Dulude,+Alex

British Literature MW 11-12:15

I thought that the talk with Gareth Hinds was very interesting from a literary viewpoint as well as an artistic one. Reading the graphic novel helped to make Beowulf easier to picture and the talk helped me better understand the process an artist actually goes through when creating a graphic novel. Being interested in both art and literature, I found that Hind's decision to create graphic novels from literary classics was unique. Splitting the graphic novel up into three pieces originally made a lot of sense in relation to the battles in the text, and also the different artistic elements he used for each section made sense to each separate battle. As for this class itself, I'm excited to learn more about British literature and its evolution and early beginnings. History and english have always interested me, as well as the Medieval time period.

-Early Ages: Early Medieval warrior. -Comitatus- "friendship" -> Built an ally system- sons of lords are bonded through friendship and deeds. -Beowulf(Thanes) has a group of friends, go out to seek honor by helping Hrothgar. (Repaying an old debt Hrothgar paid werguild for Beowulf's father). -Gold: what makes a good lord/king? Give gold away....bad leaders hoard gold. -> Develop a network by distributing gold. Know how to reward those who are faithful -> Werguild- (revenge cycle: kill someone from another clan, their family kills you. Neverending cycle but was allowed by law). Money insead of getting this revenge. -Key is honor and reputation. Want to gain honor and become immortal through your own legend. (Clashes with Christianity. Based not on one's own reputation.). -Idea of the "Other." Hiding a killing makes you a murderer--leads to exile. Exile turns you into an enemy, by yourself and against the world. Worst thing that can happen to you....hard joining another clan.
 * __Beowulf__ (Around 800) **

-"Hyaet"-"Listen"-oral tradition poetry. ->Told over and over, changed frequently. Scop-minstrels told stories....has a beat and a scheme. -Takes place in Denmark. -Begins with Hrothgar's lineage....elegeic tone. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">->Scyld-good king who conquers and gives gold. Shows up as an infant in a boat. (Like Moses, Romulus and Remus). <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Beo takes his father's place. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Eventually lead to Hrothgar, good king, builds Herot. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Grendel descended from Cain->Brought out monsters because God forsake him. Grendel becomes angry about the noise at Herot...doesn't like Christian music. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Grendel cannot approach the throne. "Lord" is the same word for god. If that means Hrothgar...Grendel cannot talk to him, touch him, and has no power in this civilization. If it's God...he can't be saved. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-As his reputation grows, everyone wants to exile Grendel, even in death his reputation will follow. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Reaches Beowulf in Geatland...wants more fame so he sails to Denmark. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Watchman greets them-> Represents what happens when strangers come to a new land and the suspicion behind it. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Wealtheow has to roam the hall with a cup of mead (needs to know the pecking order or she could offend). Cup-bearer: she's good at politics. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Flything(basically a yo mama battle) Unferth wants to disrespect Beowulf. Replaces physical fighting with words...tests Beowulf without swords. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Beowulf allows Grendel to eat one of his men...tests him to learn his strength. Strategically let him put his guard down.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-What is the role of women in the revenge cycle? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">->Women will not accept Werguild. Grendel's mother will not allow 'someone else' to battle for her. Powerful women fighting men and winning. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Wealtheow makes a speech after the fight with Grendel. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">->Hrothgar regards Beowulf as a son but she reminds everyone they have princes. She gives out gifts, thus buying alligances for her sons. Cements the Geats and Danes relationship.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Alliterative poetry (all throughout Middle Ages): only in original text. ->Separated into half lines.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Hygelac dies: Has sons but people go to Beowulf to be king. Only takes it when his sons die in battle. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Time passes....a thief steals a cup from the dragon's lair. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Dragon hoards gold and is seen as evil for not giving it away. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Beowulf decides to fight the dragon to help his people...bad idea. He's old and not as strong as before. Can't accept his age like Hrothgar did. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">->Beowulf dies with no heir...problems ensue. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">->Selfish and proud...wants to live forever. This is against Christian values despite the text being written by a Christian author. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-No heir could lead to a civil war, invasion, etc. But Beowulf wanted to die in battle instead of old age in bed. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Elegac tone at the end-> Beowulf dies and kingdom is in disarray.


