epic essay

Quinn Weber
10-8-09
EPIC ESSAY(S)
Period 3 Intro to college English

Part One- The author and HIS times
The exact date of Beowulf is unknown, the legends of Beowulf are debated as fact or fiction, the poem itself is subject to debate (should it be studied for literary merit or historical fact?), its classification as poem is challenged, even the author of Beowulf is unknown; yet, for all this Beowulf is considered an important piece and is studied internationally by literary scholars and English students alike. This is because of the unique and profound times in which the story was recorded and the interesting blend of the Christian and pagan faiths.
Beowulf is perhaps a Danish or Swedish legend, and perhaps an accounting of a great warrior: a tale from Northern Europe of great deeds and men. Whether the poem is fact or fiction is irrelevant, as somehow this story came to enter the oral tradition of the warmongering Viking people.
The Vikings conducted raids on England from the time of 793AD when Norsemen destroyed the abbey on Lindisfarne and continued until almost 1100 AD. However at about 850, a shift occurred in the Vikings. They began to settle among the English people marrying into local families, giving up there warlike ways to settle as farmers, and most importantly adopting the local religion: Christianity.
Until the Vikings settled in England, they believed in a pagan religion which focused on the glory of ones earthly deed. Only brave warriors could ascend to Valhalla where they would dine among the gods until the day of Ragnarok when they would fight the giants alongside their gods… and lose. This pagan culture is noted in the text of Beowulf obviously in the culture of the warriors that are shown. Beowulf fights Grendel, his mother, and the dragon for honor so he will be granted access to Valhalla. Those who flee from battle are banished even though they were only trying to save their own lives. Even more importantly is the reference to the giants. They are referred to as the ancient race that built the dragon’s lair, and the makers of the sword with which Beowulf slew the hag.
The poem also contains a number of Christian components as well; Beowulf often cries out to “his lord” or states that he was destined to win the battle because of God. I believe that these are in fact inserts that have been placed in the story to accommodate the English peoples Christian culture. Thus the story would have been written down by some English monk or high-person. In this time the ability to read and write was a very rare skill, few outside of the clergy were capable of writing at all let alone transcribing a poem hundreds of lines long. Thus Beowulf must not be treated lightly for it was most likely someone’s life work to record. A member of the clergy who supplemented the story so that it could be better understood among the English people and would spread the Christian faith.
As mentioned earlier the Vikings had begun to settle into England, perhaps the Christian translation of this poem is not an attempt at enabling the English to access it, but rather a way of converting the Vikings into Christians. Monk would have a keen desire to do this because previously the pagan Vikings had been a raider of churches, often selling monks into slavery.
Thus Beowulf in my opinion is an ancient story of the Vikings, a fairy tale perhaps or an accounting of a great warrior which during the conquests of Anglo-Saxon England was transcribed by a Christian influence. Although attempting to use this great poem as a tool for Christianity, the pagan influences are still apparent in subtle details.

MY GRAND ESSAY!- section one

The exact date of Beowulf is unknown, the legends of Beowulf are debated as fact or fiction, the poem itself is subject to debate (should it be studied for literary merit or historical fact?), its classification as poem is challenged, even the author of Beowulf is unknown; yet, for all this Beowulf is considered an important piece and is studied internationally by literary scholars and English students alike. This is because of the unique and profound times in which the story was recorded and the artistic, poignant, nature of the writing.
Beowulf is perhaps a Danish or Swedish legend, and perhaps an accounting of a great warrior: a tale from Northern Europe of great deeds and men. Whether the poem is fact or fiction is irrelevant, as somehow this story came to enter the oral tradition of the warmongering Viking people.

