Extra Credit Definitions

Please go to the wiki to find out the answers to the extra credit definitions!

Module 2 Assignment 5

Dear Judith,

I was glad to hear that you stood up for yourself and did not lay there with fear. By decapitating that man, you not only showed bravery for yourself, but also encouraged your people to do the same. However, just as you prayed for the courage to get yourself out of the situation you were in, I advise you to do the same for forgiveness. You are a spectacular and courageous woman, but taking someone's life is serious business. Although you saved your people, at the same time you committed a mortal sin. I do feel that you did the right thing, but I now feel that you should pray for God's forgiveness. Keep up the courageous work.

Sincerely,
Erin

Module 2 Assignment 3

Not to make a joke out of an epic tale, but as I was reading this (especially at the end), I was reminded of Dr. Seuss's "How the Grinch Stole Christmas". After Grendel attacked the meadhall, the people just rebuilt the door and sang as if they were rejoicing. The fact that this made Grendel angry and retreat seems very similar to the classic children's story. I felt that it really demonstrated how monstrous Grendel really was. It also brought more light as to who his mother was. It was definately much easier to read than Beowulf. I enjoyed it.

Module 2 Reading Assignment 2

The Christian images in Beowulf seem to play an important role as to why Grendel attacked Heorot. Grendel was a descendent of Cain. God would not bless any descendents of Cain, but he did bless all other human beings. This is what provoked Grendel to do what he did. If it were not for the jealousy he had for the people who were blessed by God, the story of Beowulf would not have taken place.

Module 1:Activity 1

Major works of Renaissance literature were ballads, books of manners, romances, scientific texts, histories, translations, dramas, poetry, and satire. Humanists greatly influenced literature of this time period. Desiderius Erasmus and Sir Thomas More were two very literary influential humanists.
Some major authors of the Renaissance were John Skelton, Chris Marlowe, Henry Howard, and, of course, William Shakespeare. Drama was a major contributor to the literary world during the Renaissance. The first public theatre was built just outside London. William Shakespeare is a very well known playwright of this time period.
Poetry also developed its own British style. It divided into two categories; Metaphysical, meaning intellectual, and Cavelier, which were more Classical. Satire, which is sarcastic humor about a serious event, also became very popular.

Works cited:

www.athena.english.vt.edu
www.luminarium.org/renlit

Extra Credit: Audio CD

If you purchased the text for class from our bookstore, you received a CD packaged with your text. Please listen to these audiotexts and answer the questions at the end of this post:

1. Track 1: The Dirge (Tim Murphy)

2. Track 5: Wife of Bath (JB Bessinger)

3. Track 6: There is no Rose (choral arrangement)

Questions (please post to blog):

1. Do these audio files help you understand the text? Why or why not?

2. Which one is the most interesting?

3. Sum up each piece and offer a one paragraph review.

Beowulf Study Questions - Extra Credit

Here are some questions up for discussion on Beowulf. You can earn extra credit (2 points for ech question) by offering complete answers here on the blog. Please include the question you are addressing in your response.

Warm-up

Well, I too had British literature in high school, 11th grade to be exact. Oh, so long ago. So, from what I can reamember, I read the Tell Tale Heart, Paradise Lost, Chaucer (The Canterbury Tales). I do remember reading Shakespeare. I have read Othello, Hamlet, Macbeth, and various sonnets. I also read Beowulf, but for some reason I don't remember liking it much. Well, I guess we shall see. I wish everyone the best of luck in this class!

Lecture Notes: Beowulf

Beowulf is written in the Heroic mode. There is only one surviving copy in print, so the author is not known. Further, it isn't known if this piece was written at the time of the events it details or if it is a memory written down much later in time. It seems to illustrate Scandanavian lore, though none of these characters are present in the historical Scandanavian texts. Most scholars assume that this story was told in Scandanavia, but written down later by monks or scholars in England. The Christian references in the text seem to point to some sort of Christian influence interfused with Germanic and Scandanavian tribal influences. It appears that the text, or oral story, to be exact, did not originally contain Christian references (to Cain and Abel or the Great Flood, for example); these elements were probably added later.

