Poety Remix

We (Sierra Sanchez, Hannah Hurd, Shaiylnn Joseph, Judith Lee, Alec McFarland, Matthew Hollinger, Courtney Reyburn) chose "Working Together" as our poem to remix. 

We decided to do what Dr.Preston referred to as 'low tech' and build a tangible remix of the peom by creating individual puzzle pieces that represented various parts of the poem. These puzzle pieces fit snugly together creating a whole circle much like the poem itself was composed of small lessons to create  a master piece of a poem. 

Here was the process: 

Hamlet Essay 1&2 (slightly remixed)

Throughout this Shakespearean play it is obvious to the reader that they are observing a boy, unlike most, develop into a man, who again stands out amongst the crowd. There are certain qualities Hamlet holds that renders him undeniably relatable, and frankly agreeable. 

Given the time period and values at the time it would be fair to say Hamlet exerts genius like qualities in his careful scheming. Though killing for honor was not unfamiliar at this time, it was more often done in a rash and animalistic way through war and gory bloodshed rather than plotting the death. The manner in which Hamlet goes about avenging his father is much more calculated and careful, than a typical revenge murder may be.  As his heated anger for other unfortunate things in his life comes to a boil, like his uncle becoming his stepfather, hamlet is guided to not only avenge his father but to also fulfill his personal desires of revenge. 

In modern times this type of killing would be done by someone of unstable mental health, and even in the play the famous words "though this be madness, yet there is method in't"  were said, speaking to the strange manner in which Hamlet tries to murder his uncle. Though he is mad, there is method in it. Though he is crazy, there is a reason for it. Though he is psychotic, there is motive behind it. 

Hamlet's deeper desire to kill other than for 'honor' in avenging his father, notions to a strange and almost erotic state Hamlet wants to achieve throughout the play by killing. He cannot be seen as a mentally stable individual.  

Act 4 Notes

Act 4 

-Gertrude tells Claudius what hamlet did 

-Claudius wants to a) send hamlet away and b) sweep the murder under the rug. 

-Hamlet doesn't trust Rosencrantz and Guild. He gives them the riddles "the body is with the king but the king is not with the body, the king is but a thing" 

-Claudius paints a picture of Hamlet being like a politician that does bad things but gets away with it because he's a good politician 

-Claudius tells Hamlet he can go to England, where Claudius plans to have him assassinated 

-We see a different Hamlet, he is now a man. 

College and Cake Wednesday

Due to quality issues I had to upload the video in separate segments on to youtube.
In collaboration with Sierra Sanchez, Judith Lee, Courtney Reyburn, Hannah Hurd, and Shailynn Joseph.

Hamlet Act 3

first recognition of hamlet not being crazy mad, but crafty mad. 

-who's side are rosencraft and guildenstern on? Claudius. 

-by liking like we are doing the right hung we can convince people we aren't malicious -the 

-first time in play we hear from Claudius that Claudius feels guilty 

-Ophelia is set up to get information out of hamlet 

-hamlet to be or not to be soliloquy 

-hamlet is weary of Ophelia because of his mother, Gertrude. 

-hamlet doesn't trust Ophelia's honesty, her intentions. Hamlet lays it down on Ophelia showing his paranoia of distrust for those around him. 

-Claudius and Polonius listen to Hamlet and Ophelia's exchange and Claudius reforms his impressions about Hamlet 

-There is a change of "keep your friends close and your enemies closer" to "remove the threat" 

-Claudius wants Hamlet to leave 

-Polonius agrees but proposes that after the play Gertrude talks to hamlet to try and get him to reveal his true feelings 

-Hamlet tells the actors to act natural and act the play out to the word it was written. Not to overdo it. But to make sure to not under do it either. Hamlet wants this to be genuine and real. He doesn't want the actors to improvise at all. 

#ccourses

Yesterday evening as I was scrolling through Twitter I came across a tweet from Laura Ritchie 

Intrigued by the phrasing, I clicked the link and saw just exactly what "drawing some music" was. 

So I pressed play and listened to the audio clip of one of her students, and decided I would draw (or attempt to with my limited artistic skills) what I heard from the music. 

At first I pictured an old, husky boat sailing through the darkest part of the ocean. Before I set my pencil to paper I played it once more. This time when I listened to it I saw not just a picture, but an entire story playing out. A kingdom long at war, finally coming to terms with a defeat and beginning to raise its white flag, hoping for a better tomorrow- or something like that. It was interesting to see the story music created. And along that path, with my double dosage of English this year (taking ap lit with preston, and TA-ing for a freshmen honors English class) I've realized the musicality in great pieces of literature like Hamlet, and Romeo and Juliet. 

It was a cool assignment from Laura Ritchie that I found could connect to my own courses. 

Hamlet Soliloquy

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1WuGR3EAeAw

Period 4's collaboration of the Hamlet soliloquy. We decided as a class that instead of attempting to focus and record videos of boring recitations while others were reciting around us we would come together, shake things up a bit, and kill 28 (or so birds) with one stone. This way we can use tomorrow's class period to look at all our our interpretations of Act 1 and Act 2 of Hamlet. Moving into next week, we would like to continue on with Hamlet and keep our class discussions going. 

Interpretations of Hamlet: Act 1 & 2

Credits:

Hannah Hurd
Judith Lee
Sierra Sanchez
Victoria Tonascia
Shailynn Joseph
Courtney Reyburn
Elizabeth Smith
Alyssa Oh
Melissa Sobczak

Flashback Friday and a Little Foreshadowing

Freshman year when we all first began our expeditons of Shakespeare, some friends and I made this video as our remix of Romeo and Juliet. Senior year is here, and Shakespeare is upon us once more! I'm excited to collaborate with some students across the pond and see what kind of Hamlet remix we can come up with!


Oh those freshman days...

Act I Scene iv Act I Scene v Notes

"Something is rotten in the state of Denmark" -cliche phrase now seen always. 