Quinn Weber
Period 3
9-23-09

Zion

Skagway City School is in a deplorable state. Student enrollment is dropping as fast as government funding. These two figures are linked symbiotically for as enrollment declines funding plummets the low funding in turn leads to dilapidated facilities and second rate educators which discourage new students and scare current pupils into nearby Haines or Juneau. This devastating negative flow of students must be stemmed so as to create an environment in which quality education is given. Furthermore an increase in student population would boost the athletic clubs of Skagway school brining pride and honor to the community. Surely the one who could bring such glory to the city would be worthy of praise.
Every Sunday millions of believers flock to the nearest or most well funded altar, temple or church to proclaim their faith to the heavens. In Skagway there is an especially large population of those of the Mormon faith. The Mormon faith is one of the youngest and as any Christian will tell you, as Father Ignacio told me, any religion under 1000 years old is merit-less. After searching for thousands of years for their holistic city of Zion a Mormon father assures me, his people are tired and in need of change.
Skagway will be the answer to their prayers.
Why can’t our lovely town become “Zion”? Our beautiful mountain enshrined, sea bordered town has all the makings of a holy city. My friendly father from Utah assures me that if I could get 2 more congregations to agree to name the city “Zion”, His church alone could facilitate the transportation of 2,000 Mormons. He agrees to such a plan because he sees the advantage in it for himself. With the Mormons happy in Skagway, not only does room in the overcrowded church of Salt Lake City open for new converts, his coffers are filled by the thankful Mormons who rediscovered faith in their religion in “Zion”. The Mormon clergy will also gain capital by receiving the donations from newly opened Mormon businesses in Skagway as Mormons above any other religion kick back the majority of their salary to the church. The church will most importantly gain something which has plagued it, an official holy city, and capital. Thus Utah will form an express way to Skagway, Skagway will gain population and the church will gain the cash and needed to expand.
The fact that the Mormon Church will gain fiscally is the main reason why this plan will succeed. Church members follow their clergy, if you doubt this you need to look back to the crusades in the closest history book. I am not requiring their followers to rid the holy land of infidels in the course of seven long wars, I am only asking them to give the holy land a physical location.
The Mormon faith has no problem adjusting to Skagway; they have already flocked and flourished here. Perhaps it is some ancient form of fate which has drawn them in such numbers, perhaps deep down they already believe this place is Zion. Whatever the reason it is undeniable that Mormons are naturally attracted to this place. They constitute roughly 1/3 of the total population and 3/5 of the total school population. The reason for this seemingly large population has never been found.
The new population would of course have children. Mormons especially travel in large family units. In fact the average Mormon family contains 8 family members while the average Christian family has only 4. This means that not only would Skagway increase in population, it would do so without developing incredible amounts of new land. A Mormon family of 8 would live in one household where 8 Christians would typically live in two separate households. So savings on land could be in excess of 100% of that developed!! These children must be educated, the tight-knit and driven structure of a Mormon family demands a good education, Skagway school has a monopoly on the market, and the children will be raked in like leaves in autumn.
The Mormon Church is on our side, the Mormons themselves have no reason to doubt the city, and there is much to be gained and nothing to be lost. All we, the people of Skagway must do is encouraged the change, help to build the Mormon churches, to expand those already established, and to spread the word of Zion.
Some nay-sayers claim that I am a Mormon advocate concerned not with the betterment of Skagway but with the spread of the religion. I myself follow no religion Christian, Mormon, Judaism or any other which I could name. Furthermore I have never in fact set foot inside a Mormon temple thus my services can not be tainted by religious preference or any influence which a church may have on someone.
Undeniably these new religious folk will help boost Skagway young population and stop the faltering numbers in school. Their large family sizes will increase student population while minimizing the effect on Skagway’s physical and environmental footprint. With the boost of new bodies, the school will receive new funding, which will allow higher wages for teachers, two part desks and ipso facto higher test scores. Mormons like no other race or religion need a place to call home.

beowulf #7

"no lots were cast for who should loot the hoard for it was obvious to them that every bit of it lay unprotected within the vault. "
perhaps this is saying that the gold is unprotected here so they can come back and retrieve it, but it also reads that if they take the gold then it will lay unprotected in their vaults, the fact that they have lost Beowulf means that they have no one to protect them; an insight into Beowulf's failure as king to train up his warriors to supersede him.

