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Questions and Answers
What does Grendel plan to do when he is full grown?
What does Grendel plan to do when he is full grown?
Destroy Hrothgar
What do hunters from different bands do when they come together in the forest?
What do hunters from different bands do when they come together in the forest?
Hunt/Cut down trees
What do the men build on the crown of a hill?
What do the men build on the crown of a hill?
A large shaggy house
What does Grendel do when the men get together and drink and eat?
What does Grendel do when the men get together and drink and eat?
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According to Grendel, the men in their talk were more vicious than what animal?
According to Grendel, the men in their talk were more vicious than what animal?
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What happens when trivial arguments break out with the men?
What happens when trivial arguments break out with the men?
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What does Grendel do when he meets men who have been banished to live alone in the forest?
What does Grendel do when he meets men who have been banished to live alone in the forest?
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What does Grendel discover when he finds a hall in ruins?
What does Grendel discover when he finds a hall in ruins?
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Who tells the men about the glorious deeds of dead kings?
Who tells the men about the glorious deeds of dead kings?
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What does Grendel see when the birds fall silent?
What does Grendel see when the birds fall silent?
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How does Grendel feel about what he witnesses the men do?
How does Grendel feel about what he witnesses the men do?
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How does Grendel feel when he realizes that he must in some way be related to the men he sees?
How does Grendel feel when he realizes that he must in some way be related to the men he sees?
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What do the surviving men do sometimes when a meadhall burns?
What do the surviving men do sometimes when a meadhall burns?
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Which king begins to 'outstrip the rest'?
Which king begins to 'outstrip the rest'?
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To what do the men pray?
To what do the men pray?
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What do the men build which allows them to take over more tribes?
What do the men build which allows them to take over more tribes?
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What causes the forest to 'rumble'?
What causes the forest to 'rumble'?
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What description does Grendel use to describe the forest after the men hacked down trees?
What description does Grendel use to describe the forest after the men hacked down trees?
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With all of the destruction in the forest, with what is Grendel filled?
With all of the destruction in the forest, with what is Grendel filled?
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What does the blind harper do when he enters Hrothgar's hall?
What does the blind harper do when he enters Hrothgar's hall?
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According to the blind harper, who had rebuilt the old Danish kingdom from ashes?
According to the blind harper, who had rebuilt the old Danish kingdom from ashes?
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Who is the only man in the kingdom who is downcast when the blind man sings his songs?
Who is the only man in the kingdom who is downcast when the blind man sings his songs?
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What 'truth' does Grendel know about the men?
What 'truth' does Grendel know about the men?
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How does Grendel feel when he flees Hrothgar's hall and why?
How does Grendel feel when he flees Hrothgar's hall and why?
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Study Notes
Grendel's Intentions
- Grendel has settled his soul to destroy Hrothgar, indicating a deep-seated desire for vengeance.
Hunters in the Forest
- Hunters from various bands gather to hunt in the forest and cut down trees, showcasing their collaboration and resource utilization.
Construction of Homes
- The men build a large shaggy house on a hill, which serves as a community center for gatherings and ceremonies.
Grendel's Observations
- Grendel huddles and listens to the men as they drink and feast, highlighting his curiosity and isolation.
Vicious Comparisons
- Grendel perceives the men's conversations as more vicious than those of wolves, reflecting on their nature and behavior.
Consequences of Conflict
- Trivial arguments among men lead to violence, with individuals killing one another and others distancing themselves from the killer, indicating a cycle of violence.
Interaction with Outcasts
- When Grendel encounters banished men in the forest, he attempts to either befriend them or ignores them, ultimately resorting to eating them, illustrating his complex relationship with others.
Discoveries in Ruins
- Grendel finds a hall in ruins, with gruesome imagery of cows with blood and javelin wounds, symbolizing the brutality of men.
The Shaper's Influence
- The shaper narrates the glorious deeds of dead kings, influencing the men’s perception of their history and valor.
Silence and Conflict
- When birds fall silent, it signifies the onset of human conflict, emphasizing nature's response to human actions.
Grendel's Emotions
- Witnessing the men's behavior leaves Grendel feeling confused and frightened about their capacity for violence.
Realization of Kinship
- Grendel is sickened by the realization of his relation to the wasteful men, which troubles his identity.
Aftermath of Destruction
- Surviving men resort to begging at other meadhalls after their own are burned, showcasing human vulnerability and desperation.
Rise of Hrothgar
- Hrothgar stands out as a king who begins to surpass others in power and influence, marking a significant shift in leadership.
Men's Desires
- The men pray for material wealth, desiring wagons filled with gold and leather weapons, indicating their values and motivations.
Tribal Expansion
- Men construct curious carved creatures that enable them to dominate neighboring tribes, illustrating their quest for power.
Impact of Hrothgar's Authority
- The presence of Hrothgar's horsemen causes the forest to "rumble," symbolizing the pervasive influence of monarchy.
Forest's Transformation
- Grendel describes the deforested land as “an old dog dying of mange,” reflecting his dismay at the destruction caused by men.
Grendel's Intent
- Amidst the destruction, Grendel is filled with a "wordless obscurely murderous intent," hinting at his internal struggle and frustration.
The Blind Harper's Entrance
- A blind harper enters Hrothgar’s hall and sings, enriching the atmosphere and cultural narrative.
Legacy of Scyld
- The blind harper attributes the rebuilding of the Danish kingdom from chaos to Scyld, stressing themes of restoration and legacy.
The Shaper's Dismay
- The shaper is the only man in the kingdom who feels downcast upon hearing the blind harper's songs, indicating a clash between artistic ideals and reality.
Grendel's Understanding
- Grendel acknowledges that men have changed the world drastically, uprooting the past and rewriting history to fit their narrative.
Emotional Departure
- As Grendel flees Hrothgar’s hall, he feels sorrow and tenderness, reflecting on how the men have stripped away everything meaningful in his life.
Studying That Suits You
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Description
Test your knowledge of Grendel Chapter 3 with these flashcards. This quiz covers key events and actions taken by Grendel and the men in the narrative. Prepare to delve deeper into the themes and motivations of the characters.