ln2999-3003
"So this bad blood between us and the swedes, this vicious feud, they will cross our borders and attack in force...Beowulf is dead."
Tone: very dark and hopeless. Theme: feuds, although they have been at peace for some time, now that the Swedes have an upper hand the old blood will come back. this shows just how much Beowulf affected life.
ln 3051-3057
"That huge cache, gold inherited from an ancient race, was under a spell...no one was allowed to enter that ring hall unless god himself,...allowed someone, pleasing to Him... to open the hoard."
The cache is cursed.. if the dragon and Beowulf are parallel in that they both hoard something (gold for the dragon and pride for Beowulf) and the dragons hoard is cursed then Beowulf's pride is cursed. It is Beowulf's pride that eventually kills him. Also it is the dragons gold that he is killed for even though it does the keeper no good.
ln 3074-3075
"Yet Beowulf's gaze at the gold treasure when he first saw it had not been selfish."
Shows again what Beowulf's main motivation is in life.. If he isn't killing the dragon for treasure then it must be for fame. Beowulf needs no more treasure, and if he got it then it would go to his warriors.
ln 3100
"his worth and due as a warrior were the greatest."
Theme: good warrior. Beowulf was the best warrior that there could be... However, he was a warrior before a king which is another of his possible tragic flaws. Why don't they think he was a good king?
ln3169-3172
" 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."
Again with 12.. possibly the twelve disciples.. Are they the twelve men who Beowulf chose to go with him to fight the dragon? They lament him as a "king and a man" but not a warrior... if he was loved earlier for his warrior spirit, and now for his kingship and as an all-around great man then he must have good traits in all of those aspects of life. Why 12?
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Beowulf Dialectical Journal 2470-2910
ln2345-2348
"Yet the prince o the rings was too proud to line up with a large army against the sky-plague."
Tragic flaw. Pride is Beowulf's tragic law. He dies because he is to proud to use the aid of his warriors. Theme: good warrior.. and king.... he fights for honor and his country. but he also is a good king in that he is honorable, and will sacrifice himself for his country.
ln 2488
" his feud calloused hand"
The swedes had many feuds. Foreshadow to future Swedish feuds? showing the swedes as a bit of an antagonist in the story.
ln 2497-2500
"I marched ahead of him, always at the front of the line;...As long as this sword shall last. "
Theme good warrior.... also honor... when his sword does finally break his kinsman takes the lead to attempt to slay the dragon. Shows Beowulf's courage.
ln 2658-2660
" should he alone be left to fall in battle? We must bond together, shield and helmet, mail-shirt and sword."
Theme: good warrior... he won't let his king die alone. he seeks glory also. LOYALTY.
ln 2767-2769
"And he saw too a standard, entirely of gold,....it glowed with light"
The golden standard is a symbol for Beowulf's life. Glorious and golden. it illuminated glorious things for those around him and it was extremely precious and valuable.
Beowulf and the Dragon
Beowulf and the Dragon were parallel characters. The Dragon in some stories is a symbol for hate and malice and evil. However in others it is a majestic, powerful, amazing creature. if it is interpreted in the latter form then you could say it was parallel to Beowulf. They were both amazing creatures, full of power and amazing capabilities. Both could not be harmed by a blade (dragon scales and chain mail) and both died at the hands of another great being.... You could interpret the dragon as, not an evil character but a character sent by god to enforce wyrd. It is the wyrm of wyrd.
"Yet the prince o the rings was too proud to line up with a large army against the sky-plague."
Tragic flaw. Pride is Beowulf's tragic law. He dies because he is to proud to use the aid of his warriors. Theme: good warrior.. and king.... he fights for honor and his country. but he also is a good king in that he is honorable, and will sacrifice himself for his country.
ln 2488
" his feud calloused hand"
The swedes had many feuds. Foreshadow to future Swedish feuds? showing the swedes as a bit of an antagonist in the story.
ln 2497-2500
"I marched ahead of him, always at the front of the line;...As long as this sword shall last. "
Theme good warrior.... also honor... when his sword does finally break his kinsman takes the lead to attempt to slay the dragon. Shows Beowulf's courage.
ln 2658-2660
" should he alone be left to fall in battle? We must bond together, shield and helmet, mail-shirt and sword."
Theme: good warrior... he won't let his king die alone. he seeks glory also. LOYALTY.
ln 2767-2769
"And he saw too a standard, entirely of gold,....it glowed with light"
The golden standard is a symbol for Beowulf's life. Glorious and golden. it illuminated glorious things for those around him and it was extremely precious and valuable.
Beowulf and the Dragon
Beowulf and the Dragon were parallel characters. The Dragon in some stories is a symbol for hate and malice and evil. However in others it is a majestic, powerful, amazing creature. if it is interpreted in the latter form then you could say it was parallel to Beowulf. They were both amazing creatures, full of power and amazing capabilities. Both could not be harmed by a blade (dragon scales and chain mail) and both died at the hands of another great being.... You could interpret the dragon as, not an evil character but a character sent by god to enforce wyrd. It is the wyrm of wyrd.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Literary Terms
Connotation- The idea or meaning suggested by or associated with a word or thing.
EXAMPLE: A connotation in Beowulf would be Heorot. Heorot is associated with wealth, power, hospitality, and righteousness.
Point of view- the position of the narrator in relation to the story. The narrators outlook on the story and his attitude towards the characters.
there are three main types. 1st person is when the story is seen from the eyes of one character. 2nd person is when the narrator is telling the story to another character using words like "you". 3rd person is when the author is telling the story about someone else using words like he or she. 3rd person comes in both omniscient and limited. Omniscient is a point of view that follows multiple character around. Limited follows one character.
EXAMPLE:
1st: To Kill a Mocking bird is in first person.. the point of view of scout.
2nd:Bright Lights, Big City by Jay Mclnerney.
3rd: The most dangerous game is 3rd person.
EXAMPLE: A connotation in Beowulf would be Heorot. Heorot is associated with wealth, power, hospitality, and righteousness.
Point of view- the position of the narrator in relation to the story. The narrators outlook on the story and his attitude towards the characters.
there are three main types. 1st person is when the story is seen from the eyes of one character. 2nd person is when the narrator is telling the story to another character using words like "you". 3rd person is when the author is telling the story about someone else using words like he or she. 3rd person comes in both omniscient and limited. Omniscient is a point of view that follows multiple character around. Limited follows one character.
EXAMPLE:
1st: To Kill a Mocking bird is in first person.. the point of view of scout.
2nd:Bright Lights, Big City by Jay Mclnerney.
3rd: The most dangerous game is 3rd person.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Beowulf Dialectical Journal ln 1320-1950
ln 1347-1353
"they have seen two such creatures prowling the moors,...one of these things, as far as anyone ever can discern, looks like a woman; the other, warped in the shape of a man, moves beyond the pale bigger than any man."
Grendel and his mother. ties to the theme of the underworld. Parallelism to the two giants in Branwen daughter of Llyr? Lonely. Theme: banishment, the two characters are alone, banished from society.
ln 1383-1396
Beowulf, son of Ecgtheow, spoke: wise sir do not grieve. It is always better to avenge dear ones than to indulge in mourning....Let whoever can win glory before death. Bear up and be the man I expect you to be."
Theme:Pagan vs. Christianity.....this speech gives Beowulf a pagan influence whereas sometime he is viewed as christian...or as Christ(or anti-Christ)... This also ties into the theme of Fate or wyrd. If a warrior is destined to die than why not make the best of it and die honorably. Why does the author switch from paganism to Christianity so much?
ln 1421
"Aescher's head at the foot of the cliff."
