What struck me in this story was the complete shock of an ending. I would never have thought Beowulf would go before a beast without men firmly behind him. Throughout the entire story, men felt honored and proud to fight with Beowulf and to be a part of his alliance. Yet, in the end, Beowulf was left to fight a monster with only one loyal warrior. It is clear that Beowulf had done something critically wrong with his kingship for people's perceptions of him or willingness to stand by him to change so drastically.
This idea of misconceptions or rather, failing to please, made me automatically think of how our government is run today. Every four years we as a country get revved up about the promise of a better future. Whoever is running must be better than who we have now, right? We look to them for hope and for direction. The new candidate is idolized in a way..their strengths are embellished. Yet, it is a guarantee that they will not completely fulfill their promises and within some time, the people that stood so firmly behind them while running will turn their backs without hesitation. As always, the new guy is always hated and criticized just the same as the old, oftentimes for the same reasons.
Of course Beowulf was physically capable of protecting his people. Once he had the title, however, he must have failed his people in some way or another. Though it is unclear to the reader what Beowulf lacked, I imagine he was caught up in his own self-image that other important factors of being a good king (þæt wæs god cyning) were forgotten. We act like this repeatedly because when a new "savior" comes along, we get excited. We feel hope and want change. It is funny that we shy away from a dictating style of government, yet we want the person in charge to do everything for us. We want him to be like a mighty warrior from a fantasy because we want him to fix all of our problems. We want him to be somebody we can idolize and rely on, so in other words, not much of a human at all.
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Gift Giving
In Anglo-Saxon culture, it seemed to be a big thing to give lots of gifts if someone did something remarkable. In Beowulf, he received a number of gifts that sort of exemplified that he'd done something great, that he was a hero.
Today, there are still examples of that- of giving a gift to someone because you respect or revere them in some way. Not always necessarily heroes, but still people that have done something admirable. The most parallel example I can think of is giving gifts to celebrities. These people don't know the celebrities personally, but they still buy or create something to give to this person who is well known for doing something good. I have seen people make things for celebrities or give them a stuffed animal or draw them a picture. It's as though they are thanking them for the work they do in a physical way- just like Beowulf.
For example, this past summer I went to Otakon, a convention for sci-fi, gaming, and anime. At one point I stood in line to meet a voice actor named Vic Mignogna, and beside me in line was my sister, finishing a white rose she was crocheting for him. While in that same line, I saw this voice actor receive, fittingly enough for this topic, a crown (it was plushie, but still).
While Vic Mignogna or other actors and celebrities may not have saved us from a Grendel-esque monster, they do do things that make us respect them without knowing them personally and elicit a gift-giving feeling from us. It's a form through which we show gratitude for something another person has done, a way to help them remember that we appreciate their work, which is, I think, why it has lasted so long.
Today, there are still examples of that- of giving a gift to someone because you respect or revere them in some way. Not always necessarily heroes, but still people that have done something admirable. The most parallel example I can think of is giving gifts to celebrities. These people don't know the celebrities personally, but they still buy or create something to give to this person who is well known for doing something good. I have seen people make things for celebrities or give them a stuffed animal or draw them a picture. It's as though they are thanking them for the work they do in a physical way- just like Beowulf.
For example, this past summer I went to Otakon, a convention for sci-fi, gaming, and anime. At one point I stood in line to meet a voice actor named Vic Mignogna, and beside me in line was my sister, finishing a white rose she was crocheting for him. While in that same line, I saw this voice actor receive, fittingly enough for this topic, a crown (it was plushie, but still).
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| This is me meeting him. ^_^ it was pretty great. And look! I'm even dressed inArthurian-garb (I was Morgana from the show Merlin) |
While Vic Mignogna or other actors and celebrities may not have saved us from a Grendel-esque monster, they do do things that make us respect them without knowing them personally and elicit a gift-giving feeling from us. It's a form through which we show gratitude for something another person has done, a way to help them remember that we appreciate their work, which is, I think, why it has lasted so long.
Monday, September 9, 2013
Old English/Anglo-Saxon Quests and Modern Day Wars
Where do you see examples of Old English language and Anglo-Saxon culture today? Why do you think those vestiges survive?
I personally see examples of Anglo-Saxon culture in international affairs and wars. In the Beowulf, Beowulf hears about the suffering that Grendel is inflicting on Hrothgar and his fellow Danes. Beowulf and some men from his native country of Geatland decide to intervene and relieve them of their misery. This can be related to any international conflict in which one country has come to the aid of another.
I think this vestige survives because for most people, helping others (if one is able) is seen as the right thing to do. Another motive for this may also be bragging rights (fairly common in this story), but even today many countries are not shy about talking about the good deeds they have done for other nations.