There are a whole host of people that study this text, but it is assumed to be dated at about 1000 AD. Since it has some Homeric elements, it is thought to be a stem from or an assist to that Homeric tradition noted for heroic literature. We don't know much about the one surviving copy, but we can try to explore the issues as we see them surfacing in the text.

It is important to pause and think about the language of Beowulf. Old English differs greatly from modern English (the language we speak). In its original text (a little bit like Russian), there are inconsistencies in spelling and grammar, and meaning and inflection is generally part of the word root or ending. In fact, some of the letters don't even appear in our alphabet. Most importantly, we need to remember that Beowulf would have been presented in the oral tradition; this is a text meant to be heard...like Shakespeare...and, in reading, we lose a lot of the flavor of the text. I know it is tough, but try to imagine a friend telling you this story at the bar. There would be hand gestures and the fullness of language.

Beowulf was a member of the Geats clan; they were a seafaring tribe likely from the coast of Sweden. They disappeared, literally, from history, probably through conquest, but they really did exist. So, is Beowulf real? I don't know. If he was real, he was likely born in 495 AD (Klaeber) and defeats Grendel and his mother is about 515 AD (Klaeber). Eventually, Beowulf becomes King of the Geats (this is documented in history) and then is killed later (some say 50 years, but there is no proof) by a dragon. Obviously, the dragon is speculative.

We are most interested in Beowulf's treatment of Grendel and Grendel's mother. Grendel is said to be of the line of Cain (from the Biblical Cain and Abel story). There is some speculation that Beowulf is similar in stature to something like the Loch Ness Monster, and his ancestors were the only survivors of the 40 day flood (Noah's Ark). Grendel's mother, however, is not portrayed in such grand terms; it is thought that she was smaller in size. They lived together in an underground system called a lair.

Grendel is problematic because he disregards law and custom. His mother, of course, demonstrates pure wrath and vengeance. As a didactic text (one that instructs), the characters of Grendel and his mother demonstrate the rules society should follow in terms of greed, uprisings, revenge, etc. However, the question remains...what would Grendel's mother say about the whole thing?

Here are some things to consider as you read:

1. What makes Beowulf a hero? What makes Grendel a monster?

2. Is it possible that Beowulf and Grendel represent types of persons found in society? If so, who?

3. How does exile function in this work?

4. For whom do we feel sympathy?

5. How would a feminist approach this text? A Marxist?

6. Should we feel sorry for Grendel's mother? For Grendel?

7. Can you see in the text where Christian influences are inserted? Find examples and post them on the blog.

Lecture Notes: Old English

Generally, the Middle Ages are split into two sections: Old English and Middle English. However, that segmentation seems a bit complicated, and it easier, I think, to divide the eras into "Old English" (pre-Norman Conquest) and "Middle English" (1066 - post-Norman Conquest).

As you will read, your text offers a complete history of this time period. Don't get bogged down with this information. Here are some important highlights:

1. There were two worlds colliding; there were "Pagan" cultures interfused with "Christian" culture. This is important; often, the texts of the period speak to trying to better one over the other. Since monks usually were the only people "writing" down these stories, it is pretty obvious which side they supported. Poets explored the tension between the two groups.

2. Texts weren't readily accessible to the people, so many of the stories were passed down through an oral tradition. This means that we may never know the true origin of certain works (like Beowulf).

3. There are two primary poetic modes: heroic and elegiac. Beowulf is cnsidered an example of the heroic mode because it illustrates bravery, loyalty, vengence, and desire for treasure. The elegiac mode illustrates the loss of those concepts (the loss of treasure, for example). There is some debate, however, about the definition of Beowulf. Some will argue that it is elegiac.

Beowulf PodCast 3

This is the third podcast of Dr. Breeden's version of Beouwulf.

Beowulf PodCast 2

This is the second Beowulf podcast of Dr. Breeden's version of Beowulf.

Beowulf PodCast 1

This is the first PodCast for reading Dr. Breeden's version on Beowulf. I am not an expert reader, but I think it might help audio learners access the material.

British Literature Timeline

Here is the podcast of the British Literature Timeline for British Literature I.

Tips for Reading Literature

Please check out this screencast for tips on how to read literature :-) Here is a similar podcast of this material.