Monday, August 20, 2012
Beowulf Significant Quotations- Collaborative Activity, 3rd period
Directions: Each pair or group of students was given a quote to read and analyze. Please do so and post your findings so the rest of the class may see your interpretation. Keep in mind that I am not looking for a reading summary (we all read the same selections!) but rather, an in-depth connection to the area of focus in which it pertains, as well as a connection to AS culture and society (if applicable). Make sure you are clear in your posts and, as always, proofread.
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Dyvoniek’s and Joselyn’s quote says
ReplyDelete“Like a man outlawed
for wickedness, he must await
the mighty judgment of God in majesty. (976-8)”
This quote pertains to the topic of Good v. Evil. To us this means if you sin you may become an outcast to God, and must wait for God to forgive your sin. Grendel is the evil that is being considered with this quote. He has come from a lineage that has always been on a destructive path, so either way it went he was bound to sin. So now Grendel has to wait for forgiveness from the towns’ people, which wouldn’t happen because he had constantly sinned, and put them through so much havoc. He must also wait for forgiveness from God.
"In the end each clan on the outlying coasts
ReplyDeletebeyond the whale-road had to yield to him
and began to pay tribute. That was on good king."
The Anglo-Saxon warriors must pay there respects to someone who is known to be a good leader.
An Anglo-Saxon's idea of a "good" is someone who fights and defends his king, while the Anglo-Saxon idea of evil is someone who is cowardly, doesn't fulfill his societal roles, and is outcasted from God. Shieldings is considered a "good" king because he protects his people, gave his subjects land, he's brave, and willing to fight.
Ramonte' and Suwaley
(Etasha, Etasia, Yamile)
ReplyDeleteNone of them expected he would ever see
his homeland again or get back
to his native place and the people who reared him.
They knew too well the way it was before,
how often the Danes had fallen prey
to death in the mead-hall.(691-696)
This significant quotation deals with the topic "mortality," because the Danes thought there was no difference between the Geats and themselves. More specifically the Danes knew everyone was mortal due to the fact that Grendel, the monster, didn't discriminate amongst the people in the mead- hall.
Furthermore, the Danes & Geats were all about fate. The fate within the Geats was showed when they headed for battle against Grendel they knew "what ever happened happen" meaning their life was at stake and that they were infact mortal.
DeleteSince most of the Danes had fallen prey to Grendel already, they had lost all hope. Even though Beowulf and the Geats insisted on defeating Grendel, the Danes still doubted Beowulf's strength. No one was really expecting Beowulf to return after he went off to battle. When people went off to fight, no one was looking forward to them returning.
DeleteTamara & Jennie
ReplyDeleteLines 440-441
“Whichever One death fells/ must deem it a just judgement by God.”
This quote focuses on mortality. The Anglo-Saxons are now a Christian nation and believe in a punishment or reward by God. In doing so, according to The Anglo-Saxons, you must achieve “just” tasks in order to become an immortal. We can see this through lines 953-954, “but you have made yourself immortal by your glorious action.” This quote approves of the fact that Anglo-Saxons believe in mortality/immortality through God. You either live a life of God or choose to live forever by accomplishing good deeds. The quote mentioned above most certainly speaks of morality for God is choosing between death or life for one or more individuals – God’s judgment is a just judgment.
To continue, this quote also focuses on the concept of Wynd. Wynd is the concept fate. God chooses your fate and therefore whatever happens to any individual happens for God's purpose, his plan, his way -- it is your fate!
Delete"So every elder and experienced councilman
ReplyDeleteamong my people supported my resolve
to come here to you, King Hrothgar,
because all knew of my awesome strength.
They had seen me boltered in the blood of the enemies
when I battled and bound five beast,
raided a troll-next and in the night-sea
slaughtered sea-brutes. I have suffered extremes
and avenged the Geats (their enemies brought it
upon themselves, I devastated them).
Now I mean to be a match for Grendel,
settle the outcome in single combat."
De'mar and I thinks that,
this quote represents identity because the speaker gives a hyperbolic account of what he has done or the years. The speaker pretty much gives of a resume of his past work. He is basically selling himself to the reader to show him how awesome he is.
To continue, the reader doesn't need the speaker's name because in that time period, the person's identity or resume was more important than their name.
DeletePaige and Sarah state:
ReplyDelete“I had a fixed purpose when I put to sea. As I sat in the boat with my band of men, I meant to perform to the uttermost what your people wanted will perish in the attempt, in the fiend’s clutches. And I shall fulfill that purpose, prove myself with a proud deed or meet my death here in the mead-hall.” (632-638)
This quote is dealing with identity. Beowulf came to the kingdom with one primary purpose,which was to defeat Grendel and save the kingdom from the demon’s wrath. Beowulf has the mindset of an Anglo-Saxon. He will do whatever is takes to win or die trying. Beowulf wants to prove himself as a courageous and honorable warrior, worthy of all praises. Anglo-Saxons believed that actions speak louder than words, meaning that they hold true to what they say.
Antavia and Netisha quote states:
ReplyDelete“I had a fixed purpose when I put to sea.
As I sat in the boat with my band of men,
I meant to perform to the uttermost
what your people wanted or perish in the attempt,
in the fiend’s clutches. And I shall fulfill that purpose,
prove myself with a proud deed
or meet my death here in the mead-hall.”(Lines 632-638)
This quote deals with the topic of good vs. evil. The significance of this quote dealing with good vs. evil is that the good in all of this is the point of Beowulf trying to prove himself as loyal to the ones who need him and as a hero who can come to their rescue. The evil is what needs to be defeated and the point that if he doesn’t help the king he will be seen as evil.
The good is Beowulf versus the bad and that is Grendel.
DeleteLidia and Erika’s quote states:
ReplyDeleteBut death is not easy
Escaped from by anyone:
All of us with souls, earth-dwellers
And children of men, must make our way
To a destination already ordained
Where the body, after the banqueting,
sleeps on its deathbed. (1001-1007)
We believe that the signification of this quote deals with the immortality of an individual.
This quote states that everyone’s destination is already predicted or established by God. Also, it can mean that no one is able to escape from his/her death. Life is a long pathway full of adventures and sorrow that at the end of the path everyone has the same mission to live and die. People during those days didn’t fear of death because of their priorities. For example, warriors have to able to give up their life to protect their lord. Overall, death in this era was often expected sooner or later.
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ReplyDelete