Theresa Luo, Period 2, 4/21/21, Day A

Theresa Luo

Period 2
4/21/2021
Day A
Modern Mythology 2021

Literacy & Learning

1. Write about your thoughts regarding any of the fiction or non-fiction covered in class.

1. It’s unbelievable how much a story changes once the POV of a story changes. As we read the old-poem Beowulf as compared to the revolutionary Grendel by John Gardner, the stark characterization of the all-eating monster, Grendel, is incredible. For one, the Grendel cultivated in the poem is one of a true villain. A monster who kills with no remorse. Only then, can a true hero be cultivated as well. From the poem, we understand just how vital and important the presence of Grendel is. This necessity to characterize Grendel to be viscous, brutal, and savage harnesses the reader’s continuous support for the mightest hero-Beowulf. 

2. However, what if the story’s intention wasn’t to foster another hero? What if the story captured life from the monster’s POV? And, that is exactly what John Gardner did. From this unique novel, we understand how this “vicious” persona came to be. From the moment Grendel was born, he’s unable to communicate with many creatures of this world- including his own mother. Without this socialization, he is unable to share his emotions, thoughts, and feelings with anyone. Hence, nobody understands him and he truly is alone in this world. Additionally, with this miscommunication, the Thanes are unable to see him as anything but a monster. Everytime Grendel tries to communicate with the Thanes, all the Thanes hear are cries and howls. From the very beginning, Grendel has been deemed a monster even without any provocation or instigation from his part. With this principal backstory, the readers gain a sense of sympathy and understanding to Grendel. With this principal backstory, the entire story changes. 

2. Reflect on any new information you have learned in English class by considering how that learning influences your critical perception.

1. John Garnder’s divergent take on Grendel made many wonder where he drew inspiration from. When I finally learned about his sorrowful backstory and childhood, I finally understood just how many elements were sowed into the lines of the novel. His experience of first-handedly watching his brother get killed and believing he was responsible for his death coerced an overwhelming guilt that has carried into adulthood. Through this new information, my critical perception on the story completely changes. With this understanding of the author’s backstory and consciousness, the one-dimensional novel now tells another tale- that of the author himself. We know Grendel descended from Cain who actually murdered his own brother. As Gardner views himself as a monster, we see the influence of this belief onto Grendel as he too views himself as a monster. After all, killing is in his blood. No matter what, that evil DNA will constantly linger just like the remorse and guilt Gardner feels. One’s critical perception now sees how Grendel is a representation of Gardner himself - a true monster at heart. 

3. How is what you’re learning applied to any other classes/the world around you?

1. Through these two novels, I recognize the weight of bias. In every sort of media, readers are often forced to choose between two sides. We constantly debate on who’s truly evil or who's truly good without ever considering the third option- there are no two sides, but the one. This one side depicts both sides as just humans/creatures with much room to learn and grow. From these two perspectives, we understand just how different a single story can be. It’s revealed how the evil Grendel may not be as bad as we may think and the heroic Beowulf also has its faults as shown through the film. With every director’s and author’s own take, it’s undeniable that each group won’t be stagnant. However, that is why it’s so vital to understand the weight of bias and how easily it affects all forms of media. Only, then can you understand how there ultimately is only one side- a group of people constantly making mistakes, but learning from them. So as we enter the world, we shouldn’t expect every human to fall into two distinct groups. Instead, we should see people fall on a spectrum of their own self growth/journey.