John Gardner 1971 GRENDEL CHAPTER 5 OBJECTIVES Review

John Gardner, 1971 GRENDEL CHAPTER 5

OBJECTIVES � Review the techniques of satire, allusion, and metaphor � Find examples of each of these elements � Relate these topics back to theme

BACKGROUND INFO � Grendel is a monster who terrorizes Hrothgar, killing many humans � He ponders the meaning of life, as well as whether he should just kill himself � He never meant to be a killer, but the humans treated him poorly so he was left with no choice

SATIRE � Definition: An exaggeration, often a humorous one, that is used to criticize people’s stupidity

WHAT MAKES THE DRAGON SATIRICAL Reread pages 64 -65 � Find two examples of satire from this passage � Now, get into a group of two to four people � Discuss the following in your group: What point is the dragon trying to make? What makes this point important? Record your answers on the worksheet � Relate this importance back to the following theme: Humans make vast generalizations which lead to them becoming judgmental � � Record relation on worksheet

SIMILES � Definition Reminder: comparing two things using like or as

WHY THE AUTHOR USES SIMILES � Find two to three examples of simile on pages 57 -60 � Now, in the same group, look at what each of the quotes does to enhance character description, and what specific enhancement it uses � See any patterns? Record any patterns you see on your worksheet � How do these patterns relate back to theme previously stated? What do they do to enhance the satire? Write your answers in the space provided

ALLUSION: CASSANDRA � Review: � Greek Who was Cassandra? seer who knew the future and was always right, yet no one believed her

THE DRAGON AND CASSANDRA � Record your answers to the following on the worksheet: � How could the dragon be an allusion to Cassandra? � Find � Why a quote to back up your claim would the author use this allusion? What does it do to make the story more understandable?

HOMEWORK � On the back of your worksheet: � Write a twelve sentence paragraph based on chapter 5 and the rest of the novel using the following prompt:

� How does Gardner use similes and the allusion to Cassandra to enhance the satire used by the dragon, and furthermore, how do all three of these techniques enhance theme of the novel?

� Student � Date � Hour Name