1. Remind students to take notes in their class notes section of their Reader’s Journal.
Philosophy in Grendel

2. 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 ( ) & Kierkegaard ( )
Mid-20th century Sartre & Camus propelled the philosophy forward to where it became world renowned.

3. Existentialism Common themes stems Disorientation Isolation
Hopelessness
Despair
Angst (dread, anxiety)
Indifferent universe
Nausea, sickness, pain
Meaninglessness
These all come from Sartre’s beliefs and philosophical literature.
Have students take a moment in pairs to identify who in Grendel is an existentialist. (Grendel)
Also, have them identify quotes that support each of the theme stems.
(Remind students to write their peer’s findings in their class notes.)

4. 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 ( )
This is the first stanza of the poem by Housman—written from an existential viewpoint…

5. 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.
This is in their allusion packet: take them there—have them read it
Page 14 in Grendel: How does this allusion support the existentialist philosophy of Grendel’s?
The Myth of Sisyphus

7. 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

8. 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.

9. 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. (Dragon)

11. Structure in Grendel

12. Structure
Think back to Beowulf. How is Grendel structured differently?
How does this differing structure impact the novel Grendel? What purpose does it serve?
Does it impact the reader’s understanding of Grendel’s philosophical journey?
Beo = chronological: Grendel = anything but chronological