-ghost proclaims himself as hamlets father and says he is in purgatory 

-ghost tells hamlet that Claudius killed him. 

-Claudius seduced Gertrude, and she left him before Hamlet Sr. And Gertrude knows Claudius killed Hamlet Sr. 

-Claudius poured poison in Hamlet Sr. Ear while Hamlet Sr. was sleeping in the orchard. 

-Hamlet Sr. knows what he know because he is a ghost.

-Hamlet Sr. Tells Hamlet to leave his mother to get what she deserves in heaven. 

-But Hamlet Sr literally says revenge against Claudius is free game. 

"I have sworn't."

Hamlet is resolved. 

The conflict inside Hamlet is now between going against his morals and fulfilling the heroism in his family or doing what he thinks is right. And he struggles between what actions really do distinguish a man from a boy. 

Hamlet finds clarity in this scene. 

"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy."

"The time is out of joint: O cursed spite, that ever I was born to set it right!"

Hamlets point of being is to avenge his fathers death. 

Hamlet Act 1 Scene 1

Act 1 starts at midnight with a changing of the guard 

Two guard come to take the place of the others 

There is a ghost seen 

They recognize it as the Hamlet Sr. the late king 

They say they will tell Hamlet Jr, his son 

Hamlet Act 1 Scene 2

-Hamlet: (aside) A little more than kin, and less than kind.  

-Hamlet is a savy decision maker 

Denies Claudius, shuts him out. 

-Visage- facial expression, not showing his facial expression as if he were wearing a mask or something 

-Hamlet- 1st monologue- first time seeing into protagonist's mind

-Hamlet is pissed and sad but mostly pissed and knows something is wrong 

-Hamlet is bashing on his mom and recognizes incest and the fact that his mom was a slut and married his uncle so quickly and she had no business crying over Hamlet Sr. Death, but only a little if she loved him as greatly as Hamlets' father loved her.

-Horatio and Marcelleus tells Hamlet about seeing his fathers spirit. Hamlet reacts to this like being a detective and without passion interrogates them about it. 

Vocab #6

Definitions:

abase - verb cause to feel shame; hurt the pride of
abdicate - verb give up, such as power, as of monarchs and emperors, or duties and obligations
abomination - noun an action that is vicious or vile; an action that arouses disgust or abhorrence; a person who is loathsome or disgusting; hate coupled with disgust
brusque - adj. marked by rude or peremptory shortness
saboteur - noun someone who commits sabotage or deliberately causes wrecks; a member of a clandestine subversive organization who tries to help a potential invader
debauchery - noun a wild gathering involving excessive drinking and promiscuity
proliferate - verb cause to grow or increase rapidly; grow rapidly
anachronism - noun an artifact that belongs to another time; a person who seems to be displaced in time; who belongs to another age;something located at a time when it could not have existed or occurred
nomenclature - noun a system of words used to name things in a particular discipline
expurgate - verb edit by omitting or modifying parts considered indelicate
bellicose - adj. having or showing a ready disposition to fight
gauche - adj. lacking social polish
rapacious - adj. excessively greedy and grasping; devouring or craving food in great quantities; living by preying on other animals especially by catching living prey
paradox - noun (logic) a statement that contradicts itself
conundrum - noun a difficult problem
anomaly - noun (astronomy) position of a planet as defined by its angular distance from its perihelion (as observed from the sun); a person who is unusual; deviation from the normal or common order or form or rule
ephemeral - adj. lasting a very short time; nounanything short-lived, as an insect that lives only for a day in its winged form
rancorous - adj. showing deep-seated resentment
churlish - adj. having a bad disposition; surly;rude and boorish
precipitous - adj. characterized by precipices;extremely steep; done with very great haste and without due deliberation

Sentences:

-When the teacher put up the class ranks, Robert was abased to be on the bottom. 

-The king of Spain abdicated his power to the duke. 

-Those shoes with that dress was an abomination. 

-The man was very brusque, it did not make for a good interview. 

-The saboteur was kicked off the field for persistent infringement. 

-There was a debauchery after homecoming last weekend. 

-The body builder proliferatly grew because of the steroids. 

-The bell bottom pants were an anachronism to this day and age. 

Unphotographable

The picture I did not take was of us, as we laid on the beach, taking in what was left of the evening sun. The waves lapped lazily on the shore infront of us. I looked at our feet, covered in small rocks and sand, toes squirming in pace with our giddy hearts. You inaudibly gasped as I moved my foot closer to yours, and the sun finally gave way and the night made for our new beginning. 

Remix Notes

Remix notes 

3 basic elements: (applied to everything) 

1. Communication- language 

Use techniques of copying 

2. Hacking 

Take the old, make it better. Combinations. 

3. Internet- ultimate playing field of combination, hacking, and communication 

Everything is a copy. It just depends of how good of a copy it is that people actually care. If you copy someone's essay and only change 20 words all of a sudden it's a 'crime' that you can be punished for; change 200 words and you have turned in your 'original' work. If you want to get picky about it. 

Declaration to Learning

It's short, and it's simple. 

My declaration to learning is as follows:

I hereby dedicate my life to learning all possible and all attainable to myself, all the while keeping my mental and physical health in high priority and not letting myself get lost in tsunami of school. 

