Poetry Out Loud: Domestic Situation

A) Who is the speaker? What is the setting and action going on? Where is the speaker to whom is he or she talking to?

The speaker is someone outside of the poem. The setting is probably in a house and the actions going on is that a woman's boyfriend is mistreating her badly. The speaker is talking to the audience about how they shouldn't bother trying to understand. 

B) What is the conflict and/or theme of the poem?

The theme of this poem is love, or the different meanings of love. Everyone has their own meaning of the word love.

C) Is there a particular form or rhyme scheme to the poem?

Sonnet

D) List important images and discuss what they may mean? 

Important images are when the man broke her pinky, stole her cheeks, spat on her father, and and got her sister pregnant, but she stood by him. This means that even though her man has been treating her poorly, she reminds by his side, because she loves him. The speaker tells us that this is something we will never understand and not to even bother trying.

E) Write a summary of the poem.

A man came home and chucked his girlfriend's cat in the world chipper, because dinner wasn't ready on time. He spat on her father, broke her pinky, stole her checks, and got her sister pregnant, but despite it all she stayed by his side and even married him. She married him, because she loved him.

Canterbury Tales: Knight's Tale

Part 1:

What does your characters's clothes represent?

The Knight wears a tunic made of coarse cloth, and his coat of mail is rust-stained, because he has recently returned from battle.

What your character is like—what do they believe, how do think of themselves, how do they act towards others or towards God? 

The Knight highly believes in chivalry, truth, honor, freedom, and courtesy. The Knight thinks himself to be a noble man. The Knight acts towards God with an understanding of how he works and how fate falls into place. The Knight's reaction towards others in the group is really a mysterious, because he does break up a fight between two members. Maybe he likes them all?

What is your character type?

The Knight is a honorable person following the knightly code.

Part 2: Short Story (Summary)

Part I: Duke Theseus returns from overthrowing Scythia with his new wife, Hippolyta, and her sister, Emily. Outside Athens, he meets a group of weeping women and learns that the tyrant Creon has murdered their husbands and refuses to give them a proper burial. Theseus quickly overthrows Creon and brings back the dead to the women for ceremonial burying. After the defeat of Creon's forces, Thesus's men find Palamon and Arcite who are not dead. Theseus decides against killing the knights and instead imprisons them with no hope of ransom. One morning, Palamon sees the beautiful Emily wandering about in her garden and cries out in pain. Arcite peers from the tower window and, upon seeing Emily, cries out his own love for her. Because both knights claim their love for Emily, their friendship starts to fade away. However, a friend to both Theseus and Arcite arrives in Athens and releases Arcite on the term that he never sets foot in Athens. Both knights think the other luckier: Palamon, because he can still see the beautiful Emilie; Arcite, because he can raise an army and capture her.

Part II: Back in Thebes, Arcite sinks into a depression. As a result of his poor hygiene, his physical appearance changes so much that he is no longer recognizable. One night, Mercury, the messenger of the gods, appears and orders him to return to Athens, which he does. Taking the name Philostrate, Arcite is employed as a manservant in the House of Emily. Several years pass and Philostrate/Arcite rises to a high and respected position in the court of Theseus.

Meanwhile, Palamon is still sitting in the prison tower. Then one day, Palamon escapes and flees to the forest. That morning, Arcite goes to the same forest and, thinking himself alone, recites his love for Emily aloud, blaming Juno, Mars, and especially Venus for his plight. Palamon, who had not recognized Arcite, finally identifies him through his speech and leaps up, swearing to kill Arcite for his treachery. The two arrange to duel the following day.

The next day, the men duel with full suits of armor that Arcite brought from the palace. Theseus and his men arrive upon the scene. Theseus stops the duel and scolds the knights for their behavior. Palamon tells all, demanding that both be killed for their crimes, and Theseus swears that the wish will be granted, but he changes his mind when his wife and Emily beg mercy for the knights. Theseus proposes a formal duel in one year with each knight supported by one hundred knights. The winner of the battle will get the hand of Emily.

Part III: At the end of the year, Arcite and Palamon, each with one hundred knights, return to Athens for the battle. Theseus welcomes them all and entertains them. On the evening before the battle, Palamon, Emilie, and Arcite pray. Palamon prays to Venus, goddess of love; Emilie prays to Diana, goddess of chastity; and Arcite prays to Mars, god of war. All receive a vision indicating that their prayers will be answered. The three prayers and resulting promises cause confusion in heaven until Saturn, god of destiny, promises that Palamon will win his love and Arcite will win the battle. Emily's pray is refused.

Part IV: The battle begins, and after much fighting, Palamon is badly wounded and taken from the field. Arcite is declared the winner. Saturn sends a fury from Pluto to make Arcite's horse act up, which causes the horse to throw Acrite off his back. Wounded, Arcite is carried to Theseus' palace. As he lies dying, Arcite acknowledges that Palamon is a great man and begs Emily to accept Palamon as her husband. Arcite dies and Theseus arranges a great funeral for him. After a long period of mourning, Palamon and Emily are married.

Part 3:

What type of literary tale is your story? 

It's like a iliad, it illustrates a point of view that powerful forces outside of human control are at work causing everything that happens in the world.

What does the tale mean (if anything). Connect the tale to a THEME? 

One theme can be Fate and Free Will. Palamon, Arcite, and Emily both pray to three different gods/goddesses before the final battle, because they believe that larger forces control their destiny and way of life. Palamon's and Arcite's are granted, but Emily's pray is refused, because she wishes to be free and stay one with nature.

What does the tale reveal about you character and who your character is? 

The tale reveals about the Knight that he honours the knightly code, believes in God(s), and that a knight should always follow the virtues of the knight. The Knight is very noble and lives a life of adventure. 

What—if any—kinds of literary devices does your tale use? 

Literary devices that are used are is a epic, meaning that things are described in the highest, or best, they could possibly be. Preterition is telling an audience something by saying you're not going to tell them about it. Ekphrasis is lengthy, dramatic description of a work of visual art in writing.

Part 4: Make a brief argument why your character won the bet: Who can tell the best story.

I believe the Knight won the bet, because his tale has love, adventure, death, war, sadness, thearchy, heroics, and honor. All the good things you can ever get in a tale rolled into one story. The tale also has moral lessons about accepting fate, or destiny, and that you can't always get what you want. 

Canterbury Tales: Wife of Bath Questions 1-5, 7-8 and 10

1. Describe the knight's original sentence and his revised punishment.

The knight's original sentence was to beheaded, but then it began to be revised to answering the question of the Queen.

2. What agreement does the knight make with the old woman?

The knight agrees to marry the old woman in exchange for the answer of the Queen's question.

3. What information does the old woman share with the knight?

The old woman shares the information of what women desire the most.

4. In what ways does the relationship between the knight and the old woman change during the course of the story?

The relationship between the knight and the old woman change during the story, because the knight admits defeat to the old woman, and then they start talking to each other about which wife sounds better: an old faithful wife or a young lustful wife. The knight admits defeat again and allows the old woman to do whatever she pleases to him.

5. In her tale, the Wife of Bath offers direct statements on friars, women's desires, and marriage. Summarize each statement and then explain what each reveals about the Wife's personality.

The wife of bath doesn't like friars, because they sell women into marriage. Women's desires are having complete control over the relationship or marriage. Marriage is where the woman has complete control and in return the man can do whatever he wants to her body.

7. Review lines 404-432. Is the conclusion of the story satisfying? In your response, consider the knight's crime and the outcome of his actions.

In a way it sort of is because the knight is a slave to his wife now for the rest of his life. However, again it's not, because the knight is sorta getting away with the crime of raping the maiden.

8. The enduring appeal of the Canterbury Tales stems in part from Chaucer's remarkable ability to match stories and storytellers. In what way is the Wife of Bath's unusual tale well-suited to her personality?

The Wife of Bath's tale is well-suited to her personality, because she incorporates her beliefs into the story.

10. Around 1185, Andreas Capellanus wrote The Art of Courtly Love. In this influential work, Capellanus states, "Love makes an ugly and rude person shine with all beauty, knows how to endow with nobility even one of humble birth, can even lend humility to proud." In what ways does The Wife of Bath's Tale reflect Capellanus's understanding of love and its transforming power?

Love can be a powerful thing in both good or bad. It can make us shine or it can make a person ugly or rude. Love is power. The understanding of love can be a powerful thing and can be used to manipulate people or make them shine.

Canterbury Tales: Pardoner's Tale - Questions

1. What event prompts the three rioters to seek Death?

The death of an old friend of theirs prompts the three rioters to seek Death, also hearing stories of Death killing many people in different villages.

2. In what way is their discovery at the old tree unexpected?

They forgotten their journey about finding Death when they find gold coins at the old tree (they wree expecting to find Death, not gold).

3. Describe the events that directly lead to their deaths.

The youngest rioter died by the hands of the two other rioters, then they both died by the posioned wine the youngest rioter brought.

4. Were you able to correctly anticipate everything that happened, or were you surprised by how some events developed?

I was able to make a guess about the deaths of the three rioters being brought upon themselves.