 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">2/7 Ruminate on the end of Beowulf. **

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">__Beowulf__ as a whole is a very compelling, heroic epic, yet I felt as if the end was almost anti-climatic to the rest of the story. Also the fact that Beowulf's men let him go against the dragon alone (minus Wiglaf) seemed like an act of cowardice. Beowulf may be a very powerful man, but age ultimately got the best of him. His death seemed to be quickly paced...but the way he wanted to be buried was very true to the times in which the epic was written. I liked that the Geats did build a monument to honor him, yet after all the fighting he did, and after killing the dragon, this ending seemed less powerful than the rest of the piece. I was much more compelled by the fight with Grendel and his mother. Also the ending almost seemed like a completely separate part from the rest of the poem, like it did not belong. I did however like the part Wiglaf played; his character's nobility stood out, and he made sure Beowulf got his wish, even in death.


 * <span style="color: #056105; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Grendel vs. Grendel **

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Drawing Grendel was a definite challenge for me, not necessarily because of how I saw him in __Beowulf__, but because my perception of him was greatly affected when I read the book __Grendel__ by John Gardner. In __Beowulf__, I envisioned him as a black, reptilian creature that ran across land on all fours, but could stand up like a man and still had a human-like structure. But after reading __Grendel__ I never really looked at him the same. Also the cover of the novel makes Grendel look almost like a monster from 'Where the Wild Things Are.' In Gardner's interpretation, I ended up envisioning Grendel as a more bulky, hairy, almost bear-like creature. It also made me really sympathize with him...so after re-reading __Beowulf__ I couldn't help but feel bad for poor Grendel. And I couldn't blame his mother either.

__**<span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif;">The Wanderer **__ -<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Elegry started out in Classical form. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Lamenting and praising of things that have passed.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Trying to find a new home: buried his lord and wants to find the same comforts elsewhere in a new place. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">->Lost in the world...lost his gold-giving friend. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Was not exiled however: just lost his home and lord. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-"Ubi sunt...?" "Where are...?" Longing for something that has passed. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-God is consolation for the Wanderer. Parallel to Grendel.

-<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Narrator-the wife. (Titled later) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Men (her lord) over her in authority, <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Husband has a 'till death do us part' tone.' <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Seems to also be female because of the phraseology used in original text. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-What exactly is happening? ->She doesn't love him? Another man or a love triangle? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">->Young man mentioned at the end. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">->His people do not care for her...She may have married into the clan to help disdain between clans. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-He also may have exiled her for her own safety...or punishing her for another lover. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Someone plotting for murder against someone else...or lord is in exile for plotting murder? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-She's in an 'earthen cave' (possibly literally) or she's at a grave. (She could be dead). Exile is like death. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">->She could be ghost-like. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">->She loves him but is bitter; wants him to suffer like her. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">->Want happy memories to haunt him.
 * __<span style="color: #800000; font-family: Georgia,serif;">The Wife's Lament __**


 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Reaction to 'Rules of Courtly Love' 2/14 **

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">This list of rules seems to be the antithesis of what love should truly be, at least in these times. It is all based on jealousy and complete infatuation. It also says that if you are not in love, you cannot be happy, which I believe to be a bit of a stretch. Some loves that complete consume you like described in these rules are the ones that are not beneficial in the long run of life. It seems as if these rules put love above everything else, including your own well-being, and in a dramatic, chivalrous way it makes sense. Love is often over-dramatized in literature anyway. But in relation to actuality it gets much more complicated. These rules also put limits on age, death, and the fate of someone who falls out of love. Life can exist if you are not madly in love with another person. Yet these rules do make old Medieval romances very interesting, dramatic, and in a sense comical which reflects the time but also adds a hint of ridiculousness. In Marie de France's stories however, these rules often get broken, as rules sometimes do. Perhaps it is this over-dramatization of these rules that allows for them to be broken so easily.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Romances that began to develop in France. (Literary device that wasn't real). <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Usually meant to be platonic but often that doesn't work out....bad when relationship becomes public. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Knight does deeds in the name of the lady. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Christianity and courtly love butt heads....would be considered adultery. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Jealousy and lovesickness very important: Lovesickness was considered a real sickness in Medieval times. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-English don't like French romances...they elliminate the love triangle (gets rid of problems with adultery) and focus more on family. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">->Also usually have 'happy ever afters.' <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Marie de France carries this with her from France to England.
 * <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Courtly Love **