Vocabulary #4

obsequious - adj. attentive in an ingratiating or servile manner; attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery
beatitude - noun one of the eight sayings of Jesus at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount; in Latin each saying begins with `beatus' (blessed); a state of supreme happiness
 bete- a person or thing strongly detested 
noire- French for "black film"
bode - verb indicate by signs
dank - adj. unpleasantly cool and humid
ecumenical - adj. of worldwide scope or applicability; concerned with promoting unity among churches or religions
fervid - adj. extremely hot; characterized by intense emotion
fetid - adj. offensively malodorous
gargantuan - adj. of great mass; huge and bulky
heyday - noun the period of greatest prosperity or productivity
incubus - noun a male demon believed to lie on sleeping persons and to have sexual intercourse with sleeping women; someone who depresses or worries others; a situation resembling a terrifying dream
infrastructure - noun the stock of basic facilities and capital equipment needed for the functioning of a country or area; the basic structure or features of a system or organization
inveigle - verb influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering
kudos - noun an expression of approval and commendation
lagniappe - noun a small gift (especially one given by a merchant to a customer who makes a purchase)
prolix - adj. tediously prolonged or tending to speak or write at great length
protege - noun a person who receives support and protection from an influential patron who furthers the protege's career
prototype - noun a standard or typical example
sycophant - noun a person who tries to please someone in order to gain a personal advantage
tautology - noun useless repetition; (logic) a statement that is necessarily true
Truckle - noun a low bed to be slid under a higher bed; verb yield to out of weakness; try to gain favor by cringing or flattering

Procrastination Worthy Reads

If you're bored (though you really ought to not be bored in this life) or need something to procrastinate with because you've refreshed your feed four times already, these are worth reading. Question something, get angry, and be inspired. 

If you have more, comment them below or send me the link and I'll add them to this post. I'll edit it along the way this year. 

Angry about the homework load? This guy feels you. 

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2013/10/my-daughters-homework-is-killing-me/309514/

Mad about just going through the motions? Take a look at this. 

http://moreintelligentlife.com/story/david-foster-wallace-in-his-own-words#_

Beowulf Questions (answered)

The Fight with Grendel

1. Beowulf's preparations for his battle with Grendel differ from normal heroes in poetry in that he shed his armor instead of putting more on because he planned to fight Grendel with his bare hands instead of with a sword and such.

2. When Grendel enters Heorot, he immediately begins to eat the sleeping soldiers as he did many times before. Instead of eating Beowulf, Grendel is surprised with a fight as Beowulf never fell asleep and Grendel wasn't initially able to escape Beowulf's tight grasp. Despite Beowulf's death grip, Grendel managed to escape, but not without leaving his arm behind.

Celebration of Heorot

1. Sigemund was a great hero who slayed a horrible dragon that was a keeper of a treasure chest that hr won by slaying him. The treasure won by Sigemund symbolizes the gold rewards that Beowulf earned from the ring-giver, King Hrothgar. Sigemund's story is told to celebrate Beowulf and compare both of their heroic acts. Heremod is known as an evil Danish king who turns against his own people. This clearly resembles the reverse of Beowulf’s characteristic and by comparing and contrasting Beowulf to two different kings, the narrator indicates that Beowulf will be king later in the story.

2. Hrothgar responds to Beowulf's deed by celebrating him and pronouncing him as both a son and man that will never be forgotten. Hrothgar then goes on to give Beowulf many gifts, including a sword. Since Beowulf was successful in his attempt to save the Danes, Unferth doesn't have much to say to him as he has become much more humble. 

2. Beowulf sinks into the water for a few hours before he enters the mere.

3. He prepares for the battle by telling Hrothgar what he desires just incase he dies. Beowulf takes his ring-marked blade sword.

4. When Beowulf enters the mere, Grendel's mother grabs him but his armor defended him. It's surprising that it take half a day to get down there but those monsters have each other.

5. The sword breaks while Beowulf trys to strike Grendel's mother.

BEOWULF AND GRENDEL'S MOTHER

[Another Attack]

1. Grendel's mother came to Heorot to take her son's claw. It was out of anger and vengeance, not exactly similar to Grendel's reason.

2. Hrothgar's response was asking Beowulf to go to her lair and kill her, too. She had killed Hrothgar's best friend.

3. The mere (her lair) was an underwater lair under a dark lake. It had an eerie feel and was described as being very dark. 

[Beowulf Fights Grendel's Mother]

1. Beowulf tells Hrothgar to respond (if he should die) in a caring way for his own men that he should leave behind.

(Further Celebration) #2,3

2. Hrothgar tells Beowulf an important story about how someone good with deeds and intentions can just as quickly turn bad. Heremod let greed take him over and that led to his ultimate demise. Hrothgar wants Beowulf to know not to let the praise he is receiving go to his head.

3. Beowuld gives Unferth the sword before he leaves.

(Beowulf Returns Home) #1,2

1. Hrothgar is worried Beowulf may become too arrogant and be unable to fight successfully if these small battle victories get to his head.

2. Hygd is Geat’s queen. She is a good queen where as Modthryth is a bad, evil queen.

2. The dragon is angry because someone stole its treasure even though the man only took the cup because he was scared by the dragon. The treasure was put there by a lord who had lost all of his friends and family. 

3. He destroyed everything as he searched for the thief. 

4. Beowulf thinks he is being punished for something he has done.  He decides to order a new shield and fight the dragon with only a few people. 

5. Hygelac died fighting a monster and after Beowulf swam through the ocean with 30 sets of armor. Queen Hygd offered Beowulf the chance to become king but he declined and decided to advise Heardred. 

3.Beowulf reports to Hygelac that Hrothgar may marry his daughter Freawaru to Ingeld. Why does he plan to do that? What does Beowulf expect the result will be? (Remember the Finn story, lines 1070-1158.) How does Beowulf think the peace will be broken? Is this the type of report we expected from the hero Beowulf, or are we seeing a new side of him?

- Beowulf reports to Hygelac because he knows that the wedding could cause problems with the family. Beowulf expects the wedding to recreate family tension and violence and Hygelac to not like the idea. We would expect this from Beowulf because he likes to stop situations before they occur and likes to plan for the problem If it can't be fixed.

4.How does Beowulf report about his own adventures? Does he report accurately?

-Beowulf reports about his own adventures as slightly exaggerated, but mostly accurate in the ways they are told.

5.What does Beowulf do with the treasure he was given? What does Hygelac give him?

