The Other Side of Beowulf’s Monster

Published in 1971 Named book of the year by Time and Newsweek

Professor of English – taught Beowulf Major interests Belief in Fiction as a moral force for good Passion for the medieval period in history

Artists and Society Power of Art and Poetry Death Personal death is insignificant to the hero if it brings a chance for immortality Grendel - killing others means nothing Solipsist: one who believes nothing exists but the self

Language and Meaning Art—especially poetry—is the only thing that gives meaning to an otherwise meaningless universe Language - only way humans can break through the wall that isolates them from other humans and from the world of meaning Morals and Morality Struggle between the forces of good and evil, morality and immorality

Point of View 1 st person - the author elicits some sympathy for an otherwise thoroughly repulsive character who eats humans for pleasure Structure Flashback – 12 years Horoscope chapters

In Beowulf – symbol for “darkness, chaos, and death” In Grendel – three-dimensional character Sense of humor Gift for language Weakness for poetry As a would-be artist, Grendel strives to escape from his baseness

Violent, cruel, cynical, and degenerate—in short, monstrous Like the humans, Grendel has feelings, too Grendel uses language as humans do Moved by the words of the Shaper (human poet) Tries to define and explore his world As narrator, Grendel recounts the story of his life - birth to death Search for meaning in his existence Misunderstood when he tries to join the human race Reverts to former nihilism—no purpose to existence Becomes vengeful Grendel is the author of numerous acts of violence and cruelty Telling through his point of view - able to elicit sympathy from the reader

Beowulf – slays Grendel Dragon – may or may not be real; exemplar of a philosophy of nihilism (the idea that existence is meaningless), solipsism (the idea that only the self exists), and chaos First Priest - focuses on the words of the gospel, not the philosophy behind them Fourth Priest – youngest; genuinely concerned Freawaru – Hrothgar’s daughter Grendel’s Mother – no name; Grendel’s comforter and savior; does not possess language as Grendel does Halga the Good – younger brother of Hrothgar; murdered

Herogar – king of a neighboring fiefdom Hrothgar – king of the Scyldings; becomes very powerful Hrothulf – Hrothgar’s nephew Hygmod – Hrothgar’s challenger from a neighboring fiefdom Ork – “eldest and wisest” of Hrothgar’s priests Red Horse - old peasant who is young Hrothulf's counselor

Scyld Shefing – ancient Danish king Second Priest – concerned with the physical, not spiritual Shaper – king’s poet-musician-historian; can shape reality with his words Third Priest – concerned with appearances, not spirituality Unferth – “son of Ecglaf” - the bravest of Hrothgar’s thanes Wealtheow – “holy servant of common good” – gave up her personal life to keep the peace