The zodiac calendar is an astrological theory that divides the path that the sun appears to follow around the earth into twelve equal sections, each associated with a sign, symbol, and personality type. . John Gardner embraces this astrological theme in his parallel novel, Grendel, by relating each of the twelve chapters to its coinciding zodiac. Grendel's astrological journey begins with Aires. The beginning of this new zodiacal cycle disturbs Grendel because of its cyclical nature. Aires' symbol, the ram, disgusts Grendel because he repeats the same movements he had been repeating without even realizing that fate is repeating itself. Although Grendel possesses the physical attributes of a beast, he does not succumb to the same abnormal need to ride anything. The ram's stupidity and lack of dignity separate Grendel from the beast community. In chapter two, while innocently venturing out, Grendel gets his foot stuck in a crack between two old trees, and suddenly a bull defending a calf begins to attack Grendel. After a successful hit to the knee, Grendel finds an easy way to avoid almost all of the bull's lunges. Before long, the mechanical, repetitive bull barely phases Grendel. The bull, unlike Hrothgar and his men, incompetently lunges at Grendel's tree the same way he would fight anything. Like the ram, the bull's stupidity contrasts with Grendel's common beast who does not "even know that the calves they are defending are their own." » (20) The bull's "raw enmity" (22) is compared to the skill of humanity when Hrothgar and his men attack Grendel. Although the men are smaller and less physically capable than the bull, Grendel calls them "the most dangerous things he ever encountered" (26) simply because of the middle of the paper. .xo nihilo, I always say” (150), which means that nothing comes from nothing. Aquarius, or the water bearer, is generally defined by their unpredictability. The deep and complex cave is the first symbol of Aquarius, because the underground river carries water through itself. Because the cave is so deep and complex, it is bound to be unpredictable. Another symbol of Aquarius is Beowulf's ship because through the water it carries Grendel's destroyer. Similar to Aires marking the beginning of the zodiac in chapter one, the goal of Pisces marks the end of the astrological cycle. At the end of the fight, after Grendel and Beowulf realize that Grendel is going to die, Beowulf creates a link between the fish, the astrological sign of Pisces, and human endurance. This connection instills the same theme of repetition that Grendel felt in the chapter as it implies that humanity will continue, cycle after cycle..