Chapter 10-Nihil ex nihilo

The last sentence in Grendel  "nihil ex nihilo, I always" (Gardner).So, not being a premier authority on philosophy which I presume the statement correspond to I decided to do a little background research (I admit this included a brief reference to wikipedia). Translated to English the statement reads "nothing comes from nothing" (sounds so existentialist right,. Ill touch on that shortly). Apparently, this is a philosophical idea by Parmenides, a Greek philosopher who also wrote that reality (or "what is") is one, change is impossible, and existence is timeless, uniform, necessary and unchanging (contrasts to the dragon!). The Greek people also believed that things cannot vanish into nothingness and nothing is created from nothing it is transformed into another something. This all inclusive  (and exclusive for that matter) theory is a lot to contemplate along with existentialist ideals but I will take a crack at it. The webster dictionary defines the phrase as, "from nothing nothing is produced". What I get from this is more so that everything is connected than the meaninglessness of life. Every thing and being in existence is due to a transformation of being from something else. For instance, a really simple example is when a baby is born. This child comes from a man and a woman and not out of pure immaculate conception. The transform of energy from one thing to another is what connects everything. In existentialism (specifically nihilist theory), there is an emphasis that life has no meaning; however, for the individual nihilism presents the opportunity for them to create their own meaning of life. It also asserts the idea that "I am nothing". In the context of the book, Grendel struggles with finding his identity and identifying himself with his surroundings. He faces many different opposing views on existence and its purpose from the Shaper and the dragon that cause his internal conflict.

The Shaper in Anglosaxon society

So far in the text, there is a lot of focus on Grendel's internal conflict. he observes the world, takes in what he sees and often criticizes it. this is no exception when it comes to the Shaper. The Shaper appears in Grendel as a teller of the histories of the tribes and keeper of the memories of battles. The Shaper is the same figure to the scop in Beowulf. This figure is quintessential to the livelihood of the warrior culture and their longevity. His role in society is elaborated throughout the story.However, what was the exact role of this figure in Anglo Saxon culture and what was their role in society? Upon research, I was informed that in Anglo Saxon culture, poetry was at the heart of tribal life and was highly regarded as they valued many forms of the arts. The Shaper would play a harp as he told the stories like a song. He did not merely speak the histories of the people, he was the sole keeper, a record of all their achievements and failures, an authority on their ties and values. His responsibility was so central to the future of the tribes since stories were upheld through an oral tradition. This is why we see in Beowulf that boasting and being able to propel your status through an eloquent telling of your status and family ties is a large part of status in warrior society and respect from peers. From this we can see that Anglo-Saxon culture values spoken word and the art of story telling. Off on a tangent, this directly contrasted to what I thought Sherwood Anderson asserts in Winesburg, Ohio. throughout the novel there seems to be an emphasis on the lack of credibility and genuineness (not sure if this is a word or not ) of what people say versus what they truly are internally. In contrast to the Shaper, Grendel perceives that he crafts the stories out of thin air, disregarding the truth of the history of kings and thanes.The way in whichever he Shaper told the stories is most likely how it was to be remembered and dissipated i for future generations. Accordingly, the Shaper enjoyed high social status for their importance in tribal life. Warrior culture valued the idea of legacy and immortality through your deeds and thus the Shaper perpetuated these histories and tales. Also, the Shaper acted as a vessel to communicate the values of the warrior culture like variance, fame and courage. He  also inspired people to act and called them to action by inciting them through telling of past brave heroes. In context of the novel, Grendel feels to have conflicting feeling over this character, but why would he care is a question I keep asking myself. The Shaper tells of the history of warriors and kings, of people. He hails and praises their bravery in past wars and battles. However, Grendel feels as if he sensationalizes the past and distorts the truth, changing the future. Possibly, Grendel feels that because of this, the Shaper marginalizes himself as a thoughtless creature, no different than the intrepid goat he loathes.

The Origin of Zodiac Signs

The zodiac signs that we know today are actually quite modern. It is only in the early modern era that these signs were ascribed as symbols representing the twelve divisions of the ecliptic which has been around since the Hellenistic period. In its earliest origins, the zodiac symbols come from Babylonian astronomy. The zodiac symbols each are one of the twelve divisions of "celestial longitude". Celestial longitude is simply a system used to represent the locations of the planets and space matter in the Solar System.  Each sector was thirty degrees and could be used for predictions of the locations of the planets. However, Babylonian techniques were novice as the evolution of astronomy progressed. Thus, constellations began to be used . Each of them were given the current names we see today of the zodiac signs. The zodiac signs and representations we know today were developed by astronomer Ptolemy Each sign can be depicted by a figure, most of the time an animal. Throughout Grendel, each chapter is representative of one of these zodiac signs and helps crucially in understanding the novel as a whole. Gardner uses them as a "motif" in a sense. Each zodiac sign has a corresponding color, planet ,season, and element. The following is a comprehensive table of  the signs and their appropriate meanings for personal knowledge and to refer to as reference in my reading of Grendel.