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Writes Breton lais-> from Brittany. They are romances but not all Breton lais are romances. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Usually involve the supernatural. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-"Lanval" ->Fairy woman (Look like a human but have supernatural powers. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">->Comes whenever he calls her, gives him an endless supply of money, and she's extremely beautiful. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Lanval is a good knight but Aurthur looks over him and he can't say anything against this. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">->He goes off into the woods...Lanval knows his identity but no one else seems to realize that he's a good knight. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Ends up going to 'Avalon' with the fairy woman after betraying her one request and insulting Gwenivere.
 * <span style="color: #808000; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Marie de France (1155-1215) **

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">~"Bisclavret"~ <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Werewolf....but just turns into a wolf, not like a werewolf in today's times. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">*The 'Other' <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">*Both stories end happily in one way or another. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Noble even as a wolf. It is only an outer change, not internal. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Once wife learns of his condition she gets another man to steal her lord's clothes and traps him as a wolf. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-The king takes him in (recognizes nobility) and the wolf only attacks people who have wronged him. (Takes the wife's nose and all her female ancestors are born noseless). They torture her for the truth and he becomes human again. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Parallels: kingship, bad female characters based upon treachery, supernatural, triangle-esque.


 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Analyze important passage in Fitt 3 2/23 **

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">I believe one of the most important passages in Fitt 3 is on the third day when Gawain gives Lord Bertilak the three kisses he recieves from Lady Bertilak, but does not give him the sash she gave to him (lines 1925-1947). Although all of Gawain's conversations with the lady are vital to the story, it is how he pays back the lord for his daily hunt that is most significant. The lord told Gawain that the knight could stay in during the day and both would exchanged what they earned during the day to one another. For Gawain, he earned game the lord caught. But for the lord, Gawain kissed him to represent the kisses he got each day. Yet on the third day when he recieved the green sash, he kept it to himself because he believed it would protect him from being killed by the Green Knight the next morning. Lady Beertilak told him that the 'girdle' would protect him from being harmed by any man, and so in a somewhat selfish, yet completely understandable manner, Gawain does not give up the sash. This proves he is not truly the most honorable knight, but he does value his life and still seeks out the Green Knight to fulfill their deal. Because of this act, the Green Knight only nics him on the back of the neck.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Late 14th century--Middle English Alliterative Romance, author unknown. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Dialect: North West Midlands. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Celtic connection: Green Knight is similar to Green Man. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Form: Alliterative-> Caesura (breaks in the lines), Bob and wheel (end of each stanza). Wheel is used for aside or commentary.
 * <span style="color: #056105; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Sir Gawain and the Green Knight **

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Beginning sets up the legitmacy of Aurthur. He is young here. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Supernatural: Green color (envy, nature, death), festive (not in armor), red eyes, Axe and holly branch (brings the natural world with him). <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Rides into the hall unceremoniously. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Gawain's shield important: five pointed star-> five fingers, five senses, five wounds of Christ, five joys of Mary (Who is on the inside of his shield). <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Goes into woods to fulfill the game played by the Green Knight one year later. Finds Bertilak's castle. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Plays a game: Whatever Bertilak catches in the hunt Gawain must repay him what he gets while staying in the castle.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-__First day__: deer...animal parallels what is happening to Gawain. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Lady Bertilak pays a visit to Gawain who is sleeping in bed. Traps him there. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Gawain cannot sleep with her-> adultery and an insult to the lord. He also promised that whatever he got he was give to the lord. He does not want to sleep with him. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Christian-Chivalric-Practical Problems. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Gets one kiss the first day (doesn't want to insult her). He gets the caught game and kisses the lord.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-__Second day__: boar (strong and difficult) Lady will up her game. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-She comes in with lesser clothing on. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-She believes she's speaking to the French (womanizing) Gawain but he's the chivalrous English Gawain. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Operating in fabliaux (farce) low-humor, sexual innuendos. But Gawain is operating in a romance. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Boar is strong but eventually gives up (parallels Gawain). He kisses her twice.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-__Third day__: fox (sly and sneaky; clever) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Fox almost escapes, like Gawain. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Clever and intelligent-> Also represents the lady who now changes her tactics. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Tries to offer Gawain gifts like rings...he refuses all of them because he can give nothing back. Doesn't want to be indebted. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Offers him the invincible green girdle. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Because of his nightmare, human nature and rationality makes him take the girdle. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Does not give it to the lord...he steps forward first to kiss the lord (guilt move). <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Doesn't talk about the girdle at confession and is in high spirits. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-> Fox is killed in the end...Gawain succumbs to the girdle.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Man who leads Gawain tells him if he runs away he won't tell anyone. But Gawain is a good knight who has gone through alot and if he ran he could never return to Court. He refuses. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Green Chapel-> Pagan world, sacred space. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Green Knight turns out to be Bertilak who was sent by Morgan Le Faye to test Aurthur's knights. Only gives nicked on the neck because he was not truthful the 3rd day....wears the girdle on his arm to show his shame.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Doesn't keep his promise-> Lies in order to protect his life. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Still wanted to sleep with the lady-> but doesn't out of honor and not wanting to sleep with the lord. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Did he really like the lady or was he simply doing his duty? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-3 or a 5 out of 10. He doesn't really sin, he just wants to live. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-The Green Knight forgives him yet he stills wear the girdle as a reminder of his weakness.
 * <span style="color: #056105; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Sir Gawain: Sinner or a Saint? **<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> 1=Saint 10=Sinner


