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Beowulf Poster + Why Grendel isn't that bad

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Beowulf Poster + Why Grendel isn't that bad

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Even though no one asked, I wrote an explanation of Grendel's character and my opinion on him, and you better believe I'm sharing it. Half jokes, half actual writing, half an opinion piece (I'm not good at math).

Beowulf's Grendel is well- written antagonist, with complex motivations and challenges. However, one important detail is how his lineage is described. He is a descendant of Cain, "a creature of darkness, exiled from happiness and accursed of God, the destroyer and devourer of our human kind". In the Bible, Cain was cursed of God for killing his brother, Abel. Cain was fueled by jealousy after God refused his reluctant offering yet accepted Abel's honest gift.

In the context of the gospel, we know "men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression." We also know we are all loved by God, no matter our wrongdoings. However, this does not apply to the context of Beowulf. This means Grendel carries the weight of Cain's sin and God's hatred of him. "Then [the] fierce evil demon suffered distress, long in torment, who dwelt in darkness. For day after day, he heard rejoicing loud in the hall: there was music of the harp, and the clear song of the scop, who sang of creation, the beginnings of men far back in time." Grendel, bitter with hatred, grows to despise the light and music of Herot hall.

In addition, Grendel's mother is, as her title blatantly implies, part of Grendel's family tree. As such, she also bears the curse set upon Cain. I feel it likely she raised Grendel to despise anything not of their common nature. Therefore, he has plausible reasons to act upon his feelings.

To sprinkle in my opinion, Grendel is a good character despite not being good morally. The worth of a character should be determined by how interesting and complex they are, not their morality if they were real. In short, Grendel is my favorite character, not despite his immorality but, in a way, because of it. After all, what's a story without an antagonist?

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That's right, it's Beowulf in space. Don't ask why 😂😂😂

Here is my final! I should clarify one thing though, the symbols I wrote down are not symbols that Beowulf embodies, they are symbols he is involved in and helps get the message across.

To see some of the smaller text you may have download it an zoom in using the windows or mac photo viewer.

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Gentlest of men, most winning of manner,

Friendliest to folk-troops and fondest of honor.

ha it almost rhyhmes

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Sorry, it's kinda hard to read.

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"Thus made their mourning the men of Geatland, for their hero's passing his hearth-companions: quoth that of all the kings of earth, of men he was mildest and most beloved, to his kin the kindest, keenest for praise." (No Fear Beowulf, page 162)

It is wonderful to see the way that the men honored their king.  The last part of the quote is very interesting, "...keenest for praise."  This part may be saying that Beowulf was seeking glory.  If so, we can learn to seek Christ instead of glory.  I want to place God above glory from the world.  Like Beowulf, we will do many good deeds, but unlike Beowulf, we must completely acknowledge the hand of God and be truly humble.

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Chapter 41: Thus made their mourning the men of Geatland, for their hero’s passing his hearth-companions: quoth that of all the kings of earth, of men he was mildest and most beloved, to his kin the kindest, keenest for praise.

Reason: Beowulf was a great hero. It is the mark of any good epic for the great hero to be celebrated and mourned after their passing. [At least the human heroes. The Enuma Elish is an epic but its about gods not humans.]

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I found it super interesting their sense of honor. In the civil war, men would run away backwards, so that if they were shot, they would die facing the enemy.

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"Yet no greed for gold. but the grace of heaven, ever the king had kept in view." This is describing how Beowulf did not lust after the gold and only obtained it for his fellow comrades. I like this quote because it highlights the good character of Beowulf. The mark of a true leader is one who cares for his soldiers. It gives more depth to Beowulf because he goes beyond only a muscled brute who seeks glory.

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"Beowulf dead on the sand, their bold ring-giver resting in his last bed; he'd reached the end of his days, their mighty war-king, the great lord of the Geats, gone to a glorious death" (Beowulf 122). This quote stood out to me because of the message it conveys. Beowulf was a mighty warrior who defeated countless monsters and beasts throughout his life with great courage and strength. However, just as much as Beowulf was a hero, he was also a human. Even with all of his impressive deeds and amazing accomplishments, he was not invincible and made mistakes like another other person, leading to his end.

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"The help I gave him was nothing, but all I was able to give; I went to him," (218).

This quote stuck out to me because it reminds me of our relationship with Christ in a way. Our help or what we do doesn't earn our salvation; Christ already earned it. But we still have to give all we can to Him to show our devotion and that we want to live with Him. It also reminds me that Christ measures our life by our efforts and personal accomplishments rather than what we did in comparison to the world. He cares more about if we tried our very best and made progress rather than if we were perfect every day or at any moment perfect in this life. He notices our efforts and they matter to Him, even if they are or seem like nothing.

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"And so Beowulf's followers rode mourning their beloved leader, crying that no better king had ever lived, no prince so mild, no man so open to his people, so deserving of praise."

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"Thus made their mourning the men of Geatland, for their hero's passing his hearth-companions: quoth that of all the kings of earth, of men he was mildest and most beloved, to his kin the kindest, keenest for praise."

(Unkown, 169).

Despite my beef with this book, this is a lovely way to end it.

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"A warrior will sooner die than live a life of shame."

This is Wiglaf speaking to the men that ran away when the dragon showed itself. Of course, this isn't a direct parallel. We're not out at the seaside watching our leaders splinter their steel swords on dragon skulls. But we're all warriors - we're all fighting against something - and we can't shirk. We have so much potential for greatness, and I fully agree with Wiglaf that to waste it is worse than death.

