Journal 3

Journal 3 –Grendel the narrator

                Throughout Grendel’s narration, Grendel, we see the growth of Grendel through language. In the beginning of the novel, chapter two, Grendel’s attitude toward language is very naïve, with a small understanding of language. Grendel thinks that he speaks the human’s language but later comes to understand that they don’t understand him. Grendel starts to spend time observing the humans in order to pick up on their language. Often Grendel repeats the words that he hears around him; Grendel has little understanding of the words that he imitates. As Grendel grows in language, he often picks up on rude speech. Grendel uses these vulgar words as if they are a part of his everyday life.

As Grendel grows older, he slowly starts to grasp the language used by humans. Grendel’s first experience with the shaper introduces Grendel to the use of poetry; this is Grendel’s first major experience with language. After Grendel meets with the dragon, Grendel’s knowledge of poetry strengthens his use of language. Grendel uses poetry in his language to describe things in the story more interestingly. Grendel shows a major use of poetry when he introduces Hrothulf. Grendel describes Hrothulf in the story through poetic verses. As Grendel tells Hrothulf’s story he uses lines such as “Violence hacked this shack-filled hole in the woods where you play freedom games” (Gardner 114), to tell about the conversation between Hrothulf and Red horse. We can assume that Hrothulf doesn’t break out into poem in the middle of his speech; this leads us to think that it’s Grendel who is putting his own touch on the retelling of the event. Another major advancement in language Grendel makes is the ability to set up the chapter with Hrothulf like that of a play. Grendel says things such as “scene: Hrothulf in the woods,” giving reference to a set up like a play.

The second major step Grendel makes in his language is seen after his encounter with the dragon. After Grendel’s encounter, Grendel’s language changes drastically. The dragon also gives Grendel more knowledge on the usage of language; this is because Grendel better understands different words and phrases. Grendel also grows in the usage of the language with a better description of events. Later in the story, Grendel starts to include settings and descriptions of the characters that he sees. This is to give the reader a better idea of what is happening. Grendel displays a good example of this in his final battle against Beowulf.  Grendel gives great description of the battle shown in these lines “The meadhall is alive, great cavernous belly, gold-adorned, bloodstained, howling back at me, lit by flickering fire in the stranger’s eyes. He has wings” (Gardner 169).  In these lines Grendel shows to have mastered the language with advance vocabulary and good knowledge on how to describe events with excitement. This shows that Grendel has come to master the use of language.