In this chapter we are back to the present time period of the book. After the fire in which all Hrothgar’s people burned the bodies of the dead.
This is twelve years (again the cycle allusion) after the Shaper arrived.
The season has changed. Days grow shorter, nights grow longer.
A crab is mentioned. That is our Zodiac allusion.
3 of 13
Summary
The Shaper remains although he could have gone off to more prosperous kingdoms. Grendel has done some damage to King Hrothgar.
He stays for the “pride of creation.” Our philosophy for this chapter. Theology and how it binds society.
Now the chapter goes back to a flashback.
He built “this hall by the power of his songs: created with casual words its grave mor(t)ality. This hits both themes kids.
4 of 13
Summary
The Shaper has a helper, a boy “that observes [the Shaper], tall and solemn” and he is twelve years older than when he arrived.
He only knows tragedy (caused by Grendel) and the Shaper sings about it.
The Shaper sings of the origins of their beginning. Basically the origins of their “church” or religion.
Grendel listen to all of this origin rhetoric (propaganda) and it all seemed true. BUT it was all lies.
Hrothgar built a great mead hall based on the Shaper’s stories.
5 of 13
Summary
Men came from everywhere to be a part of Hrothgar’s kingdom. And “the harper sang.”
Grendel listens to the words and he knows that they are “ridiculous,” yet he was “swept in.”
Grendel’s mind and “heart was light with Hrothgar’s goodness,” but he knows it is all lies.
Grendel listens and backs away “crablike.” So yes, the crab is the Gemini symbol.
Grendel is like a crab. Hard shell, but soft underbelly (words affect him).
6 of 13
Summary
Grendel realizes that the Shaper has changed the men. Origins of their “religion.”
He realizes that the Shaper and King Hrothgar have “reshaped the world.”
Comic relief: Grendel realizes that he is speaking “a little poetic, [he] would readily admit.”
He is being affected by the Shaper. He is getting “pompous.”
He has a snake in his hand as he contemplates this… definitely a Biblical allusion.
Grendel thinks that Shaper works for pay and for a woman.
7 of 13
Summary
Grendel realizes that the Shapers words are beautiful but they still cause murder.
But Grendel sees a problem in the Shaker’s words. He “wasn’t satisfied.”
He wants to add something to the Shaper’s story. So he heads to town.
Grendel feels “an invisible presence” moving him toward the mead hall.
He steps on “something fleshy, and he jerked away. It was a man.” They had killed him and left him naked in the woods.
Grendel starts feeling twitchy, and the mead hall goes silent. The Shaper is at his harp ready to sing.
8 of 13
Summary
The Shaper sings of the origins of the world.
The Shaper tells of the “dark side” and the “terrible race of man.” Grendel sees that he is called out.
And Grendel believes him. He believes the Shapers words.
But he has proof in front of him that he is not the problem: The body that he is standing on THAT HE DID NOT KILL.
He staggers toward the mead hall groaning, “Mercy! Peace!
9 of 13
Summary
And he has a “conversion” (Religion).
He no longer has a “burden.”
He shows his face to the crowd at the mead hall. People scream and try to run.
Men attack but he says, “Friend, Friend.” This is kinda sad if you think about it. ET. ☺
They throw spears and he holds the dead body he found up for protection. He is hit by a venomous spear.
10 of 13
Summary
Grendel kills two men with his “nails at the first simple swipe (shows you his ability). But he did this in self-defense.
He runs away and sobs. “Pity, O Pity.” He hits the ground so hard that a seam opens up 12 feet long.
He has some colorful language to describe the men that just attacked him. “Words [he] picked up from men in their rages.
Grendel is sure what this means: “defiance, rejection of gods” that are just “lifeless sticks.”
11 of 13
Summary
Grendel becomes aware of his “foolishness” and it makes him calm.
He looks up to God (the author now capitalized God… that’s important), and asks, “Why can’t I have someone to talk to?” (Isolation theme).
He realizes that all the Shaper’s words are “idle rhymes” and that even Hrothgar’s sons would kill him for his money if they had the chance.
He decides to “let them wander the fog roads (FOG is a symbol) of Hell.”
12 of 13
Summary
Two days later he goes back. He “was addicted.”
The Shaper is praising men and war. He sang how he fought Grendel. “All lies.”
His harp “rasped like snakes” and glorified death.
He kills a guard but doesn’t want to eat him. This is the first time (he is acting like man here).
He allows the darkness to take him, but he also realizes that his darkness is nothing compared to man’s. He again mentions a snake (Biblical allusion).
He backs away from this darkness.
13 of 13
Summary
He retreats back to his cave.
His mother looks at him because he has brought home no food. He realizes that it is all ridiculous.
It was “a cold blooded lie that god (notice not capitalized now) had lovingly made a world” where brothers who fought were saved and that other were cursed (like him).
But the Shaper makes it all true with words.
He realizes that his mother is an outcast: waste.
She speaks: “Dool-dool! Dool-dool.”
He wakes up the next morning , heading toward a dragon. This is the first mention of a new character. The dragon.