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One of my favorite quotes was on page 90. It reads, "He opened his store of gems and armor, let me choose as I liked, so I could bring his riches to you, my ruler, and prove his friendship, and my love." We talked in class last week about why we think Beowulf would give his treasure to the king, and here we find that it is to prove Hrothgar's friendship and Beowulf's love. Hrothgar knew that when he gave Beowulf treasure, Beowulf would give it to Higlac and that it would prove Hrothgar's friendship. This is because Beowulf is like a representative for Higlac. This made me think about in the sacrament prayer, it talks about how we "take upon them the name of thy Son." One of the ways we take Christ's name upon us is by becoming witnesses of our belief in him. We can do this by going to church, serving people, not swearing, and more. This made me think back to Beowulf, and how maybe part of the reasons behind his behaviors like his humbleness and talking about his credibility is because he is a representative of Higlac. People will judge Higlac based on Beowulf's actions and their opinions of those actions. This makes me think about how I could be a better representative of Christ.

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Chapter 34: “Beowulf dearest, do all bravely, as in youthful days of yore thou vowedst that while life should last thou wouldst let no wise thy glory droop! Now, great in deeds, atheling steadfast, with all thy strength shield thy life! I will stand to help thee.”

Reason: This quote from Wiglaf shows character. Wiglaf knows that Beowulf is a hero with honor, and he believes that supporting Beowulf in his fight will not lose Beowulf any glory. I have found myself that receiving support from others while doing service does not make your acts worth less, in fact it usually makes your acts worth more as part of a group.

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"Nor yet about him his band of comrades, sons of athelings, armed stood with warlike front: to the woods they bent them, their lives to save. But the soul of one with care was cumbered. Kinship true can never be marred in a noble mind!" Chapter 33

I like this quote because it shows the courage of Wiglaf. Even when the world was against them, even when everyone else ran away and hid, he still fought. It didn't matter that they were fighting a dragon, he still stood up and fought for what he thought was right.

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Wiglaf said, "Beowulf dearest, do all bravely, as in youthful days of yore thou vowedst that while life should last thou wouldst let no wise thy glory droop!  Now, great in deeds, atheling steadfast, with all thy strength shield steadfast, with all thy strength shield thy life!  I will stand to help thee." (No Fear Beowulf, page 135)

This shows what it means to be a true friend!  May I always strive to be a friend like Wiglaf was!

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"But the soul of one with care was cumbered. Kinship true can never be marred in a noble mind!"

"Let us stride along the hero to help while the heat is about him glowing and grim! For God is my witness I am far more fain the fire should seize along with my lord these limbs of mine!"

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"Vomiting fire and smoke, the dragon burned down their homes. They watched in horror as the flames rose up: the angry monster meant to leave nothing alive. And the signs of its anger flickered and glowed in the darkness, visible for miles, tokens of its hate and its cruelty, spread like a warning to the Geats who has broken its rest. . . his throne, the best of buildings, had melted away in the dragon's burning. . . Beowulf, their leader and lord, began to plan it" (Beowulf 96). This quote stood out to me this week for the reason that it seemed simply selfish to me. And I'm not referring to the dragon. I'm talking about Beowulf, the "high and mighty warrior", who always saved the day. When I got to this part, the book seemed to phrase it like once again Beowulf waited until the problem affected him before he came to the rescue. How is that fair to the dozens of people who had their homes destroyed by the dragon beforehand? This quote was a really important one of the flaws of Beowulf's character and how he acted.

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"He went to his lord’s aid; saying simply: ‘Dear Beowulf, go on, carry this through, As, when young, you claimed you would, While you lived, saying you would never Let glory fade. Defend yourself bravely, Strong in mind, and with all your might, Act boldly now, and I shall stand by you'" (95).

I liked this quote because it showed how much faith Wiglaf had in Beowulf. I think this foreshadows Wiglaf becoming the next king too because many of his actions before, during, and after the fight with the dragon were very similar to Beowulf.

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"The prince walked on, wise in his thought, to the wall of rock; then sat, and stared at the structure of giants, where arch of stone and steadfast column upheld forever that hall in earth. Yet here must the hand of the henchman peerless lave with water his winsome lord, the king and conquer covered with blood, with struggle spent, and unspan his helmet. Beowulf spake in spite of his hurt, his mortal wound; full well he knew his portion now was past and gone of earthly bliss, and all had fled of his file of days, and death was near..."

(Unknown, 139).

This passage stood out to me because it is Beowulf's death scene.

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"Death will be softer leaving life and the people I have ruled." This is my favorite quote for the week.

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"Thus Beowulf bore himself with valor; he was formidable in battle yet behaved with honor and took no advantage; never cut down a comrade who was drunk, kept his temper, and, warrior that he was, watched and controlled his God-sent strength and his outstanding natural powers."

This is just a bit of the narrator's commentary about Beowulf's character. I honestly didn't like Beowulf very much at the story's beginning; he came across as an ignorant, boastful jock who would do anything to prove his immense strength. Maybe he was at one point. Maybe I just read him wrong... But whether he's been maturing or has been mature all along, I've come to see that Beowulf is strong on the inside as well as the outside. He can bridle his passions as he bears himself with valor; he can gratefully accept a sword that turns out to be useless and bear Unferth no malice; he's loyal and kind to both Hygelac and Hrothgar, and he rules the Geat kingdom with justice and peace for 50 years.

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Quote:
"...this prince
Of the Geats, Beowulf, was born a better
Man! Your fame is everywhere, my friend,
Reaches to the ends of the earth, and you hold it
in your heart wisely..."

This quote caught my attention because Jesus was like this. God sent his son, Jesus Christ, to die for us, and his glory reaches all corners of the earth.

