Post by haejungyoon on Aug 12, 2013 18:18:50 GMT
The number 12 seems to have a great value in Gardner's Grendel.
The number 12 reoccurs through the book, suggesting that Gardner has intentionally chose to repeat this number several times to suggest that there is a less obvious interpretation of the book and the characters.
From what I have read, I have seen the number total of 3 times.
First, the book describes how Grendel is fighting his twelfth year of a war.
"And so begins the twelfth year of my idiotic war" (p. 5)
Second, Grendel is aware of the number 12.
"Twelve is, I hope, a holy number" (p. 92)
Third, Grendel is divided into exactly 12 chapters, whereas each chapter corresponds with each sign of the Zodiac.
Chapter 1: Aries, the ram
"The old ram stands looking down over rockslides, stupidly triumphant" (p. 5)
Chapter 2: Taurus, the bull
"Then, some thirty feet away, there was a bull. He stood looking at me with his head lowered, and the world snapped into position around him, as if in league with him" (p. 19)
Chapter 3: Gemini, the twins
"It was late spring. Every sheep and gat had its wobbly twins" (p.44)
Chapter 4: Cancer, the crab
“I backed away, crablike, further into darkness – like a crab retreating in pain when you strike two stones at the mouth of his underwater den” (p.48).
Chapter 5: Leo, the lion.
I couldn't find a direct quote that describes a lion but the description of a dragon seemed to match up with lion’s characteristics.“No use of a growl, a whoop, a roar, in the presence of that beast!” (p. 57)
Chapter 6: Virgo, the Virgin.
“So much for heroism. So much for the harvest-virgin. So much, also, for the alternative visions of blind old poets and dragons” (p.90)
Chapter 7: Libra, balance.
“Balance is everything, tiding out rhyme” (p. 92).
Chapter 8: Scorpio, Scorpion.
“They take in Hrothulf; quiet as the moon, sweet scorpion” (p. 113)
Chapter 9: Sagittarius, the archer
“The days are an arrow in a dead man’s chest” (p. 125)
“I watch one of Hrothgar’s bowmen pursue a hart” (p. 126)
Chapter 10: Capricorn, the Goat.
“I watched a great horned goat ascend the rocks toward y mere. I have half a mind to admire his bottomless stupidity” (p. 139)
Chapter 11: Aquarius. the Water-Bearer.
“What are ye, bearers of armor, dressed in mail-coats, that have thus come riding your tall ship over the sea-road, winter-cold ocean, here to Daneland?” (p. 153)
Chapter 12: Pisces, the Fish.
“A you see it it is, while the seeing lasts, dark nightmare history, time-as-coffin; but where the water was rigid there will be fish, and men will survive on their flesh till morning” (p. 170)
Zodiac not only represents the time of the year but each sign represents a characteristic or a personality. How do you think the zodiac signs are representing Grendel’s character?What does these signs reveal of Grendel that could not have been directly said to the reader?
The number 12 reoccurs through the book, suggesting that Gardner has intentionally chose to repeat this number several times to suggest that there is a less obvious interpretation of the book and the characters.
From what I have read, I have seen the number total of 3 times.
First, the book describes how Grendel is fighting his twelfth year of a war.
"And so begins the twelfth year of my idiotic war" (p. 5)
Second, Grendel is aware of the number 12.
"Twelve is, I hope, a holy number" (p. 92)
Third, Grendel is divided into exactly 12 chapters, whereas each chapter corresponds with each sign of the Zodiac.
Chapter 1: Aries, the ram
"The old ram stands looking down over rockslides, stupidly triumphant" (p. 5)
Chapter 2: Taurus, the bull
"Then, some thirty feet away, there was a bull. He stood looking at me with his head lowered, and the world snapped into position around him, as if in league with him" (p. 19)
Chapter 3: Gemini, the twins
"It was late spring. Every sheep and gat had its wobbly twins" (p.44)
Chapter 4: Cancer, the crab
“I backed away, crablike, further into darkness – like a crab retreating in pain when you strike two stones at the mouth of his underwater den” (p.48).
Chapter 5: Leo, the lion.
I couldn't find a direct quote that describes a lion but the description of a dragon seemed to match up with lion’s characteristics.“No use of a growl, a whoop, a roar, in the presence of that beast!” (p. 57)
Chapter 6: Virgo, the Virgin.
“So much for heroism. So much for the harvest-virgin. So much, also, for the alternative visions of blind old poets and dragons” (p.90)
Chapter 7: Libra, balance.
“Balance is everything, tiding out rhyme” (p. 92).
Chapter 8: Scorpio, Scorpion.
“They take in Hrothulf; quiet as the moon, sweet scorpion” (p. 113)
Chapter 9: Sagittarius, the archer
“The days are an arrow in a dead man’s chest” (p. 125)
“I watch one of Hrothgar’s bowmen pursue a hart” (p. 126)
Chapter 10: Capricorn, the Goat.
“I watched a great horned goat ascend the rocks toward y mere. I have half a mind to admire his bottomless stupidity” (p. 139)
Chapter 11: Aquarius. the Water-Bearer.
“What are ye, bearers of armor, dressed in mail-coats, that have thus come riding your tall ship over the sea-road, winter-cold ocean, here to Daneland?” (p. 153)
Chapter 12: Pisces, the Fish.
“A you see it it is, while the seeing lasts, dark nightmare history, time-as-coffin; but where the water was rigid there will be fish, and men will survive on their flesh till morning” (p. 170)
Zodiac not only represents the time of the year but each sign represents a characteristic or a personality. How do you think the zodiac signs are representing Grendel’s character?What does these signs reveal of Grendel that could not have been directly said to the reader?
