Grendel, by Gardner has a very significant journey story that uses astrology throughout to enhance the meaning of each step the character Grendel takes. In chapter one, we see the image of Grendel encountering a meeting with the ram, who is reluctant to move out of his way; making chapter one the chapter based on Aries. Aries a sign of spring, is symbolically used by the ram and in addition it being the 12th year of Grendel’s rebellious ways, creates the illusion that spring is arriving. The symbolism behind the astrological sign of Aries also coincides with the fact that at this point Grendel is still a child, being naïve he makes his way down to observe his human neighbors, the Danes. In chapter two, we see the image of a bull, which Grendel is attacked by one afternoon. Grendel admits to being more scared of the bull then he has ever been of any human he has encountered. The bull is a sign for the astrological sign, Taurus (the bull). Grendel realizes that the bull cannot kill him, even throughout the attack all the bull can do is scratch at him but never kill him, he then sees that it doesn’t even matter, that nothing matters. He calls for help from anybody and anything he possibly can and stills nobody not even his own mother comes to save him. In this chapter we begin to notice how he matures, he is now willing to leave his lair and safe ground and begins to venture the forests more and observe humans even closer. We see this when the humans approach him, he realizes how humans act when approached. Chapter three is based Gemini; in chapter three we see the Shaper who Grendel becomes angry with when hearing his song based on Grendel the monster. Grendel begins to find obstacles in his way, obstacles that confuse him greatly and make him an angry soul. In chapter four based on the sign, Cancer, Grendel is approached by Hrothgar and his men and is thought to be everything, but who he really is. Grendel now has a new view of the world. He now feels as if though he is somehow separated from the outside world. Little does he know the secret his mother holds is that he and his family are cursed since the times of Cain and Abel. Chapter five, Leo, Grendel is shown that one way or another everything is connected. After visiting the dragon Grendel has a new point of view, such as the one the dragon has, existentialism, and is beginning to show signs of nihilism. Grendel now feels as if though he has lost all meaning he ever believed to have. Virgo is next; chapter six is all about the maturing of Grendel. Grendel has experienced so many things already from human interaction, to inner conscious thoughts. At this point we see one of the biggest climaxes in the story where Grendel is tried by Unferth. Grendel now knowing the meaning and purpose of the human man is playing mind games. Grendel, now mature is using his traits to overcome those who are meant to defeat him. Unferth being the ultimate Anglo-Saxon man in the story is being mocked by Grendel every time he decides to spare Unferth’s life. At this point Grendel is using his knowledge to destroy the purpose of man, and knows that he is thought of as evil. But he is empowering that view point and using it to his advantage.
Now half way into the novel we see the astrological sign of Libra in chapter seven. At this point Grendel is an adult. Throughout the novel we take a look at Grendel’s language and from the beginning we see how he imitates the humans poor English but after meeting the dragon we see Grendel take a drastic turn in his usage of language. Grendel shows his complete growth in the next few chapters when we see the way he forms his story. In this chapter we also see how he has matured and found his purpose when he observes the trading of women as peace offerings, such as Wealtheow, this upsets him very much and he spares the life of Wealtheow or women in general. Wealtheow represents women in this novel (women are hardly or never mentions in this story) Grendel see’s the purpose of a women as the creator and knows better than to take the life of those who give life. Wealtheow is also known as the “holy servant of common good;” This shows the reader the purpose behind women, and how sacred they are to the community especially at the time setting in the novel. Scorpio- Chapter eight, the new son Hrothulf is placed into the plot. Grendel finds a common ground with this new character; such as the befriending of an “adviser” type figure, the Dragon being Grendel’s and Red Horse being Hrothulf. Another similarity is the views of the world they both have, Grendel feels as if the world is poor and unrighteous as Hrothulf believes the world is corrupt. In this chapter we also see how Grendel becomes the narrator of the novel; he is the Shaper of his own story. In chapter nine- Sagittarius Grendel the deer being shot by the hunter, Grendel also meets Ork a priest, Ork sees Grendel as the evil of all evils, Grendel to Ork is the “destroyer” he is now good, and will end the Anglo-Saxon community for good. Now winter is coming a common symbol used for the sign Capricorn used in chapter ten. In these final chapters we see how Grendel now believes that everything in this world is lonely and just looking for ways to be or get somewhere. He now sees even himself as pointless and without any real purpose but to die, he begins to see that the end is near and that he has no reason to do anything anymore. Chapter eleven-Aquarius is where Grendel shows how nihilistic he can be and sees things in the world. Grendel tells the readers that he believes every man and thing is trying to make a name for himself, or trying to find and make his purpose fulfilled. We are now coming to a full circle at this point from spring to winter, from Aries to Pisces; Grendel has grown from inexperienced to full matured and even old. In conclusion of the novel we arrive to chapter 12 which is the final astrological sign- Pisces. Grendel is now at the end of his journey and he has been through every season and sign he can possibly go through. Grendel has seen and experienced everything he possibly can, and has finally completed what he began this journey for; His purpose, he now knows and willfully accepts that his purpose was to follow the ways of his ancestors Cain and Abel and accepts that is to sacrifice his own life in the end. Grendel now knows and believes that everything does have a purpose and exists in its own world, everyone has and shapes their own story.
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