Tamas,+Rachel

Hello, my name is Rachel. I am an English Secondary-Ed major and a sophomore here at Fitchburg State.

Reading Gareth Hinds' graphic novel //Beowulf// and being able to visualize what was happening in the story allowed me to grasp a better understanding of its meaning. Listening to Hinds speak about the process he went through to create the book was very fascinating for me, especially since I have always been interested and involved in the arts. I have been inspired by Hinds to one day attempt my own illustrations using the computer programs Adobe //Photoshop// and //Indesign//.
 * Wednesday, January 26, 2011 **

Ruminate on the end of //Beowulf//:
 * Monday, February 07, 2011 **

The end of //Beowulf// is devastating in a way because the great warrior is finally defeated after many courageous battles throughout his life. However, his death proves to readers that Beowulf was fully human and was not going to live forever. Also, I thought it was interesting how Beowulf's riches meant nothing once he passed away. The treasure represented what he accomplished throughout his mortal life; however, once he left the earth, the treasures were destroyed as well. It's interesting to think that people in this time period valued riches in ways other than monetary, such as we do today.

What is going on in "The Wife's Lament?":
 * Wednesday, February 09, 2011 **

Narrator: the Wife Subject: Theme: longing, especially for a loved one
 * Her Lord, "most fitting man" (could be an arranged marriage, but she seems to love him)
 * Peace-weaving, went off to be with her husband's people, he probably leaves to fight
 * The King's people don't like her = "friendless exile"
 * She is told to live in a cave in a forest (burial grove)
 * She is either in the cave waiting for her husband or she is dead
 * She doesn't want him completely happy (bittersweet)
 * cold, stark

In class on Wednesday, Dr. Tracy mentioned William the Conqueror and the //Bayeux Tapestry//. In one of my Art History classes last year my professor played this youtube video in class to show what the tapestry looked like and to explain the Battle of Hastings. The song that plays in the background describes the battle etc... I'm not particularly a fan, but it does help to visualize. You can check it out below!
 * Thursday, February 10, 2011 **
 * []

Response to //Rules of Courtly Love//:
 * Monday, February 14, 2011 **

I think it's interesting how many of the "rules" have to do with jealousy, such as rules #2, #21, and #22. Nowadays, jealousy in excess amounts accounts for unhealthy relationships; however, during this time period, it was the main focus of reach relationship and love triangle. People in this time were very religious, which also makes this emphasis on jealousy even more absurd. In the Bible's 1 Corinthians 13 it says "Love is patient, love is kind. **It does not envy**, it does not boast, it is not proud..." Apparently they didn't place much value on their religious beliefs when they wrote about and acted on "love."
 * 2. He who is not jealous cannot love.
 * 21. Real jealousy always increases the feeling of love.
 * 22. Jealousy, and therefore love, are increased when one suspects his beloved.

** Pick an important/key passage from Fitt 3 (Part III) & Analyze: **
 * Wednesday, February 23, 2011 **

In this passage, the King is presenting Gawain with the fox. After the feast, before the King and Gawain separate for bed, the knight reminds him that he has to leave the next day for his quest to the Green Chapel. He asks the king if he will allow someone to show him the way to the Chapel in the morning. Agreeing to send Gawain off on his journey with an assistant, the king says, ** " ** **Everything I ever promised you** I shall readily give" (** line 1970). This particular line is very interesting, foreshadowing what will happen in the end of the story. At this point, Gawain is unaware that the king he has trusted is actually the Green Knight. Therefore, when the king says this line (1970), he also means that he will give Gawain the blow from the axe he had promised him a year earlier in King Arthur's court, as well as providing him with somebody to guide his way. **
 * ** Pg. 195, lines 1952-1978 **

Respond to the assigned article on Blackboard "Undressing Lady Bertilak":
 * Monday, February 28, 2011 **

On pages 313 and 314, chapter IV, Gawain's "attack on women," which we touched upon in class, is discussed. In this section of the article, the author, Harvey De Roo brings up an interesting point. He says that this passage, as well as others, can be considered //sexist// in modern terms. He also says how in characterizing these parts of the poem as //sexist//, "we raise the intriguing problem of point of view in this poem; we must ask whether the description here, along with its attitudes and tones, are Sir Gawain's or the poet's" (314). This intrigued me because I never thought of how the author of the poem may have tried to convey his own views and opinions through his characters. However, I wonder if //sexism// was something that was acknowledged during the Medieval Period... I tend to think it wasn't as openly discussed as it is in modern times. However, regardless, it seems as if women were always held to a somewhat lower status, especially if they were unattractive, such as the lady (Morgan Le Fay). For it says in the article, "while he asks to be servant to both of them (975-76), the younger only he embraces and kisses" (314).


 * Monday, March 07, 2011 **
 * Pick your favorite pilgrim and explain why he or she is your favorite: **


 * My favorite pilgrim in the //General Prologue// of the "Canterbury Tales" is the nun (Prioress). She seems uptight, almost like a perfectionist, "Hir over-lippe wyped she so clean" (222 line 133). However, despite her "uptightness," she also seems very compassionate. Line 144 says, "she wolde wepe is that she saugh a mous," which seems comical to me because it is something I would do. In class though, Dr. Tracy mentioned the gold ring with the "A" **** that the nun wears... this makes me wonder exactly what this prioress is all about. At first I assumed "love conquers all (162)" could be represented by her love for God; however, it seems as if this can't be possible. The nun is a mysterious character and can be perceived in many different ways. **


