Essay for Grendel exam

Storytellers, historians, and poets. They all have one thing in common. No, they’re not all boring. Each one of them tells a story, some more factual than others. In Grendel, the storyteller/historian is called the Shaper. Much like modern writers, such as Shakespeare, Austen, and Dickens, he took inspiration from the world around him to entertain others with wondrous tales. He carried a position of high honor and prestige for his skill. The tales he told often influenced the future decisions of those around him.
When writing, the earliest factor one needs is to be inspired with an idea or concept. Every book, poem, song, show, etc. ever told came into being because something in the world around their creator struck a chord with them. Battles, heroic deeds, personal struggles, and issues in society were just a few of the topics covered. Authors take these ideas and write them down, or verbally share them, with others. Facts and feelings are interwoven throughout every story. Writing can be used as a statement, a form of therapy, a way of teaching a lesson, or simply to make someone feel something.
Once their tales circulate and gain approval, these people often gain status and respect. Revered by many for their wisdom, whit, and way with words, they become revolutionaries, teachers, friends, and scribes in disguise. Narratives about life around them turn writers into historians by describing history as they saw or lived it. Grand stories of success in battle or power made them wonderful allies to kings and noblemen so as to sing their praises to their enemies as the Shaper did for King Hrothgar.
Due to their amazing power over people, they often helped to shape the world they were writing about into something even more wondrous. Ideas from their writing cause people to think differently and inspire them to begin a needed change. Common Sense by Sir Thomas Paine gave the American army the boost that it needed to continue its fight for a better country. After reading The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck, my mom was enraged and awakened to the struggles and lifestyle of a woman in pre-Great Depression China.
Books and other writings have greater power than people give the writers credit for. These gifted artists helped to create the world we live in as it is. Drawing ideas from around them to give us fantastic stories of times long past, which we can now travel to for an hour or so. Video games and other electronics have taking control of society, but nothing beats the simple pleasure of reading a great book. Now, pull up a chair, grab a drink, and give it a try yourself.