 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Respond to "Undressing Lady Bertilak" 2/28 **

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">In the article, the primary focus is the role of Lady Bertilak and her relationship with Sir Gawain. The article also focuses on how blame is put specifically on Lady Bertilak rather than any other characters, such as Lord Bertilak, who had equal roles in decieving Sir Gawain. The article references how Gawain blames his weakness on her and basically says that the seduction and poor character was her fault. Gawain also puts blame on Morgan Le Faye after hearing she had something to do with the entire situation, thus making an 'anti'feminism' motif even more relevant. The article also mentions the possible bruising of Gawain's ego after learning that Lady Bertilak truly did not mean any of the praise she gave him, so his anger is justified due to his embarassment and almost shame, she has also made him feel extremely guilt and like a fool. The author of the article even says: "His anger towards her derives from injured male vanity" (321). This article pinpoints how sexual the text truly is as well. It may seem most chaste and innocent in terms of the time, but Gawain and Lady Betilak both have hidden agendas that revolve around this game of cat and mouse with each other.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Typical Middle English Romance <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Auchinleck Manuscripts (1330-1340) Put together in London. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">->Written in a Scriptorium by lay people (not in a monastery). <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Readers were believed to be rich but not necessarily nobility. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Text written in late 13th-14th Century and a Breton lay. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Based on classical tale 'Orpheus' made popular by Ovid. (Originally in Greece)
 * <span style="color: #ff7000; font-family: Georgia,serif;">"Sir Orfeo" **

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Orfeo is the king of England. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Anachronism-Orpheus could not be king of England. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Harp is his weapon. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Ympe tree (mutant) made from two trees. Eurydice falls asleep under one and dreams about the fairy king. She goes insane because she believes he will kill her if she leaves the tree. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-She gets kidnapped-> But does she die? It is unknown...therefore easier to get her out of the Underworld. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Orfeo takes off into the woods to find her with only his harp. He sees her and follows her into the Underworld. She cannot speak (zombie?) but he plays for the fairy king and gets to have Eurydice back. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Goes back to his kingdom. But what happens to her? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Steward becomes the successor to the throne because there is not heir.


 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Pick your favorite pilgrim 3/7 **

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">One of my favorite pilgrims has to be the Wife of Bath. Descriptively speaking, she is quite the character-- deaf, old, and missing teeth. Also she is untraditional from most women of the time because she had been married multiple times. She is older and therefore Chaucer portrays her as wiser, but also uses the parallel of her physical appearance to reflect her age as well as what the toll of years has done to her. She is certainly an interesting woman.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Known as the father of English literature. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Chaucer wrote in vernacular, copied a lot. Ellesmere-> worthy of being put in manuscript form. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Famous for puns and putting social crisis within text. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-His characters are not higher class.
 * <span style="color: #00b0ff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Chaucer-Canterbury Tales (died 1400) **

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-General Prolouge: Frame-> All these pilgrims meet up to tell stories within a story. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-All taking religious pilgrimages....social aspect, travel together. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Salvation->Want to get closer to God or ask God to help someone. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Henry Bailey(host) proposes a game-> everyone tells a tale on the way to Canterbury and on the way back. Whoever wins gets a free dinner. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-The text was never completed. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Different Chaucers-> Narrator-Author-Pilgrim

