Additional Assignments for "Grendel" by John Gardner

1.  Check out the following web sites and be prepared to give an oral report to the class on the information you found.   (There are some other websites on these pages.  Click on them to find interesting articles, too.)

http://www.grendel.org/grendel/index.html

http://www.grendel.org/grendel/beowulf.html

http://hs.grosseile.k12.mi.us/~gloselle/cnordstrom.html
 
2.  Grendel discussion questions:

      A.  What emotions does Grendel have as he approaches Heorot?
        B.  How is Beowulf able to surprise Grendel at their first meeting?
        C.  What explanation does Grendel give for Beowulf's triumphant win over him?
        D.  Why does Beowulf whisper to Grendel?  How does this whispering affect Grendel?
        E.  How does Grendel explain his defeat?
        F.  How is the fight in the novel different from the one in the original epic?
        G.  How is the flashback technique used in the novel?
        H.  Why did Grendel originally attack Heorot?  Why did he continue his attacks over the years?
        I.  How does Grendel show that is partly human?
        J.  Explain Grendel's first encounter with men?  What conclusions does he draw about men?
        K.  Who is the Shaper?  What is Grendel's reactions to the Shaper's songs?
        L.  How did the Danes react to Grendel when they first saw him?  Why, do you think?
        M.  What is the role of the dragon in the novel?
        N.  What explanation does the dragon give when Grendel asks him if he should stop scaring the
               Danes?
        O.  How does Grendel feel about his attacks on Heorot and on Hrothgar's thanes?
        P.  Compare and contrast the characterization of Unferth in the novel with the original epic.
        Q.  Compare and contrast the characterization of Wealtheow in the novel with the original epic.
        R.  Describe an "antihero."  Would you call anyone in the novel an antihero?  Explain.  What
             about in society today?
        S.  What does "nihil ex nihilo" mean?  How could this phrase be used as the theme of the novel?
        T.  How does the dragon represent evil?  Is the universe chaotic in the novel?  Explain.

3.  Each of the twelve chapters in the novel corresponds to one of the zodiac signs.  Complete a chart listing all twelve signs, then find the reference(s) in each chapter to that particular sign.  Chapter 1 begins with Aries, the ram.

4.  Final Essay Exam on "Grendel":

        A.  How does the story in the novel change the original, traditional story of Beowulf?
          B.  Give five examples of grim humor in "Grendel" that are not in the original "Beowulf."  Explain how each one
                adds to the story.
          C.  Compare and contrast the Unferth with the novel with the Unferth in the epic.
          D.  Compare and contrast the Hrothgar with the novel with the Hrothgar in the epic.
 
 
 
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