"our whole nation will be dispossessed, once princes from beyond get tiding of how you turned and fled"
Wiglaf foreshadows the nations defeat, Beowulf also says that "war is looming" both realize how close their nation is to collapse when they are king, Beowulf, instead of choosing to prepare his nation for the fight chooses to go get killed by a dragon. He did this so that he would maintain his honor for never loosing a fight because he knew he would be overrun by swedes. Wiglaf on the other hand sets about bettering his warriors and banishing those who fled. Thaet was god cyning.

"but the raven winging darkly over the doomed will have news, tiding for the eagle,"
the raven the symbol of death will be conquerors over the eagle symbol of heroics and valor.

"a geat women too sang out in grief; with hair bound up, she unburdened herself of her worst fears,"
does not say that the geat women sang, Although no wife is mentioned i find it very improbable that a bad ass like Beowulf did not have a wife. Furthermore as a king he would have been foolish not to accept t a wife as a token of peace. This women is his unknown wife.

"next the wise son of Weohstan called from the king's thane a group of seven"
parallels beowulf's own quest when he brought 13 men into the dragons lair"

They said that of al the kings upon the earth he was the man most gracious and fair-minded, kindest to his people and keenest to win fame"
blatantly exposes beowulf tragic flaw or greatest atribute depending on how you look at it, Beowulf was always ready for battle and honor always courageous- a trait of a warrior yet this being his foremost quality he was unsuited to be king and is shown by his hesitancy to become king.

2250 "my own people have been ruined by war"
Parallels Hermod beowulf frets how he has wasted the lives of his warriors.


"A newly constructed Barrow stood waiting"
Beowulf knows he will die, he has already constructed his tomb when he hears of the dragon. This shows the escalation of monsters and the rise and fall of a man. With Grendel and his mother beowulf was confident, whereas with the dragon he is afraid he will die. If looking at the progression of three monsters Beowulf's confidence is again in question.

"he had scant regard for the dragon as a threat"
Extreme confidence yet he knows he is going to die, perhaps this means that beowulf is more scared of loosing his 100% record. He is scared that he will not be able to kill the dragon as well as dying.

"He befriended Eadgils when Eadgils was friendless the feud was ended in a comfortless campaign when he killed Onela"
Beowulf foolishly decides to become involved in a swedish blood. Although a truce is called due to Wyrgild, the Geats can not get of easily. The Swedes are honor bound to retaliate and destroy the Geats as in the end they do. This shows how beowulf is more committed to his own honor than to the success of his nation.

"I shall fight like that for as long as I live"-
Declares himself again as a warrior before a king. Beowulf leaves no clear heir to take care of the country.

"I shall pursue this fight... face me in the open"
Beowulf's final epic boast. Unlike the others in which he is sure of himself he wavers and claims he can only beat the dragon if he leaves its hoard. This not only shows Beowulf's wavering confidence, it shows the rise and fall of a warrior, with Beowulf

"keen-edged sword, an ancient thing"
This time beowulf brings his own ancient sword, again progression of three monsters, Grendel he fights bare handed, His mother he fights with Hrunting, and THe dragon he fights with an ancient sword. All of these weapons fail him.

"then there one known for goodness... unbuckled his helmet."
Similar to baptism prepared beowulf for death symbolic cleansing of soul. Clearley states unequal for goodnesss with his own deads, suggesting that beowulf is not known for goodness as a king.

beowulf entry #3... i think

Lines 1448-1450 "To guard his head he had a glittering helmet that was due to be muddied on the mere bottom and blurred in the upswirl." Ties into the theme of severed heads like aeschere... Beowulf does not like this theme very much and prefers to keep it on EVEN THOUGH IM SURE IF SEVERED IT WOULD HAVE PROTECTED THE GEATS FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS! he knows he can serve them better off if he's actually alive. The line also suggests that beowulf will perish on the bottom, yet it can also mean that he will be wrestling on the bottom. Either way it definetly suggests that beowulf will at least make it to the sea-hag's lair