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Typical teenage girl who wats attention. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Denies Nicholas...but she really wants him. Needs secrecy. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Enjoys putting people against each other and playing with men. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Doesn't get punished in the end despite having caused it all. He ass gets kissed figuratively. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Uses Absalom as her puppet, Nicholas for pleasure, and her husband for his wealth. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Too young and ignorant to really have control over the situation. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Uses people to get what she wants....power hungry.
 * <span style="color: #00adff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Alisoun-Motivations & Actions **


 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Why is the "Milller's Tale" a fabliaux/farce? 3/21 **

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">The "Miller's Tale" is a good example of a fabliaux because it involves characters with whom the middle class would be able to relate with. Also from a humorous point of view, anyone would be able to appreciate the obvious crude humor Chaucer uses within the piece. Everyone ends up being made a fool in some way or another...whether it be Nicholas getting burned, or Absalom literally kissing someone on their 'butt.' The clergy is poked fun at in various ways as shown in Absalom's needful character, and educated people are also mocked as shown in the decietful character or Nicholas. The 'wanton' woman Alisoun is also punished for trying to get away from her husband...but John's ignorance is also highlighted because he truly believes that Nicholas has recieved a message from God about a flood. Chaucer does not leave anyone out of his ridiculous story and because it is also funny, no one can really be upset with what he has done. Especially towards the end when 'God save the company' is declared and no one can help but agree. The middle class can relate because they are the same as the people within this tale...(Except probably without some of Chaucer particular added silliness).


 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Discuss the character of Mak. 3/28 **

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">In "The Second Shepherd's Tale," Mak is quite the character from beginning to end. Not only can he not carry a tune to save his life, but the minute he arrives the shepherds make sure he doesn't steal anything. Also it is very apparent that he isn't very bright. He can't even remember that he knows these men. You do somewhat feel bad for him though because he is very pathetic and his wife Gill really is a bruiser. He does steal a sheep, but he does so in order to feed his family. He doesn't exactly know how he will hide it, and that is when Gill come up with a way to decieve the shepherds. She is the real driving force behind his sneaky ways as well as his desparate condition in life. His lack of intelligence doesn't really help either. Maybe if he was a smarter, wiser man he could better support his family and not have to resort to stealing.

<span style="color: #008080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">[]
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">I found a website that has a really good adaption of the 'Second Shepherd's Play' in case anyone had trouble deciphering some of the text: **


 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Identify a significant difference in the language of the Biblical passages 4/6 **

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Structurally, all the translations look similiar, yet the Douay-Rheims Bible seems the have the most significant differences. Simply by looking at the other versions this is apparent because they all start in the same manner, yet the Douay-Rheims does it. It is also somewhat shorter than the other passages. The language isn't as proper in the other translations either.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">**Ruminate on "To the Troops at the Tilbury." 4/11**

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">I really liked this speech. It shows the versatility of Queen Elizabeth I and also the love she has for her people. I envision her dressed in armor (because she did ride with her men at the battlefront) and addressing this sea of men before they went in to fight. One of my favorite lines was: "I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king." It shows her strength as a female ruler and she does not try and overlook the fact that she is female and that made a difference. She even says that it doesn't matter if she gets 'bad-mouthed' but ti does matter if her people are in danger, and in that case she is willing to 'take up arms' herself. She even says she will die amongst them for her kingdom in battle if God wills it. I think this speech shows how effective a ruler she was, how she truly did care for her people and country, and she wasn't afraid to become part of her people instead of merely staying safe and guarded away from battle. She was a force to be reckoned with.


 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Describe your final project 4/25 **

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">For my final project, I had a few ideas. I thought telling Unferth's tale. I also thought about telling Morgan le Fay's side of the story in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. So far though I've settled on writing my own Breton Lay. I know I'll need a good love triangle, some supernatural involvement, a good ending, and because I'm following after Marie, I want some wicked women in the tale as well. I migth use some Aurthian legend as well. As for the supernatural aspect, I was thinking about either doing something with vampires (a little overused, I know). Or doing something with faeries. Or possibly a witch who disguises herself as a maiden. Either way, it's still in the production stages.