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"You've turned Danes and Geats into brothers, brought peace where once there was war, and sealed friendship with affection." I like this because it shows the power of service. Service is continually emphasized in the church and for good reason. Not only does service help to solve a problem like getting rid of Grendel, but it also creates bonds and happiness to both parties involved, just like Beowulf and Hrothgar.

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One of my favorite quotes was on page 73. It reads, "Our Eternal Lord grants some men wisdom, some wealth, makes others great. The world is God's . . . In human unwisdom, in the middle of such power, remembers that it all will end, and too soon? Prosperity, prosperity, prosperity. . . " Something that stood out to me about this quote was where it talks about money. People often seek money and place a very big importance on it, myself included. Sometimes we forget about other important things like families and the gospel. Money won't last forever, like we see in the quote, but other things are eternal.

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"Traveled through deep water. Deck timbers creaked,
And the wind billowing through the sail stretched
From the mast, tied tight with ropes, did not hold
them
Back, did not keep the ring-prowed ship
From foaming swiftly through the waves, the sea
Currents, across the wide ocean until
They could see familiar headlands, cliffs
That sprang out of Geatish soil."

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"They spoke about Beowulf, All the graybeards, whispered together And said that hope was gone, that the hero Had lost fame and his life at once, and would never Return to the living, come back as triumphant As he had left; almost all agreed that Grendel's Mighty mother, the she-wolf, had killed him."
I really liked this quote because it shows the lack in faith they had and how we need to not think of the worst situations possible when problems occur.

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"A sword to the boat-guard Beowulf gave, mounted with gold; on the mead-beach since he was better esteemed, that blade possessing, heirloom old." Chapter 27

I like this quote because it shows Beowulf's kindness. This whole poem focuses on his strength, his courage, and his leadership abilities. But I value kindness more than I do any of those other traits. I love that after all he's been given, and how honored he is, that he stops and gives a sword to the guard. It says in the poem that it blesses the man's life and gains him respect among the Danes. I just love that he's kind on top of all those other things. I respect him a lot more after that.

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"Here find thy lesson!  Of virtue advise thee!...Wondrous seems how to sons of men Almighty God in the strength of His [S]pirit sendeth wisdom, estate, high station: He swayeth all things." (No Fear Beowulf, page 88)

The Lord loves us so he sends us blessings!  It is our duty to use His blessings to further His work!  We should not use these blessings to gain worldly approval or to justify proud feelings.

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Chapter 24: "Not a whit could I with Hrunting do in work of war, though the weapon is good; yet a sword the Sovran of Men vouchsafed me to spy on the wall there, in splendor hanging, old, gigantic,—how oft He guides the friendless wight!—and I fought with that brand, felling in fight, since fate was with me, the house’s wardens."

Reason: Beowulf acknowledges that Hrunting is a good sword, but Hrunting was not the right equipment to face Grendel's mother.  The name Hrunting references hunting, and it was a blade designed for that purpose.  However during the fight Beowulf was guided, as he said, by God towards the proper weapon to defeat evil.  So if we prepare with God's direction we can defeat any evil.

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"So he waxes in wealth, nowise can harm him illness or age; no evil cares, shadow his spirit; no sword-hate threatens from ever an enemy: all the world wends at his will, no worse he knoweth, till all within him obstinate pride waxes and wakes while his warden slumbers, the spirit's sentry; sleep is too fast, which masters his might, and the murderer nears, stealthily shooting the shafts from his bow!" (Unknown, 89).
This quote really stood out to me, because of the last line, translated into plain English: "It was as though he had been shot in the heart by a demon".
I thought this was a powerful comparison, and going back to the original poem, I love this sad and beautiful explanation of what happened to the soul of Heremod. Pride and wealth got  hold of him, and he was so powerful he got his own way all the time, and then; 'till all within him obstinate pride waxes and wakes while his warden slumbers, the spirit's sentry..". We have the spirit to keep ourselves in check, if we listen, but if we ignore, and sleep through the conscience and Light of Christ that we have, we can become heedless to the right and good, and be pushed and wrapped deeper into the wrong, and our pure hearts can become polluted, as if we had been shot in the heart by a demon.

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"My life was almost lost, fighting for it, struggling under water: I'd have been dead at once, and the fight finished, the she-devil victorious, if our Father in Heaven had not helped me" (Beowulf 71). I love this quote because of theme of Christianity it displays, and how it shows that even with Beowulf's courageous actions and heroic deeds, he still gives the credit where credit is due to our Heavenly Father. He makes sure that God is recognized and that his accomplishments don't overshadow the Lord and the role he played in Beowulf's victory.

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"His love was so warm he could not hide it.
I love this quote because Beowulf and King Hrothgar had made a very tight bond of friendship because Beowulf offered to help the Danes and Geats in their time of need. It also gives them sort of a father-son relationship.

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"As enemies once oppressed you here I will bring a thousand warriors a thousand armed Geats to protect your throne."

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"God Gives guidance to those who can find it from no one Else" (136-137).

God can and will give us guidance as we seek to do His will and become like Him. He can be our source of truth, guidance, and support, even when no one else in the world is. In fact, He has the best guidance for us.

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"Mid the battle-gear saw he a blade triumphant, old-sword of Eotens, with edge of proof, warriors' heirloom, weapons unmatched, -- save only 'twas more than other men to bandy-of-battle could bear at all-- as the giants had wrought is, ready and keen. Seized then its chain-hilt the Scyldings' chieftain, bold and battle-grim, brandished the sword, reckless of life, and so wrathfully smote that it gripped her neck and grasped her hard, her bone-rings breaking: the blade pierced through that fated-one's flesh: to floor she sank."

