When reading Beowulf, values of this society become apparent. One such value is the unswerving loyalty to the king. Even after King Hrothgar gives up after failing to protect his people, and the foreign Beowulf comes in to save them, the Danes remain faithful to Hrothgar. "Yet there was no laying of blame on their lord,/the noble Hrothgar; he was a good king." (861-862) Another value is the habit of taking trophies from one's victims. This tradition continues to this day, when hunters mount the heads of deer they killed on their wall. In Beowulf, he rips Grendel's arm off and displays it in the rafters of the mead-hall for all to see. "Clear proof of this/could be seen in the hand the hero displayed/high near the roof: the whole of Grendel's/shoulder and arm..." (832-835) One more value repeated in this tale is the sexism and male superiority in their society. In the selections read so far, only one mention of a woman has appeared. Every other character has been male. She is referred to only as a wife, rather than an actual person. "The lord of Shieldings... left the hall to lie with Wealtheow,/his queen and bedmate." (663-665)
Alliteration can be found throughout Beowulf, like "...shadow-stalker, stealthy and swift,"(704) or "...terror-monger... and now the timbers trembled and sang." (775-776) Alliteration is included because Beowulf was originally presented orally. Alliteration adds to the excitement of the story and makes it more interesting for the audience.
Along with alliteration, Beowulf uses kennings to draw the audience further into the story. Some examples of these are "ring-giver" (36) for the king Shield Sheafson, "treasure-seat" (168) for the throne, and "sea-lanes" (239) for the sea. Kennings also create interest and are almost like a puzzle for the reader or audience to figure out while enjoying the story.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Antigone LRJ 2
There are many vivid, important images in the play Antigone. These include descriptions of Polyneices and his fate of being eaten by animals. In many cases, the Chorus seems to have the most lines containing detailed imagery. For example, the Chorus uses a long metaphor to retell the story of how Polyneices attacks Thebes: “…the vexed claims of Polyneices; and, like shrill-screaming eagle, he flew over into our land, in snow-white pinion sheathed, with an armed throng, and with plumage of helms… He paused above our dwellings; he ravened around our sevenfold portals with spears athirst for blood; but he went hence, or ever his jaws were glutted with our gore…” This conjures a vivid image in one’s mind of the violence and cruelty of the attack.
Another important image is Polyneices’ body described being eaten by animals. A few characters in the play mention this, but it is Creon who says, “…none shall grace him with sepulture or lament, but leave him unburied, a corpse for birds and dogs to eat, a ghastly sight of shame.” This makes one shudder at the awful fate of abandoning a body out in the middle of a hot, deserted field.
King Creon has quite a few flaws, but pride and stubbornness could be called his fatal ones. For almost the entire play, he refuses to relent his thoughtless choice of denying Polyneices his burial. In some cases, he seems to almost regret it, but doesn’t want to back down and look weak. Finally, in the end, he says, “Ah me, 'tis hard, but I resign my cherished resolve,-I obey.” However, it is too late.
The anagnorisis and peripeteia of Antigone are the same -- or, Creon recognizes the truth at the same time as his fortunes are completely reversed. This happens, of course, when Antigone commits suicide, thereby prompting his son Haimon to kill himself, which then causes his wife Eurydice to as well. Creon is crushed by these losses, and doesn’t even want to remain living. He anguishes, “Oh, let it come, that I may never look upon to-morrow's light.”
The catharsis comes at the very end, when the leader of the chorus speaks the closing lines. The audience is stunned and saddened by the ending of the play, and with these words, feels a sense of release and closure: “Wisdom is the supreme part of happiness; and reverence towards the gods must be inviolate. Great words of prideful men are ever punished with great blows, and, in old age, teach the chastened to be wise.”
