Grendel :: essays research papers fc

The clash between good and cruel has been a prominent theme in literature. The give-and-take presents the conflict between good and evil in the story of decade and Eve. Many authors use the scene in the Bible in which the snake taunts and tempts Adam and Eve to take a bite of the apple of knowledge to demonstrate the frailty of humankind. John Gardner provides these same biblical allusions of good and evil in his novel, Grendel. virtuoso of Grendels archenemies is the human. Humans refuse to look beyond Grendels unattractive exterior, and spend most of their days trying to kill Grendel. One night when Grendel is watch their mead hall, he sees them treating their sword-blades with snakes venom(Gardner 29). Another conflict between humans and serpents develops when Grendel is watching the Shaper for the first time. As he listens, he snatches up a snake from beside his foot(40), and holds it in his fist as he listens to the Shaper sing. The snake represents the deceptive weaving of history that the Shaper performs in Hrothgars mead hall. Grendel interacts with one of the priests, Ork, in the circle of Gods, by pretending to be the Great Destroyer. Ork predicts that the Great Destroyer will eventually fall, foreshadowing Grendels battle with Beowulf. Ork tells his baby buster priests about his conversation with the Great Destroyer, but they just look down at him as they would at a wounded snake(118). In Grendels eyes, all humans are evil, because they refuse to take the time to understand him. Because of this, Grendel battles the humans throughout the novel until one of them finally takes his life.The only human bold and strong enough to defeat Grendel was the powerful Geat, Beowulf. Grendel watches Beowulf and his band of Geats land their ships on the shores of Hrothgars kingdom. Grendel observes Beowulf speaking to the coastguard, and notices that Beowulfs eyes are slanted downward, never blinking, hardhearted as a snakes(135). Grendels observations about Beowulfs destructiveness are proven true as he engages in mortal flake with the Geat. When Beowulf takes hold of Grendels arm, Grendel feels as if Beowulfs fingers are charged like fangs with poison(148).After this battle, Grendels arm is pulled off at the socket, and he retreats to his undermine to die.Another human that attempted to defeat Grendel was the top man in Hrothgars hall, Unferth. During Grendels first encounter with Unferth, Grendel notices a table piled with glossy applesand an evil idea came over him (72).