This is Grendel's mothers retaliation for her son's death. Theme: wergild. they pay for Grendel's death with one of there own. Symbolism.... the head means something. Possibly marks victory or vengeance...but really only Feilding knows... Severed body parts symbolize trophies as well, it could be the mothers way of displaying her trophy.
ln1446-1448
"It would keep the bone-cage of his body safe: no enemy's clasp could crush him in it, no vicious armlock choke his life out."
Very similar to Grendel... Grendel was invincible to swords and weapons... it took Christ to kill him. This passage also shows just how invincible Beowulf was; it is possible to be killed even if you have chain-mail on, but not Beowulf. Also a foreshadow to Beowulf's victory. Wyrd...he is destined to win.
ln 1512-1517
"The gallant man could see that he had entered some hellish turn-hole....because the hall-roofing...a gleam and flare-up, a glimmer of brightness."
This is Grendel's mother's lair but it sounds like Heorot when Grendel attacked it the last time. Parallelism between Beowulf's attack and Grendel's? If so, there is a very different outcome, the attacker wins in Beowulf's assault.
ln 1607-1611
"It is a wondrous thing how it all melted as ice melts when the Father eases the fetters off the frost and unravels the water-ropes. He who wields power over time and tide: He is the true lord."
Symbol: the sword symbolizes life and death.... it was created by the giants, who are a race that in some back stories such as Branwen come from the depths o' hell (giving the sword magical powers). The sword "dies" after it kills other things from the underworld. The "fetters of the frost" is like the relieving of Grendel and his mother off of the world and Heorot. the last sentence is a great example of an insert that probably was added by the poet after oral tradition to give the christian flavor.
ln 1713-1722
"He vented his rage on men he caroused with, killed his own comrades, a pariah king who cut himself off from his own kin....He suffered in the end or having plagued his people for so long: his life lost happiness."
Theme: Good King... Heremod is NOT a good king. he is a kin killer and doesn't share his treasure as well as many other bad characteristics. Also foreshadow to his death at the end of the quote.
ln 1873-1876
"Two forebodings disturbed him in his wisdom, but one was stronger: nevermore would they meet each other face to face."
Foreshadows Hrothgar's death. Good King: wisdom. What is the other foreshadow??? is it just Beowulf's departure?
"they have seen two such creatures prowling the moors,...one of these things, as far as anyone ever can discern, looks like a woman; the other, warped in the shape of a man, moves beyond the pale bigger than any man."
Grendel and his mother. ties to the theme of the underworld. Parallelism to the two giants in Branwen daughter of Llyr? Lonely. Theme: banishment, the two characters are alone, banished from society.
ln 1383-1396
Beowulf, son of Ecgtheow, spoke: wise sir do not grieve. It is always better to avenge dear ones than to indulge in mourning....Let whoever can win glory before death. Bear up and be the man I expect you to be."
Theme:Pagan vs. Christianity.....this speech gives Beowulf a pagan influence whereas sometime he is viewed as christian...or as Christ(or anti-Christ)... This also ties into the theme of Fate or wyrd. If a warrior is destined to die than why not make the best of it and die honorably. Why does the author switch from paganism to Christianity so much?
ln 1421
"Aescher's head at the foot of the cliff."
This is Grendel's mothers retaliation for her son's death. Theme: wergild. they pay for Grendel's death with one of there own. Symbolism.... the head means something. Possibly marks victory or vengeance...but really only Feilding knows... Severed body parts symbolize trophies as well, it could be the mothers way of displaying her trophy.
ln1446-1448
"It would keep the bone-cage of his body safe: no enemy's clasp could crush him in it, no vicious armlock choke his life out."
Very similar to Grendel... Grendel was invincible to swords and weapons... it took Christ to kill him. This passage also shows just how invincible Beowulf was; it is possible to be killed even if you have chain-mail on, but not Beowulf. Also a foreshadow to Beowulf's victory. Wyrd...he is destined to win.
ln 1512-1517
"The gallant man could see that he had entered some hellish turn-hole....because the hall-roofing...a gleam and flare-up, a glimmer of brightness."
This is Grendel's mother's lair but it sounds like Heorot when Grendel attacked it the last time. Parallelism between Beowulf's attack and Grendel's? If so, there is a very different outcome, the attacker wins in Beowulf's assault.
ln 1607-1611
"It is a wondrous thing how it all melted as ice melts when the Father eases the fetters off the frost and unravels the water-ropes. He who wields power over time and tide: He is the true lord."
Symbol: the sword symbolizes life and death.... it was created by the giants, who are a race that in some back stories such as Branwen come from the depths o' hell (giving the sword magical powers). The sword "dies" after it kills other things from the underworld. The "fetters of the frost" is like the relieving of Grendel and his mother off of the world and Heorot. the last sentence is a great example of an insert that probably was added by the poet after oral tradition to give the christian flavor.
ln 1713-1722
"He vented his rage on men he caroused with, killed his own comrades, a pariah king who cut himself off from his own kin....He suffered in the end or having plagued his people for so long: his life lost happiness."
Theme: Good King... Heremod is NOT a good king. he is a kin killer and doesn't share his treasure as well as many other bad characteristics. Also foreshadow to his death at the end of the quote.
ln 1873-1876
"Two forebodings disturbed him in his wisdom, but one was stronger: nevermore would they meet each other face to face."
Foreshadows Hrothgar's death. Good King: wisdom. What is the other foreshadow??? is it just Beowulf's departure?
Friday, September 18, 2009
Beowulf Dialectical Journal ln 850-1320
ln 945-949
"so now, Beowulf, I adopt you...no worldly goods than won't be yours."
Greatest Honor. Adoption is the opposite of Banishment. connection for 2 countries. Why would he do this.... is it just to honor or to have an extremely strong "heir"?
ln 1018
"The Sheilding Nation was not yet familiar with feud and betrayal."
What does he mean? Unferth betrayed when he killed his brother. They were in a feud with the Franks according to the poem.
ln 1075-1078
"When morning came...on murdered dears."
Parralelism to the morning in Hereot after Grendel attacks. Sad tone. Draws a connection between the sadness of the ladies of Hereot and those of the tale that the bard is singing.
ln 1096-1107
"Finn swore... A funeral pyre"
Why is he honoring the enemy with a pyre in a pagan world? Theme: Good King, makes peace with the enemy and tries to resolve a feud. Why not just crush the leaderless enemy and resolve it that way. Is pitty honorable?
ln 1116-1118
"Son's body... to sputter....besides his uncle's."
Why burned with kin? Theme: Kin and Honor. Is it honorable to be layed to rest with older and more experience warriors?
ln 1152-1153
"Finn was cut down, the queen brought away"
Foreshadow to Hrothgar and or Beowulfs deaths? Why would they take the queen. Theme: Trophy? Role of women
ln 1205-1207
"Fate swept him away...a feud with the Frisians."
Wyrd. Don't prevoke the Frisians.... foreshadow to the Swedes destroying the geats. Theme: Feud and Blood Money as well as Fate.
ln 1299-1306
"Beowulf was elsewhere...both parties having to pay."
Why did she take his arm and not revenge? Symbolism. The arm symbolized victory and she took it. She could have killed everyone because Beowulf wasn't there to kill her. They both loose. She lost her son and a chance at revenge, the danes lost their trophy and one of their best men.
"so now, Beowulf, I adopt you...no worldly goods than won't be yours."
Greatest Honor. Adoption is the opposite of Banishment. connection for 2 countries. Why would he do this.... is it just to honor or to have an extremely strong "heir"?
ln 1018
"The Sheilding Nation was not yet familiar with feud and betrayal."
What does he mean? Unferth betrayed when he killed his brother. They were in a feud with the Franks according to the poem.
ln 1075-1078
"When morning came...on murdered dears."