5. A foil is a character who provides a striking contrast to other characters. In what way does the old man serve as a foil to the three rioters?

The old man serves as a foil to the three rioters, because he speaks about how he is waiting for his time to come and speaks the word of God while telling them that Death can be found under the old tree.

7. How essential is irony to the meaning of the store?

The irony is essential, because it reinforces the theme of money being the root of all evil.

8. During the mid-14th century, the Black Death - a massive epidemic of the bubonic plague - swept through Asia and Europe. In Europe alone, one-quarter of the population died. In what ways might these circumstances have made people vulnerable to the tricks of the Pardoner and other unscrupulous clergymen?

The people were probably scared and wanting to redeem their sins so they seek the Pardoner to lift their sins before they die. They were also probably mentally unstable, so they were doing everything they could to stay alive and to be welcomed in the gates of Heaven. Basically, they were scared.

The Book of Margery Kemp: Questions 1-6 & 8

1. Why did Kempe send for a priest?

Kempe had something on her conscience that she wanted to confess before she died.

2. How did Kempe behave in the months after seeing the priest?

Kempe went out of her mind and was disturbed and tormented with spirits for half a year, eight weeks and odd days. She thought devils opened their mouths as if they were going to swallow her.

3. What changed her behavior?

Kempe's behavior changed when Christ comes and asks Kempe why she has forsaken him.

4. What kind of person does Kempe present herself to be, and for what purpose?

Kempe sees herself as someone that was troubled by the devil, and when Christ came to visit her Kempe became sane again. This is like a death and rebirth purpose that she shows us that is happening to her.

5. What conclusions did you draw about each of the following?

• Kempe's personality

Kempe wanted to confess her sin badly, but she became insane with the devil when she couldn't confess her sin, due to people telling her to shut up. Her personality changes when Christ pays her a visit and she is able to overcome the devil.

• Kempe's religious beliefs

Kempe strongly believes that Christ and the devil exist. Kempe believes that the devil and many other souls has taken over her mind and body. However, she is sane again when she recongizes Christ. 

• Kempe's illness

Kempe's illness is due to the fact of her childbirth. After childbirth many women go through a depression, so many Kempe was going through that, which made her mentally ubstable. However, she is cured when she sees Christ enter her room.

• English society in Kempe's time

The english society thinks Kempe is insane and mental unstable. They think that Kempe is hysterical and needs to recover from labor. They also view women as only serving the house or joining societies for God; very little get education. 

6. Kempe undergoes a transformation during her illness. What does this transformation symbolize?

This transformation symbolizes rebirth. Kempe thought she was dying and felt she needed to confess her sin before she departed. However, when Kempe is refused to confess her sin, she goes through this journey of death where the devil and many other souls start to tourment her mind and body. At last, when Kempe is left alone she is able to find Christ and is reborn from seeing him and speaking with him. Kempe becomes sane again and refills her strength with food and water.

8. Readers are often divided in their reactions to the The Book of Margery Kempe. Some feel that Kempe was mentally unstable and should not be taken seriously. Others see her as a strong-minded woman who insisted on the validity of her own spiritual life. Do you agree with either of these opinions, or do you see Kempe differently? Why?

I believe it was both. Kempe could of been mentally unstable, because she just gave childbirth, but during her mentally unstable time she was also viewing her spiritual self. Kempe saw she had committed this sin and wanted to confess it, but once she was refused, she felt like the devil had enter her body. When Kempe is given the time to think about everything she sees Christ and is awaken from her depression, which allows her to become herself.

Sir Gawain and The Green Knight FIT IV Questions

FIT IV

1) Sir Gawain and the Green Knight can be viewed as a journey from life to death and back to life. Discuss how this works.

When Gawain cuts off the Green Knight's head, its a symbol of death. When Gawain goes on this journey of finding the Green Knight thats a symbol of a journey to death. When Gawain isn't beheaded and the Green Knight knows about his sin (accepting the girdle) Gawain is reborn by confessing his sin to the Green Knight and asking for forgiveness. 

2) Sir Gawain is reborn both physically and spiritually at the end of the book how?

Gawain is reborn physically when he gains more confidence in himself at the castle when the servants are whispering about the glory of King Arthur's knights. Gawain is reborn spiritually when he confesses his sin to the Green Knight and asking for forgiveness.

3) Whose Point of View are we suppose to exact at the end of the book? Why?

Gawain's point of view, because we don't see how the Green Knight views what has happened. 

4) Is Gawain ruined as a knight or will we see great deeds from him again?

Gawain will see more great deeds, because the servants at the castle wear a green belt to respect his courage.

5) In your opinion who is really in control?

Sir Gawain

6) Is Gawain a hero?

Gawain isn't a hero.

Sir Gawain and The Green Knight: FIT III Questions

1) Compare each of the hunting scenes with the bedroom scenes in the castle. Explain how the hunting scenes symbolize what is going on in the bedroom and explore how the differ animals hunted relate to the different tactics used by the lady each day.

The lord's wife is acting like the animal the lord and is men are hunting. For example, the first hunt is a doe, which is peaceful and graceful, the lady acts peaceful and graceful towards Gawain. Another example is when the lord is hunting the boar, which is aggressive, the lady starts to act aggressive towards Gawain.

2) What is your impression of Gawain during this section? How do you think he behaves? Does he uphold his honor while not dishonoring the lady and the lord? 

My impression of Gawain is that he is doing his best to stay true to his knight hood and faith. Gawain is behaving like true knight and trying to keep his honour and faith without being rude to the lady and lord. Yes.

3) What is the climax of the book?

The climax of the book was when Gawain accepted the magical girdle from the lady.

4) What does the girdle symbolize? 

The girdle symbolizes a talisman of luck. Gawain thinks that the girdle will help him in his confrontation with the Green Knight. Gawain cannot be cut down as long as he wears the girdle, this breaks the rules of the game by not giving the girdle to the lord.

5) There are a few allusions to Christ, Mary and faith (or failure of faith) can you pick a couple out and discuss why they are there?

Failure of faith is when Gawain accepts the girdle from the lady because it shows that he is putting all his faith into the girdle than in Christ and Mary.

Words of the Day #5

Prehensile - adapted for seizing, grasping, or taking hold of something; adj.

He rose to his feet, his long, prehensile fingers curled into fists.

Words of the Day #4

Moras - the unit of time equivalent to the ordinary or normal short sound or syllable; noun

The moras of space are still unknown to many astronauts.

Slake - to cool or refresh; verb

She slake the plants with water, after she found that they have been soaking in the sun for hours.

Words of the Day #3

Entreaty - earnest request or petition; supplication; noun

His face expressed entreaty when he was asked about his Halloween outfit,

Manifest - readily perceived by the eye or the understanding; evident; obvious; apparent; plain; adj.

The manifest ghost girl is commonly seen around the park swings.

Sir Gawain and The Green Knight FIT II Questions

FIT II

1) Look at the progression of each stanza in this section and briefly list/discuss in order what every stanza is about.

The first stanza went from winter to spring really fast, which shows that time is moving forward.

The second stanza went from spring to fall then to winter really fast, which shows that the promise of the Green Knight is coming closer.

The third stanza Sir Gawain tells the King about that he must start is adventure of the Green Knight.

The fourth stanza Sir Gawain's armor is described.

The fifth stanza Sir Gawain leaves to find the Green Knight.

The sixth stanza Sir Gawain goes through endless battles with animals, but these are rushed as these are just side battles.

The seventh stanza Sir Gawain is in a forest and he wishes he had a place to pray.

The eight stanza Sir Gawain sees a castle out in the distance and walks towards it.

The ninth stanza Sir Gawain is greeted by the lord of the castle and is offered shelter.

2) Look at the motif of games and discuss how it works in this section.

Two different meanings of the games are being discussed in this section. One term of the meaning of games is like everyday childish games whereas the second term of the meaning games is more like hunting games. This works in the section because it helps reinforce the seriousness of the situation Sir Gawain has gotten himself into.

3) Other than the pentangle describe a symbol in this section and relate it to a theme. Discuss how this symbol reinforces the theme.

Another symbol in this section is the color green. It can be related to the theme of death and rebirth. The color green is said to have the meaning of death and rebirth along with the idea of magic. Green is also the only color that is seen during the winter time. Winter also symbolizes death.

4) How is Gawain different in this section as compared to the last? 

Gawain is treated like a great warrior because his lord is King Arthur, so the servants and guest assume that he is wise and strong and knows things that they don't know. Gawain also is willing to play games with the lord and they even begin a bargain. Gawain also starts to flirt with some ladies and takes greatly into the lord's hospitality inside of focusing on his mission.

5) Discuss the setting.

Gawain is in a castle that he found in the forest after he got done praying for shelter. When Gawain enters this castle he is in a warm atmosphere and joins the people of the castle during the holidays which allows for merriment. As the holidays end, the atomsphere becomes more serious and Gawain is left alone in the castle with the lord's wife.