I personally see examples of Anglo-Saxon culture in international affairs and wars. In the Beowulf, Beowulf hears about the suffering that Grendel is inflicting on Hrothgar and his fellow Danes. Beowulf and some men from his native country of Geatland decide to intervene and relieve them of their misery. This can be related to any international conflict in which one country has come to the aid of another.
I think this vestige survives because for most people, helping others (if one is able) is seen as the right thing to do. Another motive for this may also be bragging rights (fairly common in this story), but even today many countries are not shy about talking about the good deeds they have done for other nations.
Old English/Anglo-Saxon Warriors in comaprison to today's modern athlete
Where do you see examples of Old English language and Anglo-Saxon culture today? Why do you think those vestiges survive?
Yesterday, I was in Pittsburgh, and we drove by Heinz Field. The Steelers were playing the Titans, and were losing. This made me think back to when I was 10-14 years old, when many of these athletes were at the top of their game. I'm not big on football, but I come from a household where the game is on every Sunday. My younger brother idolized these athletes. He had all the jerseys; His room was even Steelers-themed. It made me think of how great warriors were idolized in Anglo-Saxon culture, just as the way great athletes are in ours.
Warriors were the ultimate man in Anglo-Saxon times. They were strong, brave, and had to be since they were responsible for the protection of the kingdom. Thanes had even bigger responsibilities, since they were the king's personal bodyguards. In a similar fashion, athletes today are supposed to be strong and brave. Even older cultures, like the Ancient Greeks, idolized their athletes. Just as Anglo-Saxon warriors gave their lives for their kingdom, so American athletes are expected to give back. When an athlete starts, donates, or even volunteers for a charity, they become even more revered in our culture.
I also saw similarities in how children(like my brother) revere athletes, and how Wigalf, who was younger, though no a child, revered Beowulf for being a great king and an even better warrior.
Yesterday, I was in Pittsburgh, and we drove by Heinz Field. The Steelers were playing the Titans, and were losing. This made me think back to when I was 10-14 years old, when many of these athletes were at the top of their game. I'm not big on football, but I come from a household where the game is on every Sunday. My younger brother idolized these athletes. He had all the jerseys; His room was even Steelers-themed. It made me think of how great warriors were idolized in Anglo-Saxon culture, just as the way great athletes are in ours.
Warriors were the ultimate man in Anglo-Saxon times. They were strong, brave, and had to be since they were responsible for the protection of the kingdom. Thanes had even bigger responsibilities, since they were the king's personal bodyguards. In a similar fashion, athletes today are supposed to be strong and brave. Even older cultures, like the Ancient Greeks, idolized their athletes. Just as Anglo-Saxon warriors gave their lives for their kingdom, so American athletes are expected to give back. When an athlete starts, donates, or even volunteers for a charity, they become even more revered in our culture.
I also saw similarities in how children(like my brother) revere athletes, and how Wigalf, who was younger, though no a child, revered Beowulf for being a great king and an even better warrior.
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Old English Poets and Poetry vs. Modern-day Rappers
Where do you see examples of Old English language and Anglo-Saxon culture today? Why do you think those vestiges survive?
Disclaimer: I am anything but a rap expert
Disclaimer: I am anything but a rap expert
Old English poetry makes use of a lot of alliteration.
Examples from Beowulf include "Dragging the dead men home to his den" and "Showed sea-cliffs shining."
Modern-day rappers, such as Eminem, use alliteration in most of their songs because it tends to aid rhyme.
For example, lyrics from Eminem's song "3AM" include a good bit of surprisingly elaborate alliteration:
"I’m just a hooligan who’s used to usin' hallucinogens
Causin' illusions again
Brain contusions again
Cutting and bruisin' the skin
Razors, scissors and pins
Jesus, when does it end?"
I think alliteration has survived because it is one of the most pleasing literary devices to both read and hear.
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As we learned in class, to become king, you have to boast about yourself. I feel like Old English poets definitely had to do some boasting, since their medium of poetry was oral before anything else. A poet or orator would have needed to convince prospective listeners of his abilities and needed to remind competitors that he was the best, the king of poetry.
Today, rappers have no problem talking about themselves, especially in their songs.
For instance, when Kanye West isn't busy naming children after intermediate directions, he is apparently recording songs with titles like "I Am a God."
I don't think boasting will ever stop. We're humans, and we love talking about ourselves.
Where do you see examples of Old English language and Anglo-Saxon culture today? Why do you think those vestiges survive?
Check out this link for some thoughts on Old English, Latin, and Greek in Harry Potter.
Check out this link for some thoughts on Old English, Latin, and Greek in Harry Potter.
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Honestly, I immediately think of lions because of "animal kingdom." Kingdom is just not a word I hear often, but then I think of old architecture and dreamy accents!
Honestly, I immediately think of lions because of "animal kingdom." Kingdom is just not a word I hear often, but then I think of old architecture and dreamy accents!
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