King,+James

In this British Literature class I'm looking forward to expand my enjoyment of reading. I already read a pretty good amount on my own. I literally can not go a week without having a book to read during any kind of down time. My hope is that I can translate my love of reading for fun, to classroom reading. At times in the past for some reason I couldnt muster the enthusiasm to get through assigned reading. What may help is that as I've grown up, more and more authors I read have influences from works/authors that I learn about it classes. Things have started good so far, as Im really into Beowulf. The classic as well as the graphic novel. Being a fan of graphic novels help out as well. __**END OF BEOWULF**__ The end of the tale of Beowulf is a fitting one for the Great Geat Warrior. After 50 years in charger, Beowulf is not brought down by old-age, or poison, or deceit, but it battle. The way a true warrior would prefer. Also, a victorious battle. Beowulf kills the dragon that had been destroying the country side since his cup was stolen from his hoarded treasure by an exile. With the help of Wiglaf,the king slices the throat of the serpent, but not before taking a fatal wound himself. The very end of the tale serves to show true honor to Beowulf and his life. The men build a large barrow worthy of the great warrior upon the sea cliffs. This is so all sea-faring people from afar can see it and will know who it represents. All the treasure is buried with Beowulf as a sign of great respect. Beowulf has died and left this world the way he wanted to. In battle and left behind a legacy that would become legend and passed down through the generations of men. He was a warrior until the very end, even as an old man. He was able to stand his ground and defeat a dragon (with a little help) that a party of men a quarter of his age couldnt even look upon. Beowulf died as, and will be remembered as, one of the strongest and bravest warriors of all-time.
 * __BRITISH LIT__**

It can be a pretty good guess to assume that most people wouldn't agree with these "rules" of love. Obviously before reading one must realize that this piece was written in the 12th century. At the same time however, there are plenty of works that show true love and dont employ any of these "rules" within the story. Time and time again through many different mediums you'll come across the phrase "Love knows no rules" or "bounds" or "limits", etc. While it may have become cliche long ago, like most clihces, its true. How can you possibly lay out a set of rules for a feeling? Theres no way to contain such an abstract thing. Just like theres no rules on sadness, grief, anger, joy, etc. There may be some acceptable and unacceptable reactions within a certain society, but usually as long as the person stays somewhat within reason, there is not much anyone can tell them to do.
 * __REACTIONS TO "The Art of Courtly Love"__**

__**Sir Gawain and The Green Knight - Fitt 3 passage**__ p 192 line 1846 "Now, do you refuse this belt," the lady said then, "Because it is worth so little? and so it truly appears. See, it is indeed a trifle, and worth even less; But anyone who knew the power woven into it Would put a much higher price on it, perhaps, For whoever is buckled into this green belt, As long as it is tightly fastened about him There is no man on earth who can strike him down, For he can not be killed by any trick in the world."

This is an important passage in Fitt 3 for several reasons. The first being that it wil give Gawain at least some confidence going into his conrontation with the Green Knight. Gawain has been getting more nervous with each passing day and having nightmares about his destiny. The Lady's belt calms Gawain's nerves a bit and it is the one thing he'll allow himself to take. This act proves more troublesome than if he has refused and upset the Lady. When he ultimately confronts the Green Knight and finds out what truly is happening, not taking the belt would have allowed him to escape more or less unscathed. The Green Knight gives a nice reminder on the back of Gawain's neck, that will turn into a permanent scar. Forever to let Gawain remember the one time he faulted on his knightly duties.

__**Response to article "Undressing Lady Bertilak"**__ __**Chaucer "The General Prologue" and "The Miller's Tale"**__ With no formal translation like earlier works, this is easily the toughest work to read yet. At first it was a little frustrating to have to not only look to the left for what the modern day word is, but also to the bottom of the page for more meaning. After a little bit though, it became a little easier to get a good flow going without disrupting a steady stream of reading. While I had trouble always understanding what was going on, I could grasp the general points in the plot or what was going on. Some sections were easier than others. Things got clearer when I realized some of my friends modern day English I have to edit for them is very similiar.

The "Prologue" was starting to get a little overwhleming with all the character introductions. Taking a couple notes along the way of each person helped though. And reading the editor's intro for both the "Prologue" and "The Miller's Tale" helped to make connections during Chaucer's Narrator's ramblings.