 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">4/27 Kelly Stowell? **

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">I seemed to have missed a pretty interesting class on the 27th. From glancing at other Wikis, it seems like an actor came and preformed some Shakespeare for the class. I'm really sorry I missed that, I adore theater and like watching Shakespeare being rightly preformed rather than read. I do really like Shakespeare....I think even more so after visiting Anne Hathaway's cottage and his birthplace. I won't deny that his works are a challenge to read, but seeing them preformed does help better understand them, especially when the actors have a real passion for what they do. Hopefully I'll get to see more Shakespeare preformed in the future. When I was in London we wanted to either tour the Globe theater or see a preformance there but unfortunately they were preparing for a big celebration for Shakespeare's birthday and I only saw the giftshop....oh well. Maybe next time.

<span style="color: #620080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">//"All the world's a stage..."//


 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Here's one of my sources for the creative project: **

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Arden, Heather M. //The End Game in Marie de France's Lais: The Search for a Solution//. Dalhousie French Studies, 2002. Print. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">I found two more I'll probably use too. I just need to figure out a few things involving supernatural beings in Medieval folklore. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">But if you look on the library databases and use the Literature Resource Center, there is a lot of information and articles to chose from. =)


 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Choose a poem assigned for the day to analyze 5/2 **

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">One of my favorites (I'll have to blame 'Dead Poet's Society') is "To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time." This particular poem by Robert Hennerick has an abab rhyme scheme and consists of four stanzas. The first stanza is mostly concerned with the passing of time. 'Gather ye rosebuds while ye may' which could be interpretted as one should live life to the fullest while they still can because 'this same flower that smiles today, / Tomorrow will be dying.' A person doesn't know when their life will end so one should make the most fo the time they do have. The second stanza is focused on the setting of the sun in the sky which could also referr back to the importance of living but but also could involve the importance of making the most out of a day because time truly does fly by especially in the span of a single day. The sunrise and sunset aspect could also be focused on the 'beginning' and 'end' of one's life which is sometimes represented as a sunrise and sunset. The third stanza is less clear. He seems to be saying that the best 'age' is the one 'when youth and blood are warmer' yet he also seems to be saying that those who waste their time are trapped by it...that even youth can be wasted away if one isn't careful how they choose to live it. And the last stanza reiterates what the whole poem is about. He says to use your time and in life 'go marry' instead of living in suffering and anger. But the last two lines tell it all: 'For having lost but one once your prime, / You may for ever tarry.' Here he means that you cannot go back and fix your mistakes so you must have no regrets and live life the best you can.


 * <span style="color: #808000; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Julian of Norwhich's 10 Commandments **

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">1. God is holy. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">2. God saves you. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">3. Sins are acceptable. Need them in order to know not to do them. Learning experiences. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">4. If you worship God you will get into Heaven. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">5. Grow from misfortune. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">6. Act as if God is always looking over you. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">7. If you ask, He shall come. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">8. Remember God's pain and thus you are not alone in suffering. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">9. Always thank, trust, and enjoy God. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">10. Man has no rest until he has the love of God. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">All shall be well


 * <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Biblical Church Stories/Plays **

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">Three different types of plays: <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Morality: teaching you something, a religious moral. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Miracle: About the saints lives. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Mystery: Biblical stories.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-They all dislike their job-> Cold and don't make a lot of money. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Also hate their nagging wives. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Mak "Mock" is a thief. Something will inevitably get stolen. Claims to know and be friends with the shepherds. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-He casts a spell on the shepherds to make them sleep--> Devilish figure, steals a lamb. (Devil figure steals the Lamb of God) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Gill, a nag and a drunk. Con artist duo. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Dress lamb up like a baby-> Christ wrapped up in a manger. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-They were going to 'sacrifice' the 'Lamb of God.' <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Shepherds searc the house and find nothing, afterwards want to go back and give the baby a gift. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Realize it's a sheep and Mak gets beat on. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Moral: Don't steal sheep. Shepherds saved the Lamb of God. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-At first seemed to be 15th Century England then turned to Bethlehem.....become 3 shepherds of the Bethlehem story and an angel visits them. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Bring a ball to Christ-> Makes the audience part of Christ's birth.
 * <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: Georgia,serif;">The Second Shepherds Play **


 * <span style="color: #166183; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Bible **

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Tyndale version (1524-26) Many translations go back to him. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-->Accused of heresy and condemned to be executed. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Geneva Bible (1557-60) exiled people wrote it secretly in Geneva. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Douay-Rhiems Bible (1682) Translation of Latin Vulgate. Closest to Medieval Bible. Relatively easy to translate. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-King James Bible (1604-11) scrutinized for trying to find a happy medium between Catholicism and Protestantism. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-->Tends to italicize words. More significant and clearer than Tyndale. More wording and capitalization.


