Journal 3

Grendel has a complicated relationship and attitude towards language, much like his relationship towards many abstract philosophical concepts. While growing up, Grendel learned of his ability to speak, but he didn’t really have anyone to talk with and his mother spoke very little—mostly incoherent words and gibberish. As a result, he had a limited vocabulary, making it hard for him to express himself in word. However, once Grendel was old enough to leave the care of his mother, he came into contact with humans and developed, quite rapidly, a comprehensible dictionary of words, which in turn, increased his rationality. Grendel’s chronic observance of the Shaper, known to man as the bard, allowed for Grendel to learn about sophisticated methods of expression. Grendel, with his newly attained knowledge of language from the Danes, develops and uses interesting forms writing, ranging from poetry to play writing consisting of soliloquies in verse. Grendel also incorporates lists, italics, and parenthesis in his writing.