Parralelism to the morning in Hereot after Grendel attacks. Sad tone. Draws a connection between the sadness of the ladies of Hereot and those of the tale that the bard is singing.
ln 1096-1107
"Finn swore... A funeral pyre"
Why is he honoring the enemy with a pyre in a pagan world? Theme: Good King, makes peace with the enemy and tries to resolve a feud. Why not just crush the leaderless enemy and resolve it that way. Is pitty honorable?
ln 1116-1118
"Son's body... to sputter....besides his uncle's."
Why burned with kin? Theme: Kin and Honor. Is it honorable to be layed to rest with older and more experience warriors?
ln 1152-1153
"Finn was cut down, the queen brought away"
Foreshadow to Hrothgar and or Beowulfs deaths? Why would they take the queen. Theme: Trophy? Role of women
ln 1205-1207
"Fate swept him away...a feud with the Frisians."
Wyrd. Don't prevoke the Frisians.... foreshadow to the Swedes destroying the geats. Theme: Feud and Blood Money as well as Fate.
ln 1299-1306
"Beowulf was elsewhere...both parties having to pay."
Why did she take his arm and not revenge? Symbolism. The arm symbolized victory and she took it. She could have killed everyone because Beowulf wasn't there to kill her. They both loose. She lost her son and a chance at revenge, the danes lost their trophy and one of their best men.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
My rants on how i hate Feilding
He makes me Run
He wont fail me even though i try to
He make me like school more than i should
Logan is a monkey
He wont fail me even though i try to
He make me like school more than i should
Logan is a monkey
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Beowulf Dialectic Journal Lines 300-800
ln316-318
"May the almighty Father... Watch over your exploits."
Why is the Daneish coast gaurd Christian? A sign of welcome? Theme of hospitality. Is christianity hospitable in the authors eyes?
ln 337-338
"Stoutness of heart, bravery not banishment, must have brought you to hrothgar."
No man would go to Heorot willingly unless he had grea courage. Warns Beowulf, also greatly compliment him and adds to the theme of a good warrior and leader, bravery.
ln 380-381
"with the strength of thirty in the grip of each hand."
Connects Beowulf to Grendel stealing 30 men the first night. Why 30? Does it connect to the Bible? Grendel can hold 15 men in each hand. Beowulfs party is of 15 men. Coincidence?
ln 442-455
"If Grendel wins, it will be a gruesome day;... Fate goes ever as fate must."
Theme of a good warrior: Beowulf will fight to he death no matter what. He fights fair. He will beat grendel on grendels terms... no armor. Theme: Honor, Fate. Fate ties to Paganism. WHy doesn't he want his body to by recovered. WYRD!!
ln 529-589
"Beowulf, Ecgtheow's son replied. " well friend Unferth, you have had your say about Breca and me. But it was mostly beer tha was talking... Now I cannot recall any fight you entered Unferth,... You will suffer damnation in the depths of hell."
Beowulf's Epic Boast. Never breaks calm but he successfully humiliated Unferth. Unferth has no honor, is a kin killer, a coward, and envious. He is much like cain. He is marked by his drunkness. Beowulf proves his point.
ln 696-702
"But Lord was weaving a victory... The ruth is clear, Almighty God rules over mankind and always has."
FORESHADOW!! More christianity. Beowulf would prevail. WHy does god favor Beowulf? Is this an added part by the author after oral tradition.
"May the almighty Father... Watch over your exploits."
Why is the Daneish coast gaurd Christian? A sign of welcome? Theme of hospitality. Is christianity hospitable in the authors eyes?
ln 337-338
"Stoutness of heart, bravery not banishment, must have brought you to hrothgar."
No man would go to Heorot willingly unless he had grea courage. Warns Beowulf, also greatly compliment him and adds to the theme of a good warrior and leader, bravery.
ln 380-381
"with the strength of thirty in the grip of each hand."
Connects Beowulf to Grendel stealing 30 men the first night. Why 30? Does it connect to the Bible? Grendel can hold 15 men in each hand. Beowulfs party is of 15 men. Coincidence?
ln 442-455
"If Grendel wins, it will be a gruesome day;... Fate goes ever as fate must."
Theme of a good warrior: Beowulf will fight to he death no matter what. He fights fair. He will beat grendel on grendels terms... no armor. Theme: Honor, Fate. Fate ties to Paganism. WHy doesn't he want his body to by recovered. WYRD!!
ln 529-589
"Beowulf, Ecgtheow's son replied. " well friend Unferth, you have had your say about Breca and me. But it was mostly beer tha was talking... Now I cannot recall any fight you entered Unferth,... You will suffer damnation in the depths of hell."
Beowulf's Epic Boast. Never breaks calm but he successfully humiliated Unferth. Unferth has no honor, is a kin killer, a coward, and envious. He is much like cain. He is marked by his drunkness. Beowulf proves his point.
ln 696-702
"But Lord was weaving a victory... The ruth is clear, Almighty God rules over mankind and always has."
FORESHADOW!! More christianity. Beowulf would prevail. WHy does god favor Beowulf? Is this an added part by the author after oral tradition.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Bewulf Journal pages 1-21
ln 34-50
"They stretched their beloved lord in his boat...well furbished with battle tackle... decked his body with offerings...bewailing him and mourning their loss."
This passage describes the burial ritual of Shiels Sheafson. Forshadow to the end of the sory and Beowulf's funeral pyre? Theme: he beginning and end of a man's life. The story of Bewulf is argued to be about the life of Beowulf, his beginning and end. All we see of Shield is the beginning and end of his life, and he is very similar to Beowulf in his characteristics. Paralellism.
ln 53-63
"Then it fell to Beow to keep the forts...and then his heir the great Halfdone...Heorogar, Hrothgar, the good Halga, and a daughter... a balm in bed to the battle-scarred swede."
Lineage. The history of he danish kings. Why go into such detail? Is it just to show a powerfull lineage? Historical facts? Interwoven stories? Nameless daughter is married to a swede. Shows the role of women. Why such detail when i doesn't involve the main character?
ln102-108
"Grendel was the name of this grim demon haunting the marches, marauding around the heath and desolating fens... Cain's clan, whom the creaor had outlawed and condemed as outcass. For the killing of Abel the Eernal Lord had exalted a price."
Grendel is from Cain's Clan. Cain couldn't be aided by man because of the mark god placed on him, so he lived in sorrow. Grendel can't be with any men because he is a monster, he lives in exile. PARALLELISM to Cain's story. Christianity becomes part of the story. Why does a monster introduce christianity?
ln154-156
"how he would never parley or make peace with any Dane nor stop his death-dealing nor pay the death price."
WYR-GILD!! Grendel is evil theirfor he refuses and is incapable of paying blood-money. however, like Cain he pays for his sin in other ways, like exile. Beowulf contrasts to Grendel's lack of honor with the honor that he shows when he goes to he dane's to pay off his father's debt to hrothgar by killing grendel. Why don't the dead men's families act?
ln 175-178
"Sometimes at pagan shrines hey vowed offerings to idols, swore oaths that the killer of souls might come to their aid and save the people."
Paganism and Chrisianity clash. why is it that when the author brings pagnism into the story the characters are in great distress? Is pagan more futile? Does grendel symbolize pagan influence?
ln 196-199 and ln 221-223
"There was no one else like him alive. in his day, he was the mightiest man on earth, high-born, and powerfull.
"those seafarers sighted land, sunlit cliffs, sheer crags, and looming head lands, the landfall they sought."
Appositives used to highten meaning. Why are they used to describe the biggest ideas? Is it just to highten one of the five senses, or do hey enhance symbols or themes as well?
"They stretched their beloved lord in his boat...well furbished with battle tackle... decked his body with offerings...bewailing him and mourning their loss."