-What Beowulf does with the treasures he is given is he offers them to his Lord and gives it to other people also. What Hygelac gives Beowulf is land, a large house, and the sword of the Geats.

BEOWULF AND THE DRAGON (lines 2200-3182, pp. 79-99)

[The Dragon Wakes] (lines 2200-2509, pp. 79-86)

1.How much later does Part 2 take place? What kings have died in the meanwhile? What danger now exists?

-Part 2 takes place fifty years later. The king that have died in the mean while are King Hygelac and King Heardred. The danger that now exists Is a dragon.

[Celebration at Heorot

 

3.	The singer sings of Finn during the feasting (lines 1070-1158). The exact details of the Finn story are not clear, but in general, what happens? What does it suggest about the wisdom of using a woman as bride to heal enmity between tribes? The singer sings the story of Finn during the feast. Basically, in the story Finn, Lord of the Frisians, marries Hildeburgh, a Dane, to end a feud between the two tribes. The idea was to use the bride to ensure that the families wouldn’t feud anymore but obviously this was a bad idea. The Frisians killed Hildeburgh’s brother when he came to visit her. Finn was also eventually killed out of revenge.
4.	When the feasting resumes, what does Wealhtheow ask Hrothgar not to do? .Wealhtheow asks Hrothgar not to give the throne to Beowulf, but to trust in his biological son’s abilities to rule as king.  She believes that the throne should stay in the bloodline
5.	Wealhtheow gives Beowulf a large, broad necklace. What later happens to it? What does Wealhtheow ask Beowulf to do? It is foreshadowed that Beowulf gives the necklace to his uncle Hygelac, who wears it until he dies in battle.  She also asks Beowulf to guide and protect her children, but not to take the throne from them when Hrothgar dies.
6.	Why do so many men remain in the beer hall to sleep? Why is it a mistake?

            So many men remain in the beer hall to sleep because they believe it is as safe as it once was now that Grendel is dead.  This is a mistake because Grendel’s mother        comes to the hall for revenge for her son.  She takes one of Hrothgar’s esteemed men             and the arm of Grendel back to her cave.

In compilation with the usual group 👌 Shout out to those people for making life easier. 

Vocab #2

apogee - noun apoapsis in Earth orbit; the point in its orbit where a satellite is at the greatest distance from the Earth; a final climactic stage
apropos - adj. of an appropriate or pertinent nature; adv. by the way; at an opportune time
bicker - noun a quarrel about petty points; verbargue over petty things
coalesce - verb fuse or cause to grow together;mix together different elements
contretemps - noun an awkward clash
convolution - noun the action of coiling or twisting or winding together; a convex fold or elevation in the surface of the brain; the shape of something rotating rapidly
cull - noun the person or thing that is rejected or set aside as inferior in quality; verb remove something that has been rejected; look for and gather
disparate - adj. including markedly dissimilar elements; fundamentally different or distinct in quality or kind
dogmatic - adj. characterized by assertion of unproved or unprovable principles; relating to or involving dogma; of or pertaining to or characteristic of a doctrine or code of beliefs accepted as authoritative
licentious - adj. lacking moral discipline; especially sexually unrestrained
mete - noun distribution of equal amounts
noxious - adj. injurious to physical or mental health
polemic - adj. of or involving dispute or controversy; noun a controversy (especially over a belief or dogma); a writer who argues in opposition to others (especially in theology)
populous - adj. densely populated
probity - noun complete and confirmed integrity; having strong moral principles
repartee - noun adroitness and cleverness in reply
supervene - verb take place as an additional or unexpected development
truncate - adj. terminating abruptly by having or as if having an end or point cut off; verb make shorter as if by cutting off; approximate by ignoring all terms beyond a chosen one; replace a corner by a plane
unimpeachable - adj. beyond doubt or reproach; completely acceptable; not open to exception or reproach; free of guilt; not subject to blame

Beowulf Notes (Textbook and Online)

NejdProlouge

-A King named Scyld the Scefing was a wealthy man who was looked up to by the people of his town.

-Nobody challenged him, he was better than everyone else

-Had a son and named him Beowulf.

-Son was looked up to and was gernerous to all the people of the town. 

-Ship created to hold dead body, very wealthy items, 

-Description of armor and expensive weapons.

-Ship sent to sea, talk about a flood

-Poeple mourn for the death of the child.

Chapter 1

-A new peson came to the thrown named Healfdean. 

-Was a strong leader

-Had four children Heorogar, Hrothgar, Halga, one not living 

-Heorogar was known for his bravery on the battle field.

-A hall was built in his honor 

-Creates an award called Heorot

-Talks about a banquet and a fued between father-in-law and father over wealth. 

-Something of evil comes from "moor-land" to hurt the happiness 

- Cain awakens (evil creature) to ruin the fun. 

Vocab

-march-rieve- A disturber of the border, one who sallies from his haunt in the fen and roams over the country near by. This probably pagan nuisance is now furnished with biblical credentials as a fiend or devil in good standing, so that all Christian Englishmen might read about him. "Grendel" may mean one who grinds and crushes.

-Ettins-Giants

from Tristia Ovid, Translated by L. R. Lind: Book 10

 -Tristia had moved from her mother country, Dardanian Troy, when it was attacked by the Grecian Army.

   -Now in the Pontus, feels like the days go by like years

 -Despises the common theme of death races (referring to gladiator games and/or the continuous war between the Romans and their enemies)

 -Feels like a barbarian not being able to communicate with people of the new land, had to use body language

 -Was exiled from Rome

 -"Injured the power of Caesar the god," in result was sent to assimilate with the Scythian race as a punishment

   -Believes she deserved to be exiled but not to such a city

Far Corners of Earth by Tu Fu translated by David Hinton

 Describes a shift from the Chiang-han mountains where clouds begin to hover over to "a new waste of highway." Gradual decline in mood.

from Beowulf

 -portrays the Anglo-Saxon culture of eighth century Britain

 -Beowulf: sword-wielding slayer of monsters, upholder of the right, warrior-chieftain

 -Takes place in sixth century Scandinavia, speaks Old English

 -Beowulf seeks to help the Danish King Hrothgar in fighting the swampland monster, Grendel.

