Name: Abigail Kruse Period: 7th October 31st, 2016
Romanticism and the Shaper
The Shaper is a character from the novel Grendel, by John Gardner. The Shaper is a harpist who creates religion through the illusion of his songs. His music inspires people's imaginations and creates a new reality. This is the main concept of Romanticism, to reject reality and create through the imagination. Each character in Grendel portrays a different philosophy. The Shaper portrays Romanticism because he manipulates reality through creation. Eloquent words and charming melodies allow him to sway the emotions of others, in order to cause them to abandon reason. “I listened, felt myself swept up. I knew very well that all he said was ridiculous, not light for their darkness but flattery, illusion, a vortex pulling them from sunlight to heat, a kind of midsummer burgeoning, waltz to the sickle. Yet I was swept up,” (Gardner 48). Romanticism focuses on the power of emotion over reason.
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