This passage describes the burial ritual of Shiels Sheafson. Forshadow to the end of the sory and Beowulf's funeral pyre? Theme: he beginning and end of a man's life. The story of Bewulf is argued to be about the life of Beowulf, his beginning and end. All we see of Shield is the beginning and end of his life, and he is very similar to Beowulf in his characteristics. Paralellism.
ln 53-63
"Then it fell to Beow to keep the forts...and then his heir the great Halfdone...Heorogar, Hrothgar, the good Halga, and a daughter... a balm in bed to the battle-scarred swede."
Lineage. The history of he danish kings. Why go into such detail? Is it just to show a powerfull lineage? Historical facts? Interwoven stories? Nameless daughter is married to a swede. Shows the role of women. Why such detail when i doesn't involve the main character?
ln102-108
"Grendel was the name of this grim demon haunting the marches, marauding around the heath and desolating fens... Cain's clan, whom the creaor had outlawed and condemed as outcass. For the killing of Abel the Eernal Lord had exalted a price."
Grendel is from Cain's Clan. Cain couldn't be aided by man because of the mark god placed on him, so he lived in sorrow. Grendel can't be with any men because he is a monster, he lives in exile. PARALLELISM to Cain's story. Christianity becomes part of the story. Why does a monster introduce christianity?
ln154-156
"how he would never parley or make peace with any Dane nor stop his death-dealing nor pay the death price."
WYR-GILD!! Grendel is evil theirfor he refuses and is incapable of paying blood-money. however, like Cain he pays for his sin in other ways, like exile. Beowulf contrasts to Grendel's lack of honor with the honor that he shows when he goes to he dane's to pay off his father's debt to hrothgar by killing grendel. Why don't the dead men's families act?
ln 175-178
"Sometimes at pagan shrines hey vowed offerings to idols, swore oaths that the killer of souls might come to their aid and save the people."
Paganism and Chrisianity clash. why is it that when the author brings pagnism into the story the characters are in great distress? Is pagan more futile? Does grendel symbolize pagan influence?
ln 196-199 and ln 221-223
"There was no one else like him alive. in his day, he was the mightiest man on earth, high-born, and powerfull.
"those seafarers sighted land, sunlit cliffs, sheer crags, and looming head lands, the landfall they sought."
Appositives used to highten meaning. Why are they used to describe the biggest ideas? Is it just to highten one of the five senses, or do hey enhance symbols or themes as well?
Monday, September 14, 2009
Literary Terms
Character flat/ round-
Flat- A character who's background, and traits, are not given to us as readers. They arent 3dimensional
Example- Matholwch is a flat character. All that we know about him is that he is the King of Ireland. however we can make many assumptions based on his actions.
Round- A character who's background and many important fact about them is given to us such as appearance and traits. They are 3dimensional.
Example- Rainsford, from the most dangerous game, is a round character. we learn about his past hunts and his personality and beleifs in the exposition of the story.
Tone- a particular feeling that is given to a word or phrase to enhance its meaning and give it a mood.
Example: The cask of amontillado has a tone of horor that adds to the gruesome feeling of how Montresor is going to murder Fortunado in a horrible way. Everything from the gloomy setting to some of the dialougue between these characters adds to this tone.
Flat- A character who's background, and traits, are not given to us as readers. They arent 3dimensional
Example- Matholwch is a flat character. All that we know about him is that he is the King of Ireland. however we can make many assumptions based on his actions.
Round- A character who's background and many important fact about them is given to us such as appearance and traits. They are 3dimensional.
Example- Rainsford, from the most dangerous game, is a round character. we learn about his past hunts and his personality and beleifs in the exposition of the story.
Tone- a particular feeling that is given to a word or phrase to enhance its meaning and give it a mood.
Example: The cask of amontillado has a tone of horor that adds to the gruesome feeling of how Montresor is going to murder Fortunado in a horrible way. Everything from the gloomy setting to some of the dialougue between these characters adds to this tone.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
JRR Tolkein Beowulf Review
JRR tolkien reviews beowulf by first attcking previous reviews.
He criticizies previous critics like Beowulfiana, Girvan, and many more. His main critique of these men is how they analyze beowulf. Tolkien believes that it should be veiwed as a poem and nothing more. However, many previous authors of Beowulf analysis choose to veiw i as a historical document or a fairytail. This, according to tolkien, makes it hard for them to apreciae what the story really is, a poem.
So many people have analyzed, and re-analyzed Beowulf that they have lost the rue meaning of the author in time. Although i does have many historical facts, such as battles and people, Beowulf has alot of fiction. Many people dont see this. They see the many facts of the story and assume that it is a historical document. Critics go on to notice that many of the "facts" in Beowulf are incorrect, theirfor coming to the conclusion that the author was crazy.
Tolkein points out another major mistake of critics that is they veiw it as a fairy tail. This mistake he says, is made when critics don't veiw the whole document. They see it as just another fairy tail with dragons, monsters, and a hero. Tolkein shows that the story has been analyzed in so many ways that it isnt seen for what it really is anymore, a Poem.
Analysis
I think that tolkein is raging a little bit.He repeats himself alot. He has, however, very good evidence for his statements, and i do agree with him. Sometimes fiction is fiction. even if it has a little fact in it. Writing was originally made to be enjoyed but sometime when it is a great peice, it is analyzed too much and it looses its enjoyment.
He criticizies previous critics like Beowulfiana, Girvan, and many more. His main critique of these men is how they analyze beowulf. Tolkien believes that it should be veiwed as a poem and nothing more. However, many previous authors of Beowulf analysis choose to veiw i as a historical document or a fairytail. This, according to tolkien, makes it hard for them to apreciae what the story really is, a poem.
So many people have analyzed, and re-analyzed Beowulf that they have lost the rue meaning of the author in time. Although i does have many historical facts, such as battles and people, Beowulf has alot of fiction. Many people dont see this. They see the many facts of the story and assume that it is a historical document. Critics go on to notice that many of the "facts" in Beowulf are incorrect, theirfor coming to the conclusion that the author was crazy.
Tolkein points out another major mistake of critics that is they veiw it as a fairy tail. This mistake he says, is made when critics don't veiw the whole document. They see it as just another fairy tail with dragons, monsters, and a hero. Tolkein shows that the story has been analyzed in so many ways that it isnt seen for what it really is anymore, a Poem.
Analysis
I think that tolkein is raging a little bit.He repeats himself alot. He has, however, very good evidence for his statements, and i do agree with him. Sometimes fiction is fiction. even if it has a little fact in it. Writing was originally made to be enjoyed but sometime when it is a great peice, it is analyzed too much and it looses its enjoyment.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Beowulf Notes
2-part structure
Sunrise and sunset of a hero's life
Sunrise
We se the sunrise in Beowulfs career. We are introduced to him as a young man out to win fame and honor his father's debts. His defeat of Grendel and Grendel's mother 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. beowulf is an old man and has been king for a long time. We witness the end of a great career.
3-part Structure
3 monsters-3 Battles-each battle increasing in difficulty.
This Structure focuses on the monsters. this is the story of three monsters and three battles. The danger of each battle and each monster increases as the story progresses.
-Grendel: The battle with Grendel is fought in Herot and with Beowulf wait to ambush him. Beowulf fights with 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 him. He saves himself by using an ancient sword that he finds in her hall
-The dragon: The worm breathes fire and contains venom. Nothing compares to it and to make matters more complicated Beowulf is an old man.
Interweaving Stories or Interlacing of narrative
-Presenting the narrative with memories of the past. So, you have Beowulf fighting Grendel and then a story of the past that corresponds with what happened, or comments on it.