Words of the Day #2

Personable - of pleasing personal appearance; handsome or comely; attractive; adj.

In every fairytale, the prince and princess are always personable people.

Accrue - to happen or result as a natural growth, addition; verb

Jake didn't want to add chemicals to his plants, instead he wanted them to accrue on their own.

Malady - any disorder or disease of the body, especially one that is chronic or deepseated; noun

The malady within Africa was effecting a person almost instantly. 

Words of the Day #1

Courtliness - polite, refined, or elegant; noun

The courtliness of the queen when it came to dancing the waltz was humorous, because she would slap her partner at the end of each dance.

Sedately - calm, quiet, or composed; adj.

The sedately cat sat on the sofa staring out the window.

Sir Gawain And The Green Knight: Part I

Summarize

The story begins at Christmastime at King Arthur's court in Camelot. The knights of the Round Table join Arthur in the holiday celebrations, and Queen Guinevere. The lords and ladies of Camelot have been feasting for fifteen days, and now it is New Year's Day. The Green Knight enters the room and claims he has came in peace, but demands to indulged in a game. He wants to play with someone who will strike him with his own axe. Arthur decides to take the Green Knight's challenge, but Gawain intervenes and says he will do it instead. Gawain beheads the Green Knight, but the Green Knight rides off with his head and everyone returns to feasting.

Characters

Sir Gawain

Queen Guinevere

King Arthur

Green Knight

Knights of the Round Table

Iwain

Examine the importance of the:

Beheading contest

- Contest

- Shows warrior honor

The color green

- nature

- earth

1) When and where does the story start? What is the time of year important?

Story starts in Camelot at King Arthur's palace. It's Christmas time. 

2) How is both the King and Queen described?

The king is sorta childish as he refuses to eat until he has a story told to him, and the queen is joyous and beautiful.

3) How does the Green Knight behave? What is the tone of his voice? List some things he says.

The Green Knight is demanding and he wants to play this game with King Arthur's knights.

4) How is Gawain humble in this section? 

He takes his King's place of beheading the Green Knight.

5) How do the guests act after the Green Knights acts.

They kick around the Green Knight's head.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Notes

FIT I

King Arthur's Court (Camelot) at Christmas time

Green Knight enters and challenges the knights to a beheading contest.

(Think inciting even here)

Line structure though all four sections will use alliteration and something known as the bob and wheel at the end of each section

FIT II

Sir Gawain in the wilderness as he travels to find the Green Knight a year later

FIT III

Sir Gawain at the castle of Bertilak. Series of hunting parallels.

FIT IV

Sir Gawain at the chapel of the Green Knight
(think resolution)

Sir Gawain And The Green Knight: Vocabulary Words

Courtliness - polite, refined, or elegant; adj.

Sedately - calm, quiet, or composed; adj.

Personable - of pleasing personal appearance; handsome or comely; attractive; adj.

Accrue - to happen or result as a natural growth, addition; verb

Malady - any disorder or disease of the body, especially one that is chronic or deepseated; noun

Entreaty - earnest request or petition; supplication; noun

Manifest - readily perceived by the eye or the understanding; evident; obvious; apparent; plain; adj.

Moras - the unit of time equivalent to the ordinary or normal short sound or syllable; noun

Slake - to cool or refresh; verb

Prehensile - adapted for seizing, grasping, or taking hold of something; adj.

Beowulf: Essays Outline

Thesis:

1.  The narrator of the epic describes Beowulf’s character through three traits: bravery, physical strength, and loyalty.

2. The narrator of the epic describes various cultural backdrops in Beowulf: pride, honor, and divine law.

3. The narrator of the epic describes Beowulf as a warrior of good and the monsters he defeats as evil, which brings out this theme of good vs. evil.

4.  The narrator of the epic describes Beowulf’s name by meaning two things: bear and wolf.

5. The narrator of the epic describes Grendel as a spawn of evil and is forever cursed to live unhappy.


1st Essay - Character: Beowulf

I. Brave

A. Choose to fight Grendel without armor or weapons

     "I have heard, too, that the monster's scorn of men is so great that he needs no weapons and fears none. Nor will I." 261-263

B. Has successfully defeated numerous monsters

"I drove five great giants into chains, chased all of that race from earth. I swam in the blackness of night, hunting monsters out of the ocean, and killing them one by one." 248-253

C. Fights the dragon, despite likelihood of death

"When he comes to me I mean to stand, not run from his shooting flames, stand till fate decides which of us wins." 636-639

II. Physical Strength

A. Swimming Challenge with Brecca

"I have come so far..that I, alone and with the help of my men, may purge all evil from this hall" 257-26

B. Able to defeat Grendel by ripping off his arm

"The bleeding sinews deep in his shoulder snapped, muscle and bones spilt and broke." 390-391

C. Physical altercation with Grendel shakes the mead hall

"The high hall rang, its roof boards swayed..benches rattled "

III. Values Loyalty

A. The Geats swear their loyalty to Beowulf to repay his kindness

"All of us swore to repay him, when the time came, kindness for kindness---with our lives, if he needed them." 748-750

B. Passes on his authority to Wiglaf

"Then that brave king gave the golden necklace from around his throat to Wiglaf...'You're the last of all out far-flug family'". 831-835

C. The Geats wait for Beowulf to return from the underwater lair when other have given up on Beowulf

"The Danes gave up, left the lake and went home, Hrothgar with them. The Geats stayed, sat sadly, watching..." 1601-1604

2nd Essay - Setting: Cultural Backdrop

I. Honor

A. Halfdane's son presents Beowulf with gifts for defeating Grendel
"Then Halfdane's son presented Beowulf with a gold standard as a victory gift, an embroidered banner; also breast-mail and a helmet; and a sword carried high, that was both precious object and token of honour..." 1019-1026

B. Beowulf's formal boast pleases the Queen

"This formal boast by Beowulf the Geat pleased the lady well and she went to sit by Hrothgar, regal and arrayed with gold."639-641

You might get irritated when people around you make boasts, but for Beowulf and the warriors around him, doing so is an important traditional part of their culture. 

C. A poet begins to make songs about Beowulf's victory

"Meanwhile, a thane of the king's household, a carrier of tales, a traditional singer deeply schooled in the lore of the past, linked a new theme to a strict metre. The man started to recite with skill, rehearsing Beowulf's triumphs and feats in well-fashioned lines, entwining his words." 866-873

Immediately after Beowulf's fight with Grendel, the Danish minstrel begins composing a song, using established poetic clichés, about his great deeds. The composition of new ballads celebrating local heroes was traditional in medieval Scandinavian culture.

II. Pride

A. Beowulf instructs Wiglaf to build a famous barrow for him

"'Order my troop to construct a barrow on a headland on the coast, after my pyre has cooled. It will loom on the horizon at Hronesness and be a reminder among my people – so that in coming times crews under sail will call it Beowulf's Barrow, as they steer ships across the wide and shrouded waters.'" 2802-2808

The building of barrows, is a traditional way for Scandinavian and European tribes in the Middle Ages to commemorate great men and women after their deaths.

B. Blood feuds between the Swedes 

"'So this bad blood between us and the Swedes, this vicious feud, I am convinced, is bound to revive; they will cross our borders and attack in force when they find out that Beowulf is dead.'" 2999-3003

Blood feuds were a traditional. Every time a man from one tribe kills a man from another tribe, it's possible that the revenge killings will eventually escalate into a full-scale war. At the end of Beowulf, a Geatish messenger predicts that, with the strong king Beowulf dead, another blood feud will break out between the Geats and their rival tribe, the Swedes.

C. Retelling of stories of Beowulf

"Then twelve warriors rode around the tomb, chieftain's sons, champions in battle, all of them distraught, chanting in dirges, mourning his loss as a man and a king. They extolled his heroic nature and exploits; which was the proper thing, for a man should praise a prince whom he holds dear and cherish his memory when that moment comes when he has to be conveyed from his bodily home." 3169-3177

Beowulf's lords celebrate his life by retelling the stories of his great deeds, a traditional way of mourning and preserving the memory of a great man at the same time.

III. Divine Law 

A. God manages every detail of human ilfe

"It threw the hero into deep anguish and darkened his mood: the wise man thought he must have thwarted ancient ordinance of the eternal Lord, broken His commandment." 2327-2331

Beowulf's downfall is a punishment for breaking divine law. Everything seems to be extremely significant, and God appears to manage every detail of human life.


B. God favors Beowulf
"The monster wrenched and wrestled with him but Beowulf was mindful of his mighty strength, the wondrous gifts God had showered on him: He relied for help on the Lord of All, on His care and favour. So he overcame the foe, brought down the hell-brute. "1269-1274

Beowulf is victorious because of his own strength and prowess, because of God's favor, or because he's fated to be on the side of good. Grendel doesn't have a chance.

C. Fate is ordained by God

"It is a great wonder how Almighty God in His magnificence favours our race with rank and scope and the gift of wisdom; His sway is wide. Sometimes he allows the mind of a man of distinguished birth to follow its bent, grants him fulfillment and felicity on earth and forts to command in his own country." 1724-1731

Every fate is ordained by God. If a king rules his people well and consistently, it's not necessarily because he's skilled, but because God has allowed his skills to flourish.


