Eddy Lu, Period 6, 3/7/23

 Literacy & Learning

■ Write about your thoughts regarding any of the fiction or nonfiction covered in class.

■ Reflect on any new information you have learned in English class by considering how

that learning influences your critical perception.

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

Today was the last day of reading Grendel. Grendel was by far the most impactful reading that I have read in this class. The author's ability to humanize a monster, Grendel, and explore his motivations and his change into a monster shocked me.  

At the start of the novel, Grendel was depicted as a rebellious teenager, defying his existence by raising his middle finger to the sky and questioning his purpose. As the story progressed, Grendel's encounter with the Dragon resembled the story of Adam and Eve meeting the snake. The dragon granted Grendel invulnerability to weapons which causes Grendel to lose a sense of touch with humanity. As the chapters continued, Grendel descended further and further into a monster. He had no bottom line and killed infants and kids, which finally showed when he understood his mother. In much of the text, Grendel characterizes humans as monsters. He brought up the idea of the evilness in humans. This idea of humans as monsters is a recurring theme throughout the novel and is used to challenge traditional notions of good and evil. 

During the time when the novel was written, there were many social reforms and movements. People were starting to break free from their narrow perspectives and embrace new ideas. John Gardner was influenced by these social movements and wrote this novel. His work Grendel reflects on the idea that there is no such thing as pure good or pure evil, but rather a mix of both. Looking back at our society, it's clear that things are not simply black and white, but rather a complex gray area. Growing up, my parents instilled in me the idea that studying hard, attending a good school, and finding a stable job would lead to a happy life. However, as I strive to achieve these goals, I find myself questioning whether this is truly the right path for me. It made me think that maybe societal pressures influenced my parents' beliefs, but now that the world has changed, is there a different answer? For instance, just 50 years ago, homosexuality was widely considered a sin, and those who identified as such were often persecuted. Today, however, our society is more open-minded and values individualism and personal autonomy. With so many differing opinions and viewpoints, it's difficult to say who is "right."