-Action and Reflection; Action and Wisdom; Glorious Deeds and Feuds; Battles and Wisdom; about Peace
-This structure uses the idea of the Anglo-Saxon belt with the interlacing knots suggesting that all things- past and present- are connected. Wyrd.
Parallelism
-What happens in the story is parallel to a story that the bard sings. Example the bard sings of Sigmund killing a dragon. This song parallels and foreshadows beowulf later killing the dragon. The stories of feuds and ambushes in the text (such as the story of Finn) parallels the ambush and burning of Herot.
Seamus Heaney
-Sees a fifth way to look at the poem
-The story and destiny of three nations
-Danes
-Geats
-Swedes
Line Structure in Old English Poetry
-Old english poetry worked primarily on stresses and alliteration
-Each line had four stressed words. There was a pause or a caesurs after the 2nd stress.
-Each line held three alliterative words.
-Gomban gyldan: paet waes god cyning!
Literary Terms
Caesura: A strong pause within a line.
Alliteration: the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of two or more words.
Litotes: A kind of undersatement, often humorous, where the speaker or writer uses a negative of a word ironically to mean the opposite. Example: She's not the prettiest girl (She's damn ugly) Literary Example: "The Grave's a fine and private place, but none, i think, do there embrace."
Kenning: A metaphorical phrase or compound metaphor (usually a two-word metaphor) used instead of the name of the thing. Example: whale road or sheperd of evil. A compressed metonymy often involving a riddle.
Epic Hero: A hero in an epic. This hero usually has above average strength, intelligence, and morals. He is a symbol for what the culture stands for or believes in. Beowulf- represents the ultimate warrior in a warrior culture. often the epic hero also has a flaw (a heroic flaw) that serves to remind the culture of faults even in the best of things.
Epic Boast: A kind of resume presented by the epic hero. It could be seen today as a type of bragging, but in the warrior culture it was expected of a warrior to discuss his achievements and prowess before asking for the right to fight a foe.
Flytes or Flyting: A game of verbal taunting between warriors. A type of epic boasting. A good example of this would be the verbal exchange between Beowulf and Unferth. A type of epic boasting. He unleashed his WORD-HOARD.
Metonymy: A figure in speech in which one thing is represented by another that is commonly and often physically associated with it. EXAMPLE: Bran's size , "no house could contain him," could be a metonymy for the size of his army or kingdom.
Synecdoche: A figure in speech in which a part of something is used to represent the whole. EXAMPLE: All hands on deck, or 12 sails on the horizon.
Appositive: A building up of phrases that mean the same thing. Tjis was characteristic of oral poetry to have a set of stock phrases that could be used to fit a pattern. The build up is supposed to have climatic effect. EXAMPLE: the shepherd of evil, gaurdian of crime.
Motif: Any recurrent image, symbol, theme, character type, or narrative detail, subject.
Motifs in Beowulf: Kin Killing, Feuds and ambushes, Women mourning, The arming of the 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. EXAMPLE: Beowulf contains numerous allusions to the bible.
Symbols: Herot, Grendel's Lair, Grendel's, arm, Swords, The dragon's treasure, the Three monsters, Many of the characters in the digressions.
Characters: Beowulf, hrothgar, Unferth, Brecca, Shield Sheafson (Scyld Scefing), Heorogar, Wulfgar, Grendel, Grendel's Mother, Wealtheow.
Roles of women:
Peacemaking, biologically through a woman's marital ties with foreign kings as a peace-pledge or a mother of sons. Secondly, it involves peacemaking socially and psychologically as a cup-passing and peace-weaving queen within a hall.
Hostess, Peace Pledge, Monster.
Comitatus: germanic tribes which invaded britain held strong beleiefs in the basic family unit and were industrious and warlike. They choose their kings for birth and thier generals for merit. Even poor tribal members could become rich and powerful if they were willing and able to prove themselves brave and adept in battle. the practice of Comitatus (a term used by the early historian Tacitus) was an agreement by which a youth would attach himself to a strong leader for the purpose of gaining riches and prestige. This arrangement could have been the precursor oof the lord-thane relationship of feudal institutions of the time, which can also be observed in Beowulf.
-Exile was the worst thing that could happen to a warrior.
-Kin-Killing was the worst crime that one could commit in this society.
-Cowardice equaled failure. It was better to die well in battle than to run away and live to fight another day.
Warior Culture: Warriores kept their armor and weapons at their sides at all times. The beowulf poet praises the Geats. "They were always prepared for war, weather at hom or in the feild, as their lord required" (1246-50). the warriosr's kit would include a helmet, shield, spear, and chainmail, and, if he had high status, a sword. They used crested or combed helmets from the 7th and 8th century, with a very sturdy all-iron construction. Mail shirts cinsisted of rows of riveted rings alternating with of butt-welding rings. the rings were of gray steel , skillfully formed into an intricatee meshm and they liked and jingled on the move. Shields and spears were part of the basic fighting kit of the war-band. Swords were powerful heirlooms. etc...
Christianity: the poet of Beowulf is christian, but the society he describes is not. Sometimes the narrator's voice comments from a christian perspective on pagan values, beliefs, and customs.
Revenge: the death of a kinsman must be avenged by his male relations, in blood or in money.
Wergild- the principal that a man can extract money for the death of kin.
kinsmen: kin isnt just family, it is friends and one who owed favors.
Sunrise and sunset of a hero's life
Sunrise
We se the sunrise in Beowulfs career. We are introduced to him as a young man out to win fame and honor his father's debts. His defeat of Grendel and Grendel's mother 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. beowulf is an old man and has been king for a long time. We witness the end of a great career.
3-part Structure
3 monsters-3 Battles-each battle increasing in difficulty.
This Structure focuses on the monsters. this is the story of three monsters and three battles. The danger of each battle and each monster increases as the story progresses.
-Grendel: The battle with Grendel is fought in Herot and with Beowulf wait to ambush him. Beowulf fights with 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 him. He saves himself by using an ancient sword that he finds in her hall
-The dragon: The worm breathes fire and contains venom. Nothing compares to it and to make matters more complicated Beowulf is an old man.
Interweaving Stories or Interlacing of narrative
-Presenting the narrative with memories of the past. So, you have Beowulf fighting Grendel and then a story of the past that corresponds with what happened, or comments on it.
-Action and Reflection; Action and Wisdom; Glorious Deeds and Feuds; Battles and Wisdom; about Peace
-This structure uses the idea of the Anglo-Saxon belt with the interlacing knots suggesting that all things- past and present- are connected. Wyrd.
Parallelism
-What happens in the story is parallel to a story that the bard sings. Example the bard sings of Sigmund killing a dragon. This song parallels and foreshadows beowulf later killing the dragon. The stories of feuds and ambushes in the text (such as the story of Finn) parallels the ambush and burning of Herot.
Seamus Heaney
-Sees a fifth way to look at the poem
-The story and destiny of three nations
-Danes
-Geats
-Swedes
Line Structure in Old English Poetry
-Old english poetry worked primarily on stresses and alliteration
-Each line had four stressed words. There was a pause or a caesurs after the 2nd stress.
-Each line held three alliterative words.
-Gomban gyldan: paet waes god cyning!
Literary Terms
Caesura: A strong pause within a line.
Alliteration: the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of two or more words.
Litotes: A kind of undersatement, often humorous, where the speaker or writer uses a negative of a word ironically to mean the opposite. Example: She's not the prettiest girl (She's damn ugly) Literary Example: "The Grave's a fine and private place, but none, i think, do there embrace."
Kenning: A metaphorical phrase or compound metaphor (usually a two-word metaphor) used instead of the name of the thing. Example: whale road or sheperd of evil. A compressed metonymy often involving a riddle.
