Similarities Between Grendel And The Shaper

In the novel, Grendel, there is a monster from the underworld who is declared to be named Grendel. Throughout the story, the reader witnesses the evolution of Grendel from a baby bear into an evil monstrosity. Throughout the novel, Grendel deals with the humans, being tormented by a dragon, and influenced by The Shaper. The user can draw many connections with the novel to modern day life, especially the connection between The Shaper, Grendel, and the dragon compared to Jesus, mortals, and Satan.

“I used to play games when I was young-- it might as well be a thousand years ago. Explored our far-flung underground world in an endless wargame of leaps onto nothing, ingenious twists into freedom or new perplexity, quick whispered plottings with

An assumption can be made by this that this was one of the building blocks that triggers his hate with the real world filled with humans. In the second chapter, there is a flashback to when Grendel visits the real world for the first time. “The firesnakes scattered as if my flesh were charmed, and so I discovered the sunken door, and so I came up for the first time, to moonlight.” (Gardner, 16). The first night, Grendel doesn’t travel so far, due to his nervousness overwhelming him. However, the more he went out, the more he explored, until he eventually got himself stuck in a tree. ““Poor Grendel! Poor old Mama!” I wept and sobed. “Poor Grendel will hang here and starve to death.” I told myself, “and no one will ever miss him!”” (Gardner 18) These chain of events can be horrific, especially for a bear who was just trying to explore the world. While stuck in the tree, soldiers come and find him, along with a bull, who strikes the tree with his skull multiple times. Being tormented like this, as a young bear can definitely mess with one’s mind. Later in the story, this is a

He even manages to witness a few attacks from certain villages on others during the nights. “With luck, I might see, on a soft summer night, as many as three halls burning down at once.” (Gardner, 37) Another variable to Grendel’s madness at the end of the book, may have possibly been his witness to human sabotage between villages and tribes, leading to him thinking violence is acceptable. He even has a few encounters with the humans, and kills a couple when he is attacked, as they are threatened due to his appearance and monstrosity. When he eavesdrop on The Shaper, he is comforted by his kind words, and he tries to make peace with the Danes. “He sang how they’d fought me. It was all lies. The sly harp rasped like snakes in cattails, glorifying death.” (Gardner, 54) However, when he is attacked and chased out, he realizes that everything The Shaper has said was all comforting lies, he is astounded and furious with the whole situation. After fleeing the scene, Grendel comes across a mighty dragon who deemed the world as pointless and torments Grendel as Grendel himself torments the humans. ““Like a rabbit!” he brought out. “Nyee he hehe! When you’re scared you look--nyee hehehe--exactly… (gasp) exactly…”” (Gardner, 59) After Grendel had gotten a taste of what fear is from a force larger than him, he realizes that his torment on the humans was