Journal 3

Journal 3: Grendel’s Language

                Grendel’s attitude towards language is that language is important. As Grendel grows older, his appreciation for language increases and his language and storytelling get more and more complicated. At first, his language is simplistic, which makes sense since he’s only a child in the beginning of the story. As the story goes on, the language changes from simple writing to complicated, with Grendel telling the story with poems and small plays and using kennings, alliterations, and other word plays.

                At first, Grendel doesn’t really worry about language. Grendel doesn’t bother with complicated language because he isn’t very philosophical at his age. Language isn’t important to him since he doesn’t really pursue intellectual thought here, but as he starts to question himself and be influenced by those around him, he grows, and his language grows with him. The Sharper and the Dragon are some of his great influences that help shape his language. Lingering around the humans also affects his language since he becomes interested in their culture. Language is a big part of human culture, particularly the Danes’ since they glorify their scribes and Sharpers for their wisdom and words.