Nikita Erastov, Period 7, 02/11/2022

 Nikita Erastov, Period 7, 02/11/2022

 

Literacy & Learning

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

In class, we’ve currently been discussing the book Grendel, which is written from Grendel’s perspective on the humans around him and his thought process. Specifically, we devoted the lesson yesterday to discussing Chapter 5, in which Grendel travels to speak with a dragon. The dragon is a very powerful omniscient being that is able to see into the past and the future. Since he knows everything that will happen and when it will happen, the dragon adopts a Nihilistic perspective on life, failing to find meaning in anything except material possessions, such as the gold he is highly obsessed with. It is at this point in the book where the main philosophy transitions from existentialism to nihilism; as the dragon pushes his views on Grendel, Grendel begins to doubt his purpose and his reasoning for scaring the humans. One instance that I found familiar from the chapter was the dragon’s perception of time. He tells Grendel that whatever he, himself, and the humans do will be forgotten as time goes on. He states that a second is nothing when compared to an hour, just like a million years is nothing compared to a billion years. He compares everything to swirling dust, signifying the insignificance of everything in the grand scheme of things. This made me remember late night thoughts that I am sure most people experience, during which they acknowledge their size compared to the expanding universe, making them feel small and unimportant. 

Since the world of Grendel and Beowulf has ties of Christianity, Grendel’s mental journey to the dragon could also be compared to a journey to hell, with the dragon’s questioning mindset being compared to Satan. Many Christian-related texts constantly use imagery and symbolism to compare events, and I respect the fact that Gardner chose to include Biblical imagery in the book. 

 

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

Although I was aware of Nihilism before, reading about it from the dragon’s perspective almost made it sound hypocritical and selfish. For example, the dragon has so much power and knowledge that is being wasted because of his fixation on gold. Instead of attempting to find actual meaning or purpose, he chooses to believe that nothing has a purpose. He also forces these views on Grendel, which could also be compared to people succumbing to peer pressure. However, there is also a positive that I understood from the dragon’s views: since he knows that everything will eventually come to an end, the dragon chooses to live in the moment and provide happiness for himself alone. This is similar to a mindset I have been attempting to have, since I think I dwell too much on the past and focus on the future a lot. Instead, if I devoted energy to “living in the moment,” I would probably find life more enjoyable and fulfilling. It’s ironic that the dragon doesn't see a purpose in life when he lives in the moment by guarding his gold all the time. 

 

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

As stated prior, I was aware of Nihilism, but I did not think of it as an answer to the questions that are valued in existentialism. Based on the conversation between Grendel and the dragon, I have been able to see other perspectives on life, no matter how dark they might be. However, learning about a philosophy that claims life has no meaning and then walking out into a large city had different effects. A while ago, it hit me that everyone around me on a bus or a highway, for example, has their own individual life. This life causes different actions, different cultures, different personalities, different places to be, and so on. Therefore, I feel like after learning about Nihilism, I find it impossible to exist in a world filled with such individuality. Since Nihilism seems to have a uniform approach, I do not think its views would be accepted in a community filled with vastly unique individuals. Moreover, Nihilism has given me an even deeper appreciation for the world around me, specifically its intricacy and variety.