Grendel Vocabulary 11-20

Vocabulary Words from the novel Grendel by John Gardner

(Words 11-20)

Hoary Gray or white with or as if with age. (Adjective)

Old English/Anglo-Saxon

Dirge A funeral hymn or lament. (Noun)

Latin

Dogmatism Arrogant, stubborn assertion of opinion or belief. (Noun) [A dogmatist is someone who stubbornly asserts opinions or beliefs.]

Greek

Petulant Unreasonably irritable or ill-tempered; peevish. (Adjective)

Latin

Intimation A hint; an obscure or indirect suggestion or notice; a remote or ambiguous reference; as, he had given only intimations of his design. (Noun)

Latin

Nihilism A belief that rejects all values, morals, purposes for living, etc. as baseless and arbitrary (Noun)

[A nihilist is someone who rejects all values, morals, purposes, etc.]

Latin

Paradox A seemingly contradictory statement that may nonetheless be true (Noun)

Greek

Inchoate 1. In an initial or early stage; incipient (Adjective). 2. not fully formed, incomplete (Adjective)

Latin

Ossify 1. To change into bone; become bony. (Verb); 2. To become rigid. (Verb)

Latin

Omnipotent Having unlimited power (Adjective) [Omnipotence is unlimited or universal power (Noun)]

Latin

Grendel Vocabulary 1-10 (Scroll down for the Chapter 3 homework)

Quiz Friday, October 9, 2008

Vocabulary Words from the novel Grendel by John Gardner

(Words 1-10)

Sycophant A person who attempts to win favor by flattering influential people; a kiss up. (Noun)

Greek

Fuliginous Colored as if by soot; dark; black (Adjective)

Latin

Hex 1. An evil spell; a curse (Noun). 2. To curse (Verb)

German

Leer 1. desirous, sly, or knowing look (Noun). 2. To glance sidelong esp. sexually or maliciously (Verb)

Anglo Saxon/Old English

Moor A broad area of open land, often high but poorly drained, with patches of heath and peat bogs. (Noun)

Old English

Solipsist A person who believes that the self is the only reality. (Noun) [Solipsism is the belief that the self is the only reality]

Latin

Ominous Menacing; threatening (Adjective)

Latin

Undulant wave-like (Adjective)

Latin

Debauch To corrupt morally. (Verb) [Debauchery moral corruption. (Noun)]

French/German

Omniscient all knowing; complete knowledge and awareness (adjective)]

Latin

Grendel Chapter 3

Comments are due by 11:59 pm Thursday (10/9).

Explain how the Shaper affects Grendel's state of mind. Make sure you explain the complex, ambivalent feelings Grendel has towards the Shaper's poems. Then explain why Grendel feels this way.

Responses must be 10+ sentences.
Responses must include at least two quotations as supporting evidence.

(To exceed expectations tackle this question too: What might the chapter's zodiac sign have to do with Grendel's state of mind? Hint: look at how Grendel describes his mental state at the end of the chapter.)

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