 * <span style="color: #ab00ff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Edmund Spenser "The Faerie Queen" **

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Faerie Queen is based on a Elizabeth. She liked his work even though it did not always portray the 'Faerie Queen' in the most positive way. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Text transitions from Early Modern and Medieval texts. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Plot--> Medieval Story (are all female characters based on different aspects of Elizabeth?) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Agenda-Uses Allegory (nothing is as it seems): Political agenda. Protestant text with anti-Catholic feelings. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Redcrosse Knight--Holiness. Also represents England. Religion and politics. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Every-man figure. Faces internal demons. Fights a dragon named 'Error.' --> Have to maintain faith in the face of your own demons. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-He travels with Una (Purity) name means 'one.' -->One true Church. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Una gets separated from Redcrosse--> England separate from one true Church, holiness spearated from purity. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-The True Church--> meets all characters who represent the Catholic Church. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Fidessa--'two faced'--(Duessa 'duality') not what she seems. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Archimago--The Pope? Or a priest who uses 'magic' to change the bread and wine to body and blood. Deception. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Lion--kills Church ribber-bring money to deaf mother and blind daughter (Monastic women 'deaf and dumb to the world' What good could they doing living outside the world?) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-->Courage and natural law destroys robbers. Only Una (purity and faith) can control natural law.


 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Sir Thomas Moore (1478-1535) **

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-First time 'utopia' is used. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Satirical--wants to show the problems of England. Utopia and England are both islands. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Wants to show solutions to problems...get people to figure out how to solve them. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Moore is not the same in the text as he is writing the piece. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Raphael--well-learned, wise, traveller, good man...but doesn't want to counsel a king, believes he won't listen. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-->Pokes fun at Henry IIIV. Distances himself for protection. Uses characters to show how he really feels. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Peter introduces Raphael and Moore, go have a drink and talk--> Dialouge between someone wise and someone who wants to learn. Questions on both sides, Socratic. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Moore has non-descript opinions, just wants to learn. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Raphael is wise and gives his money to relatives. Has harmony because he's not worried about wealth. Staunch believer in Utopian society. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Book One is criticism and afterwards. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Book Two describes Utopia.
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Utopia **

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">__Agriculture__--Everyone farms and everyone has a specific craft. Hardworking and everyone applies themselves. (Communism?) Everyone is equal. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">__Slavery__--Only those who did horrible crimes or punished to death. Seems to be helping them...become part of the machine. Choose to be a slave in Utopia rather than somewhere else. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">__Warfare__--Hate war. Other nations love war. A just war would be if someone attacked and war began in defense. Or protect an allies country/deliver a nation from tyranny. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">__Religion__--Various religions. Hypocracy. Really insulting to other religions.
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Society Characteristics of Utopia: **

<span style="color: #808080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">**Milton- __Paradise Lost__**

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Satan's fall from Heaven (formerly an archangel). <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Goes against God because he wants to be more powerful--pride--believes he is better than he is. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-->Mankind upsets him, they are far down on the list; flawed. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Goes against God and is thrown down to hell-->falls a long way and become hurt and distorted (Similiar to Orcs in Lord of the Rings ^_^) <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Doesn't give up after the fall...decides to rule in Hell. Believes he doesn't need Heaven. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Thinks he can still defeat God, denies reality-->Creates an army, hierarchy. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Talks about warrior-God in human form. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-->Pre-Garden of Eden yet he knows about Christ. Outside of time. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-->Cannot see how Christ will develop but still has some angelic powers. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Paradise lost of Satan = Heaven. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Paradise lost for humans = Garden of Eden (Satan had to show up there in order to tempt mankind). <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Satan believes he can disrupt time and not show up in Eden in order to mess up mankind. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Satan is the anti-hero of this story-->determined, falls and gets back up, makes the best of it, influential, doesn't believe he's doing the wrong thing. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-->Characteristics of an epic hero. Has a flaw--pride. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-Milton makes this hard on the readers. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">-But his ultimate goal is to take over Heaven and destroy mankind.

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