In Antigone, women are treated as though they are worth less than men. This issue comes to light many times during the play, and is recognized not only by the men but the women as well. Though Antigone is rebellious and breaks the law to bury her brother, she knows women are less valued than men and accepts it-- or at least, this is not the issue she out rightly challenges. Her sister acknowledges it more fully, saying to Antigone, “…we were born women, as who should not strive with men.” When Antigone disobeys her uncle, Creon says, “While I live, no woman shall rule me.” These two casual comments hint at a world of prejudice and privilege, where women are universally thought of as less important than men and thereby assumed untrustworthy and sometimes automatically guilty.
Another important image is Polyneices’ body described being eaten by animals. A few characters in the play mention this, but it is Creon who says, “…none shall grace him with sepulture or lament, but leave him unburied, a corpse for birds and dogs to eat, a ghastly sight of shame.” This makes one shudder at the awful fate of abandoning a body out in the middle of a hot, deserted field.
King Creon has quite a few flaws, but pride and stubbornness could be called his fatal ones. For almost the entire play, he refuses to relent his thoughtless choice of denying Polyneices his burial. In some cases, he seems to almost regret it, but doesn’t want to back down and look weak. Finally, in the end, he says, “Ah me, 'tis hard, but I resign my cherished resolve,-I obey.” However, it is too late.
The anagnorisis and peripeteia of Antigone are the same -- or, Creon recognizes the truth at the same time as his fortunes are completely reversed. This happens, of course, when Antigone commits suicide, thereby prompting his son Haimon to kill himself, which then causes his wife Eurydice to as well. Creon is crushed by these losses, and doesn’t even want to remain living. He anguishes, “Oh, let it come, that I may never look upon to-morrow's light.”
The catharsis comes at the very end, when the leader of the chorus speaks the closing lines. The audience is stunned and saddened by the ending of the play, and with these words, feels a sense of release and closure: “Wisdom is the supreme part of happiness; and reverence towards the gods must be inviolate. Great words of prideful men are ever punished with great blows, and, in old age, teach the chastened to be wise.”
In Antigone, women are treated as though they are worth less than men. This issue comes to light many times during the play, and is recognized not only by the men but the women as well. Though Antigone is rebellious and breaks the law to bury her brother, she knows women are less valued than men and accepts it-- or at least, this is not the issue she out rightly challenges. Her sister acknowledges it more fully, saying to Antigone, “…we were born women, as who should not strive with men.” When Antigone disobeys her uncle, Creon says, “While I live, no woman shall rule me.” These two casual comments hint at a world of prejudice and privilege, where women are universally thought of as less important than men and thereby assumed untrustworthy and sometimes automatically guilty.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Antigone LRJ 1
WAR TRAITOR POLYNEICES FOUND BURIED
Early this morning, Oedipus' traitorous son Polyneices was found buried under a mound of dirt. The day before, our lord Creon ordered no one to touch the body as punishment for the treasonous sins committed by the late prince. However, someone dared to defy him, and now the people of Thebes are wondering who."I hath seen it with mine own eye," one befuddled sentry told the Thebes Press, looking around nervously. "The body was covered in dust, protected from scavenging birds and beasts."
However, the sentry remained mute when inquired as to his opinions on the perpetrator.
Our lord Creon is investigating into the crime, though they would not officially release suspects' names. Many homes are being searched by Creon's agents to find Polyneices' sympathizers.
Polyneices, brother to the war hero Eteocles, turned on his birth city with an army at his back. The younger son Eteocles was murdered in the fighting, but not before his traitorous elder brother was killed. King Creon declared that he shall not be buried! Foolish indeed is the man who crosses the king.
Advice to the guilty one: Get out of Thebes!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
First Impressions
I think that using blogs for schoolwork is an interesting idea. It's a nice break from the traditional write-until-your-hand-falls-off essay in class, which I'm sure many of my classmates will enjoy. Even though some people have complained about confusion with technology, I was pleasantly suprised to find how easy Blogger is to use! I'm excited to see how this new way to complete assignments turns out!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