Epic Hero: A hero in an epic. This hero usually has above average strength, intelligence, and morals. He is a symbol for what the culture stands for or believes in. Beowulf- represents the ultimate warrior in a warrior culture. often the epic hero also has a flaw (a heroic flaw) that serves to remind the culture of faults even in the best of things.
Epic Boast: A kind of resume presented by the epic hero. It could be seen today as a type of bragging, but in the warrior culture it was expected of a warrior to discuss his achievements and prowess before asking for the right to fight a foe.
Flytes or Flyting: A game of verbal taunting between warriors. A type of epic boasting. A good example of this would be the verbal exchange between Beowulf and Unferth. A type of epic boasting. He unleashed his WORD-HOARD.
Metonymy: A figure in speech in which one thing is represented by another that is commonly and often physically associated with it. EXAMPLE: Bran's size , "no house could contain him," could be a metonymy for the size of his army or kingdom.
Synecdoche: A figure in speech in which a part of something is used to represent the whole. EXAMPLE: All hands on deck, or 12 sails on the horizon.
Appositive: A building up of phrases that mean the same thing. Tjis was characteristic of oral poetry to have a set of stock phrases that could be used to fit a pattern. The build up is supposed to have climatic effect. EXAMPLE: the shepherd of evil, gaurdian of crime.
Motif: Any recurrent image, symbol, theme, character type, or narrative detail, subject.
Motifs in Beowulf: Kin Killing, Feuds and ambushes, Women mourning, The arming of the 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. EXAMPLE: Beowulf contains numerous allusions to the bible.
Symbols: Herot, Grendel's Lair, Grendel's, arm, Swords, The dragon's treasure, the Three monsters, Many of the characters in the digressions.
Characters: Beowulf, hrothgar, Unferth, Brecca, Shield Sheafson (Scyld Scefing), Heorogar, Wulfgar, Grendel, Grendel's Mother, Wealtheow.
Roles of women:
Peacemaking, biologically through a woman's marital ties with foreign kings as a peace-pledge or a mother of sons. Secondly, it involves peacemaking socially and psychologically as a cup-passing and peace-weaving queen within a hall.
Hostess, Peace Pledge, Monster.
Comitatus: germanic tribes which invaded britain held strong beleiefs in the basic family unit and were industrious and warlike. They choose their kings for birth and thier generals for merit. Even poor tribal members could become rich and powerful if they were willing and able to prove themselves brave and adept in battle. the practice of Comitatus (a term used by the early historian Tacitus) was an agreement by which a youth would attach himself to a strong leader for the purpose of gaining riches and prestige. This arrangement could have been the precursor oof the lord-thane relationship of feudal institutions of the time, which can also be observed in Beowulf.
-Exile was the worst thing that could happen to a warrior.
-Kin-Killing was the worst crime that one could commit in this society.
-Cowardice equaled failure. It was better to die well in battle than to run away and live to fight another day.
Warior Culture: Warriores kept their armor and weapons at their sides at all times. The beowulf poet praises the Geats. "They were always prepared for war, weather at hom or in the feild, as their lord required" (1246-50). the warriosr's kit would include a helmet, shield, spear, and chainmail, and, if he had high status, a sword. They used crested or combed helmets from the 7th and 8th century, with a very sturdy all-iron construction. Mail shirts cinsisted of rows of riveted rings alternating with of butt-welding rings. the rings were of gray steel , skillfully formed into an intricatee meshm and they liked and jingled on the move. Shields and spears were part of the basic fighting kit of the war-band. Swords were powerful heirlooms. etc...
Christianity: the poet of Beowulf is christian, but the society he describes is not. Sometimes the narrator's voice comments from a christian perspective on pagan values, beliefs, and customs.
Revenge: the death of a kinsman must be avenged by his male relations, in blood or in money.
Wergild- the principal that a man can extract money for the death of kin.
kinsmen: kin isnt just family, it is friends and one who owed favors.
Monday, September 7, 2009
It's not Delivery, It's Displacement
Everyone loves money. It is one of the greatest feelings to get money and one of the worst to lose it. Money is the most essential element to having success. It is needed to do everything from running a car to making a school function. The later of these is where Skagway School has difficulty.
Skagway School is a school that is dedicated to higher learning. To achieve this goal of higher learning they need proper quality funding. In the state of Alaska schools get a certain amount of funding depending on their enrollment count. Skagway, in past years, has had an enrollment count of anywhere from 100 to 120 students; but it has almost always been over 100. That 100-student-mark is crucial one. Schools with an enrollment count of over 100 students get a significant amount more funding then schools below the 100 mark. In our many years with more than 100 students, Skagway School District has been able to afford many learning devices: a set of high-quality digital conferencing equipment, Mac Book computers for each student, and a complete set of river kayaks, mountain bikes and much more. Each of these devices is an essential part of our curriculum. However, as the economy plunges, so does our enrollment. It is currently projected to come in just under 90 students, drastically reducing our funding and possibly causing the school district to relinquish the BASIC learning tools that we have worked hard for.
Nothing can be done for the immediate alleviation of this crisis. However, in the long run, change can be made. Every day I see commercials for companies that try to help poverty all over the globe. According to a study done by Anup Shah, about 27-28 percent of the worlds children in growing countries are underweight or stunted. However, there is poverty everywhere: from Russia, to China, to Africa, even in the US’s largest cities people are living in horrible conditions. My plan is alleviate our crisis by helping these families. I propose that we send people to every third world corner in the globe, from Africa, to Eastern Europe, to even our own backyard in LA and Detroit, and many more. These “missionaries” can bring food and clothing to those in need and attempt to befriend them. Once each family feels as though our missionaries are great friends then we could make a proposal to them. If they allow us to take one child per ten square miles back home with us every year then we will take that child off of their hands. I will first explain to you how this plan will take place. Then I will demonstrate how much sense it makes to follow this plan for both the villages and Skagway School. Finally, I will discuss how the new and improved Skagway will be much improved afterwards.
If my proposal was to work in its entirety then we wouldn’t be able to take just any kids. We would focus on specimens that had something to offer Skagway that no one else could. We would focus on children of age 10 to 15 because the have just started to demonstrate their talents. Skagway School’s sports have always been a focal point, and if we want to continue that tradition then we should attempt to acquire top athletes for each sport. Each year we could deepen our cross country team with a few especially fit Kenyans. Our track team, which has been a bit smaller as of late, could use the speedy quick Jamaicans to help it a little. One of Skagway’s favorite sports is basketball, which would benefit from some southern Californian high-fliers, and maybe even a few of the taller Chinese. Wrestling, also, is a competitive sport, and to keep it strong we could have a few eastern European toughies, and one or two Russians. We could never forget, however, the academic side of school. A friendly Asian professor assures me that the Chinese are the best scientists in the world, and that the Indians are quite prolific at math. However, his method for extraction is of inhumanely packing them into freight containers and shipping them to Skagway for a very cheap fee. On the other hand, it would be very useful to invest in some of these geniuses. This plan, although it could take a while, would both boost our enrollment way over 100, and put some talented people into our school system.
My plan would also help the families of the children. When our missionaries first arrived in these places, we would want the locals would be exposed to a refined society. For that reason, we wouldn't just send anyone to them. According to a study done by a French Friar, anyone can be taught to be a kind and hospitable (the exact traits that we need). An interview from an unnamed guard at the Lemon Creek Penitentiary assures me that there is an excessive amount of minor miscreants that it is getting hard to feed. If we combined both of these educated individuals testimony, then we could use it to train the petty criminals to become hospitable and loving of all. This would help both the local crime rate and foreign exposure to higher classes. As our people learned the local language and became used to each places customs, the locals would become more trusting of them. Then when the proposal is given, they could make no more logical choice than to accept. They would be sending their child to a better place, and they would get to keep that little money that they had been spending on him or her. According to another study, over 80 percent of the worlds population lives on less than 10 US dollars a day, that is less than a foot-long sub at Subway. Once the deal was initially put into place, it could be carried on for as long as we need. Our missionary could move to another region and continue the cycle. Then, whenever we needed a specific talent or a boost in enrollment, we could send a simple letter or, in special cases, a missionary to pick out the ideal child.
