Post by allegra on Aug 8, 2013 4:05:26 GMT
I've just recently finished the first three chapters of this book (yeah yeah yeah procrastination is bad) and I've noticed a distinct trend in the imagery that Gardener uses. Although Grendel is a murderous creature, he seems to show morals or at the very least a sense of place. For example, in the very beginning of the book Grendel calls the ram he encounters a "slow-witted king" but then later states "not, of course, that I fool myself with thoughts that I'm more noble." I think this is because he recognizes that the ram kills nothing but the grass whereas Grendel himself kills quite often.
He also talks about his refrain from killing deer. In a literary sense, deer are often used to portray innocence. It is as if Grendel is able to distinguish the innocent and actively choose not to kill those that don't deserve it.
My question is why do you think Gardner chose to use such imagery to give Grendel morals? Do you think Grendel, with his ties to both the apocalyptically primitive and the destructively self-aware, could choose not to follow his inner moral compass or do you think that these morals Gardner chose to write in were put there in order to juxtapose Grendel's inner desire for chaos with his more human side? Why or why not?
He also talks about his refrain from killing deer. In a literary sense, deer are often used to portray innocence. It is as if Grendel is able to distinguish the innocent and actively choose not to kill those that don't deserve it.
My question is why do you think Gardner chose to use such imagery to give Grendel morals? Do you think Grendel, with his ties to both the apocalyptically primitive and the destructively self-aware, could choose not to follow his inner moral compass or do you think that these morals Gardner chose to write in were put there in order to juxtapose Grendel's inner desire for chaos with his more human side? Why or why not?