(Unknown, 83).

I like this quote because it says that this particular sword can't be picked up by any old guy and Beowulf just picks it up LIKE A BOSS. WITHOUT ANY HESITATION.

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"Life would have ended for Ecgtheow's son,
under wide earth for that earl of Geats,
had his armor of war not aided him,
battle-net hard, and holy God
wielded the victory, wisest Maker.
The Lord of Heaven allowed his cause;
and easily rose the earl erect." (No Fear Beowulf, page 81)

This quote is important to me because it shows the hand of God in the preservation of Beowulf's life.  All good things are from God.  The Lord's hand is truly in the details of our lives.

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Then she wept again, and weeping sang
The dead's last praise. The Danish king
Was lifted into place, smoke went curling
Up, logs roared, open
Wounds split and burst, skulls
Melted, blood came bubbling down,
And the greedy fire-demons drank flesh and bones
From the dead of both sides, until nothings was left.

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Beowulf | Week 28 | Monster Mask Picture 2

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Beowulf | Week 28 | Monster Mask Picture 2

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Grendel, a creature of jealousy. Grendel, a creature of hate. In the early days of the world his ancestor sinned one of the greatest sins before God. He was banished from the sight of God, and his family became miserable creatures. They were not allowed to be happy. They were taught to be miserable, to be jealous, to hate the children of God. Taught to be monsters that sowed evil wherever they went.

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Beowulf | Week 28 | Monster Mask Picture 1

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Beowulf | Week 28 | Monster Mask Picture 1

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Chapter 19: Grendel’s mother, monster of women, mourned her woe. She was doomed to dwell in the dreary waters, cold sea-courses, since Cain cut down with edge of the sword his only brother, his father’s offspring: outlawed he fled, marked with murder, from men’s delights warded the wilds.

Reason: The implication is that, being the offspring of Cain, Grendel's mother has been confined to the swamp since Cain murdered Able.  Now most likely this live references her ancestors as well, being more symbolic then anything else, but if taken literally it has terrifying implications at just how old she is.  If taken literally it also implies that Cain is Grendel's grandfather which is also a nice tie in.

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Enjoy It!

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quote: From body-bite fierce. The fire devoured them,

Greediest of spirits, whom war had offcarried

From both of the peoples; their bravest were fallen.

Beautifully written. It almost has a 'justice has been done' sound to it.

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"She's brooded on her loss, misery had brewed in her heart, that female horror, Grendel's Mother, living in the murky cold lake assigned her since Cain had killed his only brother, slain his father's son with an angry sword." I like this because of the word choices here. When It says brewed, I like to think that her thoughts in misery and hatred became more and more pungent and strong the longer she thought.

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I typed it up because my handwriting is bad, and much too large to fit on that piece of paper.

Here it is if you don't want to have to squint to read it:

Grendel didn’t start off as a monster. Grendel wasn’t even his original name. That one’s been lost to time. The echoes of his true story are still around, though, if anyone cared to look. He grew up as a human boy in a small and obscure village about 300 years before the events of Beowulf took place. He displayed signs of various mental illnesses and disorders at a young age, and by the time he was 15 he had been disowned from his family because he’d been accused of being a witch. Of course, he wasn’t really a witch, but that didn’t matter to them. They thought anyone different was a threat, so they tied him to a boulder and tossed him in a nearby lake. Little did they know that the most powerful necromancer in the world (at the time) was on a stroll in the adjacent forest. She felt Grendel’s soul leave his body and took pity on him.
She gathered up his soul and took it back to her den, where she made him a new body. It was made of cloth, with buttons for eyes and sawdust filling it instead of bones, muscles, and organs. When it was finished, she performed the ritual that would unite his soul and its new body, binding them together and imbuing him with newfound power. She christened him Grendel (heaven only knows why) and began teaching him the ways of evil. She started by encouraging him to take revenge upon the villagers who had abused, terrorized and ultimately killed him during his mortal life. Within 10 years, he had brutally murdered every last person in that village and had gained a lust for blood. With that, the necromancer set him loose. Over their years together, she had grown to care for him as a mother of sorts, in a twisted way. Whenever he needed one of his button eyes resewn, he’d come crawling back to her, and she’d take care of him. And that is how Grendel became the monster we know him as today.

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"Fame after death is the noblest of goals."

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"let God be thanked!" I like this quote because it gives God credit for the many blessings he has given us but aren't really appreiciated as much as they should be.

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"Beowulf spake, bairn of Ecgtheow: 'Sorrow not, sage! It beseems us better friends to avenge than to fruitlessly mourn them. Each of us all must his end abide in the ways of the world; so win who may gory ere death! When his days are told, that is the warrior's worthiest doom.'"

I like this quote because I think it's funny that Beowulf's like "guys don't be sad" but one of their friends just got carried away by a literal demon.

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Sorry it's a bit late, it's way after the 9am literature class, but I wanted to share it anyway.

Sarah looked up, hopeful, curious, and scared.
The path before her seemed
Unreachable and wild, but
Her happy hope of a brighter future
Carried her forward. Her family was depending
On her and her only. It was up to her
To send them somewhere safer.
Struggling through deep snow drifts,
Wishing on every falling star
Looking for rainbows, some hope, some light at all

The starry drinking-cup
Kept her eyes to the east
Trudging forward, never ceasing
To rise above the darkest day
Somehow, somewhere, the free-hope in her eyes and heart
gave her courage to keep on,
despite her father's ailing health
and her mother's legs too weak
to stand and walk again

Finally, she saw it! The golden meadow shining green
With grass and flowers richly sweet,
They smelled of freedom's wings.
This was the place for them. Her mother could recover.
Her father now could rest, the children could play happily.
The cattle could now pasture, giving them milk and cheese.
She was content, she was at peace. Her life was full of plenty.