3rd Essay - Theme: Good vs. Evil

I. God vs Devil

A. Grendel is a descendant of Cain; marked to be unhappy (cursed).
"So times were pleasant for the people there until finally one, a fiend out of hell, began to work his evil in the world." 99-101

Grendel isn't just the enemy – he's a personification, or maybe that should be monster-fication, of everything that is evil. He's literally a "fiend out of hell," a descendant of Cain, inherently rotten.

B. Beowulf has God on his side

"Like a man outlawed for wickedness, he must await the mighty judgement of God in majesty." 976-8

Grendel may be a demon from hell, but he's insignificant compared to the mighty power and goodness of God. Beowulf may be a battle between good and evil, but the two sides are nowhere near equal. This isn't a dualistic fight between God and the Devil; it's God triumphing over all the little, petty demons on earth.

C. Evil can also come from humans

"Inside Heorot there was nothing but friendship. The Shielding nation was not yet familiar with feud and betrayal. " 1016-8

Most of the time, the "evil" in Beowulf consists of inherently depraved fantastic creatures – demons like Grendel, sea monsters, and dragons. Occasionally, however, we get hints that another kind of evil could come from inter-tribal feuding. Perhaps human beings can create their own evil without needing monsters to represent it for them.

4th Essay - Title: Beowulf

I. Meaning

A. "Bee wolf"
Possibly means "bee wolf" (in effect equal to "bear") from Old English beo "bee" and wulf "wolf".

B. Wolf is a symbol of doom

In the poem a wolf is seen as a symbol of doom; Beowulf may of been a symbol for doom since at the end of the poem he dooms the entire nation of Geats by destroying the dragon.

C. Bears have great strength

Beowulf was said to have the strength of 30 men in each hand; his name is suppose to relate to a bear, but bears can only carry the strength of five men (when not provoked).

5th Essay - Memorable Quote: "Grendel was the name of this grim demon haunting the marches, marauding around the heath and the desolate fens; he had dwelt for a time in misery among the banished monsters, Cain's clan, whom the Creator had outlawed and condemened as outcast." pg. 9

A. Meaning
Grendel is an exile of God and he is a descent from Cain, Cain being from the Bible. In the Bible Cain killed his brother Abel and was marked by God. Through Cain's bloodline everyone has been seen a monster or an outcast of society.

B. Why do I find it memorable?

I find this quote memorable because Grendel was cursed the moment was brought into the world even though he himself didn't do anything (it was his ancestor Cain). So, automatically Grendel is evil and destroys Heorot along with killing men. I just feel like Grendel is misunderstood.

C. Why is it important?

This quote is important because it starts this battle between good and evil. Grendel is this demon from Hell and Beowulf is God's warrior to destroy Grendel; being better than Grendel in every way. Once we hear of Grendel, the whole poem becomes this battle between good and evil.

Beowulf Dialect Journal: #51-55

51. "They said that of all the kings upon the earth he was the man most gracious and fair-minded, kindest to his people and keenest to win fame." (3180).

It's a warrior's job to be the keenest to win, not a king's job. So this shows that Beowulf was more greatest as a warrior than a king.

52. "They let the ground keep that ancestral treasure, gold under gravel, gone to earth, as useless to men now as it ever was." (3166-3169).

Beowulf thought he was leaving his people with all this gold and that the nation would survive because of it, but he is instead buried with it, so the gold is useful to no one.

53. "A Geat woman too sang out in grief; with hair bound up, she unburdened herself of her worst fears, a wild litany of nightmare and lament; her nation invaded, enemies on the rampage, bodies in piles, slavery and abasement. Heaven swallowed the smoke." (3150-3155).

Women and children go through the aftermath of war. They become slaves to the other nation.

54. "...but the raven winging darkly over the doomed will have news, tidings for eagle of how he hoked and ate, how the wolf and he made short work of the dead." (3028-3030).

Raven, eagle, and wolf are all symbols of doom.

55. "...once princes from beyond get tidings of how you turned and fled and disgraced yourselves. A warrior will sooner die than live a life of shame." (2888-2890).

Once other nations hear of Beowulf's death, the Geat nation will die off. If they didn't defeat the dragon, the Geat nation would survive.

The Seafarer Essay

6) Interpret the imagery of sea and birds and discuss what it means in relation to the journey.

As the seafarer travels along harsh winter seas, he sees evidence of nature, particularly in the sea, and birds that fly above. Unfortunately, nature seems to be a poor substitute for the human companionship that he has left behind back on land. But still, the seafarer feels a sort of connection to nature, and the imagery of the sea and birds help reinforce this theme. 

The seafarer mentions many birds that he sees on his journey and that bring him great comfort, greater comfort than a mead hall. One of these birds is a swan, he mentions "At times the swan's song
I took to myself as pleasure," (line 20). The symbolic meaning of the swam is an appearance in our lives as an arrow pointing to our dreamier depths and feelings. Furthermore, we get the sense of balance from swan meaning as it lives harmoniously amongst three of the four Aristotelian elements. The swan may also bear messages of love and relationships.When the swan glides upon the waters of our awareness, it might be a symbol of love, and a reminder of the blessings found in our relationships. So when the seafarer hears this song of the swan he might be reminded of his fellow kinsmen on land. 

The sea is a huge imagery in this poem as it's the entire first part. The seafarer mentions that if you exiled yourself on the sea you face more hardships than you would on land. He mentions that 

"I can make a true song, about me myself,tell my travels,how I often endured days of struggle,of troublesome times, [how I] have suffered ,grim sorrow at heart.." (lines 1-7). The seafarer goes through hardships and doesn't miss the mead or laughter of men, he has become one with himself, or one with nature, due to this journey.

As the seafarer travels along harsh winter seas, he becomes one with nature. The seafarer doesn't miss the human companionship that he has left behind back on land. But still, the seafarer thinks about those glory days and faces his hardships now.

Beowulf - Four Funeral Notes

1st - Shield Sheafson (beginning)
-Buried at sea in a boat with treasure.
- He creates the Danish dynasty by conquering other people.

2nd - Hildeburgh's brother and son (roughly 1/4 into the poem)
- Brother and son burned on a pyre
- This shows the lose of life in warfare and how it affects the survivors (particularly the women).

3rd - The Last Survivor (roughly 1/4 from the end)
- The treasure of a people is buried under ground by the only survivor a group of people (a nation) who has been killed in battle.

4th - Beowulf's funeral (end)
- Burned on a pyre and buried in a rock mound (called Beowulf's barrow)
-He is burned with the dragon's treasure.
-His death is the end (or the beginning of the end) of the Geat nation.

Words of the Day #5

Sybarite - a person devoted to luxury and pleasure; noun

The sybarite was not looking forward to spending a day picking up trash off the streets.

Gustatory - of or relating to taste or tasting; adj.

The gustatory of the steak made my stomach sick the next morning.

Beowulf Dialect Journal: #46-50

46. "All were endangered; young and old were hunted down by that dark death-shadow who lurked and swooped in the long nights on the misty moors; nobody knows where these reavers from hell roam on their errands." (159-163)

Grendel's rampages seem more sinister than regular murders because of his uncanny ability to come and go unseen in the night.

47. "Shield was still thriving when his time came and he crossed over into the Lord's keeping.
His warrior band did what he bade them when he laid down the law among the Danes: they shouldered him out to the sea's flood, the chief they revered who had long ruled them A ring-whorled prow rode in the harbour, ice-clad, outbound, a craft for a prince. They stretched their beloved lord in his boat, laid out by the mast, amidships, the great ring-giver. Far-fetched treasures were piled upon him, and precious gear." (26-37)

Beowulf begins with death – with the description of the lavish burial-at-sea of the Danish king, Shield Sheafson. This is the first funeral scene in the epic, but it certainly won't be the last. It lets us know right away that how a man dies and how he is buried reflects on who he was when he was alive.

48. "This formal boast by Beowulf the Geat pleased the lady well and she went to sit by Hrothgar, regal and arrayed with gold." (639-641)

You might get irritated when people around you make boasts, but for Beowulf and the warriors around him, doing so is an important traditional part of their culture.

49. "Meanwhile, a thane of the king's household, a carrier of tales, a traditional singer deeply schooled in the lore of the past, linked a new theme to a strict metre. The man started to recite with skill, rehearsing Beowulf's triumphs and feats in well-fashioned lines, entwining his words." (866-873)
Immediately after Beowulf's fight with Grendel, the Danish minstrel begins composing a song, using established poetic clichés, about his great deeds. The composition of new ballads celebrating local heroes was traditional in medieval Scandinavian culture.

50. "Nor have I seen a mightier man-at-arms on this earth than the one standing here: unless I am mistaken, he is truly noble. This is no mere  hanger-on in a hero's armour." (244-251)

Beowulf's identity as a hero is obvious to the Danish coast-guard just from looking at him. He's not just an impostor; he's the real thing, and he seems to have "realness" radiating off of him.

