Grendel By John Gardner Essay -- essays research papers

Grendel lives in a dark and gruesome underground cave with his mother and dozens of cold, set putzs. He is very curious and, in his early years, finds a authority to escape this terrible place and enter the world. Every night he wanders outside his cave, exploring the land around him. One night, he gets trapped in a tree. A band of human beings led by female monarch Hrothgar approaches and, after some hesitation, attacks Grendel. They close in for the kill, but Grendels mother arrives meet in time to save him.Years after his encounter with Grendel, Hrothgars force out and influence grow until he rules an immense territory. He builds a known meadhall, the greatest in the land, and names it Herot. He builds roads to connect his ground and hires an immensely gifted Harper to play at special occasions. Grendel is fascinate by the Harpers music and tries to join the humans, but he is attacked by the panic-stricken guards and must flee. Feeling lonely and rejected, he visits an ancient dragon that lives at heart the kingdom. The dragon speaks for some time, and his wicked, tired cynicism infects Grendel. He puts a charm on the young monster, making him impervious to human blades. After this, Grendel becomes a creature of pure destruction. At the onset of each subsequent spring, Grendel carries out some(prenominal) raids on Hrothgars meadhall. He is very careful about this, leaving safe enough men behind to rebuild and grow for the next spring.several(prenominal) years after he builds his meadhall, Hrothgar ...