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Post by haleyjensen on Aug 18, 2013 6:38:44 GMT
I think I have the same copy of Grendel as a few other people. On the cover, it has John Gardner's name in big letters, with the title italicized underneath Gardner's name, and a picture of Grendel that looks like a monster from Where the Wild Things Are. In a few pages before the novel starts, at the beginning of every chapter, and for 5 pages after the book, there are different illustrations of Grendel. This may not or may not be an interesting topic of discussion, but I'm curious to see if anybody has ideas, so... Does anybody think these drawings represent something specific about Grendel? It's a different illustration each time, so are they just random drawings or something more? |
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Post by pjharris on Aug 19, 2013 7:32:14 GMT
I made a thread with the pictures you talked about all in order <http://lincolnsheaven.freeforums.net/thread/77/visual-haleys-thread-illustrations-grendel> It's titled "Visual for Haley's thread "Illustrations In Grendel""
Thought it would help people to figure it out seeing them all lined up. Like a puzzle.
I personally don't see any progression or pattern in the pictures, they are all just representative of his pain and anger throughout the novel. In fact, the illustrations weren't even by Gardner. In various places in the book it says "Cover illustration by Mark Penberthy" and "Ilustrated by Emil Antonucci". Now that doesn't mean that Gardner didn't have a hand in creating these images or that the illustraters weren't consciously adding onto the story. The chapter 12 picture is, I believe, (spoiler alert) a representation of Grendels death in that chapter, but I can't make specific connections to the others other than he's angry and sad all the time.
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Post by anaritter on Aug 23, 2013 3:43:14 GMT
I think a huge thing to notice about the illustrations in Grendel is that they are blurry profiles of a shape that seems to be a monster. We don't see any details, colors, distinct actions, or anything certain at all. I think Grendel is depicted as just a shadowy profile because that's his identity to the humans, and even to himself. To humans, he is just a semi-mythical, looming creature that only comes out at night. His identity is twisted by the Shaper and by human lore until no one really knows who he is. And he certainly doesn't know himself - he's constantly torn by animal instinct and the desire to be human.
The illustrations are comprised of scribbles because that's what Grendel is: a mess of strong emotions and contradicting desires, to the result of a confused, conflicted human-like beast.
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Post by rubyking on Sept 2, 2013 23:13:18 GMT
Has anyone noticed the way Grendel's eyes are portrayed through the illustrations? They aren't menacing at all, but rather sorrowful and deep and questioning. I found that detail to be terribly intimate and beautiful.
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