Explanation: Sarah basically functioned as mom, dad, and sister for her siblings. Her mother had weak legs, a reminder of a disease she recovered from. Her father had poor health, and wasn't strong enough to get out of bed most days. They needed a better place to live, so they left their little town. Sarah used the big dipper to guide them eastward, towards a more rural setting. She wished on falling stars, pressing forward and trying to look on the bright side. She finally came with her family to a beautiful golden meadow with lots of green grass and flowers. Her mother was able to regain her strength and her father got a chance to really rest. She and her siblings were able to play in the meadow, and the cows pastured in the meadow, making a lot of milk and cheese for them.

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I seriously have to stop putting in so many quotes. It's so hard to pick just one... XD

Here's one that made me think: “Nowhere, they said... was there anyone better to raise a shield or to rule a kingdom.”

I'm not sure how I feel about the emphasis that their political system places on physical strength and number of foes slain. I paused for a second here because "rais[ing] a shield" is an entirely different thing than ruling a kingdom. Why must the king be a warlord? Putting aside the fact that killing (for the society's sake, or for glory's sake, or for something's sake), seems to be acceptable in this society (and that's a whole other topic for another week), there's a lot more to ruling a people than ripping off arms. Now, are there attributes that can be strengthened in times of war that translate well to civic leadership? Absolutely! Courage, strategy, interpersonal relationships, et cetera. But I don't think wrestling prowess or "strength of limb" is necessarily a good predictor of political wisdom.

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"Now, Beowulf, thee, of heroes best, I shall heartily love as mine own, my son; preserve thou ever this kindship new..." (No Fear Beowulf, page 52)

I love the love that is shown in this quote.

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Literature Week 27 Old English Non-rhyming Poem

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I fly like a bird that has arm-feathers.
As my music comes through my hands,
Swiftly and fluently, while I express
My feelings on stage. The wielder
Of my talent, I hunger to express it
To others. I can feel the crowd drawn
In, yearning for more. Their energy
I use to give more than would be
Possible alone. When I finish,
A marathon I have just accomplished.
Exhausted but exhilarated, satisfaction
Overcomes me.

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"Beowulf, A prince of the Geats, had killed Grendel, Ended the grief, the sorrow, the suffering Forced on Hrothgar's helpless people By a bloodthirsty fiend". This quote stood out to me because it showed that he had completed his task and that this event will carry the story on in the plot.

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Poem:
The boy stood quiet, knife in his hand
Hunter was his name, a calling it seemed
His presence was felt, by friend and foe alike
To those behind him they felt light
His enemy though were not well at all
Then they felt the weight of fear take hold
He pointed his finger, his presence changed
Then he spoke a condemnation to evil
"By my blade, you will die here and now!"
At his words the creatures of darkness fled

Plain English: Hunter stood quietly, clutching his knife.  All around him was a powerful atmosphere.  His friends felt comforted, but the monsters he fought felt fear.  He pointed at the monsters and spoke.  "By my blade, you will die now!"  The evil creatures fled at his words.

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A forest destined awake, however hard it tries,

Will always be buzzing.

Cacophony of creatures, lively created

Overrun the still-sound nature

With their animated energy.

Well-worn paths lining

A sanctuary so kindly; enchanting

Filled with souls of gaiety.

A mist foreboding enters quickly.

Light of the forest dims

To a pale, wrenching darkness.

Oh, how an innocent refuge

Becomes corrupt instantaneously!

Behold! Deathly steel-edged blade wielded

Chop, chop, chop, the splintered wood

Hewn down in heaps of abandoned bundles.

Conifers weeping; wind screeching

Spirits flee; the woods ringing out in silence

Deserted home, cast aside

The broken hearts of each being.

The woods mourn the loss

Of the beauty it once possessed in its grasp,

Lost as slipping sand through its fingertips.

Chaos has wreaked havoc on

The once peaceful forest.

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Broken; o’er stars beams slip by

Wounding gray-light, it peirceth

Thru weary dark and cold

Hewed on, as warrior strength

Bloodied, bold, and brave

Triumph flowing across

The crimson sacrifice;

Angel-harps glistening gold

Mountains humming o’er glory

Thousand flocks in song

To blossoming morning

Seeping, staining heaven

Drops from holy hands

Bleeding: oh, the dawn

(I showed this song to my 19-year-old punk brother I told you about, and he immediately thought it was a heavy metal song, and read it aloud like a rock song).

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Old English: The Prince of Radiance Glow, the Lady of the Queen's house, stare unknowingly. They lock eyes, then he knows. She asks whom, and he replies, "Alas... there is no maid... Nor servant... The woman I love doesn't realize that I want her... More than just a friend... T'was a fateful day that we met... The pages turned and we locked eyes for the first time... My heart soared and she blinked, unknowing..."

Modern: There once was a Prince of the glowing Kingdom of Radiance and a Lady from the Queen's Court. They thought that they felt only deep friendship in the beginning, but it was then the Prince realized his love for the Lady. She realized that the Prince acted differently, and then asked if he had fallen in love with a maid or servant of the castle. He replied by saying that he had not, but with a close friend of his, hinting at his love for her, but she still doesn't realize.

