What do you think is the author's view of "hero" in the excerpt from GRENDEL that MR. Osterhaus read. Support your idea with at least one specific example from the story.We will be returning to this blog as we read BEOWULF.
Hero isn't even something that is real to him he thinks that heroism is just a fairy tale so he wont let the guard become a hero because that is what he wants he is trying to prove a point. So when the guard wants Grendel to kill him he doesn't do it so that man is still just a no name guy trying to become a hero and be remembered for dying for his king.
The authors view on grendal is that a person named Unferth will eventually overthrow him. Unferth was told that he is going to kill Grendal. He has killed many people and he is known for not stoping. He is determined to kill Grendal.
Unferth wants to kill Grendel but Grendel just kinda shakes him off and ignores him. He wants to kill him because Grendel comes and eats all of the king's men. Matthew states that Unferth is a little "punk". Just because he is the 'class clown' he thinks he can get away with anything and to kill Grendel.
Grendel doesnt believe in heroes. He doesnt know what they are. He knows what they are said to be but doesnt believe that there are anything such as heroes. The man wants Grendel to kill himself so he can become king and be the hero. Grendel doesnt do it because he doesnt want him to become remembered as a hero because he doesnt believe in real "heroes."
Grendel is an outsider. He is a very lonely creature who wants to be seen as a hero. The true hero in Grendel is Unferth. He wants to kill Grendel. Unferth is kind of a jerk and thinks that he can overthrow everyone. He is cocky. Grendel isn't really sure what to think because everything he hears is that this guy wants to kill him because Grendel always goes to the king's palace and eat his men.
I think the author has a very cynical and negative view of heroism. Unferth is portrayed to be a hero wanna be. So it makes him seem like a fake. I agree with Stephan's example because hero's want to die in an honorable way. I think in Unferth's mind he would rather die for an honorable cause than actually put up the fight. By doing this Grendel is keeping Unferth as a nobody and not a hero.
The author seems to think that people motivate for themselves and that their view of heroism is much like that. It seems to be no longer alive. One example from the story is, when Unferth wants Grendel to kill him he will not. He wants to go out with glory as most do, but that is not how it would be. Like when Grendel threw apples at Unferth in the end it just led to embarrassment instead of his yearning for heroism.
Grendel is not accepted by others he is an outsider. Unferth is considered to be the hero. he wants to kill grendel because grendel always goes and eats the king's men.
The author believes that heroism is dead. When they are in the mede hall and Grendel laughs and throws apples at Unferth because he thinks he is going to be a hero. Unferth is thought to never be able to be a hero because he is just a small fish in a big pond who thinks he can aspire to something big - way bigger than he is. Now, aspirations aren't a bad thing, but Unferth tried too hard with his aspirations and ended up only embarrassing himself. To be a hero you have to actually accomplish something, not just make a fool of yourself. Unferth tried so hard to die a hero, but Grendel wouldn't allow it.
Grendel is not really liked by man people. He is an outsider. The hero is Unferth because he is kind of a jerk and thinks the can do whatever he can. Grendel hears that Unferth wants to kill him because Grendel always eats the king's men and does other stupid stuff that upsets Unferth.
Grendel is a very lonely thing and is an outsider who wants people to think of him as a hero. Unferth is the hero who wants to kill Grendel and Unferth is very arrogant and thinks he is better than everyone.
i think he feels that a hero is just an ordinary person trying to be someone bigger than life, but with that, you have to find someone willing to die. for example: Unferth tries to kill Grendel and the entire time, Grendel is taunting him and reminding him that the only way that he would become a hero was if Grendel let him kill him, and that he wouldn't kill Unferth because then the people would believe that he died fighting and he would die with honor. He was giving him what he never expected to be coming.
I think he has a negative view towards the hero. Unferth starts out as the tough guy but he ends up crying and crawling on the floor after Grendel messes with him a little bit. It seems like the author is making fun of the hero. He is saying your kinda pointless.
These students' comments show a possible view of hero through Grendel's eyes, and by default through the eyes of a modern author, John Gardner: Stephen, Dalton, Miranda. However, they do not support their ideas with specific examples. Jordin has included a specific example btu may be a little off on the view of hero; Erica is very close to the right track; Matthew and Lindsay have the most specific posts so far.
As you continue to read, be sure to note the examples of "hero" as seen in the "Germanic" hero. Keep comparing in your mind that view of hero and our own view of hero.
People look down upon Grendel for his looks and judge him way to quickly! Grendel, I believe kills all the men because he is tired of getting ridiculed.
Unferth hears of what Grendel has done to all the men and thinks he has a shot at defeating him. He gets wayyy to cocky and then, when it was time to battle, Grendel made Unferth look like a little school girl. So there really is no hero in this scenario! Grendel is definitely not a hero and Unferth tried to step up to the plate but fell short!
I think a hero to the author is someone who is willing to go beyond everyone else with their actions. He is willing to die. Unferth tries to kill Grendel the entire story, just so he will become a hero. Grendel knows this so he refuses to give Unferth what he wants; he refuses to kill him. He followed Grendel to his cave, even, and Grendel just laughs and once he falls asleep, Grendel carries him back to the Mead Hall.
Teaching Career:
Grundy Center High School, Peet Junior High.