   -first of the three mortal battles

 -Scops often told long narrative poems by mouth in Anglo-Saxon England which resulted in it's change and growth

   -finally written down in eleventh century

 -main themes: bravery, loyalty, heroism

 -The Electronic Beowulf Project revived the burnt original manuscripts of Beowulf.

Epic: a long narrative poem, sometimes developed orally, that celebrates the deeds of a legendary or heroic figure

  -hero battles for the order of his world

  -story told in serious matter with sophisticated language

Legendary hero: a larger than life character whose accomplishments are celebrated in traditional tales

Important words/vocab (pg. 37)

Kenning

Caesura

Reparation

Solace

Purge

Writhing

Massive

Loathsome

Beowulf Pages 38-41

Background

- England was changing from a pagan to Christianity, when Beowulf was created.

- Pagan Anglo-Saxons told tales rued by fate where people struggled against monsters in regards to their place in the world.

-The Christian converts taught that human choices between good and evil were at the center of creation.

- Beowulf interprets both the Christian and Pagan traditions

- Starts out during a celebration at Herot and outside is the murderous monster, Grendel

The Wrath of Grendel

- Grendel, the powerful monster grew upset with the constant music that played in the banquet hall of the Danish King Hrothgar that rejoiced in the beauty of Earth.

- Thousands of evil spirits formed from their murderous crimes due to God’s banishment of them by Cain’s responsibility for the death of Abel, who opposed God’s will.

- Cain and Abel were the sons of Adam and Eve; Cain killed his brother because he was envious of the attention Abel received from God.

- When all the warriors in the hall were done partying, Grendel went inside killed thirty men and took them back to his lair.

- In the morning the king mourned his companions that he lost, and knew it wouldn’t be the end of Grendel’s wrath.

- The only way the warriors could try to stay alive were if they escaped Grendel.

- For twelve winters Grendel’s defeat of the Danes ruled, killing many and most men.

- Grendel wouldn’t make peace or accept a truce or price

- Grendel continued to kill but wouldn’t touch King Hrothgar’s throne because it was protected by God, and the king’s council debated over remedies to get rid of Grendel.

- The King and council were conflicted by doing the Devils work by trying to get rid of Grendel and banishing him to hell, but trying to do right by God.

The Coming of Beowulf

- The death of the King’s son was extremely painful for the King and kingdom.

- Higlac was the king of the Geats and Beowulf's feudal lord and uncle as well as a very strong man

- Higlac heard that Grendel violently forced and demanded a boat to be fitted out for him to go see Higlac

- Beowulf chose the mightiest, bravest, and best men of the Geats he could find to accompany him on his journey to Hrothgar (14 men total)

- He knew the sea would lead them straight to that distant, Danish shore

- They sailed their boat and arrived fully dressed in mail with the best armor and uninvited

- Hrothgar's lieutenant met them on the shore, demanding to know who they were and why they came unannounced

- He asked Beowulf to immediately explicate their reason for their visit before they take action against them

- Beowulf explained who they were and that they were there to hunt Grendel and protect the people and their King from the monster

- The mounted officer believed their words and that he and his men would guard their ship and protect it, saying that any warriors who battle Grendel successfully should go home bearing their love

- Once Beowulf and his men arrived at Herot, they were called in to see the King

- Beowulf arose and went to meet Hrothgar with some of his men, ordering a few to remain behind with their weapons

Vocab!

- reparation: (n.) something making up for wrong or injury

- solace: (n.) comfort; relief

- mail: (n.) flexible body armor made of metal (in this context)

Beowulf and his men arrive at Herot and are called to see the King 

-Beowulf ordered some of his men to stay with their weapons, while he took others and himself "into Hrothgar's Presence"

-Beowulf describes himself to the kind to make him seem more favorable, by saying things like "They have seen my strength for themselves, Have watched me ride form the darkest of war, Dripping with my enemies' blood."

-Beowulf over does it on the compliments to the king then asks for the kings permission to "purge all evil from this hall" (including Grendal, who Beowulf is willing to go into great battle against) Beowulf is willing to die for his cause and exaggeratedly says so. 

The Battle with Grendel 

-Grendal came from the marsh and journeyed to Herot and was met harshly with Herot being so firmly defended. 

-Grendal stormed through the doors quickly, saw the young and sleepy soldiers lining the halls, grabbed one and killed him, snapping shit and drinking the blood. 

-Grendal clutched Beowulf but was suprised by his strength and attack. Grendal's first reaction was to run but Beowulf didn't let him go. 

-Beowulf and Grendal battled violently. Herot shook and trembled, it was built to only come down in fire but the battle was a much great force. 

Victoria Tonascia

to tevens, to:, Taylor, +10

16 hours agoDetails

Pg. 48

He was the strongest man, Beowulf was going to kill the "monster"

Beowulf's men woke up to Beowulf fighting Grendel and were ready to fight, if needed; they were courageous, but Grendel was pretty indestructible against them and he could easily beat them all

But, he(Grendel) was now declining, dying, and had been defeated

His shoulder bone broke, a sign of the battle being over

Beowulf won "glory, Grendel escaped" to his den though, to die a slow and miserable death

Beowulf was very prod, the Danes were happy and his accomplishments were listed; he ended Hrothgar's people's problems

Beowulf hung Grendel's "arm, claw, shoulder and all" on the rafters; it was basically a trophy of the victory and proof of the win

Pg. 49 The Monsters' Lair (there was a celebration of Beowulf's victory, but Grendel's mother kills Hrothgar's best friend and takes Grendel's claw, Beowulf hears from the king about the underwater lair)