1458 "A rare and ancient sword named Hrunting..." Unferth the unloyal, dishonorable, kin killer gives Beowulf his rare and ancient, unfaliable sword?Nope unferth gives Bewulf a useless sword incapable of smiting the sea hag. Unerth is not only cowardly for not being able to defend Herot from Grendel, he is also afraid to dive alongside Beowulf to fight the she-wolf. As a last ditch effort to gain some fame, Unferth hands over his blade to beowulf so that if he had slain Grendel's mother with it, the sword would gain more value and bring him some honor when returned to him. Instead Beowulf is forced to use a giant's ancient sword. A sword from the underworld. The poem has repeatedly mentioned the giants and how they were forced to roam alongside God until he let them rest. They are also mentioned as having been wiped out by a great flood. Because in biblical times the flood was used to sweep the land of non believers and scalliwags in general, perhaps these giants suffered similar fates to Cain. The giants would have been forced to walk the Earth but rather than suffering that for eternity, they had to go out and defeat some evil, when Beowulf defeats Grendel with the giants sword, the giant can finaly rest.

1512 "because the hall-roofing...a gleam and flare-up, a glimmer of brightness."

ties the Sea-hags lair to Herot. Grendel was envious of Herot, he had designed and built this magnificent hall years ago, yet it lay empty aside from himself and his mother. Herot was new and inferior in the eyes of grendel yet it boomed with life, this helped to aggrivate him and led him to attack Herot. Ties into the theme of banishment

1630 "the lake settled, clouds darkened above the bloodshot depths"

The men waiting for Beowulf see a violent upsurge of blood and turbulence then stillness and the sky darkens, they take this as sign that Beowulf has perished and abandon him, if you look at the book as a succession of three monsters then in the first battle his men help him, in the second his allies leave him, and in the third everyone abandons him. This also helps to foreshadow beowulf's fate, the clouds darkening are a sign of death and evil, a sign that gods punishment 10fold for whoever killed Cain had begun.


1543 "The sure -footed fighter felt daunted"
again this relates to the progression of the three monsters, the easiest way of viewing the poem. With Grendel he knew he was going to win, his mother not so much. The dragon he knows hes screwed. Helps to not only show the progression of battles, but also to give insight into beowulfs character. Perhaps he is not the cocky idiot that brandy would make him out to be. perhaps he is confident in his abilities but not so much to a jesus like invincibility status.

beowulf 852-1320

890- "sigmund's glory grew and grew... without fitela" this parallels beowulfs own battle with the dragon. although sigmund escapes, they both go to fight the dragon alone. In this tale beowulf is also contrasted with heorod, a terrible king who is ambushed and killed. These two stories are the two paths beowulf can take once he has killed Grendel, he can become king and flourish or perish as a terrible king.

1110 "they pyre was heaped with boar-shaped helmets" this was the same way Bewoulf and his troop's helmets were discribed and is a definite forshadow of the coming annihilation of the Geats.

1160 "wealhtheow came to sit...reclined near the king" (also her speach) Wealhtheow hints of the upcoming killing. She knows that unferth will take arms against her king Hrothgar. She then gives her two sons to beowulf for him to raise, and an apparently cursed piece of armor. Why would you give someone you respected armor that in which great warrior seem to die? (maybe this section is confusing me) She does serve her womenly duty of peace keeper, by giving her sons to beowulf. she ties the Danes to the Geats

"I have heart it said by my people in hall counselors who live in the upland coutnry, thath they have seen two such creatures prowling moors, huge mauraders from some other world"
This ties beowulf and Bendigeifran. Grendel and his Mother parallel the giants. Both are outcast, grendels clan from god and the giants from matholwch. perhaps if Grendel could be forgiven and accepted as the two giants had he could have had something as usefull and powerfull as a magical couldron to offer.

1420 Aeshere's head a tthe foot of the cliff
the theme of seperated heads and arms, Grendels mother posts aesheres head at the clif just as the Danes had hung grendel's arm from the rafters, as a trophy and as a warning to further intruders. Grendel had a hand and arm seperated because he was a warrior of brute strength while Aeschere was the most high advisor, a thinker thus his head is posted.