Degrees:
Master of Arts University of Northern Iowa, Bachelor of Arts University of Northern Iowa
Bio: Married, one son, twin grandsons, born and raised on a small farm in Nebraska
Hero isn't even something that is real to him he thinks that heroism is just a fairy tale so he wont let the guard become a hero because that is what he wants he is trying to prove a point. So when the guard wants Grendel to kill him he doesn't do it so that man is still just a no name guy trying to become a hero and be remembered for dying for his king.
ReplyDeleteThe authors view on grendal is that a person named Unferth will eventually overthrow him. Unferth was told that he is going to kill Grendal. He has killed many people and he is known for not stoping. He is determined to kill Grendal.
ReplyDeleteUnferth wants to kill Grendel but Grendel just kinda shakes him off and ignores him. He wants to kill him because Grendel comes and eats all of the king's men. Matthew states that Unferth is a little "punk". Just because he is the 'class clown' he thinks he can get away with anything and to kill Grendel.
ReplyDeleteGrendel doesnt believe in heroes. He doesnt know what they are. He knows what they are said to be but doesnt believe that there are anything such as heroes. The man wants Grendel to kill himself so he can become king and be the hero. Grendel doesnt do it because he doesnt want him to become remembered as a hero because he doesnt believe in real "heroes."
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteGrendel is an outsider. He is a very lonely creature who wants to be seen as a hero. The true hero in Grendel is Unferth. He wants to kill Grendel. Unferth is kind of a jerk and thinks that he can overthrow everyone. He is cocky. Grendel isn't really sure what to think because everything he hears is that this guy wants to kill him because Grendel always goes to the king's palace and eat his men.
ReplyDeleteI think the author has a very cynical and negative view of heroism. Unferth is portrayed to be a hero wanna be. So it makes him seem like a fake. I agree with Stephan's example because hero's want to die in an honorable way. I think in Unferth's mind he would rather die for an honorable cause than actually put up the fight. By doing this Grendel is keeping Unferth as a nobody and not a hero.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe author seems to think that people motivate for themselves and that their view of heroism is much like that. It seems to be no longer alive. One example from the story is, when Unferth wants Grendel to kill him he will not. He wants to go out with glory as most do, but that is not how it would be. Like when Grendel threw apples at Unferth in the end it just led to embarrassment instead of his yearning for heroism.
ReplyDeleteGrendel is not accepted by others he is an outsider. Unferth is considered to be the hero. he wants to kill grendel because grendel always goes and eats the king's men.
ReplyDeleteThe author believes that heroism is dead. When they are in the mede hall and Grendel laughs and throws apples at Unferth because he thinks he is going to be a hero. Unferth is thought to never be able to be a hero because he is just a small fish in a big pond who thinks he can aspire to something big - way bigger than he is. Now, aspirations aren't a bad thing, but Unferth tried too hard with his aspirations and ended up only embarrassing himself. To be a hero you have to actually accomplish something, not just make a fool of yourself. Unferth tried so hard to die a hero, but Grendel wouldn't allow it.
ReplyDeleteGrendel is not really liked by man people. He is an outsider. The hero is Unferth because he is kind of a jerk and thinks the can do whatever he can. Grendel hears that Unferth wants to kill him because Grendel always eats the king's men and does other stupid stuff that upsets Unferth.
ReplyDeleteGrendel is a very lonely thing and is an outsider who wants people to think of him as a hero. Unferth is the hero who wants to kill Grendel and Unferth is very arrogant and thinks he is better than everyone.
ReplyDeletei think he feels that a hero is just an ordinary person trying to be someone bigger than life, but with that, you have to find someone willing to die. for example: Unferth tries to kill Grendel and the entire time, Grendel is taunting him and reminding him that the only way that he would become a hero was if Grendel let him kill him, and that he wouldn't kill Unferth because then the people would believe that he died fighting and he would die with honor. He was giving him what he never expected to be coming.
ReplyDeleteI think he has a negative view towards the hero. Unferth starts out as the tough guy but he ends up crying and crawling on the floor after Grendel messes with him a little bit. It seems like the author is making fun of the hero. He is saying your kinda pointless.
ReplyDeleteThese students' comments show a possible view of hero through Grendel's eyes, and by default through the eyes of a modern author, John Gardner: Stephen, Dalton, Miranda. However, they do not support their ideas with specific examples. Jordin has included a specific example btu may be a little off on the view of hero; Erica is very close to the right track; Matthew and Lindsay have the most specific posts so far.
ReplyDeleteAs you continue to read, be sure to note the examples of "hero" as seen in the "Germanic" hero. Keep comparing in your mind that view of hero and our own view of hero.
People look down upon Grendel for his looks and judge him way to quickly! Grendel, I believe kills all the men because he is tired of getting ridiculed.
ReplyDeleteUnferth hears of what Grendel has done to all the men and thinks he has a shot at defeating him. He gets wayyy to cocky and then, when it was time to battle, Grendel made Unferth look like a little school girl. So there really is no hero in this scenario! Grendel is definitely not a hero and Unferth tried to step up to the plate but fell short!
I think a hero to the author is someone who is willing to go beyond everyone else with their actions. He is willing to die. Unferth tries to kill Grendel the entire story, just so he will become a hero. Grendel knows this so he refuses to give Unferth what he wants; he refuses to kill him. He followed Grendel to his cave, even, and Grendel just laughs and once he falls asleep, Grendel carries him back to the Mead Hall.
ReplyDelete