Although it could take a while, Skagway would be a much improved borough after the plan was completed. We would have massive ethnic diversity, our test scores would soar to unimaginable heights, and our sports teams would make history. Many of the people that were shipped in to go through our school system would stay in Skagway after they graduate. This would mean that eventually they could have kids and boost our school even more. This event would go down in history as one of the greatest ideas, and it could be used to help any dieing city.
My plan would enable Skagway to not only retain a quality school, but also allow it to excel. It would help both us, and families from around the globe. Finally it would improve the general condition of Skagway. We are in a time of change and it is time that we joined the movement.
Skagway School is a school that is dedicated to higher learning. To achieve this goal of higher learning they need proper quality funding. In the state of Alaska schools get a certain amount of funding depending on their enrollment count. Skagway, in past years, has had an enrollment count of anywhere from 100 to 120 students; but it has almost always been over 100. That 100-student-mark is crucial one. Schools with an enrollment count of over 100 students get a significant amount more funding then schools below the 100 mark. In our many years with more than 100 students, Skagway School District has been able to afford many learning devices: a set of high-quality digital conferencing equipment, Mac Book computers for each student, and a complete set of river kayaks, mountain bikes and much more. Each of these devices is an essential part of our curriculum. However, as the economy plunges, so does our enrollment. It is currently projected to come in just under 90 students, drastically reducing our funding and possibly causing the school district to relinquish the BASIC learning tools that we have worked hard for.
Nothing can be done for the immediate alleviation of this crisis. However, in the long run, change can be made. Every day I see commercials for companies that try to help poverty all over the globe. According to a study done by Anup Shah, about 27-28 percent of the worlds children in growing countries are underweight or stunted. However, there is poverty everywhere: from Russia, to China, to Africa, even in the US’s largest cities people are living in horrible conditions. My plan is alleviate our crisis by helping these families. I propose that we send people to every third world corner in the globe, from Africa, to Eastern Europe, to even our own backyard in LA and Detroit, and many more. These “missionaries” can bring food and clothing to those in need and attempt to befriend them. Once each family feels as though our missionaries are great friends then we could make a proposal to them. If they allow us to take one child per ten square miles back home with us every year then we will take that child off of their hands. I will first explain to you how this plan will take place. Then I will demonstrate how much sense it makes to follow this plan for both the villages and Skagway School. Finally, I will discuss how the new and improved Skagway will be much improved afterwards.
If my proposal was to work in its entirety then we wouldn’t be able to take just any kids. We would focus on specimens that had something to offer Skagway that no one else could. We would focus on children of age 10 to 15 because the have just started to demonstrate their talents. Skagway School’s sports have always been a focal point, and if we want to continue that tradition then we should attempt to acquire top athletes for each sport. Each year we could deepen our cross country team with a few especially fit Kenyans. Our track team, which has been a bit smaller as of late, could use the speedy quick Jamaicans to help it a little. One of Skagway’s favorite sports is basketball, which would benefit from some southern Californian high-fliers, and maybe even a few of the taller Chinese. Wrestling, also, is a competitive sport, and to keep it strong we could have a few eastern European toughies, and one or two Russians. We could never forget, however, the academic side of school. A friendly Asian professor assures me that the Chinese are the best scientists in the world, and that the Indians are quite prolific at math. However, his method for extraction is of inhumanely packing them into freight containers and shipping them to Skagway for a very cheap fee. On the other hand, it would be very useful to invest in some of these geniuses. This plan, although it could take a while, would both boost our enrollment way over 100, and put some talented people into our school system.
My plan would also help the families of the children. When our missionaries first arrived in these places, we would want the locals would be exposed to a refined society. For that reason, we wouldn't just send anyone to them. According to a study done by a French Friar, anyone can be taught to be a kind and hospitable (the exact traits that we need). An interview from an unnamed guard at the Lemon Creek Penitentiary assures me that there is an excessive amount of minor miscreants that it is getting hard to feed. If we combined both of these educated individuals testimony, then we could use it to train the petty criminals to become hospitable and loving of all. This would help both the local crime rate and foreign exposure to higher classes. As our people learned the local language and became used to each places customs, the locals would become more trusting of them. Then when the proposal is given, they could make no more logical choice than to accept. They would be sending their child to a better place, and they would get to keep that little money that they had been spending on him or her. According to another study, over 80 percent of the worlds population lives on less than 10 US dollars a day, that is less than a foot-long sub at Subway. Once the deal was initially put into place, it could be carried on for as long as we need. Our missionary could move to another region and continue the cycle. Then, whenever we needed a specific talent or a boost in enrollment, we could send a simple letter or, in special cases, a missionary to pick out the ideal child.
Although it could take a while, Skagway would be a much improved borough after the plan was completed. We would have massive ethnic diversity, our test scores would soar to unimaginable heights, and our sports teams would make history. Many of the people that were shipped in to go through our school system would stay in Skagway after they graduate. This would mean that eventually they could have kids and boost our school even more. This event would go down in history as one of the greatest ideas, and it could be used to help any dieing city.
My plan would enable Skagway to not only retain a quality school, but also allow it to excel. It would help both us, and families from around the globe. Finally it would improve the general condition of Skagway. We are in a time of change and it is time that we joined the movement.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Manawydan Research Project
Manawydan1) Manawydan, son of king Llyr is a very prominent warrior hero in welsh, Irish, and English mythology. For the most of his life he served as a chief advisor to his brother, Bendigefrand,, King of Wales. However, when his brother dies in battle during the second part of the Mabinogion, Manawydan and the seven survivors of the battle take his brothers head to London where they buried it. Manawydan mainly comes into play in third part of The Mabinogion which follows his lonely travels between England and Dyved in Wales.
2) Manawydan Son of Llyr, third branch of the Mabinogion
Manawydan is a character in many welsh and Irish stories, including the story Branwen Daughter of Llyr, which we have read. The main story that involves Manawydan is the third part of the Mabinogion, Manawydan son of Llyr.
The third branch of the Mabinogion starts when Manawydan and Prince Pryderi of Dyved are returning to Dyved after Manawydon's long journey to bury his brother's head in London. When they reach home Pryderi is reunited with his wife, and Manawydon falls in love with, and marries Pryderi's mother Rhiannon. However, a horrible curse falls on the land and everyone but the four main characters of the story disappear along with all of the domestic animals.
Manawydan and his companions survive by hunting the wild animals in the area. After a while, however, they grew weary and decided to move to England, where they made shoes of such high quality that the other workers grew jealous and drove them back to Dyved.
In Dyved, Manawydan and Pryderi find a mysterious castle. Pryderi enters the castle but never comes out. When Manawydan returns to the women and tells his story, Rhiannon goes in after her son only to find his sitting in the middle of the castle clutching a giant bowl. She then comes to the same fate and the castle disappears. Manawydan and Cigfa, Pryderi's wife, once again attempt to settle in England and are again driven back to Dyved. This time they decide to farm wheat. Before they can harvest the wheat, though, he first and second fields of wheat disappeared. Manawydan then stood out all night in front of the final field and when it started to disappear he spotted three mice, and apprehended one of them. he decided to hang the mouse for stealing, but before he could do it the next day a man appeared and offered him anything just to save the mouse's life. Manawydan choose that all that had disappeared should reappear. the stranger agreed and everything came back including the prince and Rhiannon.