Words of the Day #5

Conundrum - a riddle, the answer to which involves a pun or play on words; noun

Sal loves solving conundrums, but only when she is in a good mood.

Referendum - the principle or practice of referring measures proposed or passed by a legislative body, head of state, etc., to the vote of the electorate for approval or rejection; noun

The referendum of decrease in taxes was veto by the President, because he thought tax needed to be increased.

Words of the Day #4

Contumacious - stubbornly perverse or rebellious; adj.

Jane lectures Jake daily about his contumacious nature of doing chores.

Jollity - merry mood, condition, or activity; noun

Around Christmas time the atmosphere is always jollity. 

Beowulf Dialect Journal: #41-45

41. "The battle-famed king, bulwark of his earls, ordered a gold-chased heirloom of Hrethel's to be brought in; it was the best example of a gem-studded sword in the Geat treasury. This he laid on Beowulf's lap and then rewarded him with land as well, seven thousand hides, and a hall and a throne. Both owned land by birth in that country, ancestral grounds; but the greater right and sway were inherited by the higher born." (2190-2199)

Beowulf and King Hygelac (whose father, Hrethel, owned the sword described in the passage) are both lords – they both "owned land by birth in that country," Geatland. However, Hygelac has a slightly more higher up family, so he has the right to be king over Beowulf, even though they're about equally rich.

42. "'Order my troop to construct a barrow on a headland on the coast, after my pyre has cooled. It will loom on the horizon at Hronesness and be a reminder among my people – so that in coming times crews under sail will call it Beowulf's Barrow, as they steer ships across the wide and shrouded waters.'" (2802-2808)

The building of barrows, is a traditional way for Scandinavian and European tribes in the Middle Ages to commemorate great men and women after their deaths.

43. "'So this bad blood between us and the Swedes, this vicious feud, I am convinced, is bound to revive; they will cross our borders and attack in force when they find out that Beowulf is dead.'" (2999-3003)

Blood feuds were a traditional. Every time a man from one tribe kills a man from another tribe, it's possible that the revenge killings will eventually escalate into a full-scale war. At the end of Beowulf, a Geatish messenger predicts that, with the strong king Beowulf dead, another blood feud will break out between the Geats and their rival tribe, the Swedes.

44. "Then twelve warriors rode around the tomb, chieftain's sons, champions in battle, all of them distraught, chanting in dirges, mourning his loss as a man and a king. They extolled his heroic nature and exploits; which was the proper thing, for a man should praise a prince whom he holds dear and cherish his memory when that moment comes when he has to be conveyed from his bodily home." (3169-3177)

Beowulf's lords celebrate his life by retelling the stories of his great deeds, a traditional way of mourning and preserving the memory of a great man at the same time.

45. "The water was infested with all kinds of reptiles. There were writhing sea-dragons and monsters slouching on slopes by the cliff, serpents and wild things such as those that often surface at dawn to roam the sail-road and doom the voyage." (1425-1430)

It's interesting that the sea monsters that infest the lake where Grendel's mother lives are just thrown in for atmosphere. Beowulf doesn't really have to fight them and they don't pose a very important threat.

Words of the Day #3

Surly - churlishly rude or bad-tempered; adj.

Sally warned me not to hug the surly cat, but I did anyway and got a nasty scratch.

Surreptitious - obtained, done, made, etc., by stealth; secret or unauthorized; adj.

A lot of people think the government have surreptitious UFOs in a federal land somewhere in Ohio.

Words of the Day #2

Bellicose - inclined or eager to fight; adj.

The bellicose boxer broke the rules and threw the first punch before the bell dinged.

Gregarious - fond of the company of others; adj.

Sally is a gregarious cat that can always be found with her other cat friends in the alley way at night.

Beowulf Dialect Journal: #39-40

39. "Inspired again by the thought of glory, the war-king threw his whole strength behind a sword-stroke and connected with the skull. And Naegling snapped. Beowulf's ancient iron-grey sword let him down in the fight. It was never his fortune to be helped in combat by the cutting edge of weapons made in iron. When he wielded a sword, no matter how blooded and hard-edged the blade his hand was too strong, the stroke he dealt (I have heard) would ruin it." (2677-2687)

Swords snap, melt, and otherwise fail their owners. During Beowulf's final battle with the dragon, it's  explained that our hero is just too strong for the blades of the swords forged by men.

40. "The old lord gazed sadly at the gold. 'To the everlasting Lord of All, to the King of Glory, I give thanks that I behold this treasure here in front of me, that I have been allowed to leave my people so well endowed on the day I die.'" (2793-2798)

As he dies, Beowulf seems to feel conflicted about the treasure that he has won from the dragon. On the other hand, he is glad that he's leaving a great deal of wealth to the Geat people, which should lend power and authority to their nation. On the other-other hand, he looks at the gold "sadly," suggesting that he doubts whether it was worth sacrificing his life for it.

Beowulf Dialect Journal: #37-38

37. "'Order my troop to construct a barrow on a headland on the coast, after my pyre has cooled. It will loom on the horizon at Hronesness and be a reminder among my people – so that in coming times crews under sail will call it Beowulf's Barrow, as they steer ships across the wide and shrouded waters.'" (2802-2808)

The symbol of Beowulf's successful establishment of an identity as a warrior and a king is his memorial, Beowulf's Barrow.

38. "'I would rather not use a weapon if I knew another way to grapple with the dragon and make good my boast as I did against Grendel in days gone by. But I shall be meeting molten venom in the fire he breathes, so I go forth in mail-shirt and a shield.'" (2518-2524)

Beowulf is careful to explain why he allows himself the advantage of armor and weapons in his battle with the dragon: it's because the dragon has its own special advantages: poisonous venom and the ability to breathe fire. It's not enough for Beowulf to battle the dragon. He has to emphasize that, in doing so, he really is meeting the creature on a level playing field, demonstrating his own strength and prowess, not just using better weapons.

Beowulf Dialect Journal: #35-36

35. "'The treasures that Hygelac lavished on me I paid for when I fought, as fortune allowed me, with my glittering sword. He gave me land and the security land brings, so he had no call to go looking for some lesser champion.'" (2490-2494)

Beowulf explains his relationship to King Hygelac. Hygelac gives him land and wealth, and Beowulf gives Hygelac his loyalty and service in battle in return. They're also foster brothers. Yet, somehow, the money-and-land-for-fighting relationship is more important to Beowulf than the family ties.

36. "Beowulf spoke, made a formal boast for the last time: 'I risked my life often when I was young. Now I am old, but as king of the people I shall pursue this fight for the glory of winning, if the evil one will only abandon his earth-fort and face me in the open.'" (2510-2515)

Beowulf makes sure that he's continuing to add to his reputation and fame by his brave deeds. As he faces death, he sustains himself by continuing to think about the name that he's made for himself.

Beowulf Dialect Journal: #33-34

33. "After many trials, he was destined to face the end of his days in this mortal world; as was the dragon, for all his long leasehold on the treasure." (2341-2344)

The final battle between good and evil in Beowulf. Beowulf destroys the dragon, but receives his death in the process. Without Beowulf, the Geats will be attacked from all sides, and I wonder whether his heroic deeds have really created any lasting good in the world.

34. "At seven, I was fostered out by my father, left in the charge of my people's lord. King Hrethel kept me and took care of me, was open-handed, behaved like a kinsman. While I was his ward, he treated me no worse as a wean about the place than one of his own boys." (2428-2433)

It's interesting to notice that we don't hear about Beowulf's childhood until the very end of the epic. The fact that Beowulf was raised as a foster son by King Hrethel probably seems really important; but Beowulf's deeds as an adult are more important than his youth.

Beowulf Dialect Journal: #31-32

31. "It threw the hero into deep anguish and darkened his mood: the wise man thought he must have thwarted ancient ordinance of the eternal Lord, broken His commandment." (2327-2331)

Beowulf's downfall is a punishment for breaking divine law. Everything seems to be extremely significant, and God appears to manage every detail of human life.

32. "Thus Beowulf bore himself with valour; he was formidable in battle yet behaved with honour and took no advantage."(2177-2179)

Beowulf is not just good at fighting – he's also a good person. He doesn't take undue advantage of his enemies or his friends.

Old English Translation Lines 990-1000

At the time was commanded quickly inside within Heort to adoren very much many art if the was

Beowulf Dialect Journal: #29-30

29. "She came to Heorot. There, inside the hall, Danes lay asleep, earls who would soon endure a great reversal, once Grendel's mother attacked and entered. Her onslaught was less only by as much as an amazon warrior's strength is less than an armed man's  when the hefted sword, its hammered edge and gleaming blade slathered in blood, razes the sturdy boar-ridge off a helmet."(1279-1287)

The narrator reminds us that she's a vicious, violent, unbelievably strong opponent. She's compared to an Amazon, a member of a mythical tribe of female warriors in Greek mythology. Fighting Grendel's mother is like fighting an Amazon, whereas fighting Grendel is like fighting a male warrior.