 * Monday, March 21, 2011 **
 * Why is the "Miller's Tale" a fabliaux/farce? **


 * The "Miller's Tale" makes fun of codes such as courtly love to entertain the people of the middle class. For example, the "relationships" in the tale are not relationships formed out of love. John is much older than Alison and tried everything to keep her "locked" away from other men. This particular relationship was probably an arranged marriage... and there if no true love that exists within it. The relationship that Alison and Nicholas have is more out of lust than love and Absalom may "love" Alison; however, she has no feelings for him whatsoever. **

Midterm Review:
 * Monday, March 28, 2011 **

Themes- courtly love/ deception ("Lanval", "Bisclavret") religion ("Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" & "Julian of Norwich") satire [fabliaux/farce] ("The Miller's Tale") death ("Sir Orfeo") body politic [body of rulers is the same as their kingdom] (Ex. "Sir Orfeo")


 * Monday, April 04, 2011 **
 * What types of things are changing from the Medieval Period to the Early Modern Period? **


 * Religion- Christianity breaks down, the Bible is translated **
 * Art- no depth perception = eventually realistic figures **
 * Science- planets revolve around the Earth = the planets, including Earth, revolve around the Sun **
 * Churches- elaborate Catholic churches = simple Protestant churches **

Identify one significant difference in the language of the Biblical passages:
 * Wednesday, April 06, 2011 **

Pg. 546 //Tyndale's English Bible// - "Ye shall therefore be perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven, is perfect". //King James Bible// - "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect". I translated "T" as "you shall someday be perfect in heaven, like God." I translated "KJ" as "You are perfect on this Earth like God" The difference between these two versions shows how the KJ version of the Bible is more attainable to a wider range of people. They don't have to wait until heaven to be "perfect" and holy, they have hope that their lives can be made good and "perfect" on this Earth.


 * Monday, April 11, 2011 **
 * Ruminate on "To the Troops at Tilbury": **

I think it's pretty awesome that Queen Elizabeth acknowledges the fact that she was indeed a good ruler, despite the fact that she was a female. This is represented in "To the Troops at Tilbury," when she says, "I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too" (687). During class we discussed how not many people could actually hear Elizabeth when she performed this speech to the troops; however, it was just the "Virgin" Queen's presence that inspired the men, much like the image of the Virgin Mary inspired men in earlier times. In the speech, Queen Elizabeth uses the word "my" a lot, often referring to England as "hers." This word-choice shows her confidence and loyalty to her country. She used this to rally the troops and the people of England behind her.

Discuss final project/paper or ideas:
 * Monday, April 25, 2011 **

Religious connotation and the image of Christ in "The Second Shepherd's Play" and "The Faerie Queen" or the image of the impe-tree and other fruit-bearing trees and death in "Sir Orfeo" and other pieces of literature.

Reflect on Kelly Morgan's presentation in class today:
 * Wednesday, April 27, 2011 **

Kelly Morgan was very interesting to listen to on Wednesday. It was refreshing to hear him talk about a subject he has so much passion for, Shakespeare. His passion was evident through his speech and especially when he recited lines from Shakespeare. He talked a lot about how many of Shakespeare's poems can relate to real-life situations today, for example, the star-crossed lovers in //Romeo and Juliet//. Although //Romeo and Juliet// is a little more dramatic than lives today, this same sort of "star-crossing" happens daily. Sometimes people miss out on opportunities by a split second and other times they can be at the right place and time for things to work out. As for poetry, Morgan mentioned how couplets are a way for humans to "co-write" with God. The first line is inspired by God and by rhyming the second line, a person becomes in harmony with God. I found it interesting how even poetry during this time period was linked to religion and God.

** Final project/paper citation info: **
 * Monday, May 02, 2011 **

**Jirsa, Curtis R. H. "In the Shadow of the Ympe-tre: Arboreal Folklore in Sir Orfeo." //English Studies // 89.2 (2008): 141-151. //Academic Search Premier //. EBSCO. Web. **


 * Monday, May 02, 2011 **
 * Choose a poem assigned for the day to analyze: **


 * For our group in class today, we were assigned John Donne. The poem we have chosen to analyze is //The Apparition// (pg. 911). However, this particular poem stood out to me as I was reading for class. This poem is slightly difficult to understand; however, I tried my best to decipher it line by line. It seems as if the speaker has died, perhaps murdered by a woman, his wife, or this "death" could also be metaphorical for the end of their relationship. The tone of the poem seems very bitter, especially towards this woman, "murd'ress" (line 1). It appears that the woman thinks she is free of him, also thinking she can get away with having murdered him. However, the speaker talks about how he can appear to her as a ghost at her bedside. It also seems as if his wife is now with another man for it says, "And thee, feigned vestal, in worse arms shall see" (line 5). The footnote for "feigned vestal" says, "pretended virgin;" therefore, it seems that the woman is with another man, pretending that she was never with her ex-husband. The last two lines state, "I'd rather thou shouldst pianfully repent / Than by my threatnings rest still innocent", from this quotation it seems as if the speaker wants the woman to suffer for what she has done and receive her punishment, rather than pretend to be innocent and get away with it **** (lines 16-17) **** . **

Final thoughts:
 * Monday, May 09, 2011 **

As the semester comes to a close, I can honestly say I've enjoyed British Literature more than I had anticipated. I was always turned off by the language; however, once I got past that aspect, I was able to understand what was going on in each text, as well as their themes and meanings. My favorite part of the class was probably this past week, being able to get in groups and discuss and present on a specific poem. It always helps to hear what my classmates are thinking and the added pressure of presenting the material seemed to forc//e// everyone in the groups to put forth some effort **.**