Information AboutGrendel |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT GRENDEL | |
| characters in beowulf | |
| english heroic legends | |
| german and scandinavian legendary creatures | |
| norse mythology | |
| demons | |
| old english language | |
|
Grendel is one of three Antagonist s, along with Grendel's Mother and the Dragon , in the Anglo-Saxon Epic Poem '' Beowulf '' (c. 700 – 1000 ). In the poem, Grendel is feared by all but Beowulf . Grendel is referred to as a ''march-stepper'', literally meaning a "boundary-land walker," a walker in outlands or desolate places. STORY :See main article: '' Beowulf '' The poem, ''. In 1971, author John Gardner published the novel '' Grendel '', which was the telling of ''Beowulf'' from the monster's point of view. SCHOLARSHIP ON GRENDEL In 1936, '' discussed Grendel and the dragon in ''Beowulf''. This essay was the first work of scholarship in which Anglo-Saxon literature was seriously examined for its literary merits—not just scholarship about the origins of the English language as was popular in the 19th century. In the following decades, the nature of Grendel's identity would become a Conundrum for scholars due in large part to a line where he is described as descended from the biblical Cain , the first murderer. For some scholars, this justifies a monstrous appearance. For others, it positions Grendel as a marginal (rather than monstrous) figure which bears the Curse And Mark Of Cain . Kuhn (1979) was the first to raise questions about the association of any of the above images with Grendel and in an essay which would launch fierce (and as of yet unresolved) debates for decades about the term ''áglaéca'': :There are five disputed instances of áglaéca of which are in ''Beowulf'' 649, 1269, 1512...In the first...the referent can be either Beowulf or Grendel. If the poet and his audience felt the word to have two meanings, 'monster,' and 'hero,' the ambiguity would be troublesome; but if by áglaéca they understood a 'fighter,' the ambiguity would be of little consequence, for battle was destined for both Beowulf and Grendel and both were fierce fighters (216-7). Other scholars, such as O'Keefe, identify Grendel with a Berserker , because of numerous associations that seem to point to this possibility. Berserker , and even goes as far as linking Grendel with the Green Knight of Arthurian legend. REFERENCES
NOTES EXTERNAL LINKS
|
|
|