Truth

             In the novel Grendel, the truth was often manipulated and skewed due to the Shapers that sung of different versions of history. Truth was passed down in a glorious, exaggerated version that was preferred by most men because it exemplified their heroic kings and deeds. I can infer that after generations and generations of rulers pass down slightly different accounts of people and events, the version known as "truth" is probably completely false.
             Grendel struggled with discerning the truth from the Shaper's persuasive and enticing songs. He wanted to believe the positive version of history that the blind man depicted because it gave him hope for the world, as it did for other men. However, the optimistic, nihilistic part of him fought to retain the version of history that he saw with his own eyes. He knew deep down that foolish killing and raiding caused unnecessary bloodshed. He knew that men's and animals' lives were wasted for one kingdom to gain power and wealth. He wanted to keep this truth in his mind because it gave him an excuse to view the world as one that's against him.
             Some parts of the Shaper's songs did call out to him, such as the account of the fight between Cain and Abel, which he chose to believe. So really, he thought that the Shaper spoke some truth. It was ironic how the blind man was the one telling the king's men history because being blind, he has never seen what really happened. This showed that some, or most aspects of his songs were made up or exaggerated. The paradox was that blind man changed what the others saw of their king and their cause.