3) Analysis
Manawydan, in all of his great stories and deeds, is never a true leader such as his brother Bran was. He is more of a hero, and an advisor. Whilst his brother is king he is loyal, in sharp contrast to his other brother Eifnisen, and a superb advisor on many important decisions. However, once his brother dies in combat, Manawydan travels with the seven other men to bury Bran's head, he doesn't lead them so much as advise and caution them on the right course to take.
Even in the third branch of the Mabinogion that is named after him, Manawydan isn't a leader. He advises Pryderfi not to enter the castle but doesn't command him, as a king would have. He doesn't lead his companions around to all of their endeavors he just goes with them.
4) Reflection
I believe that Manawydan is more of an epic hero than a king or god. He is involved in some of the greatest stories of the ancient times, and even has one about himself. However, he is never king and never leads anyone. He takes orders, like a good warrior, and he is very loyal, another trait of a quality warrior. I think that Manawydan calls for attention less than his brothers do. Eifnesien causes trouble and gets attention. Bran can make himself the size of a mountain to attract the attention of anyone. Manawydan, however, never needs this. He doesn't have the drive to be in the center, shown by how he so easily leaves England when the other craftsman try to drive them out.
6) Literary device
"When the seven men we spoke of above had buried the head of Bendigeidfran in the White Mount in London, with its face towards France, Manawydan looked upon the town, in London, and on his companions, and heaved a great sigh. and felt much grief and longing within him. 'Alas, Almighty God, woe is me,' said he, 'there is none save me without a place for him this night." Mobinogion, Branch Three.
In this quote from the third branch of the Mabinogion, the author uses a very tone that is very sad, and lonely. She is trying to create the sense that now that Manawydan has buried his brother, he feels that he has no more purpose in life. She portrays how sorrowful he really is.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
College english lit. terms
Personification- the act in writing of giving life-like or human qualities to an inanimate or inhuman thing
E.g. "Thou detestable maw, thou womb of death,Gorg'd with the dearest morsel of the earth,Thus I enforce thy rotten jaws to open," Romeo and Juliet
Romeo here is describing juliets's tomb. he calls it a womb of death and says that he will force it's rotten jaws open. obviously, a tomb can't be a womb or have jaws. however the way he usev these darker and severe words gives the scene a very harsh and dark tone. One of personifications main uses is to create tone by giving inanimate object feelings and actions.
Dramatic Irony- when the audience is clued in on something that the characters still have not realized. this can be caused by an aside. Dramatic irony is used to give the audience a different perspecive on the play or story.
E.g. One huge dramatic irony in the history of literature is when Romeo kills himself because he believes that juliet is dead while the audience knows that she is not. this is great dramatic irony because the audience is first given a hint on how the sory was supposed to unfold but then without them expecting it a huge twist, that makes the story unique, is thrown in. The audience do not see it coming. and that makes it even better.
E.g. "Thou detestable maw, thou womb of death,Gorg'd with the dearest morsel of the earth,Thus I enforce thy rotten jaws to open," Romeo and Juliet
Romeo here is describing juliets's tomb. he calls it a womb of death and says that he will force it's rotten jaws open. obviously, a tomb can't be a womb or have jaws. however the way he usev these darker and severe words gives the scene a very harsh and dark tone. One of personifications main uses is to create tone by giving inanimate object feelings and actions.
Dramatic Irony- when the audience is clued in on something that the characters still have not realized. this can be caused by an aside. Dramatic irony is used to give the audience a different perspecive on the play or story.
E.g. One huge dramatic irony in the history of literature is when Romeo kills himself because he believes that juliet is dead while the audience knows that she is not. this is great dramatic irony because the audience is first given a hint on how the sory was supposed to unfold but then without them expecting it a huge twist, that makes the story unique, is thrown in. The audience do not see it coming. and that makes it even better.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
birds and horses motif
birds and horses are a powerful theme in Branwen Daughter of Llyr . Both of these have a role in the insult of a king, either matholwch or Bedndigeidfran. The horses of matholwch were maimed causing insult to matholwch. Birds were used to insult Bendigeidfran. Branwen sends a bird to her brother telling him of how the irish are abusing her. Birds are also used to symbolize freedom. branwen used a bird in part of her plan to escape.
birds and horses are a powerful theme in Branwen Daughter of Llyr . Both of these have a role in the insult of a king, either matholwch or Bedndigeidfran. The horses of matholwch were maimed causing insult to matholwch. Birds were used to insult Bendigeidfran. Branwen sends a bird to her brother telling him of how the irish are abusing her. Birds are also used to symbolize freedom. branwen used a bird in part of her plan to escape.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Qualities of King--
Acts as peace keeper
Acts as ambassador
Be a good host
Compassionate
Good speaker
Loyal to his country
Sacrifices for his country
Ring giver or sharer of treasure
Rewards his warriors or knights
Law giver and Judge
Fair in decisions
Good listening
Puts country before self
Noble, decisive, respectful
Punishes those who must be punished
Pays blood money or wergild when necessary
Handles pressure, doesn't lose his temper easily
Keeps his word
Intelligent and wise
Stands for the beliefs of his country
Stands as a symbol of his country
Qualities of Warrior--
Reputation most important thing for both warrior and king
Honor- if honor is broken revenge is necessary
Loyalty connection between King and his warriors
Warriors follow commands of king and protect him. King rewards them with food, shelter, treasure.
Oath of Faithfullness exchanged between the king and followers
Life after death based on deeds done in one's life so that the poet will sing.
Wergild vs. blood Revenge (blood money as a form of justice)
Banishment as a form of punishment
Murder of one's family as the greatest sin
Importance of hospitality
Wyrd-- the role of fate (destiny-Norns)
Superior physical and mental strength
Superior morals- stands as symbol for his people
Superior intelligence, cunning, mental toughness
Seeks or has done great deeds to build reputation
Honorable
Follows the command of his king, loyal to king and country
Brave, Courageous
Willing to risk life for others
Follows the idea of Wyrd
Self-Honor- important concept
Self-sacrafice, selfless
Leadership
Noble, chivalric (?-depends in tradition)
Just
Keeps the Peace
Team Player (?)
"Since a man may not avert his destiny, he should suffer it well."
Acts as peace keeper
Acts as ambassador
Be a good host
Compassionate
Good speaker
Loyal to his country
Sacrifices for his country
Ring giver or sharer of treasure
Rewards his warriors or knights
Law giver and Judge
Fair in decisions
Good listening
Puts country before self
Noble, decisive, respectful
Punishes those who must be punished
Pays blood money or wergild when necessary
Handles pressure, doesn't lose his temper easily
Keeps his word
Intelligent and wise
Stands for the beliefs of his country
Stands as a symbol of his country
Qualities of Warrior--
Reputation most important thing for both warrior and king
Honor- if honor is broken revenge is necessary
Loyalty connection between King and his warriors
Warriors follow commands of king and protect him. King rewards them with food, shelter, treasure.
Oath of Faithfullness exchanged between the king and followers
Life after death based on deeds done in one's life so that the poet will sing.
Wergild vs. blood Revenge (blood money as a form of justice)
Banishment as a form of punishment
Murder of one's family as the greatest sin
Importance of hospitality
Wyrd-- the role of fate (destiny-Norns)
Superior physical and mental strength
Superior morals- stands as symbol for his people
Superior intelligence, cunning, mental toughness
Seeks or has done great deeds to build reputation
Honorable
Follows the command of his king, loyal to king and country
Brave, Courageous
Willing to risk life for others
Follows the idea of Wyrd
Self-Honor- important concept
Self-sacrafice, selfless
Leadership
Noble, chivalric (?-depends in tradition)
Just
Keeps the Peace
Team Player (?)
"Since a man may not avert his destiny, he should suffer it well."
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