Monday-Tuesday

MONDAY'S CLASS . . .
involved finding philosphical claims in Chapter 2 of Grendel. Each group was responsible for finding five statements that described Grendel's belief system--ways in which he views the world.  By the time each group presented one of their findings, we had pretty well covered the major tenets of Grendel's beliefs at this point.  We will continue adding to these, and next week we will try to organize his thinking into some important "-isms."

Since Chapter 3 had already been assigned, there was no new homework.

IN CLASS ON TUESDAY
1) discussion of the snakes as guarding Grendel's innocence--his breakthrough into the world (what he perceives as the "vast aboveground cavern") represents his loss of innocence
2) discussion of youthful Grendel's first encounter with humans. . . Hrothgar and his group.  We traced the mutual misperceptions as well as the Grendel's inabililty to be understood--even at the most literal level of langugage--even though he can understand their language.
3) We worked with part of Chapter 3, noting the progress of humanity from the hunter-gatherer stage forwards.  Violence.  More violence.  "Progress"  (road-building/greater tributes/larger armies).

FOR WEDNESDAY
1) Review the last part of Ch. 3 (from p. 40 on) about the Shaper and Grendel's response to the poet's songs.
2) Read Chapter 4--a scant 10 pages.