Grindelwald and Grendel (was Re: Grindelwald and Tom Riddle)

[Derek Hiemforth]

No: HPFGUIDX 87491

drjuliehoward wrote:
>I still am intrigued by the mention on the date on the back of DD's 
>chocolate frog that he defeated Grindelwald in 1945.

Derek:
While I think the dating of 1945 makes a connection between Grindelwald
and Hitler likely, I've also wondered if "Grindel"wald could be related
to Grendel from the epic of Beowulf.  Since Grendel was a monster (at
times referred to as a demon), I wonder if "Grindelwald" could mean
something like "Monster of the Forest" or "Demon of the Forest."  It's
also intriguing that one of Dumbledore's names is "Wulf"ric, and it
was Beo"wulf" who defeated Grendel.

LV also seems to have a connection to forests.  We encounter him more
than once in PS in the Dark Forest near Hogwarts.  He hides out in "the
forests of Albania" more than once.  When Harry enounters him in GoF,
they're in a wooded cemetery.

I suspect that Tom Riddle may simply be the latest of multiple dark
wizards to be taken over by some evil serpent spirit.  Perhaps it
seeks out wizards of o'erweening ambition and offers them power in
exchange for their soul, so to speak.  "Grindelwald" may have been
another, as might Salazar Slytherin.  Remember, the accounts we've
heard of the founding of Hogwarts says the founders got along at first,
but later Slytherin left.  Perhaps he wasn't too bad at first, but
got worse after his dark side ran away with him and he hooked up with
this demon serpent.

Y'know, "Snape" sounds disturbingly close to "Snake"...  ;)

- Derek