30. "Then Halfdane's son presented Beowulf with a gold standard as a victory gift, an embroidered banner; also breast-mail and a helmet; and a sword carried high, that was both precious object and token of honour. So Beowulf drank his drink, at ease; it was hardly a shame to be showered with such gifts in front of the hall-troops." (1019-1026)

Hrothgar pays him in treasures, armor, and horses. Medieval tribes like the Danes and Geats insure that warriors will be loyal to kings by constantly rewarding those warriors with gold, jewels, and other loot.

Beowulf Dialect Journal: #27-28

27. "Hygelac's kinsman kept thinking about his name and fame: he never lost heart." (1529-1530)

People always want to know what inspires heroes, athletes, and great leaders – what sustains them, emotionally and mentally. In Beowulf's case, it's the thought of his reputation.

28. "'Be acclaimed for strength, for kindly guidance to these two boys, and your bounty will be sure.'" (1219-1220)

Queen Wealhtheow praises Beowulf for defeating Grendel and asks him to remember the rights of her sons in the Danish kingdom. It's particularly interesting that Wealhtheow equates "strength" with "kindly guidance".

Beowulf Dialect Journal: #25-26

25. "The monster wrenched and wrestled with him but Beowulf was mindful of his mighty strength, the wondrous gifts God had showered on him:  He relied for help on the Lord of All, on His care and favour. So he overcame the foe, brought down the hell-brute. "(1269-1274)

Beowulf is victorious because of his own strength and prowess, because of God's favor, or because he's fated to be on the side of good. Grendel doesn't have a chance.

26. "'I have wrested the hilt from the enemies' hand, avenged the evil done to the Danes; it is what was due.'" (1668-1670)

Good is not just the opposite of evil – good is actually the process of avenging evil that has been done in the past. That's a dangerous belief, because it leads to unending feuds and wars among the different tribes.

Beowulf Dialect Journal: #23-24

23. "It is a great wonder how Almighty God in His magnificence favours our race with rank and scope and the gift of wisdom; His sway is wide. Sometimes he allows the mind of a man of distinguished birth to follow its bent, grants him fulfillment and felicity on earth and forts to command in his own country." (1724-1731)

Every fate is ordained by God. If a king rules his people well and consistently, it's not necessarily because he's skilled, but because God has allowed his skills to flourish.

24. "Inside Heorot there was nothing but friendship. The Shielding nation was not yet familiar with feud and betrayal." (1016-8)
Most of the time, the "evil" in Beowulf consists of inherently depraved fantastic creatures – demons like Grendel, sea monsters, and dragons. Occasionally, however, we get hints that another kind of evil could come from inter-tribal feuding.

Beowulf Dialect Journal: #21-22

21. "The monster wrenched and wrestled with him but Beowulf was mindful of his mighty strength, the wondrous gifts God had showered on him: He relied for help on the Lord of All, on His care and favour. So he overcame the foe, brought down the hell-brute." (1269-1274)

Beowulf is not give all the credit for his victory against Grendel; if God hadn't wanted Beowulf to win, he reminds us, then he wouldn't win. Religious faith means being willing to be a little more humble and a little less boastful.

22. "Hrothgar spoke; he examined the hilt, the relic of old times. It was engraved all over and showed how war first came into the world and the flood destroyed the tribe of giants. They suffered a terrible severance from the Lord; the Almighty made the waters rise, drowned them in the deluge for retribution." (1687-1693)

It's describes the engraved hilt of the sword that Beowulf brings up from Grendel's mother's lair, it's a strange mixture of pagan legend and Christian story.

Beowulf Dialect Journal: #19-20

19. "'I have heard moreover that the monster scorns in his reckless way to use weapons; therefore, to heighten Hygelac's fame and gladden his heart, I hereby renounce sword and the shelter of the broad shield, the heavy war-board: hand-to-hand is how it will be, a life-and-death fight with the fiend.'" (433-440)

Beowulf makes his battle with Grendel more than a simple slay-the-monster task. By announcing that it will be a hand-to-hand combat, he gains extra glory for himself and the Geatish king, Hygelac, turning the contest into a feat of strength as well as a fight against evil.

20. "Beowulf, Ecgtheow's son, replied: 'Well, friend Unferth, you have had your say about Breca and me. But it was mostly beer that was doing the talking. The truth is this: when the going was heavy in those high waves, I was the strongest swimmer of all.'" (529-534)

Beowulf shows strength even when there isn't an important heroic task to be accomplished. When there aren't demons or dragons to fight, he gets into these, er, "swimming contests" with other warriors and trash talks.

Beowulf Dialect Journal: #17-18

17. "'The fact is, Unferth, if you were truly as keen and courageous as you claim to be Grendel would never have got away with such unchecked atrocity, attacks on your king, havoc in Heorot and horrors everywhere.'" (590-594)

Beowulf suggests that Unferth shouldn't go around insulting other warriors' courage until he's done something courageous himself.

18. "'Often, for undaunted courage, fate spares the man it has not already marked.'" (572-573)

Beowulf makes an interesting claim about his description of his swimming contest with Breca. At some points, the narrator reminds us that God determines everyone's fate. But in this passage, Beowulf claims that, if your fate hasn't been decided yet, you can succeed through sheer nerve and courageous behavior.

Beowulf Dialect Journal: #15-16

15. "Whichever one death fells must deem it a just judgement by God." (440-441)

Beowulf constantly emphasizes that death comes to everyone at whatever moment God decrees; there is nothing mortal man can do to avoid this eventual fate.

16. "None of them expected he would ever see his homeland again or get back to his native place and the people who reared him. They knew too well the way it was before, how often the Danes had fallen prey to death in the mead-hall." (691-696)

Beowulf doesn't enter into his battle with Grendel expecting to triumph over the demon. Instead, he is able to fight Grendel with courage because he's already accepted that he will probably die in the attempt. This morbid outlook frees him from fear.

Beowulf Dialect Journal: #13-14

13. "Time and again, when the goblets passed and seasoned fighters got flushed with beer they would pledge themselves to protect Heorot and wait for Grendel with whetted swords. But when dawn broke and day crept in over each empty, blood-spattered bench, the floor of the mead-hall where they had feasted would be slick with slaughter." (480-487)

In the world of the Spear-Danes, violence alternates with drunken revels and feasting.

14. "When his rage boiled over, he ripped open the mouth of the building, maddening for blood, pacing the length of the patterned floor with his loathsome tread, while a baleful light, flame more than light, flared from his eyes. He saw many men in the mansion, sleeping, a ranked company of kinsmen and warriors quartered together. And his glee was demonic, picturing the mayhem: before morning he would rip life from limb and devour them, feed on their flesh." (723-733)

Grendel actually takes pleasure in the details of his murderous assaults on the Danes, suggesting that he values battle for its own sake, rather than for the glory or the gold that he can get as a result of taking part in it.

Beowulf Dialect Journal: #11-12

11. "Suddenly then the God-cursed brute was creating havoc: greedy and grim, he grabbed thirty men from their resting places and rushed to his lair, flushed up and inflamed from the raid, blundering back with the butchered corpses." (120-125)

Grendel isn't only a violent murderer. He's also a "greedy" killer, someone who takes the lives of thirty men at one stroke even though he can't pay reparations for their deaths and there seems little reason for him to lash out in this way. Even though the world of the Spear-Danes and Weather-Geats is a brutal medieval battlefield, Grendel's violence stands out because it just doesn't make sense according to their customs.

12. "'If Grendel wins, it will be a gruesome day; he will glut himself on the Geats in the war-hall, swoop without fear on that flower of manhood as on others before. Then my face won't be there to be covered in death: he will carry me away as he goes to ground, gorged and bloodied; he will run gloating with my raw corpse and feed on it alone, in a cruel frenzy, fouling his moor-nest.'" (442-450)

Beowulf imagines, not just the possibility of his death and defeat, but the exact details of his gruesome demise, what his corpse will look like, and what will happen to his body after he is dead.

Beowulf Dialect Journal: #9-10

9. "The Almighty Judge of good deeds and bad, the Lord God, Head of the Heavens and High King of the World, was unknown to them. Oh, cursed is he who in time of trouble had to thrust his soul into the fire's embrace, forfeiting help; he has nowhere to turn. But blessed is he who after death can approach the Lord and find friendship in the Father's embrace." (180-188)

The narrator admits that he feels sorry for the pagan ancestors of the Anglo-Saxons, who didn't have the opportunity to turn to a Christian God for help. There's some condescension in this admission, of course, but also a genuine sorrow

10. "But the Lord was weaving a victory on His war-loom for the Weather-Geats." (696-697)

In this image, the poet unites the Christian God with pagan imagery – the loom of fate, on which men's lives are woven. Weaving, spinning, and threads were common metaphors for life and fate in Scandinavian culture. By adopting these traditional pagan images, but using them in a Christian context, the poet tries to negotiate between the two religious perspectives.

