Grendel Review

Because of the upcoming AP exam, I thought it'd be a good idea to review one of the books I didn't do an outline on for the timed writings. One of my favorite texts throughout the year was Grendel by John Gardner because of the way it relates to the many allusions that we researched. For example, the speaker claims, "Why are we here? I used to ask her. Why do we stand this putrid stinking hole? She trembles at my words. her fat lips shake. Don't ask" This quote struck me as incredibly interesting in the way it relates to Plato's allegory of the cave. The prisoners in the underground cave are living a different perspective of reality. Once a prisoner is free, knowledge of another world changes his or her reality. Grendel's knowledge/exploration of the world of men changes his perspective of his reality and thus makes him different from his mother. I also find it very interesting that Grendel's mother does not want to experience this change of perspective as if she fears it. She does not want the knowledge that causes Grendel to live in conflict ion between two different worlds. This kind of brings about the major theme of innocence versus experience in the context of two different worlds. Throughout this text, there were also multiple allusions to the Garden of Eden. For example, these speaker claims, "It was wedged sep, as if the two oak trees were eating it. Black saw-dust squirrel dust-was spattered put he leg almost to the thigh." I like this quote a lot because of the picture it paints in my mind. The two trees to me represent Grendel's conflicted nature between his world and the world of men. Also, the fact that the trees are "eating" his foot shows the danger of being int he existential void/middle ground. The middle ground between the tewo worlds is a monster in itself that can kill you. Th rees also portray an allusion to the Garden of Eden, which portrays the dangers of curiosity/knowledge and a loss of innocence. Lastly, "dust" has the denotation of human remains. Thus, it foreshadows Grendel's figurative death of his innocence. This is further exemplified through the connotation of "black", which is death. One main question that brings about the allusion of the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse is "Who is beowulf coming to save?" In my opinion, I don't think Beowulf is trying to save anyone. The argument that he he is trying to save the Danes is invalid  because he is taking away their "honor". I think he  is more of a destroyer . In fact, he is reffered to having "sea pale eyes" and has an affability to the coast guard's horse> In this way, gardner is alluding that Beowulf is the fourth horse of the apocalypse known as the Pale Horse or Death.