Grendel | Short Essay Answer Key

Short Essay Answer Key

1. How does the speaker feel about the brainless ram?

The speaker finds the ram brainless and yet full of the nature that surrounds them. The ram is pure animal but lacks the dignity that the speaker feels in himself. The ram is mindless. It moves through the world searching for food, shelter, and a mate. The ram struggles to avoid danger. Unlike the speaker, the ram does not think about the larger world around it, but only about satisfying it's most basic needs.

2. Does the speaker have delusions about his own intelligence?

The speaker admits that he does not feel he is very far above the ram in intelligence. He is no more than a creature crouched in darkness and surrounded by the smell of death. The only apparent difference between the speaker and the ram is that the speaker is aware of his...
(read more)