Beowulf Dialect Journal: #7-8

7. "Then a powerful demon, a prowler through the dark, 

nursed a hard grievance. It harrowed him 

to hear the din of the loud banquet 

every day in the hall, the harp being struck 

and the clear song of a skilled poet 

telling with mastery of man's beginnings, 

how the Almighty had made the earth 

a gleaming plain girdled with waters; 

in His splendour He set the sun and the moon  

to be earth's lamplight, lanterns for men, 

and filled the broad lap of the world 

with branches and leaves; and quickened life 

in every other thing that moved." (86-98)

Grendel's demonic nature is rubbed the wrong way by a bard's recitation of the story of Creation. Notice that this description of the creation of the world is an unusual mishmash of pagan and Christian imagery, reminding us of the complex religious background of the poem – told by Christians, but about pagans.

8. "Grendel was the name of this grim demon haunting the marches, marauding round the heath and the desolate fens; he had dwelt for a time in misery among the banished monsters, Cain's clan, whom the creator had outlawed and condemned as outcasts. For the killing of Abel the Eternal Lord had exacted a price: Cain got no good from committing that murder because the Almighty made him anathema and out of the curse of his exile there sprang ogres and elves and evil phantoms and the giants too who strove with God time and again until He gave them their reward." (102-114)

The only Biblical story specifically referred to inBeowulf is the tale of Cain and Abel, two brothers who took part in a murderous feud. In medieval Scandinavia, tribe against tribe and clan against clan often came down to fratricidal combat. Grendel represents the ultimate evil in this culture because he's the descendant of a man who killed his brother. Another villain of the poem, Unferth, is also condemned by the narrator because he killed his brothers.

Vocabulary #2

Bellicose - inclined or eager to fight; adj.

Gregarious - fond of the company of others; adj.

Surly - churlishly rude or bad-tempered; adj.

Surreptitious - obtained, done, made, etc., by stealth; secret or unauthorized; adj.

Contumacious - stubbornly perverse or rebellious; adj.

Jollity - merry mood, condition, or activity; noun

Referendum - he principle or practice of referring measures proposed or passed by a legislative body, head of state, etc., to the vote of the electorate for approval or rejection; noun

Conundrum - a riddle, the answer to which involves a pun or play on words; noun

Sybarite - a person devoted to luxury and pleasure; noun

Gustatory - of or relating to taste or tasting; adj.

Regale - to entertain lavishly or agreeably; delight; verb

Beowulf Dialect Journal: #5-6

5.  "'Most gracious Hrothgar, do not refuse them, but grant them a reply. From their arms and appointment, they appear well born and worthy of respect, especially the one who has led them this far: he is formidable indeed.'" pg. 27

He tells Hrothgar that he finds Beowulf a worthy warrior and that is very intimidating; should be granted a audience with Hrothgar for it might of been sent from the Heavens to kill Grendel.

6. "Wulfgar duty delivered the message: 'My lord, the conquering king of Danes, bids me announce that he knows your ancestry; also that he welcomes you here to Heorot and salutes your arrival from across the sea.'" pg. 27

This becomes important because Beowulf is now known throughout Heorot due to his relations with Hrothgar.

Beowulf Dialect Journal: #3-4

3. "The Almighty Judge of good deeds and bad, the Lord God, Head of the Heavens and High King of the World, was unknown to them. On, cursed is he who in time of trouble has thrust his soul in the fire's embrace, forfeiting help; he has nowhere to turn. But blessed is he who after death can approach the Lord and find friendship in the Father's embrace." pg. 15

Danes can't defat Grendel because they are not seeking help from God. God will also forgive them after their death. People who worship God in life shall go to Heaven. People who do not worship God in life shall still be welcomed in the kingdom of God because they would of formed a alliance or a good deed with God.

4. "Stoutness of heart, bravery not banishment, must have brought you to Hrothgar" pg. 25

The warriors are saying that bravery and a strong heart has brought everyone together at Denmark to defeat Grendel once and for all. No warrior has ever gone to the den of Grendel so they are all basically giving each other a pat on the back for coming so far.

Beowulf Dialect Journal: #1-2

1. "They decked his body no less bountifully with offerings than those first ones did who cast him away when he was a child and launched him alone out over the waves." pg. 5

Shield Sheafson was exiled when he was an orphan. Shield came from nothing and turned into a great king. This sorta relates to the story of Moses of when he was drifting alone on a river as a child with treasures (precious to him) and when he was founded he became the prince of Egypt. So Shield is this allusion to Moses. 

2. "Grendel was the name of this grim demon haunting the marches, marauding around the heath and the desolate fens; he had dwelt for a time in misery among the banished monsters, Cain's clan, whom the Creator had outlawed and condemened as outcast." pg. 9

Grendel is an exile of God and he is a descent from Cain, Cain being from the Bible. In the Bible Cain killed his brother Abel and was marked by God. Through Cain's bloodline everyone has been seen a monster or an outcast of society. 

Beowulf Notes

2-Part Structure

• Sunrise and sunset on a hero's life.

SUNRISE:

We see the sunrise of Beowulf's career. We are introduced to him as a young man who is out to win fame and honor his father's debts. His defeat of Grendel and Grendel's come at the beginning of his fame. He will go on and win other honors.

SUNSET:

We see the sunset of Beowulf's career and life. The second part of the story takes place over 50 years after the first part. Beowulf is an old man and has been king for a long time.

3-Part Structure

• 3 Monsters - 3 battles - each with each battle increasing in difficulty

• This structure focuses on the monsters. This is a story of three monsters and three battles. The danger of each battle and each monster increase as the story progress.

• Grendel: The battle with Grendel is fought in Heorot and with Beowulf waiting to ambush him. Beowulf fights with his bare hands.

• Grendel's Mother: The battle with the mother is fought in her lair. Beowulf, the intruder, swims for a day the depth of a fiery lake while the mother waits and ambushes hime. He saves himself by uses an ancient sword that he finds in her hall.

• The Dragon - 

Flytes or Flyting - a game of verbal taunting between warriors. A type of epic boasting. Ex) Beowulf and Unferth at the beginning.

Metonymy - a figure in speech in which one thing is represented by another that is comonly and often physically associated with it. Ex) Bendigeidfran's size, "No house could contain him," could be a metonymy for the size of his army or kingdom.

Synecdoche - a figure of speech in which a part of something is used to represent the whole thing. Ex) Beowulf using "keel" to refer to his ship.

Appositive - a building up of phrases that mean the same thing. This was characteristic of oral poetry to have a set of stock phrases that could be used to fit a pattern. The build up is suppose to have climatic effect. Ex) The shepherd of evil, guardian of crime

Motif - any recurrent image, symbol, theme, character, type, subjects, or narrative detail.

Motifs in Beowulf

• Kin Killing

• Feuds and ambushes

• Women mourning

• The arming of warrior, swords

• Heads and limbs

• The giving of gifts

Allusion - a reference to a person, event, statement, or theme found in literature, the arts, myths, religion, or popular culture. Beowulf contains numerous allusions to the Bible.

Roles of Women

• Hostess

• Peacemakers

• Monsters

Branwen Daughter of Llyr Questions

1) Connections: Characters – compare the characters of the two stories, which characters are alike. You can compare kings, warriors, women. Answers should be 2-3 sentences for each character.

Cet and Efnishen are both very cunning warriors with superior intelligence, mental toughness, couragenous, and selfless. They also care a lot about their country and their people, they do what they believe is the right thing to do and don't let anyone stop them from achieving their goal. Efnishen scarficed himself in order to stop the Irish from coming back to the dead whereas Cet sorta killed Conchobar in order to stop his crazy reign over the country and to avenge Mesgegra's death.

2) Compare the conflicts in the two stories in 2-3 sentences.

In Conchobar they had a king who was aself-bsorbed and in Branwen they struggled to keep the peace. So in both stories they struggled to keep the peace between two kingdoms and in themselves and each other because in Conchobar, Conchobar left his warriors in war so he can show off to the ladies and in Branwen was suppose to be the peace between them and because that didn't work out Efnishen killed all the Irish as they broke out into a war.

3) Compare the following themes in the two stories: The Role of Kings (think about who is a better king and why); The Role of Women (and yes there are women in “The Death of Conchobar”); The concept of magic (think about who uses magic in each story and what the purpose of magic is for); hospitality (yes its there in Conchobhar just not as clear); paganism vs. Christianity (perhaps more important in Conchobhar—think about the ending); man alone in a hostile world. Each comparison needs to be 2-3 sentences long.

The Role of Kings: In Conchobar wasn't a very good king because he was too self-aborsbed and that lead to his downfall. In Branwen Matholwch was a good king at first because he put up with insults and married his sister for peace between them, but that didn't work out so well because she didn't keep the peace. Later, when everything got really stressful, it lead to his downfall and started punishing his wife by sending her into the kitchen and that upset Efinseh and he set out to start a war.

The Role of Women: In Conchobar the women in the story were obsess with the way Conchobar looked and took him away from battle to chat with him and idolize him. Whereas, the women in Branwen were used in marriage to bring peace between two kingdoms.