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Dragon from Last Week Even Though It's Not Last Week Anymore

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Dragon from Last Week Even Though It's Not Last Week Anymore

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I'm not sure if this counts, but I like Eustace the dragon from The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. The changes that come from his experience make him respectable. He went from an independent, insensitive, rough child to a kind, compassionate, reasonable boy.

Also, not related, but Reepicheep is probably my favorite character.

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His Diamond eyes are

Amber moons

That flash with playful malice

His words

Are like creaking steel

He scurries on fox-feet

And announces his displeasure

With a flick of his bottle-brush tail

What is this creature

Who thinks himself King of Beasts?

When In Reality

He is Quite Small

Silly, and floppy, and scared half to death

By the sound of a door closing!

Yet his Pride outweighs

His cowardice

Kingly Kitty

Sitting Stately atop the china cabinet

Curling Coyly around my legs

Elegant feline, with nothing to prove

Ball of Tangarine fluff

Thoughtful friend

Do you think at all?

EXPLANATION:
If you hadn't already guessed, this is a poem about my cat, Huckleberry Finn, or just Finn for short. He follows me around and is very sad when I go on trips without him. I find watching him very entertaining. He has the weirdest little quirks, and he struts around my house like he owns the place. He has some strangely human behaviours. For example, if you stare him in the eye without talking to him for too long, he does things to fill the awkward silence. Such as meowing loudly, scratching his ear while holding your gaze, or sharpening his claws on whatever is closest to him. He takes life very seriously unless he's high on catnip, has just woken up from a nap, or is in a playful mood. He likes to bop me on the nose when he's feeling silly. If I'm sitting still somewhere, he'll come curl up on my lap and fall asleep. He's one of the very best parts of my life, and that's why I chose to write about him.

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Write a non-rhyming poem in Old English style.  Use several of the figures of speech found in this week's lesson.  After writing your poem, explain in plain (current) English what you are trying to say.  (Old English Poem = 10 sentence minimum; 1 paragraph of plain English explanation).

"There is only one path, one way," they said,
"You must follow it" The words rang through his head
Like a woodpecker. He saw multitudes of men, women
And children walk this trail which belonged to the forest.
No where did he see any brave soul venture
Off the path. They could only imagine of the dark horrors
And demons that might await them if they dared tried.
He knew the risk but he had grown deathly bored
Of this old way-giver. Something new could be so close
To him. There had to be  more out there, more than the Dancing trees along the path, more than
The whispering wind passing the leaves. Life has
To change. So when no one was looking, he took his
First step into the unknown.

Explanation:
Sometimes there's more out there than just what we're told. Although, most of us are too afraid to try something new for fear of failure or fear of unhappiness. The regular path is safe and familiar to us. But with great risk comes great reward. So we have to be willing to try and find something new and beautiful outside of the regular way.

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Yfel [was] weorcnesm¯æst [lab], latest ân [night
When] mîn [eyes] [beheld] ealdgenîðla [eerie] dwi−mor. [
For] mîn snellscipe ûðe sîn [slab], [began] âlecgan [rise
And] un−gewealdes toward mîn unne mâl [did] sê [mash].  Hê [was] bâm [graveyard] scêotan, sê [caught] âbûtan hwonne hlêg eahtoða. Sê [did] dôð [mash]. Wægn [ghosts] [all] [came] to sîn unmôdig [abodes]strîenan bêgra [jolt] âstellan mîn [electrons].

I was working in the lab, late one night
When my eyes beheld an eerie ghost.
For my spirit from his slab, began to rise
And suddenly to my approval he did the mash.  It was a graveyard hit, It caught on in a month. He did the mash. The ghosts all came from their humble abodes To get a jolt from my electrons.

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My favorite dragon is the Drakon Kholkikos from Georgia. I like this dragon because it looks like an owl (owl's being my favorite animal). I also love this dragon because of how stealthy it looks. The way it acts just seems so appealing to me. It reminds me of an owl.

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From ancient China to the Aztecs Empire, dragon legends are a global phenomenon.  Look at different dragon imagery from all over the world.  Search “dragons around the world”.  Which dragon is your favorite and why? Write 3-4 sentences to explain.  Insert a picture of your favorite dragon into your post as well (via web or personal artwork).

My favorite dragon is Toothless from the How To Train Your Dragon movies. The first reason is because he's cute, fun, adorably awkward, and has a great personality. Second, is because he's got another side that you don't want to mess with. He's insanely loyal to Hiccup, but still keeps him in check when he's being stupid. Overall, he's a pretty solid dude. I know that he's not some ancient pretend being that was worshiped in different cultures, but since dragons aren't real, I figured it was okay to put in a modern pretend being that is worshiped by any child under 10. And a few over! 😉

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From of historical/mythological/well read literature point of view I would say that my favorite dragon is Smaug from The Hobbit. In the book he's described as a wyrm like creature, so he's usually portrayed like an enormous wyvern, which is a birdlike two legged dragon. I love Smaug so much because he is essentially the classical evil dragon. Smaug spawned what is now perceived as the modern evil dragon, despite being based off of dragons like the one found in Beowulf, [which was probably the primary inspiration,] and Fafnir from Norse Myths/The Legend of Siegfried.

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I love the Greek dragon Python, because of its vital role in Greek mythology. An enormous serpent sent by Gaia the Earth goddess, Python guarded the Oracle of Delphi. It was slain by Apollo because it had tormented Apollo's mother, Leto, during her pregnancy. Python's legend has many variations and is very interesting to research and study.

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The quote I chose was "Let God be thanked!" in the introduction. This stood out to me because it shows how important God is and that even in their time they worshiped and thanked him for all he did.

