Poor Grendel :(

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grendel

      Okay so recently, class 12S read excerpts from Beowulf. A great story of a hero named Beowulf, who defeats a horrendous monster named Grendel, and saves a group of people from him, as he had been attacking them every night and eating them alive. Pretty gruesome right? But I'm not going to talk about Beowulf's heroism... instead, I choose to focus on Grendel. Despite his horrible acts of violence, I can't help but feel sorry for him! Why? Well first off, he is a descendant of Cain, and as a punishment for Cain's sin, his descendants were all cursed, and "all kinds misbegotten". (Alexander. 110.7) So basically, he was born into a horrible life as an ugly monster simply because his great great great grandfather killed his brother! So unfair, right? Punished for someone else's sin! And just because he's a monster doesn't mean he is emotionless! He spent his entire life living in a dark cave, hearing the celebrations of Heorot Hall, never able to participate. " He found in Heorot the forces of nobles slept after supper, sorrow forgotten, the condition of men. Maddening with rage, he struck quickly, creature of evil..." (Alexander.117-120. 7) Now let try to imagine ourselves in his position... you live in a dark cave with your mother, (who also happens to be an evil disgusting monster), lonely, never having a friend of any kind, spending your entire life listening to happiness and grand celebrations that you can never be a part of. And why can't you be a part of it? Why can't you be accepted, loved, and happy? Because you happened to be born as a monster. Why were you born a monster? Because you are the descendant of a man that killed his brother, a decision he made before you were even thought of, and yet, your life is part of his punishment! Shunned and cursed for things completely out of your own control. Who wouldn't be angry? Who wouldn't lash out in some way? Granted, creeping into a castle in the middle of the night to massacre people who have nothing to do with your life situation isn't really the best way to handle things.. but hey, everyone handles their issues differently right?... But seriously, when reading stories, it is always important, and honestly a lot more interesting to consider the motivations of the antagonist. Put yourself in their shoes! And then decide if they are still as horrible as they initially may seem. So, in my case, I feel bad for the poor fellow! He did make some questionable decisions, but hey, who doesn't? What do you guys think? You have sympathy for him like me, or think him to be a monster that deserved everything he got? 

Power of Language

          "The Apology" by Plato is meant to be a dramatic recreation of Socrates' testimony in court. While in class, we discussed how the tone he spoke in and words he used affected his audience. The next work we read was "Beowulf", which was a story used to convert pagans to Catholics. The story emulates the rewards that come with following the Lord while also emphasizing the sinful nature of the pagans. 

 
*Socrates in court                                                     *Beowulf vs. the dragon

          These two seemingly unrelated works use the same method to get their point across. The word choice and tone is specifically used to influence the audience. While discussing these is class, I realized that most authors use the same method. For example, most allegories are used to show what was happening at a certain point in history, but even these tend to use their language and tone to create the portrait they want the audience to see. 
          We are always told that words are powerful, and "The Apology" along with "Beowulf" are perfect examples of how influential words can be.

For Better For Worse

In beginning of The Lay of the Werewolf  I assumed that the baron who transformed into the werewolf would turn out to be the bad guy. But after reading further, the baron's wife and the knight proved me wrong. Rather than sticking by her husband side she betrays him and marries the knight.   

The Beauty and the Beast is such a great connection to this story. Princess Bella is forced to live with the beast. Of course at first she is fearful. But after getting to know the beast she grows closer to him and falls in love. Bella could have left the beast or treated him the same way everyone else did but she decides not to.

The traditional vows are: To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, 'till death do us part. All together this means that no matter what this couple will stick by each others side; through the good and the bad. The wife in the Lay of the Werewolf allowed her fears to overtake her rather than realizing that even though husband was transformed, underneath his appearance he is still the same loving husband she married. But she failed to realize that. 

 To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, 'till death do us part.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgYEJHJXFB4

Isn't Love

    


 In Canto V of Dante Inferno  Francesca say's "love, which permits no loved one not love, took me so strongly with delight in him." In this quote she is blaming love for her actions. The idea of you can't help who you love came to mind. I believe that it is true that you can't help who you love.In the dictionary the meaning of love is a deep ineffable feeling of affection and solicitude towards a person. For example, in Romeo and Juliet Romeo fell in love with Juliet the moment he saw her at the Capulet's ball. Romeo was willing to do anything just to be with the one he loved. Another example will be how Aria Montgomery from Pretty Little Liars fell in the with her English teacher Ezra Fitz, and now struggles to get over him. Love is something you can't avoid this is why I believe that you can't help who you love.

Getting Through the Struggle

The narrative Dante's Inferno uses the literacy device of an allegory. An allegory is a story with two levels of meaning one symbolic and one literal. The literal aspect of the narrative is that Dante does journey through hell, purgatory and heaven. The symbolic meaning of it is that a man must go through the worst of times to get to the best of times or real happens. I connected the symbolic meaning to a strong belief that I have. I believe that you must go through a struggle to receive your blessing and that what you've been through makes you the person you are.

I have realized that the people who have things handed to them without having to work for them appreciate very little. Then the start to believe that the world owes them something. However, the people who have had been at rock bottom, I mean almost losing everything but, hold on to faith are the ones who make the biggest come up. These people tend to make the biggest come up after going through because they have experienced not having anything. Not having anything and being at the lowest part of your life makes you stronger and more able to make it out of  the situation. And they must have that they will get through, just how Dante was brought the deepest parts of hell on faith. If he can be brought the deepest ends of hell, than getting through any struggle is possible. 

Who lives? Who dies?

Who lives? Who dies?

When reading The Odyssey  by Homer, the book shows a special case of disloyalty and loyalty shown by many characters. Only a few were loyal and they received their reward. Many were quick to turn on the King of Ithaca, and there was a special consequence given to them. The country of Ithaca reminds me of a specific country. The country of The United States of America. Throughout the American history people have suffered a great consequence of death or prison for committing any form of treason against the country. In other words, if you were disloyal to your government in any way you were punished for it.

During World War I, there was a law passed by the name of Espionage Act. This law defended the U.S government, if any citizen was to speak against the great throne of our President and his decisions, would be sentence to prison or fined. Ithaca citizens were in Odysseus’s home speaking terrible about him and his family, trying to take his wife’s hand in marriage, and more. It was a simple judgement for them, death.

Today the Espionage Act still continues. The United States can be considered the country of Ithaca. If you speak out or act in anyway that is against the throne of the United States you will suffer in some way. Being in prison is a form of death because one is not allowed to do whatever one pleases. Might have thought you were free from the wrath of Ithaca, but you live in Ithaca(U.S) even now. So, who lives and who dies? Remain loyal, and mercy will be shown unto you. Show disloyalty,and we all know what will happen…….