Shaper+(E+Block)


 * Position 2:**

It is your task to DISPROVE the following proposition: “The world and everything in it is unplanned accident, existence is meaningless; the past is irrelevant; nothing matters.” Use the arguments of Unferth, Beowulf, the Shaper, Ork, and any other evidence in the story. You will also want to use Beowulf.

__ **OUTLINE** __

Each person needs to prepare a 250 - 300 word statement with at least 3-4 pieces of textual support (word count excludes quotes). For the lawyers, argue for your position, attempting not to simply repeat what the other lawyers are saying. For the witnesses, write your statement from the POV of your character, explaining what you believe to be the truth.
 * Statement Assignment:**


 * Thesis:** The statement “The world and everything in it is unplanned accident, existence is meaningless; the past is irrelevant; nothing matters.” is not true; the existence is meaningful and the past is relevant, everything matters.


 * Argument 1:** The world is not meaningless because one could create meaning in the world; the Shaper creates meaning in the world using the power of art and imagination. For example, the stories of Hrothgar's court are all lies, but the Shaper makes them meaningful in the society by fabricating the truth.

Example from the text: Grendel pg 49

"He reshaped the world," I whispered, belligerent. "So this name implies. He stared strange-eyed at the mindless world and turns dry sticks to gold."

Although the Shaper's story is fictitious, his stories include heroism, love, beauty - ideas that the Danes come to see as giving meaning to their lives, making the Danes to have value systems.


 * Argument 2:** Existence is not meaningless because one could influence the other; Grendel's identity is definitely affected by the words of the Shaper.

Example from the text: Grendel pg 42-43

"He told how Scyld by the cunning of arms had rebuilt the old Danish kingdom from ashes, lordless a long time before he came, and the prey of every passing band, and how Scyld's son by the strength of his wits and increased their power, a man who fully understood men's need, from lust to love, and knew how to use it to fashion a mile-wide fist of chain-locked steel. He sang of battles and marriages, or funerals and hangings, the whimperings of beaten enemies, or splendid hunts and harvests. He sang of Hrothgar, hoarfrost white, magnificent of mind.... Even to me, incredibly, he had made it all seem true and very fine."

The song of the Shaper confuses and influences Grendel. Even though he has seen the changes and development of men and knows that the story is definitely fabricated, the Shaper's story made it seem true using artistic techniques. Grendel is attracted by his songs and listens to them behind the meadhall. Also the Shaper mentions the birth of Grendel; saying that he is the descendant of the tribe called the Cain. Although Grendel knows that the Shaper's stories are all lies, he actually believes what the Shaper talks about his birth.


 * Argument 3:** Existence is meaningful because one represents something in the world and his/her ideas are still present; Even though the Shaper is dead, his songs and ideas are still present in the history/society of Danes.

Example from the text: Grendel pg 147

"The people listen silent and solemn to the old Shaper's song on the young man's lips, and the pyre where the old man lies stands waiting for fire."Even though the Shaper is dead, people will still remember him and his songs are going to be sung in the land of Danes.

__** PARAGRAPH **__
 * Argument 4**: Past is relevant because the songs of the Shaper include the stories of heroes from the past and people in the current society of the Danes find it interesting and meaningful to them. Past is relevant when people consider things or people from the past important. People in the Danes praise heroes from the past such as Scyld Shefing, who is the founder of Danish genealogy, through the songs of the Shaper.

Now you need to prepare a carefully written 250 - 300 word statement with at least 3-4 pieces of textual support (**word count excludes quotes**). For the lawyers, argue for your position, attempting not to simply repeat what the other lawyers are saying. Lawyers also need to make sure they have communicated with the other lawyers about which part of the trial each lawyer is responsible for - opening and closing statements, and who will be questioning which witnesses. For the witnesses, write your statement from the POV of your character, explaining what you believe to be the truth.

(This paragraph is written from the POV of the Shaper)

As the Shaper, I believe that the statement “The world and everything in it is unplanned accident, existence is meaningless; the past is irrelevant; nothing matters” is not true, because existence is never meaningless if one creates meaning in the world; I create meaning in the world using the power of art and imagination. My stories include heroism, love, beauty - ideas that the Danes come to see as giving meaning to their lives, making the Danes to have value systems. As long as people in the Danes find their lives meaningful through my songs and stories, my existence is meaningful to them and lives of people in the Danes become meaningful. Also existence is meaningful if it represents something in the world and its ideas are still present in the history. My songs are still going to be sung among the people in the Danes even after I am dead. In addition, one's existence is meaningful because one could influence the other and has an impact on others; my songs confuse and influence Grendel a great deal. Even though he has seen the changes and development of men and knows that the story is definitely fabricated, my story made it seem true using artistic techniques. Grendel is attracted by my songs and listens to them behind the meadhall. I am trying to prove that the existence is significant by stating my existence is meaningful to Grendel and people in the Danes. Lastly past is relevant; because my songs have the stories of heroes from the past and people in the current society of the Danes find it interesting and meaningful to them. Past is relevant if people consider things or people from the past important. People in the Danes praise heroes from the past such as Scyld Shefing (the founder of Danish genealogy) through the chants of my songs. Therefore, existence is meaningless; the past is relevant; everything matters.

__LETTER REFLECTION__
I think the letter written by John Gardner gave me further understanding of the book Grendel. I learned some new things that I couldn't realize while I was reading Grendel. John Gardener mentioned the concept of "existentialism". He pointed out that he tried to make both good and bad comments about the philosophical issue which was very difficult to deal with. And the part where he tried to answer the question "if life has no inherent meaning how should one live?" helped me prepare for my trial. He claims that there are basically two choices, either behaving as if there were a god and try to decide what is right, for instance, making up values and dreaming up a future better than the present; or else accepting the world as it seems to be and scoff at all values. Making up values is just what the Shaper does to create meaning in the world, using the power or artistic techniques. Also he mentions the Shaper, saying that he is an ordinary man with a touch of vulgarity and greed, makes up a vision of the future, makes up glorious values such as heroism, queenliness, etc. He comments that Grendel was first tempted to accept these values. This was one of my arguments supporting my thesis that the existence is not meaningless because one could influence the other. In addition, there were some things that I missed while I was reading the book. There were some interesting explanation about the book Grendel, for example, his thoughts about religious view of God was very interesting. It is mentioned that he tried to make readers think more deeply about their lives in the past and determine whether they should accept Grendel’s thoughts about life or not. This letter helped me understand the book Grendel, especially about his philosophical ideas.