The king is talking the whole time

peasants in fields saw female and male creatures and told the king's wise men

Grendel they named the man one, no one knows if there were any before them or any other creatures like them

The creatures lived in a secret wolf den with rocks and a waterfall to an underground lake (my visual interpretation of the text) It's very dark, roots hanging from the top, no one knows how deep

The king wants Beowulf to kill the mother, Beowulf is his only help and hope of "being saved", he will reward him with gold and treasure for winning

Pg. 50 The Battle with Grendel's Mother (Beowulf decides to kill her and goes to the lake)

(Beowulf is speaking to the men) To Hrothgar, if he(Beowulf) should die during battle, he wants Hrothgar to be "Father and protector" of his comrades. He wants Higlac to have the things Hrothgar gave him. To Unferth, who questioned his bravery before the Grendel battle, he leaves his "famous old sword" <symbolic value

He jumped into the lake without others responding

Sank for "hours" before reaching the bottom

Grendel's mother saw him, her "welcome" was trying to kill him, but his armor was too strong to penetrate

She carried him to her home, he couldn't get out his weapon

the fight brought other monsters swimming to see...

-She brought him into her home which nothing could attack them in

-He attacked her but realized he couldn't hurt her

-They continue to fight, and she draws a blade on him, her only son, but she hit his armor and he was unharmed

-He then struck her across the neck and rejoiced at her death

-He then picked up his sword and went to find Grendel but found him dead

-Beowulf then left taking nothing but Grendels head and the jeweled sword

-The Geats rejoiced when Beowulf returned

-They then gifted the Danes with Grendel's head

Onela got armor from the king. 

Wexstan kept the shining gifts for his son but was killed. 

His heir, Wiglaf, inherited the treasures. He went into war with Beowulf and was strong and courageous. 

Wiglaf brought the soldiers together, telling them Beowulf had given them the swords, it is time to defend with them. It is better for them to suffer than to cause agony to the king. He yelled encouragement and went into the dragons deadly flames. 

Wiglaf and Beowulf kill the dragon. The Beowulf is wounded and is dying. He asks Wiglaf to retrieve the treasure the dragon was protecting. 

The Spoils

Wiglaf goes into the cave. Finds lots of gold and sparkling things. He grabs as much as he can and takes it to the dying king. 

Beowulf says he gave his life for this treasure, use it to help and lead his people. 

He said he wanted to be burned high at the waters edge so sailors could see this tower and call it Beowulf's tower. He gave all he had to Wiglaf and said their family had been swept away as warriors and now he was following them. Then he died. 

Wiglaf is mad at those who deserted Beowulf

The Geats burn his body. 

The Farewell

The Geats built the tall and strong tower Beowulf requested, his ashes sealed inside. All the treasure was left at his grave deep in the ground. Twelve men road around the tower telling of their stories and sadness and of his greatness. They said there was not other king worthy of such praise. 

Beowulf honored by Hrothgar

He becomes king

rules Greatland for 50 years

Dragon comes into kingdom when Beowulf is an old man

he decided to slay the beast 

before battle, tells his men about the royal house 

wanted to fight without any armor, then realizes the dragon breathes fire 

believes he's the only man who can do it. 

wants to claim dragon's riches

dragon attacked with breathe first

his armor held up, then started to melt

first time in life, he fought with fate against him

his sword broke in two, but got a stab into the dragon

Beowulf fell back, dragon attacked, breathed fire at him, he suffered

once king, now a beaten warrior 

all other men fleed without helping him

only man that stayed was Wiglaf, Wexstan's son

Wiglaf's mind was made up, he raised his shield and drew his sword

Chapter 2 

Went to house and found group of people mourning the death of a person 

The next morning Grendel found out his servant of 12 years was murdered

That night Grendel looked for the person who killed his servant and was determined to get his revenge

The murder wasn't hard to find and Grendel found who he thought killed his servant

There was another person continuing to murder people ruthlessly 

People said he still lurked the "moorlands" but nobody said where this place was because they were so afraid 

People prayed that they wouldn't be killed by this person but also prayed he would be forgiven by god 

Chapter 3 

Grendel seen as a hero and people thought his valor should be recognized by the king 

Grendel chosen to lead a group of 14 men (called the Geats) to sea 

He and his men found the place they were sailing to - Danes 

Get off boat armed with weapons and shields 

Met by a warden (" scylding clansman") on horseback that was armed 

Warden explains that his job is to protect the people of Danes from sailors who land there

He also explains he had never seen people come there and be so obvious that they were warriors

Warden tells them that he is praying for them on their voyage 

Chapter 4:

-the warrior (seafarer) leader claims he is the son of Ecgtheow who's widely known and honored by many

-the warrior got wind of the "monster" that tortures and haunts the Danes and demands that he and his men attempt to defeat this "scathing", "dark ill-doer" monster

-agreeing with the plan, his men marched to the village/palace in which Hrothgar loved

-some men were assigned to gaurd the boat and escort the others to the palace, protecting the boat from their foes; "gaurd it kept o'er the man of war..."

-the men can see the shimmery, glistening, gold palace from afar

-the men who were assigned to gaurd the boat and also escort the other men then return to the boat where they spend their time being on the look out

Chapter 5:

-the men, while marching, observe the shiny, well-decorated streets and atmosphere of Heorot

-the men were approached by a proud, curious warrior who stopped the men and asked what their purpose of arrival was

-Beowulf, the leader of the men, and Wulfgar(the warrior described above) discuss the matters. Wulfgar directs the leader and his men to the throne of Hrothgar

-Wulfgar asks Hrothgar to speak to the men

and exclaims that Beowulf appears to be a strong, firm leader; "In weeds of the warrior worthy they, methinks, of our liking, their leader most surely, a hero that hither his henchmen has led."

