Grendel Chapter 5 Flashcards

Questions and Answers

Describe the dragon's home.

Filled with gold, gems, jewels, silver vessels of the color blood in the undulant, dragon red-light. Cave bats on upper walls.

Why does the dragon tell Grendel to stand to his side and not in front of him?

Says that he gets a cough sometimes, and it's terrible out front.

What does the dragon do to Grendel's head?

Pats his head.

What does this tell you about how the dragon treats Grendel?

He treats him kindly. Signup and view all the answers

According to the dragon, what does Grendel look like when he is scared?

Rabbit. Signup and view all the answers

What does Grendel plan to do with the emerald before the dragon stops him?

Almost threw it at the dragon. Signup and view all the answers

What does the dragon tell Grendel not to touch?

Never touch his things. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Grendel decide to stay away from the men?

Grendel grew a conscience and realized he shouldn't scare the thanes just for fun. He doesn't like feeling scared and neither do they. Signup and view all the answers

What advice does the dragon give Grendel?

Seek out gold and guard it. Signup and view all the answers

According to the dragon, low creatures can see only the past and the present. What can the dragon do?

Dragons can see the past, present, and future. Signup and view all the answers

According to the dragon, how does the Shaper save the men? (What does he do with his songs?)

Provides an illusion with reality - puts together the theories and facts the humans come up with and makes them make sense. Signup and view all the answers

Because Grendel is attentive and thoughtful, what does the dragon decide to tell him about?

Time and space. Signup and view all the answers

According to the dragon, what is the only thing that interests Grendel?

Excitement, violence. Signup and view all the answers

According to the dragon, who will snuff out life accidentally?

By man. Signup and view all the answers

According to the dragon, how does Grendel improve men?

Stimulates them, makes them think and scheme, drives them to poetry, science, religion, all that makes them what they are as long as they last. Signup and view all the answers

What does Grendel think of the dragon's advice?

Thinks he's lying. Signup and view all the answers

What is the dragon's dictum (goal)?

Count all of his gold and sort them into piles. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Dragon's Home

The dragon resides in a cave adorned with gold, gems, jewels, and silver vessels, all illuminated by a red-light resembling dragon blood.
The upper walls of the cave are inhabited by bats, contributing to the foreboding atmosphere.

Grendel's Encounter with the Dragon

The dragon advises Grendel to stand beside him instead of in front, citing his severe cough making it unpleasant for those in front.
During their interaction, the dragon affectionately pats Grendel's head, indicating a surprising degree of kindness.

Grendel's Initial Reactions

Grendel shows impulsiveness by almost throwing an emerald at the dragon before being stopped.
The dragon imposes a strict boundary, warning Grendel never to touch his possessions.

Grendel's Moral Development

A shift occurs in Grendel as he develops a conscience, realizing he should not frighten the thanes for amusement and recognizing that fear affects both him and them.

Dragon's Wisdom

The dragon advises Grendel to pursue gold and protect it, emphasizing the value of material wealth.
Unlike lower creatures that can only perceive the past and present, dragons possess the unique ability to see the past, present, and future.

The Role of the Shaper

The Shaper creates illusions of reality through his songs, synthesizing human theories and facts to provide coherent narratives that shape men's understanding.

Philosophical Insights

The dragon imparts knowledge about time and space to Grendel, who is described as attentive and thoughtful.
Grendel's primary interest, as pointed out by the dragon, lies in excitement and violence.

Humanity's Nature

The dragon reflects on human nature, asserting that it is ultimately man who unwittingly snuffs out life.
Grendel is seen as a catalyst for human development; his presence stimulates humans to think, create, and engage in poetry, science, and religion.

Doubts and Goals

Grendel expresses skepticism about the dragon's counsel, suspecting deception.
The dragon has a singular goal: to count and organize his treasures into piles, reflecting the nature of his obsession with material wealth.

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Description

Test your understanding of Grendel's Chapter 5 with these flashcards. Each card explores significant elements from the text, such as the dragon's home and interactions with Grendel. Enhance your comprehension and recall of this pivotal chapter in the story.