Daniel Choi 2/24/20 PD1

Aim: How does Gardner's employment of characterization provide conflicting views of  heroism and integrity in his novel Grendel?

Do Now: In the passage below from "Essays: First Series, 1841, Ralph Waldo Emerson provides a perspective on heroes and heroism. Individually, take a moment to carefully read it through and annotate it, and then discuss your analysis with your group. How does Emerson portray heroes and heroism?

"Heroism works in contradiction to the voice of mankind and in contradiction, for the time, to the voice of the great and good. Heroism is in obedience to a secret impulse of an individual's character. Now to no other man can its wisdom appear as it does to him, for every man must be supposed to see a little farther on his own proper path than anyone else…"

My thoughts: Heroism isn't generic. Everyone has a different view of a hero. The world has a specific model hero but everyone cannot be that model hero. They are a hero in their own way.

Paulina: There is no clear example of a hero. Everyone's perspective is different. There are many ways to be a hero. Depending on who you ask an action can be heroic or not depending on who it is.

Anling: Every has their own moral code. Everyone can be heroic if they think what they think is doing is correct. Everyone has a different perspective of being a hero. 

Ms. Fusaro: Mankind and great and good at that moment. The culture of the moment in Nazi Germany is to uphold the status quo. It was to fight for the Nazi power. However, in retrospect, the right thing to do was to fight back and rebel against the Nazis.

The Insight of Language:

1. What insight is provided by Unferth's ability to understand Grendel's language? Why is he the only one?
2. How does our prior knowledge of Unferth provide greater insight into the dialogue between Unferth and Grendel?

My thoughts: We know that Grendel is a descendent of Cain. Unferth is similar to Cain because he killed his brothers just like Cain did to Abel. This may be the reason they understand each other.

Mathew: When Unferth talks to Grendel, Unferth thinks that he can be a hero by going into the cave to fight Grendel. This is a big contrast to when Unferth was portrayed in "Beowulf" where he was cowardly.

Anling: Unferth is not a hero because Unferth's actions are for his own good and he pretends to be a hero by going into Grendel's cave. Grendel teases Unferth about not being a hero and in the end Unferth is able to do nothing. 

My thoughts: Grendel is saying that being a hero is charging bravely into death. It connects to Emrson's quote because to humans that is a prime example of heroism. However, to Grendel it is meaningless and a dumb thing to do.

Inner heroism is earning something that you don't deserve.

Martin: Inner heroism is doing things for yourself. Unferth thought that no matter what happens in the cave, he would be known as a hero. If Unferth runs away, he would be known as a hero even though he doesn't deserve it. 

Reflection: I always thought that a hero had a specific model to follow. I thought that a hero was supposed to be just like superman. A hero is supposed to be good and fights for justice and helps people. However, any action can be heroic if the person that is doing the action thinks it's correct. Murdering someone is considered evil to the public eye but it could be considered heroic to the person that did the murdering. To them they just eliminated a bad person. I wondered if there was a specific model of heroism anymore. What is heroic and what is not? I guess all actions can be considered heroic or not heroic at all. Charging bravely into battle seems heroic but to some people such as Grendel, it is a stupid action to mindlessly throw yourself into battle and die.