Characters: 

The Geats- Beowolf’s clan, Beowolf born around 495

The Dantes- residents of Denmark, Scylding is Anglo Saxon lineage

The Swedes- lived in Sweden north of Geats

Finnsburh- The Fight at Finnsburh overlaps with Beowolf estimated time period and so studied together, example of Germanic heroic lay describing warriors experiences in war

Grendel- monster Beowolf killed and symbolic of when bad Cain killed good Abel (revenge), Beowolf is cause of trouble because rebel, Grendel’s mother is constant vengeful and represents cycle of war even when enemy seems to be defeated

I don't know if needed (above) but it was on the website and the characters are kinda confusing to know who are people talking but I think with rest of notes it will hopefully make sense! Thanks again for all your participation!!!

Chapter Six (VI)

Hrothgar is talking of Beowolf and only legends have been told (like rumors in today’s world) of how strong and great Beowolf is

They thank god (grateful) for having him send Beowolf to relive them of Grendel and his destruction

Grateful for someone/thing that they haven’t even met yet, they just know rumors and stories about.

Like society today when we want to ay someone for their service but really we should just be grateful for their service and sacrifice to be there rather than having to pay them to make ourselves feel better about “hassling them”

heros don’t get hassled, they just go out and do because that’s their “job”

People get mad about Beowolf not taking the money and gold but why should he? He did a good deed and shouldn’t it just be left to that?

Beowolf gets message that Hrothgar will accept him and his kin in his own kingdom for Beowolf’s bravery

Beolwolf replies by giving story of his own battles and how he came to be known as a strong man. He fought animals and his foes, many at a time, for his people (the Geats) and to avenge them (symbol of hero)

Beowolf knows his duty, in specific to defeating Grendel, and knows that he must use only himself and no other armor

knowledgeable of situation and knows what needs to be done. Doesn’t put brawn over brains

“So, from thee, thou sovran of the Shining-Danes, Scyldings'-bulwark, a boon I seek, and, Friend-of-the-folk, refuse it not, O Warriors'-shield, now I've wandered far, that I alone with my liegemen here, this hardy band, may Heorot purge!” - I am not sure what he means by I have wandered too far?

He knows he might die in battle and respects the “rules” of battle and lets his family know that if he is to die in battle, they shouldn’t worry about burying him properly.

Practical but still with hope that he will win the battle with faith

Chapter Seven (VII)

Hrothgar retells story of brother’s, Heorogar, death.

Killed by war between Wylfings and Scyldings over money and gold

Shows destruction of materialistic world and consequences of it

“Then was this mead-house at morning tide dyed with gore, when the daylight broke, all the boards of the benches blood-besprinkled, gory the hall: I had heroes the less,” - descriptive language of how warriors died trying to defeat Grendel. Revenge Hrothgar wants. Passionate

Sit to eat after this gruesome story, shows culture and how they take death as a apart of life but then want revenge for wrongful deaths as do we in today’s world

Chapter 8 (VIII)

Always refer to seafarers to tell a rumor or story, Why?

Enferth (son of Ecglaf) questioned Beowolf’s ability to actually fight Grendel and told of story where Beowolf and “rival” Breca swam the seas together and then Breca got out of the sees unharmed but he worries that Beowolf is not strong like Breca.

Questioning of strength is key in hero battle/adventure because it makes the hero think about his/her strength and if they really can achieve their goal

Also gives background to Beowolf and adventures

Questions that Beowolf will do anything without really thinking about it or consequences

Beowolf reinforces that he is ready and states that he was a child and didn’t know better but he did bring swords for protection

He stayed by Breca until the very end until it was impossible to stay together because of the seas tearing them apart

Beowolf defeated the beast of the sea and that shows give evidence behind why he is worthy of fighting Grendel

He supports this accusation on inadequacy and backs up his point with evidence as seen in today’s culture with giving effective opinions and if you want people to believe you then you give them reasons to

He proves himself time and time again which is what a hero has to do because the people are putting their faith into him and they want credibility 

Chapter 9:

Beowulf encounters evil sea monsters that make him feel threatened. So he kills them with his sword. He kills nine of them and they will never bother the sailors again. This is when he was separated from Breca. Reminds me of Moby Dick in a sense.

He fought a difficult battle and the tides ended up taking him to the land of the Fins.

Breca was on of Beowulf’s closest kin, but he left Beowulf in the sea where he had to fight giants on his own, but Beowulf doesn’t wish war with him. Beowulf believes that his bad will come to him.

Grendel is the son of Ecglaf. Grendel was very jealous of Hrothgar so he brought him humiliation. Now Grendel would “rot in hell”. (Dante’s Inferno)

Beowulf fears no feud with the Danish; he will fight, murder and eat with them and the next day finds out the strength of the Geats.

Beowulf will fight with them and Hrothgar, jewel-giver, is pleased with his will to fight. The queen snickers at this but still continues to wear her gold and carried the cup of the hall.

The queen walked around the hall, first giving the king a drink (Hrothgar), and then giving the rest a drink. She was so happy that Beowulf had committed to fight with the Geats and if he didn’t help win the battle he would die in the process.

The queen thanked the lord for her Savior, Beowulf.

The son of Healfdene wants to get to bed, but speaks with Beowulf before he goes. They speak of the hopeful glory for the battle the next morning. Beowulf will remain in the hall bequeathing, or giving the power over to him. Healfdene’s son would obtain the power over the hall, which was called Heorot Hall, for the night. ( A will? In case he died in battle the next day, Healfdene would inherit the power?)

Chapter 10

Hrothgar and Wealhtheow, the queen, go to bed, but have a guard watch their room in order to prevent the monster from getting to them. The monster being Grendel. (Frankenstein was a monster to everyone)

Beowulf retires for the night and has a guard watch his armor, but he challenges the monster to a battle without armor or weapons. He says the gods will decide who is right.

Everyone laid down to rest not fearing of dying or not returning home the next day. Although many people had not made it back, they had no worries.

