Textbook Notes (pgs. 31-60)

From Tristia Ovid: Book 10

 -Tristia had moved from her mother country, Dardanian Troy, when it was attacked by the Grecian Army.

   -Now in the Pontus, feels like the days go by like years 

 -Despises the common theme of death races (referring to gladiator games and/or the continuous war between the Romans and their enemies)

 -Feels like a barbarian not being able to communicate with people of the new land, had to use body language

 -Was exiled from Rome

 -"Injured the power of Caesar the god," in result was sent to assimilate with the Scythian race as a punishment

   -Believes she deserved to be exiled but not to such a city

Far Corners of Earth by Tu Fu 

 -Describes a shift from the Chiang-han mountains where clouds begin to hover over to "a new waste of highway."

Fom Beowulf

 -portrays the Anglo-Saxon culture of eighth century Britain

 -Beowulf: sword-wielding slayer of monsters, upholder of the right, warrior-chieftain

 -Takes place in sixth century Scandinavia, speaks Old English

 -Beowulf seeks to help the Danish King Hrothgar in fighting the swampland monster, Grendel. 

   -first of the three mortal battles

 -Scops often told long narrative poems by mouth in Anglo-Saxon England which resulted in it's change and growth

   -finally written down in eleventh century

 -main themes: bravery, loyalty, heroism

 -The Electronic Beowulf Project revived the burnt original manuscripts of Beowulf.

Epic: a long narrative poem, sometimes developed orally, that celebrates the deeds of a legendary or heroic figure 

  -hero battles for the order of his world

  -story told in serious matter with sophisticated language

-Legendary hero: a larger than life character whose accomplishments are celebrated in traditional tales

Beowulf

- When created, England was changing from a pagan to Christianity

- Pagan Anglo-Saxons told tales rued by fate where people struggled against monsters in regards to their place in the world

- Christian converts taught that human choices between good & evil were at the center of creation

- Beowulf interprets both the Christian and Pagan traditions

- Starts out during a celebration at Herot and outside is the murderous monster, Grendel

The Wrath of Grendel

- Grendel, the powerful monster grew upset with the constant music that played in the banquet hall of the Danish King Hrothgar that rejoiced in the beauty of Earth.

- Thousands of evil spirits formed from their murderous crimes due to God’s banishment of them by Cain’s responsibility for the death of Abel, who opposed God’s will.

- Cain and Abel were the sons of Adam and Eve; Cain killed his brother because he was envious of the attention Abel received from God.

- When all the warriors in the hall were done partying, Grendel went inside killed thirty men and took them back to his lair.

- In the morning the king mourned his companions that he lost, and knew it wouldn’t be the end of Grendel’s wrath.

- The only way the warriors could try to stay alive were if they escaped Grendel.

- For twelve winters Grendel’s defeat of the Danes ruled, killing many and most men.

- Grendel wouldn’t make peace or accept a truce or price

- Grendel continued to kill but wouldn’t touch King Hrothgar’s throne because it was protected by God, and the king’s council debated over remedies to get rid of Grendel.

- The King and council were conflicted by doing the Devils work by trying to get rid of Grendel and banishing him to hell, but trying to do right by God.

The Coming of Beowulf

- The death of the King’s son was extremely painful for the King and kingdom

- Higlac was the king of the Geats and Beowulf's feudal lord and uncle as well as a very strong man

- Higlac heard that Grendel violently forced and demanded a boat to be fitted out for him to go see Higlac

- Beowulf chose the mightiest, bravest, and best men of the Geats he could find to accompany him on his journey to Hrothgar (14 men total)

- He knew the sea would lead them straight to that distant, Danish shore

- They sailed their boat and arrived fully dressed in mail with the best armor and uninvited

- Hrothgar's lieutenant met them on the shore, demanding to know who they were and why they came unannounced

- He asked Beowulf to immediately explicate their reason for their visit before they take action against them

