Nicholas Lombardo, 3/13/22, Period 1

Literacy and Learning

Write about your thoughts on any of the fiction or nonfiction covered in class:

    In the beginning of the second semester, we read the tale of Beowulf and the novel Grendel by John Gardner. These two works of fiction have been particularly interesting to me in the way they complement one another. Although I enjoyed reading Beowulf, it was nevertheless a traditional story in which the protagonist follows the hero’s journey and eventually triumphs over their opponent. Grendel, on the other hand, takes this same story and flips it on its head by revealing the backstory of the main antagonist, Grendel. Reading this novel has engaged me like no other piece because of its unique premise and extraordinary depth. I was blown away by how intricate and well designed this book was, especially regarding the structure of the chapters resembling the astrological signs. 

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

    In the novel Grendel, we learn about a wide array of philosophical ideas that have had an impact on the way I view the world. The main conflict of this book is not a physical altercation between a hero and villain, like in Beowulf, rather it is a philosophical debate between the Shaper and Dragon in the mind of Grendel. We encounter the Shaper first as a character who tells stories in Hrothgar’s hall. The stories he tells are not true but the people still believe them. This character represents the idea of people creating their own meaning through art, an answer to the question of existentialism. The dragon, however, presents a different nihilistic view that everything is meaningless because everything will eventually crumble. The dragon decides to hoard a pile of gold and sit on it for eternity. His philosophy is nihilistic and eventually wins over Grendel.

How is what you are learning applied to any other classes/the world around you:

    The question of our true purpose is one of life’s greatest questions. Some philosophers believe the only true meaning is the meaning we give to life. On the other hand, some philosophers are nihilists and believe nothing is intrinsically meaningful, like the Dragon. The book Grendel intersects with philosophy and has changed the way I think about these philosophical questions. I do not agree with the Dragon’s point of view  because I believe people could create their own meaning in life, even if everything will eventually crumble. This book has motivated me to continue the activities I consider meaningful and reject the urge to give up and consider everything meaningless.