Metaphor of one man being different than the rest to god ruling over man-kind. Was Beowulf starting to earn the reputation of a god?

Beowulf was the only man to lie awake looking at the wandering shadow in the hall. Beowulf could only think of the upcoming battle and would not sleep.

Vocabulary #1

Definitions:

adumbrate - verb give to understand; describe roughly or briefly or give the main points or summary of
apotheosis - noun the elevation of a person (as to the status of a god); model of excellence or perfection of a kind; one having no equal
ascetic - adj. practicing great self-denial;pertaining to or characteristic of an ascetic or the practice of rigorous self-discipline; nounsomeone who practices self denial as a spiritual discipline
bauble - noun a mock scepter carried by a court jester; cheap showy jewelry or ornament on clothing
beguile - verb attract; cause to be enamored;influence by slyness
burgeon - verb grow and flourish
complement - noun something added to complete or make perfect; either of two parts that mutually complete each other; a word or phrase used to complete a grammatical construction; number needed to make up a whole force; a complete number or quantity;one of a series of enzymes in the blood serum that are part of the immune response; verbmake complete or perfect; supply what is wanting or form the complement to
contumacious - adj. wilfully obstinate; stubbornly disobedient
curmudgeon - noun a crusty irascible cantankerous old person full of stubborn ideas
didactic - adj. instructive (especially excessively)
disingenuous - adj. not straightforward or candid; giving a false appearance of frankness
exculpate - verb pronounce not guilty of criminal charges
faux - adj. not genuine or real; being an imitation of the genuine article
pas - noun (ballet) a step in dancing (especially in classical ballet)
fulminate - noun a salt or ester of fulminic acid;verb cause to explode violently and with loud noise; come on suddenly and intensely; criticize severely
fustian - noun a strong cotton and linen fabric with a slight nap; pompous or pretentious talk or writing
hauteur - noun overbearing pride evidenced by a superior manner toward inferiors
inhibit - verb limit the range or extent of; to put down by force or authority
jeremiad - noun a long and mournful complaint
opportunist - adj. taking immediate advantage, often unethically, of any circumstance of possible benefit; noun a person who places expediency above principle
unconscionable - adj. greatly exceeding bounds of reason or moderation; lacking a conscience

Use of definitions:

This summer taking adumbrate notes helped me be able to quickly review and reference the pieces of literature we read over the summer in my essays. Within the first week of school this year it's easy to say I complemented myself in thinking of myself in an apotheosis way last year because of the great ease of my classes. This year I will definitely have to live a more ascetic lifestyle (because Dr.Preston isn't overly didactic) in order to burgeon as an academic scholar; my greatest challenge will be getting over my contumacious  behavior. I wouldn't want to disingenuous, nor would I want to  grow up to be a curmudgeon person- bitter from school. Reading the history section of our literature book in class made me think of it as some kind of bauble to a real textbook of literature. This class seems faux, or better yet- surreal in the extent of leash given to the students. I hope to learn random, general life things and obscure words to add into my vocabulary like exculpate, pas, and fustian. I also hope to not run into any hauteur classmates, but if I were to, I would be sure to not let them inhibit my path of education. Now this may sound like a jeremiad monologue, but I am trying to be the best opportunist I can be and not be unconscionable of my actions, now and this year into the future.  

Reflection on Week 1

I've never had a class in which, essentially, this first weekend we were assigned an AP test, video reading, and essay. It comes off as a class that's going to kill your social life entirely- or worse, this class will become your social life-*shiver*.  

But the class seems to be interactive and not too stressful once I get the hang of it. I'm excited for the opportunities of creativity this class offers and I think over all if I can maintain an ascetic life style I will be successful. 

My Opinion isn't a Right (notes)

In short:

-you can't use "well I have a right to my opinion" as an argument winner or ended 

-"our rights" aren't really 'our rights'

-obligations of who these "rights" are to and from is a debatable process

-rights are grey, not so black and white and some would like to think

-we live in a system of punishment not protections (the stick not the carrot)

AP Test (1987)

Montaigne/Austen Essay

In great literature, moving cinema, and other forms of affective mediums, there are always stories beginning and ending with "that little voice in your head". When reading Montaigne's work, one knows that though he portrays "that little voice" incredibly well it cannot be precise to the actual voice heard by us all as Foster puts it "What goes on inside is just too fast and huge and all interconnected for words to do more than barely sketch the outlines of at most one tiny little part of it at any given instant." And it cannot be more well stated. 

I Can Read (debatable)

My Reading of Fox in Socks

"Fox in Socks is like a Rubik's cube for the mouth." -Matthew Patel

A Rubik's cube is easier. That I can do in two minutes.

Time: 5 minutes-ish

Mistakes: A lot. 15-20

Who can beat box?? I dare someone to do this.

Poetry #1

This oddly deep and inspirational commercial for a company that sells jeans borrows it's poem from "The Laughing Heart" by Charles Bukowski

.

It's easily considered ironic for a corporation to be using the poem because typically when we think of corporations and commercials in general, they (the commercials mostly) try to put us down so that we feel the need for their product, or put us up because we have their product either way its a type of manipulation from our own lives. As the first lines say "Your life is your life don't let it be clubbed into dank submission. Be on the watch."

The poem very much does reflect the reputation of Mr. Bukowski as I have read. This poem offers the profound thoughts of a poet along with a secret message to the 'people' of the things in life to beware of in a old wizard/samurai-warning-his-young-grasshopper kind of way.

And like any good student of the 21st century looking to answer their homework questions, I Googled it and looked through the first few links it showed me. First the easy to read, quick- but not always reliable websites (i.e. Wikipedia) for the bulk and small detail, then the more credible websites for the reassurance that the easy stuff was the right stuff (i.e. poetryfoundation.org & poets.org). As for the response to the irony of the poems user- I came up with that myself based of my own ideas of the world.