Concept of magic: In Conchobar brainballs were sorta these magic trophies that these warriors collected from their prey that had the ability to kill whoever was hit by it. In Branwen we have this magic cauldorn that can bring people back from the dead.

Hospitality: In Conchobar, women were a great comfort to warriors and a break from war. They gave whatever the men wanted and most of all gave them attention. In Branwen, peace before war was a common thing, the King of Britian built a house for the King of Ireland to show this honor and apolizges and gave him everything he could to make up for marrying Branwen.

Pangaism vs. Christianity: In Conchobar, the story starts out with a pangan theme, but ends with a christian theme. It shows the transformation of Conchobar being this awful person into this saint like figure. However, in Branwen, the story stays pagan and everyone has god-like abilites.

Man alone in a hostile World: Cet was sorta this man that faced the world alone, especially in terms of killing Conchobar, yet at the same time Conchobar is also this man in terms of getting upset at the Jews for killing Christ. In Branwen, Efinshin faces the King of Britians army basically by himself and takes the sacrifice of stopping the Irish army from being reborn in the cauldron.

4) Compare the endings of the two stories: how are they alike.

Conchobar's and Branwen's endings are alike because they both end with some sort of death or tragedy. In Conchobar, the story ends with the death of Conchobar and Christ whereas in Branwen, the story ends with the death of everyone, but five women who are left to repopulate the world.

5) List your favorite moment from each story.

Conchobar: My favorite moment is when Fingen tells Conchobar that all he can do to keep himself alive is to sit upon his throne for as long as he lives or else he will die.

Branwen: My favorite moment is when they hide in sack flours, and Efinshen goes around smashing heads like it's nothing.

6) Find a photo for each of the characters in Branwen - post these to your blog.

7) Find a song that fits a theme of Branwen.

Shrug - Christina Grimmie

8) In your own words retell the story.

Branwen is married of to the King of Britian without her brother's consent. The King gives her brother all sorts of gift including a caldron that brings back the dead. When Branwen gives birth, her brother feels that the King didn't give them enough gifts. So the King punishes Branwen by sending her to work in the kitchen and she gets tired of this and sends a messager starling to her brother saying "Help!". This starts a war, where the caldron gets smashed and everyone dies, but a group of five women.

Words of the Day #4

Perfidy - deliberate breach of faith or trust; faithlessness; treachery; noun

The perfidy of Eliza's friendship surprised everyone, but me, because I knew who she really was as a person.

Morose - gloomily or sullenly ill-humored, as a person or mood; adj.

Sugar Mamas was selling cupcakes non-stop until a morose costumer entered and ruined the atmosphere by mumbling how much the prices of our cupcakes were stupid.

Words of the Day #3

Peruse - to read through with thoroughness or care; verb

Sally peruse through her basketball game and ended up making three half court shots.

Mitigate - to lessen in force or intensity, as wrath, grief, harshness, or pain; moderate; verb

The doctor tried to mitigate the patient's injuries, but in the end, he lost his patient.

The Death of Conchobar Script.

GROUP ACTIVITY

Rewrite the story in your own words and give your own telling of it. This should be a script with characters (one of your characters can be a narrator). You will act this out in front of class tomorrow. Your acting/presentation should take 2-3 minutes and I will time it on a stopwatch. Good luck.

Narrator: Once upon a time there were warriors showing off and were tossing around the brain of Mesgegra. The warrior Cet entered the room.

Conall: You and other warriors can't compare to me because I got thez brains.

Conchobar: True that.

Cet: (overhears the conversation and takes the brain) I shall use this brain to avenge Mesgegra's death.

(Conall and Conchobar follow Cet and enter war)

Women: Come here Conchobar ~

(Conchobar goes to the women and Cet uses the brain of Mesgegra to sorta kill Conchobar)

Narrator: Conchobar tells his warriors that kingship goes to anyone that can carry him to as far as his house. Cenn, one of his warriors, said he would carry Conchobar to his house. He brings him to his physician Fingen.

Fingen: I shall heal you Conchobar, however, I cannot take it out of your head because you will die. So for the rest of your life, just chillax (fix Conchobar's head with thread).

Narrator: Conchobar acted like this for seven years until Fingen showed up to his curb and told some news.

Fingen: Jesus is dead. The Jews killed Jesus.

Conchobar: What has this world come to!!!!~

Fingen: Jesus was nailed onto the cross.

Conchobar: I'm going to kill all the Jews (gets up and kills).

Narrator: As Conchobar fought, the brain of Mesgegra fell from his head and Conchobar died his soul being carried to the Heavens as he was baptism in his own blood, the first pagan in Ireland to welcome be in the Kingdom of God.

Words of the Day #2

Meticulous - taking or showing extreme care about minute details; adj.

The meticulous robber took necessary measures when it came to erasing his fingerprints.

Officious - objectionably aggressive in offering one's unrequested and unwanted services, help, or advice; meddlesome; adj.

Sarah often describes her cat as officious because she always comes home to a messy house.

The Death of Conchobar

Pre-reading

1) What are the qualities of a warrior/hero (think of the Odyssey, the Iliad)?

Cunning, Tragedy, Battle Skills, Stands for the value of the culture, and Nimble.

2) What are the qualities of a good king?

Kindness, Caring for the people/country, No Ego, and No Mistreating Power. 

3) What does a society with a king and warriors look like or act like? 

I assume it's very prepared place and ready to take action anytime. Very packed together.

4) What do you expect from a story about heroes and kings?

Tragedy, Problems that they run into in their life, Dramatic, Fights, Death, and Marriage (peace pledges).

5) What does Oral Tradition mean to you and how do you expect it to affect the story?

Oral tradition means to me that a story or event has been told through generations to be used as life lessons or to pass down culture. I think that it might mix up truth with some misunderstandings considering that the story has been passed on.

As we read

1) Keep track of all the characters that appear. Who is the protagonist? The antagonist(s)-- (think type of conflict).

Men of Ulster - Conall, Cu Chulainn, Cet mac Matach of Connacbt, Cenn Berriade, Fingen and Loegaire. They are trash talking each other and trying to see who is the best warrior by how many brains they've collected.

2) What is the main theme of the story (what is the author trying to say about life).

Religion. The author is trying to say that life has many different paths and we can take whatever path we choose, so Conchobar was pagthen and the becomes christian due to a enlightenment he has while he hears of the crufixtion of Christ.

3) List at least two symbols in the story. Why are these important?

Brain trophies are one symbols in the story and resemble paganism.
Religion is another symbol in the story and it's important because we have paganism and christianity mixed together in this short story.

4) Try to outline the plot.

The brain of Mesgegra was being tossed around until Cet took the brain away from them and plans to kill Conchobar with it to avenge Mesgegra's death. Cet and Conchobar are in war together and as the battle is going Conchobar leaves his army to show off to a group of ladies and then Cet hits him on the head with the brain of Mesgegra. Ceen Berriade carries Conchobar to his home and have his physican Fingen look at him and they all decide that they would rather Conchobar look bad and be king then have him die. Conchobar is cannot take action and his head is healed with a thread of gold. Conchobar gets mad about the Jews curfixing Christ and gets angry and the brain pops out of his head and dies. Conchobar's soul is taken from Hell and carried to Heaven.

After we read


1) What is up with the ending? Why is it important? Is this a Christian story or a Pagan story?  What clues (evidence) help you determine this?

The ending ends with Conchobar's death as he gets upset with the curfixtion of Christ. This is important because most of the story was told in paganism. I think this is a Christian story, because we see Conchobar go on to this path of enlightenment and is baptism with his own blood to go to Heaven with Christ instead of Hell.

2) What does the story tell us about life in Ireland during this time period? 

Life in Ireland during this time period was a little messy, you have a king that loves fooling around and winning, and then you have warriors just killing people to win their brains. It's a disturbing community...

3) What do you think about Conchobhar? Is he a good king? What is his personality like?

I don't think Conchobhar is a good king because his personality is all about himself and winning. For example, he left a battle to go show off to a group of girls.

4) What do you think about Cet? Is he a good warrior? What inferences can you make about him?

I think Cet is just doing what he thinks is right and what should be done. I wouldn't say that he was a good warrior, but he for sure wasn't a bad warrior. I think Cet did the right thing and went about it the right way.

5) What other warriors appear in the story? 

Conall, Cu Chulainn, Cet mac Matach of Connacbt, Cenn Berriade, and Loegaire.

6) Summarize this story.

The brain of Mesgegra was being tossed around until Cet took the brain away from them and plans to kill Conchobar with it to avenge Mesgegra's death. Cet and Conchobar are in war together and as the battle is going Conchobar leaves his army to show off to a group of ladies and then Cet hits him on the head with the brain of Mesgegra. Ceen Berriade carries Conchobar to his home and have his physican Fingen look at him and they all decide that they would rather Conchobar look bad and be king then have him die. Conchobar is cannot take action and his head is healed with a thread of gold. Conchobar gets mad about the Jews curfixing Christ and gets angry and the brain pops out of his head and dies. Conchobar's soul is taken from Hell and carried to Heaven.