Question

which passage from grendel best illustrates the theme \life is meaningless\?
a. as if casually, in plain sight of them all, i bit his head off, crunched through the helmet and skull with my teeth and, holding the jerking, bloodslippery body in two hands. (79)
b. i seize up a sleeping man, tear at him hungrily, bite through his bone - locks and suck hot, slippery blood. (168)
c. fate often enough will spare a man if his courage holds. (162).
d. all order, ive come to understand, is theoretical, unreal - a harmless, sensible, smiling mask men slide between the two great, dark realities. (157)

Explanation:

Option D suggests that order is just a theoretical mask between two dark realities, implying a sense of meaninglessness in life as the perceived order is unreal. Options A and B are violent descriptions without a direct connection to the theme of life's meaninglessness. Option C is about fate and courage, not related to life being meaningless.

Answer:

D. All order, I've come to understand, is theoretical, unreal — a harmless, sensible, smiling mask men slide between the two great, dark realities. (157)