Post by joelk on Jul 24, 2013 22:44:33 GMT
This is probably going to be a bit long, so I recommend you skip to the bottom, read the questions and the other bold stuff, and then, if this sounds like a discussion you want to join, go back and read all the stuff before the question.
I am aware that there has already been a little discussion on the odd, “much too specific,” or “esoteric” metaphors that Grendel uses in his narration (the “What are these metaphors? (Shout out to calc students)” thread). Rather than discussing the peculiarity of the figurative language, however, I think it is perhaps more enlightening to examine the nature motif present in most of the metaphors (many of the metaphors are also similes, so those terms can both be used here) and personifications John Gardner uses.
In fact, the frequency that Grendel uses nature in his descriptive similes—rather than the slightly unusual comparisons of some of the similes—is what I found most noticeable about the style of Grendel’s narrations.
Even in the first chapter alone, one can find many examples throughout Grendel’s narration (page numbers are included if you want to reference a specific case or need more context, but since the point I’m trying to make spans so many different metaphors—and thus so many different situations—including context would probably only distract from my point, which is about the use of the imagery and not the different, disconnected subjects the images describe):
And that’s just the first chapter, mind you. So, the first thing to note is the frequency of nature-based metaphors.
The second part of the natural imagery ties into personifications. Once again, I’ll use the first chapters to illustrate what I’m talking about, simply because this style first appears in the beginning. (I’ve finished the book, though, and most of you reading this probably have too, so feel free to draw from any part of the book in your reply.)
For example:
In other words, although Gardner employs slightly fewer nature-based personifications than metaphors and similes, he often bestows nature with human traits through the use of personification.
Taking these two aspects of style—the nature imagery and the personifications of nature—alone is interesting enough, but the depth of possible meaning more than doubles when taken together. After all, it’s an interesting cycle: Gardner, through Grendel’s narration, compares just about everything (humans, such as soldiers, and nature, such as wolves and fire) to nature, but also compares nature to humans/Grendel’s human abilities.
Thus, the questions are:
What does Gardner’s (through Grendel) use of Nature-based figurative language suggest in regards to Grendel’s and the humans’ lives? Does it tie into some innate part of one’s character? What theme(s) does this imagery lend itself to?
What is the significance of the cycle—comparing humans (and nature) to nature and then comparing nature to humans, or, if you’d prefer, Grendel’s human traits—of the nature figurative language?
Also, Grendel narrates the entire novel, so all the nature similes and the personifications of nature originate in and contribute to his voice. What does Grendel’s frequent use of nature-centric figurative language illustrate about Grendel’s character and his unique situation?
Finally, since so much of the novel details Grendel’s relationship to the “civilization” (if you’d call it that) of the humans around him, why the emphasis on nature? What might this reveal about the novel’s entire set of characters and descriptions as a whole? Is there a universal meaning (going beyond the scope of the novel) hidden within this style?
Feel free to answer one or all of the questions, or, if you’re dying to say something else about these stylistic choices, you can throw that in too (but only if you’re truly dying. If you’re only moderately aching to say something else, or even just painfully straining, keep it to yourself. In all seriousness, it might be better to examine one or two of those ideas in depth rather than have a totally random discussion of unrelated tidbits.).
I am aware that there has already been a little discussion on the odd, “much too specific,” or “esoteric” metaphors that Grendel uses in his narration (the “What are these metaphors? (Shout out to calc students)” thread). Rather than discussing the peculiarity of the figurative language, however, I think it is perhaps more enlightening to examine the nature motif present in most of the metaphors (many of the metaphors are also similes, so those terms can both be used here) and personifications John Gardner uses.
In fact, the frequency that Grendel uses nature in his descriptive similes—rather than the slightly unusual comparisons of some of the similes—is what I found most noticeable about the style of Grendel’s narrations.
Even in the first chapter alone, one can find many examples throughout Grendel’s narration (page numbers are included if you want to reference a specific case or need more context, but since the point I’m trying to make spans so many different metaphors—and thus so many different situations—including context would probably only distract from my point, which is about the use of the imagery and not the different, disconnected subjects the images describe):
“…heavy as an ice-capped mountain…” (Gardner 9)
“…leans wolves rise, glance at me awkwardly, and, neat of step as lizards, sneak away…” (Gardner 10)
“…before the old dragon, calm as winter, revealed the truth” (Gardner 12)
“…sending the shock of my greeting inward like a cold blast out of a cave” (Gardner 12)
“…industrious and witless as worker ants…” (Gardner 14)
“…turning like falcons at warplay, rushing like circling wolves up into…” (Gardner 14)
“…leans wolves rise, glance at me awkwardly, and, neat of step as lizards, sneak away…” (Gardner 10)
“…before the old dragon, calm as winter, revealed the truth” (Gardner 12)
“…sending the shock of my greeting inward like a cold blast out of a cave” (Gardner 12)
“…industrious and witless as worker ants…” (Gardner 14)
“…turning like falcons at warplay, rushing like circling wolves up into…” (Gardner 14)
The second part of the natural imagery ties into personifications. Once again, I’ll use the first chapters to illustrate what I’m talking about, simply because this style first appears in the beginning. (I’ve finished the book, though, and most of you reading this probably have too, so feel free to draw from any part of the book in your reply.)
For example:
After Grendel raises his middle finger to the sky, he tells, “The sky ignores me, forever unimpressed” (Gardner 6)
“I lie there resting in the steaming grass, the old lake hissing and gurgling behind me, whispering patterns of words my sanity resists” (Gardner 9)
“[The chasms] will not snatch me in a thousand years, unless, in a lunatic fit of religion, I jump” (Gardner 10)
“Nothing touched me but the breeze….” (Gardner 21)
“I lie there resting in the steaming grass, the old lake hissing and gurgling behind me, whispering patterns of words my sanity resists” (Gardner 9)
“[The chasms] will not snatch me in a thousand years, unless, in a lunatic fit of religion, I jump” (Gardner 10)
“Nothing touched me but the breeze….” (Gardner 21)
Taking these two aspects of style—the nature imagery and the personifications of nature—alone is interesting enough, but the depth of possible meaning more than doubles when taken together. After all, it’s an interesting cycle: Gardner, through Grendel’s narration, compares just about everything (humans, such as soldiers, and nature, such as wolves and fire) to nature, but also compares nature to humans/Grendel’s human abilities.
Thus, the questions are:
What does Gardner’s (through Grendel) use of Nature-based figurative language suggest in regards to Grendel’s and the humans’ lives? Does it tie into some innate part of one’s character? What theme(s) does this imagery lend itself to?
What is the significance of the cycle—comparing humans (and nature) to nature and then comparing nature to humans, or, if you’d prefer, Grendel’s human traits—of the nature figurative language?
Also, Grendel narrates the entire novel, so all the nature similes and the personifications of nature originate in and contribute to his voice. What does Grendel’s frequent use of nature-centric figurative language illustrate about Grendel’s character and his unique situation?
Finally, since so much of the novel details Grendel’s relationship to the “civilization” (if you’d call it that) of the humans around him, why the emphasis on nature? What might this reveal about the novel’s entire set of characters and descriptions as a whole? Is there a universal meaning (going beyond the scope of the novel) hidden within this style?
Feel free to answer one or all of the questions, or, if you’re dying to say something else about these stylistic choices, you can throw that in too (but only if you’re truly dying. If you’re only moderately aching to say something else, or even just painfully straining, keep it to yourself. In all seriousness, it might be better to examine one or two of those ideas in depth rather than have a totally random discussion of unrelated tidbits.).