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"...how ceaselessly Grendel harassed Hrothgar, what hate he bore him..." (No Fear Beowulf, page 9)

When we choose to think degrading thoughts about others, our wisdom is sometimes ignored as we seek for revenge.  May we choose to ignore the evil and unkind thoughts!  May we seek for light divine!

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"Woe for that man who in harm and hatred hales his soul to fiery embraces;-nor favor nor change awaits he ever. But well for him that after death-day may draw to his Lord. and friendship find in the Father's arms!" Chapter 2 - last stanza

This quote really struck me as 1) beautiful writing that's really hard to understand, and 2) so true! The narrator is feeling sorry for all those who, in hard times, turn to the devil for help, but feels all will be well for him who stays true to God forever, and will be welcomed in His kingdom when he dies. Even if turning to Satan seems like the best or only option at the time, it never is. Sometimes we don't receive our reward for following Christ in this life, but we will at some point. It might just be his welcome when we die, but in the long run, it's always better to follow God.

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Chapter 1: So lived the clansmen in cheer and revel

a winsome life, till one began

to fashion evils, that field of hell.

Grendel this monster grim was called,

march-riever mighty, in moorland living,

in fen and fastness; fief of the giants

the hapless wight a while had kept

since the Creator his exile doomed.

On kin of Cain was the killing avenged

by sovran God for slaughtered Abel.

Ill fared his feud, and far was he driven,

for the slaughter’s sake, from sight of men.

Of Cain awoke all that woful breed,

Etins and elves and evil-spirits,

as well as the giants that warred with God

weary while: but their wage was paid them!

Reason: Ah Grendel, the big pain in the 🤬.  He's really a good example of what one should look at to represent the archetype of monstrous evil.  This quote stuck out to me because it references Cain and Abel.  It informs the audience that Grendel is a demon, a monster that belongs in Hell.

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I like those cute Puppy-like dragons from the virtual reality game

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My favorite dragon is undoubtably Mushu from Disney's Mulan. He is full of charm, humor and compassion. What he lacks in height and fire breathing ability he makes up in enthusiasm. I spent so many hours watching this Mulan when I was young it's only logical that I have tons of nostalgia tied up with this yellow whiskered menace. Mushu is my favorite dragon of all time!

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Share a favorite quote from this week's reading.  Explain why it stood out to you. (Optional: apply it to your life).

"Of Cain awoke all that woful breed, Etins and elves and evil-spirits, as well as the giants that warred with God weary while: but their wage was paid them!" (6)

In the no fear translation it's translated saying, "From Cain sprang a race of giants and elves and evil spirits. They fought against God, though they had no chance of winning" (7). It's important to me because it points out an important truth. God will always win. He will win against evil. And He will win against us if we try to fight Him. So why try to fight the Almighty God? Why try to fight Him when He can lift us up and help us defeat all evil in our lives and live up to our potential? It's a principle that so many fail to recognize but is critical to our understanding of the gospel.

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This is the closest thing to OhOh the water dragon of Hawaii. In the literature videos.

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This is a picture of an Egyptian dragon, refered to as Akhekh or Akhekhu. I liked this dragon the most because I've always had a deep fascination with all things Ancient Egypt. Plus, its so pretty! I love reptiles, birds, and cats and this is a mixture of all of them. It's safe to say I want an Akhehk for my very own. Some of these creatures were once worshiped as gods, and judging by their regal beauty, I can almost see why.

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I liked the Pakhangba. I like that He can change forms at will, from human to serpentine, with horns. Pakhangba is considered the great dragon lord, the ruler and protector of Earth, and the destroyer of evil. Also very interesting.

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'Might think less of me if I let my sword Go where my feet were afraid to, if I hid Behind some broad linden shield: my hands Alone shall fight for me, struggle for life Against the monster' (Shakespeare 53).

This quote was crazy to me because Beowulf said he was brave enough to fight Grendel with his bare hands! It also shows that he is not all talk, anything he says he will do. I could apply this to my life by making sure everything I say is something I could do or have done, not just something I say.

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"That light-hearted laughter loud in the building
Greeted him daily; there was dulcet harp-music,
Clear song of the singer. He said that was able
To tell from of old earthmens beginnings,
That Father Almighty earth had created,
The winsome wold that the water encircleth,
Set exultingly the suns and the moons beams
To lavish their lustre on land-folk and races,
And earth He embellished in all her regions
With limbs and leaves." (Unknown, 6-7).

I thought this quote was beautiful because of the lovely imagery and the reference to the way the earth was lovingly created by our Heavenly Parents for us.

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"Let them beware those who are thrust into danger, clutched at by trouble, yet can carry no solace in their hearts, cannot hope to be better."

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“I was myself last night, but I fell asleep on the mountain, and they’ve changed my gun, and everything’s changed, and I’m changed, and I can’t tell what’s my name, or who I am!” Section III - Paragraph 15.

Rip's just gotten back and doesn't know what's happening to him. He can tell that everything's changed but he doesn't know what to do about it. He yells that everything's changed, that he's changed, and that he doesn't know who he is anymore. I think lots of us feel like that pretty often. Something changes, and we don't know what to do anymore. We feel like we've lost ourselves and don't know what to do anymore. But eventually, with effort, he finds himself. I also love that the people of the village were willing to help him figure out who he was after the change.

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"Alas! gentlemen," Rip cried, somewhat dismayed, "I ama poor quiet man, a native of the place, and a loyal subject of the king, God bless him!"

