Both Uses

grapple
in
Atlas Shrugged
(Auto-generated)

But he could not grapple with it, he could not force his mind to accept it as worthy of thought, he could find no clue except his dim uneasiness and his revulsion-and he had no time to give it, he could not think of it now, he was facing his next caller seated in front of his desk-he was listening to a man who pleaded for his life.†
Chpt 1.7
The public is too dumb to grapple with such issues.†
Chpt 2.4 *

Definitions:

(1) (grapple as in: grappled mentally)
to wrestle or struggle physically
(2) (grapple as in: grappled hand-to-hand)
to struggle mentally with a problem
(3) (grapple as in: grappling hooks)
a tool with claws or hooks which is used to catch or hold something; or pulling a rope attached to such a tool; or grabbing and holding
(4) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)
More rarely, grapple or grappling hook can be used as a noun to reference a tool (consisting of several hooks for grasping and holding) that is often thrown with a rope.