Aries

• Element: fire, Planet: mars, Symbol: the ram
• acting first and thinking second, a child
• the heroic ideal is the cycle of life
• chapter: 1

Taurus

• Element: earth, Planet: Venus,Symbol: the bull
• strength, steadfastness, possession, dangerous,material security, acquiring wealth
• heroic ideal is care and love for living things
• chapter: 2

Gemini

• Element: air, Planet: mercury, Symbol: twins
• versatile, duality, rapidity
• heroic ideal is value in poetry and art
• chapter: 3

Cancer

• Element: water, Planet: the moon, Symbol: the crab
• tenacity, protection of vulnerabilities, hard exterior, soft interior
• heroic ideal is the home
• chapter: 4

Leo

• Element: fire, Planet: sun, Symbol: lion
• feline nature, strength
• heroic ideal is knowledge
• chapter: 5

Virgo

• Element: earth,Planet: mercury, Symbol: virgin
• harvest, prosperity
• heroic value is heroism
• chapter: 6

Libra

• Element: air, Planet: Venus,Symbol: scales
• balance, harmony
• heroic value is balance and marriage
• chapter: 7

Scorpio

• Element: water, Planets: mars, Pluto, Symbol: scorpion
• transformation, rebirth, consciousness
• heroic value is loyalty
• chapter: 8

Sagittarius

• Element: fire, Planet: Jupiter, Symbol: the centaur
• philosophy, paradox, duality,ambitions
• chapter: 9

Capricorn

• Element: earth, Planet: Saturn, Symbol: sea goat
• spiritual wisdom, no satisfaction of the individual ego
• chapter: 10

Aquarius

• Element: air, Planets: Saturn, Uranus, Symbol: the water bearer
• detachment, mental energy
• chapter: 11

Pisces

• Element: water, Planets: Jupiter, Neptune, Symbol: the two fishes
• intuition, knowledge, self-fulfillment and heroism, balance in struggle
• chapter: 12

The Life and Times of John Gardner

John C. Gardner was a poet, novelist, dramatist, translator, and teacher who died in 1982. Gardner was raised in New York state and  attended school through 11th grade. He wrote numerous novels, plays, transliterations of medieval texts, he also wrote three influential works on the art of writing including On Becoming a Novelist, The Art of Fiction, and On Moral Fiction. Many of his students, such as Raymond Carver and Charles Johnson became very successful writers. Additionally, he wrote children's stories such as "Dragon, Dragon" (possibly have anything to do with the dragon in chapter 5 of Grendel??? just a thought!) plays and "Days of Vengeance" and  composed operas, and paintings, and played the French horn (having studied music at the Eastman School of Music). As a youth, he attended public school and worked on his father's farm, where, in April 1945, his younger brother Gilbert was killed in an accident with a tractor. Gardner, who was driving the tractor felt enormous guilt for his brother's death. his deep guilt over this affair is speculated to have spurred the influence in some of his works. I think that the existentialism in Grendel could be a result of this. The strong bond between two brothers defines their period of growing up together during childhood. Thus, when a part of this bond is lost especially on account of the other, there could be a loss of identity. This parallels to the "I am nothing" ideal of existentialist thinkers. Gardner possibly felt that he did not deserve to live a life of meaning when he felt responsible for taking that of his own brother.In his short story "Redemption" written in 1977, Gardner reflects on this traumatic experience through a fictional account. Gardner is most acclaimed and well known for his novel Grendel which retells the Beowulf epic from the monster's point of view. In 1978, Gardner's book of literary criticism, On Moral Fiction, caused great controversy in the writer community. He criticizes other authors take on fiction. Some of these authors had praised Gardner for his own work. In Grendel, there are many isolated and strong willed characters. Each character represents a distinct point of view that the main antagonist (as I perceive him to be) struggles to comprehend and decide which he agrees with. John Gardner's life ended tragically in an accident on his motorcycle. in 1982 he passed away in Pennsylvania.  From reading a biography I was able to discover that he was lay to rest next to his younger brother which really touched me.Hopefully this put any guilt he may have had over the incident even in adulthood at rest. 

Prufrock and Winesburg

The most exhilarating thing about understanding literature is being able to make connections  between texts and the real world. This is no exception when it comes The Love Song of Alfred Prufrock and Winesburg, Ohio. Because they are both modernist texts it is clear to recognize their similarities.There is a similar use of symbolism in both texts. In , there is a constant present of windows. These windows serve multiple, meaningful functions including as a symbol of knowledge, understanding, and  truth. When characters like the old man wish to see out of windows they are searching for clarity and the ability to understand something greater. Similarly, there is mention of windows in Eliot’s poem. Eliot uses parts to represent a whole known as fragmentation. Anderson also uses this in . In Winesburg, Ohio , especially in the story”Hands”  and “Paper Pills” , there is discussion of hands and knuckles. Wing Biddlebaum’s hands serve a larger function in the context of his identity.In Eliot's poem, the speaker recognizes the people around him as eyes. These eyes are a part of the whole human but represent the judgment and watching that he feels people are around him. . Also, throughout the poem certain grounds of people are recognized as  by a part of their figure, women are identified by their fingers. Futhermore, Eliot touches on love in the poem much like in Winesburg, Ohio. It is hard to tell whether Prufrock is actually in love or not. This reminded me of George Williard and Helen White. After George's "sophistication" he expresses that with Helen he can feel his own growth into adulthood. They share a special bond , a romantic one you could say. However, whenever they give into lust they quickly back off from each other. In this way it is not clear whether the two are in love either. The most exciting connection I made between the two texts has to be that both texts explore a distrust or uselessness of words and verbal communication. When Prufrock states, "It is impossible to say just what I mean!" he is exclaiming the inadequacy of words themselves. I saw this same idea in "Paper Pills" in which Dr. Reefy and his wife can tell what each other are feeling by simply looking at each other which stressed to me inner conscious over outer appearance.I think that you can parallel the irony of the titles of the two works as well. This poem is described as a love song yet is not a conventional or typical one in any sense. Much like Winesburg, Ohio which I thought was not so much about the small, rural town itself as the lives of its residents.
My overall take away from the Prufrock poem was that this man is isolated in some shape or form (an idea that comes up frequently in Winesburg, Ohio). The imagery in the beginning of the poem portray a run down city of cheap hotels and dirty streets (this reminded me of Enoch for some reason).