I find it very interesting that he says he is a loyal subject to the king because it seemed like he was never really affected by his majesty until now. Rip Van Winkle says that he is a subject of the king, but he only ways that because he feels no need to say he isn't. It makes me think a lot about the things that I am "loyal" to and what effect they have on me. In the case of Rip Van Winkle, his non committal loyalty to the king made others judge him as a tory, or in other words, untrustworthy. I know that there have been times in my life where I had non committal loyalties to things like bad friends, habits and hobbies. Although I was not an active participant of these things, they caused people to look at me different. I think that it would be smart for us to look at our non committal loyalties and see exactly what they are doing to and for us.

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" 'Alas! gentlemen,' cried Rip, somewhat dismayed, 'I am a poor, quiet man, a native of the place, and a loyal subject of the king, God bless him!' Here a general shout burst from the bystanders..."

"Rip's heart died away at hearing of these sad changes in his home and friends and finding himself thus alone in the world."

"The honest man could contain himself no longer. He caught his daughter and her child in his arms. 'I am your father!' cried he - 'Young Rip Van Winkle once, old Rip Van Winkle now! Does nobody know poor Rip Van Winkle?' "

----

The first quote is a facepalm moment if there ever was one. Oh, Rip, if only you knew...

The last two are poignant glimpses into how much pain Rip has found in just a few hours. The last, in particular, is probably the climax of the work. It all centers on that question - "Does nobody know poor Rip Van Winkle?"

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"He looked round for his gun, but in place of the clean, well-oiled fowling-piece,  he found an old firelock lying by him, the barrel incrusted with rust, the lock falling off, and the stock worm-eaten... Wolf, too, had disappeared, but he might have strayed away after a squirrel or partridge. He whistled after him and shouted his name, but all in vain; the echoes repeated his whistle and shout, but no dog was to be seen."

I love this quote because it shows the first clues of Rip's long sleep and the way in which he rationalizes or excuses it, as opposed to indulging in the bizarre reality he is now in.

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" Instead of the great tree that used to shelter the quiet little Dutch inn of yore, there now was reared a tall, naked pole, with something on the top that looked like a red nightcap, and from it was fluttering a flag, on which was a singular assemblage of stars and stripes; all this was strange and incomprehensible. He recognized on the sign, however, the ruby face of King George, under which he had smoked so many a peaceful pipe; but even this was singularly changed. The red coat was changed for one of blue and buff, a sword was held in the hand instead of a scepter, the head was decorated with a cocked hat, and underneath was painted in large characters, General Washington. "

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One of the quotes that was the most impactful for me was on page 11. The quote is, "Rip's daughter took him home to live with her; she had a snug, well-furnished house, and a stout, cheery farmer for a husband, whom Rip recollected for one of the urchins that used to climb upon his back." This quote stood out to me because it shows me that with enough hard work, anyone can be better. Rip's daughter grew up in a home with a father who never helped around the house. She could have been like her brother and followed along in their father's footsteps, but she and her husband worked hard. Now they have a beautiful home and family. I have a tendency to want to be perfect instantly when I try something new. When that doesn't happen, it makes me want to give up. I have learned from this quote that good things come over time through hard work and perseverance. It makes me more resolved to stick with things.

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Insert an impactful quote and explain why it stood out to you.  (Optional:  apply it to your life)

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"'God knows,' exclaimed he, at his wits' end; 'I'm not myself-I'm somebody else - that's me yonder - no - that's somebody else got into my shoes-I was myself last night, but I fell asleep on the mountain, and they've changed my gun, and everything's changed, and I'm changed, and I can't tell what's my name or who I am!'" (Irving 10).
When we aren't founded on Christ, we are much more likely to fall into Satan's traps and deceptions, and then when crazy events happen, we won't be founded on anything and we might feel like Rip when he stated this.

"As to Rip's son and heir, who was the ditto of himself, seen leaning against the tree he was employed to work on the farm; but showed an hereditary disposition to attend to anything else but his business" (Irving 11).
Just like Rip and his son in this situation, we have a huge influence on the people around us. We tend to subconsciously start to do the same things as the people we spend time with. The other thing that I just realized is that sometimes when we have to do something, we don't want to do it, but when we don't have to, we would choose to or at least hate it less. I'm not sure why that is but it is something we do sometimes and that's why accepting other people is so critical. When we accept and love others the way they are, they're more likely to change than if we just lectured them on how they could change or do better.

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Reading Confirmation and quotes: Section 2

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Reading Confirmation and quotes: Section 2

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I read the required reading.

"In a long ramble of the kind on a fine autumnal day, Rip had unconsciously scrambled to one of the highest parts of the Catskill Mountains. He was after his favorite sport of squirrel-shooting, and the still solitudes had echoed and reëchoed with the reports of his gun. Panting and fatigued, he threw himself, late in the afternoon, on a green knoll, covered with mountain herbage, that crowned the brow of a precipice. From an opening between the trees he could overlook all the lower country for many a mile of rich woodland. He saw at a distance the lordly Hudson, far, far below him, moving on its silent but majestic course, with the reflection of a purple cloud, or the sail of a lagging bark, here and there sleeping on its glassy bosom, and at last losing itself in the blue highlands."

(15).

"He looked round for his gun, but in place of the clean, well-oiled fowling piece, he found an old firelock lying by him, the barrel incrusted with rust, the lock falling off, and the stock worm-eaten. He now suspected that the grave revelers of the mountain had put a trick upon him and, having dosed him with liquor, had robbed him of his gun. Wolf, too, had disappeared, but he might have strayed away after a squirrel or partridge. He whistled after him, and shouted his name, but all in vain; the echoes repeated his whistle and shout, but no dog was to be seen."

(20)

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"Nicholas Vedder why he is dead and gone these 18 years. "