Grendel Chapter 3

What can Grendel Chapter 3 inform us about how we study History? Please use specific quotes from the chapter to support your argument.

In Chapter 3 of Grendel, lies are exposed regarding history. In today's society it is well known that history has been recorded from many different points of view. Authority has dictated the way history has been written for thousands of years. Authority has had the power to control the media: newspapers, television, books, magazines, etc. This power has led to certain versions of history. Chapter 3 of Grendel reflects the lies that have been written into history.

Grendel's raw emotions become exposed after he hears the Shaper's version of the history of the Danes. He flees upset from the Meadhall and journeys away back to familiar territory. The Shaper had told a story of Sycld Shefing, who was King Hrothgar's ancestor and also the man who founded the Syclding line or Danish people. Grendel seems to be the only creature aware of the lies that the Shaper is telling. While the Danish people are filled with joy and military accomplishment, Grendel feels detached, since he knows the truth.

Grendel's reaction to the Shaper's fabrication of the history of the Danes is significant because it relates to all fabrications seen throughout human history. Grendel represents the honest truth, which gets crushed by members of higher authority.

In past history leaders have sheltered the public from the real truth in wars and other important historical events. Sheltering the people is a way to avoid chaos. Using propaganda, leaders have idealized the good of going into war to defeat the "unjust" enemy. The truth, shown through the people who fought the wars, has been suppressed. Sometimes it does not become exposed till years later; until it seems like it's too late to make a change.

History dictates that we tend to want to believe what authoriy says, knowledge by authority. We want to believe that our country is doing the "right," "just" thing by taking part in catastrophic events. Leaders build up the just idea of taking part in wars in order to create a sense of nationalism among people for further support. People do not always see the lies that exist, and instead choose to only look at everything from a strong nationalistic sense.