Class Notes: 09.23.03
*Laugh at Professor M.'s jokes whether or not they are funny!
*September 16, Professor M. might have to be away, he will let us know by next Tuesday. There may be an internet assignment.
Questions about Beowulf Discussed in Class:
How is Beowulf fitting with The Lord of the Rings? Rob asked.
Professor M. answered that he hasn�t read The Lord of the Rings in a long time.
Bill said: Beowulf is very �Lord of the Rings-esk�. Beowulf and how he is described, his proportions, the immensity and grandness of the descriptions.
Emily brought up the point that Tolken created his entire world of Beowulf�s period and made it his own fantasy.
Laura discussed the dragon in Beowulf and the dragon in The Hobbit.
Notes on the Board:
"The Fantastic" -- is usually imaginary, characters are extraordinary. There is a horrible evil. And usually magic, especially swords, weapons. There is usually socialization, a combination of people working together to stop the great evil. Each person in the group has different power within themselves, usually one person has greater power.
What Is The Function of This Type of Literature?
-It�s exciting and uplifting. Bill stated.
Reader becomes underdog while reading, therefore when underdog wins the reader wins too. It draws the reader into the story. Fantastic creates the unknown,
Mary Beth thinks that it�s not the unknown that draws the reader but personal preference.
Could Merlin and Beowulf be called New Mythology? asked Bill.
Professor M. said yes they could.
The heroic:
One person that has a problem or thing to do. Hero is usually macho, etc. Hero carries cocky attitude knows he will win the fight. Hero grows, adds skills is adaptive.
Should we question the narration like Rob does?
Hero has emotional problem or flaw. Hero�s origins are obscure.
There is an antagonist with matched strength--> creates doubling of character.
The topics for the day:
Grendel is the other, the outsider. The excluded other. Grendel = the Id- the repressed human conscious.
Heorat/Hrothgoar = the Ego, the conscious world of culture.
Super Ego = the moral monitor
1. Women in Beowulf:
What do they do?
H. wife- Wealtheow- cup passer. hospitality- more than 1rst impressions though Professor M. points out.
Hrgth- Beowulf�s mother- thanks her for giving birth to Beowulf
Beauty/Appearance- what they are wearing, their fair skin, shape/size. She is called queenly dignified, decked out in rings. And has measured words, and was adorned in gold. MOTIVATION???
2. In a world of tribal allegiance and mistrust, etc; What can be done to keep the peace?
Women seem to be hospitable, but also connect the tribes Professor M. said.
In Beowulf women are seen in two roles nurturer or peaces keepers, Emily said.
No matter what your system of justice, there will always be imperfections.
G�del- No system can be constructed which does not contain self contradictions.
