-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.
- 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
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.
-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
-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
-(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
-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
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. -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 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.
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