skeptical b/c he knows that he can’t change it, but he thinks that other people can, so he is viewing it like he was dealt a bad hand at life & that nothing will ever go well for him. The image of a mechanical universe is used to relate to Grendel’s life & how it goes round and round w/o stopping & is never changing or stopping. The image of a mechanical universe is used to relate to Grendel’s life & how it goes round and round w/o stopping & is never changing or stopping.

The Heroic Grendel mocks the idea of Heroic b/c he doesn't believe that something that can possibly be better than him exists. Grendel mocks the idea of Heroic b/c he doesn't believe that something that can possibly be better than him exists. He tried to deny the idea because he wants to be in control & if he doesn’t want to believe something, then he will convince himself that it doesn’t exist in his world or anyone's for that matter. He tried to deny the idea because he wants to be in control & if he doesn’t want to believe something, then he will convince himself that it doesn’t exist in his world or anyone's for that matter.

The Power of Art/Song/Language/Shaping The Shaper's songs greatly affected Grendel. The Shaper's songs greatly affected Grendel. Grendel had seen the world as one-sided but when he heard the Shaper, he found out the world is more than just one-sided. Grendel had seen the world as one-sided but when he heard the Shaper, he found out the world is more than just one-sided. He felt that he had something in common w/the humans. He felt that he had something in common w/the humans. When the Shaper mentioned Grendel & said that Grendel was "the dark side of the Earth," Grendel believed it himself & just started attacking people b/c he was angry that this was true. When the Shaper mentioned Grendel & said that Grendel was "the dark side of the Earth," Grendel believed it himself & just started attacking people b/c he was angry that this was true. Grendel was enraged that the Shaper gave him & the people hope & happiness & he refused to have hope or happiness. Grendel was enraged that the Shaper gave him & the people hope & happiness & he refused to have hope or happiness. He was very confused & he wanted to know what was the real truth. He was very confused & he wanted to know what was the real truth.

Craft & Art Humans don't use a craft or an art because they choose to battle to gain control & therefore change the world. Humans don't use a craft or an art because they choose to battle to gain control & therefore change the world. It has to do w/power & how much influence someone has over people. It has to do w/power & how much influence someone has over people.

The Need for Community The 1st time Grendel went to the mead hall was after hearing the shaper once again. The 1st time Grendel went to the mead hall was after hearing the shaper once again. The shaper sang of the days when the earth was created & how it was divided into darkness & light. He said Grendel was the darkness. The shaper sang of the days when the earth was created & how it was divided into darkness & light. He said Grendel was the darkness. When Grendel approached the mead hall, he cried, "friend! friend!" but no one understood. When Grendel approached the mead hall, he cried, "friend! friend!" but no one understood. The humans attacked him instead & Grendel had to fight back. The humans attacked him instead & Grendel had to fight back. After that, humans just made Grendel twist w/revolsion. His attempt to belong only brought hatred to his heart. After that, humans just made Grendel twist w/revolsion. His attempt to belong only brought hatred to his heart.

Strengths & Weaknesses of Human Community The strength of the human community is the control over their lives. The strength of the human community is the control over their lives. To Grendel, the humans are able to control their lives w/help of the shaper, who changes the past w/his songs. To Grendel, the humans are able to control their lives w/help of the shaper, who changes the past w/his songs. This is also their weakness; Hrothgar & his people run away from reality & truth by listening to the shaper. This is also their weakness; Hrothgar & his people run away from reality & truth by listening to the shaper. When they hear his songs, the humans forget what truly happened. They start to look up to the so-called heroes from the old stories. When they hear his songs, the humans forget what truly happened. They start to look up to the so-called heroes from the old stories. The greed & pride of every man leads each of them to their death. The greed & pride of every man leads each of them to their death.