In "The Miller's Tale" I was falling back and forth between knowing what was going on. It was difficult to tell either who he was talking about or what the were exactly doing. I fully understood the attempted duping by Nicholas of John. What was hard to pick up on was the second lover entering the story. At the end of the tale, it was easy to realize what was going on (kissing, farting, hot iron, bathtub) but who was who, where they were/were going, was hard to pick up on. After finishing the story I did some quick research online to get a general synopsis and could then understand the characters, and as a result, the story a lot better. Thankfully it was a quick read and the more repetition of reading such words, the more clear everything should become.

As far as I have read, my two favorite Pilgrims would have to be the Miller and Shipsman. However, the edge will have to go to the Shipsman. First off, its one of the back stories I understood the most. Also, he seems just like a genuine bad ass guy. He steals wine from the ship he's navigating, then any who oppose him he simply throws overboard into the ocean. Speaking of the ocean, he's described as pretty much knowing his way around everywhere of that time period, Europe, Africa, Middle-East. The Shipsman can do anything from handle hand to hand combat, to fleeing and out-navigating anyone. All while apparently under the heavy influence of his stolen wine.
 * __Favorite Pilgrim__**

__**Why is the Miller's Tale a farce?**__ The "Miller's Tale" is a farce for several reasons. One being the sort of over-the-top sexuality involved. Lots of talk or constant desires about sex by characters. Also, the literal butt kissing taking place. If you take a moment to consider it, it contains several similiar situations that would be used in classic teen/sex romp comedies of the 20th century films. Another reason is the stupidty/gullabillity of characters and rediculous reasons characters give one another. This is obviously done in a comedic format, which farce's usually contain. Tales of great floods and hiding in bath tubs. The reader of the tale also has to remember what audience the story was written for. Since it is hundreds of years old, people had a different sense of humor at the time. So if a modern day reader finds no humor in it, the must remember when it was written and can at least understand how it would be seen as a farce to the people at the time.

__**Changes from Medieval to Early Modern**__ There were many important changes from the Medieval period to the Early Modern. Science, medicine and philosophy were all undergoing drastic change as the people of the time looked back toward ancient Greece and Rome as examples to follow in their pursuit of knowledge. Within these ideas, humans were finding out more about themselves, on a philosophical as well as physical level. How they think, who they are, how the world works, a look inward. On the physical side, actually looking in on bodies, finding out how the body works, what connects what and why. Religiong was being evolved as people decided to if not speak out openly, at least point out some things wrong withing religion. The most famous being Martin Luther during the Reformation. Wars would lead to change as they always do in Wales, Scotland and Ireland. Social change would be brought about by Elizabeth I. Society on a whole was opening up more and more to the idea of obtaining as much knowledge as they could.

__**Identify one signifigant difference in the language of the Biblical passages**__ __**Kelly Morgan Presentation**__ In class this day, I was not expecting the presenation that we recieved from Kelly Morgan. It was educational as well as insightful even led to some thinking. It started with a very broad subject of Elizabithean World View, the picture of Heaven and God, connected to Hell and Satan through a chain the runs directly though the Earth with Earth serving as the battlefield more or less for godd and evil. All living things are involved in this. Then talk then got specified to Shakespeare and how he incorporates this into his works. Talks of his works led to how propaganda was put into them as well and how they are imitated in works being produced ever since. Eventually it got to the very compelling subject on people's individual view of the world. How people are raised and how that is the most major influence for pretty much the rest of their life. How do you treat people? How do you look at them? What are your expectations in different situations? It actually forced you to think of your own upbringing and trying to give yourself and honest assessment of how you see others and treat them. For some people, they are who they are for pretty much their whole life. For others, situations at anytime during their life can change their outlook on people and their for world, for better or worse. At the end of the talk, a very interesting point was talking to a stranger you see who peaks your interest. Now, it may not be for a love or lustufl reason, maybe they just peek your curiousity. Although, mostly its usually has undelying romantic reasons. But how many times in life do you simply not say anything and the chance escapes you? Almost everyone in life has been in this situation. And a simple "hello" might lead to something great, but it's having the guts to take the first step. Something I'll be thinking about in the future.