11 12 13 14 15 which line best helps the reader understand grendel’s character? in the beginning there were various groups of them: ragged little bands that roamed the forest on foot or horseback . . . ice clung to their eyebrows and beards and eyelashes, and i’d hear them whining and groaning as they walked. in time i began to be more amused than revolted by what they threatened. it didn’t matter to me what they did to each other. spears flying, swords whonking, arrows raining from the windows and doors of the meadhall and the edge of the woods.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The line that best helps the reader understand Grendel’s character is:
“In time I began to be more amused than revolted by what they threatened. It didn’t matter to me what they did to each other.”
This line reveals significant details about Grendel’s emotional state and his perspective on human conflict. Initially, the text describes Grendel observing various groups of people, with their battles and threats, and how their sounds and actions, such as groaning and fighting, did not initially capture his interest. However, this changes over time, and he begins to view their threats and violent behaviors not with disgust, but with amusement.
The phrase “more amused than revolted” suggests a shift in Grendel’s attitude. He is no longer disturbed by the violent, chaotic behavior of the humans; instead, he finds it entertaining or perhaps indifferent. This is significant because it shows Grendel’s growing detachment and emotional desensitization to human suffering and conflict. He is not just a passive observer; he is emotionally affected, but in a way that reveals his detached and possibly cynical nature. His indifference to human suffering is highlighted in the statement, “it didn’t matter to me what they did to each other,” showing that Grendel has become numb to their violence, further underscoring his increasingly alienated and apathetic character.
This perspective also contrasts Grendel with the human characters, who are more likely to be horrified or moved by the violence they witness. Grendel’s lack of empathy is emphasized here, which helps the reader understand that he is not just an outsider to the human world, but someone who has become alienated to the point of being unmoved by their suffering or conflicts. This emotional detachment is central to understanding Grendel’s complex, often monstrous nature.