- Beowulf explained who they were and that they were there to hunt Grendel and protect the people and their King from the monster

- The mounted officer believed their words and that he and his men would guard their ship and protect it, saying that any warriors who battle Grendel successfully should go home bearing their love

- Once Beowulf and his men arrived at Herot, they were called in to see the King

- Beowulf arose and went to meet Hrothgar with some of his men, ordering a few to remain behind with their weapons

- Beowulf and his men arrive at Herot and are called to see the King 

- Beowulf ordered some of his men to stay with their weapons, while he took others and himself "into Hrothgar's Presence"

- Beowulf describes himself to the kind to make him seem more favorable, by saying things like "They have seen my strength for themselves, Have watched me ride form the darkest of war, Dripping with my enemies' blood."

- Beowulf over does it on the compliments to the king then asks for the kings permission to "purge all evil from this hall" (including Grendal, who Beowulf is willing to go into great battle against) Beowulf is willing to die for his cause and exaggeratedly says so. 

The Battle with Grendel 

- Grendal came from the marsh and journeyed to Herot and was met harshly with Herot being so firmly defended. 

- Grendal stormed through the doors quickly, saw the young and sleepy soldiers lining the halls, grabbed one and killed him, snapping shit and drinking the blood. 

- Grendal clutched Beowulf but was suprised by his strength and attack. Grendal's first reaction was to run but Beowulf didn't let him go. 

- Beowulf and Grendal battled violently. Herot shook and trembled, it was built to only come down in fire but the battle was a much great force

- He was the strongest man, Beowulf was going to kill the "monster"

- Beowulf's men woke up to Beowulf fighting Grendel and were ready to fight, if needed; they were courageous, but Grendel was pretty indestructible against them and he could easily beat them all

- But, he(Grendel) was now declining, dying, and had been defeated

- His shoulder bone broke, a sign of the battle being over

- Beowulf won "glory, Grendel escaped" to his den though, to die a slow and miserable death

- Beowulf was very prod, the Danes were happy and his accomplishments were listed; he ended - Hrothgar's people's problems

- Beowulf hung Grendel's "arm, claw, shoulder and all" on the rafters; it was basically a trophy of the victory and proof of the win

The Monsters' Lair (there was a celebration of Beowulf's victory, but Grendel's mother kills Hrothgar's best friend and takes Grendel's claw, Beowulf hears from the king about the underwater lair)

- The king is talking the whole time

- Peasants in fields saw female and male creatures and told the king's wise men

- Grendel they named the man one, no one knows if there were any before them or any other creatures like them

- The creatures lived in a secret wolf den with rocks and a waterfall to an underground lake (my visual interpretation of the text) It's very dark, roots hanging from the top, no one knows how deep

- The king wants Beowulf to kill the mother, Beowulf is his only help and hope of "being saved", he will reward him with gold and treasure for winning

The Battle with Grendel's mother

-Grendel's mother wants to kill the one who hurt her son.
-Grendel's mother and Beowulf fight and Beowulf wins with his hands not his weapons
-he also finishes off Grendel and takes his head as a trophy
-he is honored for being a killer
-becomes king of Geatland and a dragon threatens his kingdom
The Last Battle
-"bUT I will fight again, seek fame still..." line 626
-goes to face the monster and strikes him but his sword failed him when he needed it most
-he stared at death not ready to go
-all his friends left him when he failed, did he boast too much or were they afraid?
-Wiglaf is the only one to help and they kill the dragon, why him?
-Beowulf is dying and wants the dragon's treasure
The Spoils
-Beowulf dies and leaves the kingdom and treasure to Wiglaf
-"so gold can easily triumph, defeat the strongest men., no matter how well it is hidden" what does this mean?
-"Fate has swept our race away, taken warriors in their strength and led them to the death that was --waiting" the honorable have become a very rare people?
The Farewell
-praise Beowulf for the life he lived and not just forget him