Beowulf Commentary

“In off the moors, down through the mist bands/God-cursed Grendel came greedily loping./The bane of the race of men roamed forth,/hunting for a prey in the high hall./ Under the cloud-murk he moved towards it/until it shone above him, a sheer keep/of fortified gold. Nor was that the first time/he had scouted the grounds of Hrothgar's dwelling—/although never in his life, before or since,/did he find harder fortune or hall-defenders./Spurned and joyless, he journeyed on ahead/and arrived at the bawn. The iron-braced door/turned on its hinge when his hands touched it./Then his rage boiled over, he ripped open/the mouth of the building, maddening for blood,/pacing the length of the patterned floor/with his loathsome tread, while a baleful light,/flame more than light, flared from his eyes./He saw many men in the mansion, sleeping,/a ranked company of kinsmen and warriors/quartered together. And his glee was demonic.”
- Beowulf lines 710 - 730

In the story Beowulf, lines 710 to 730, the dominant impression given in the text is that Grendel is a creature representing all that is evil, while the people of Hrothgar’s hall represent goodness. The fight between these characters in the story represents the constant struggle between the forces of good and evil, and shows how good will triumph in the end. Lines 710 to 730 describe the situation before the final battle between Beowulf and Grendel, where Beowulf defeats Grendel.

The character Grendel is described as “God-cursed” (Beowulf line 711), “the bane of the race of men” (712), and “spurned and joyless” (720). He is the embodiment of evil, destruction, and malice, coming to destroy the hall and all those within it. The emphasis on Grendel’s evil character is a comparison to the goodness of the people of Hrothgar’s dwelling. The contrast between Hrothgar’s warriors and Grendel shows that evil preys on goodness, but goodness will triumph in the end. It shows the chosen people in their goodness have the strength to defend themselves against the lone evil bent on destroying them, because their community and numbers protect them. 

Evidence supporting the community of the chosen people is shown with the literary device of repetition. The description of men plural is used several times, showing how they stand together. They are called “hall-defenders” (719), “many men” (728), “a ranked company of kinsmen” (729) and “warriors quartered together” (729-730) These descriptions emphasize the identity of a chosen group of people, and not the warriors as individuals, the way Grendel is shown. The hall is described as good and strong, the same way the men are. A “high hall” (713) “It shone above him, a sheer keep of fortified gold” (715-716) Imagery is used to describe the building as having a mouth, that Grendel rips open. Personification shows that the hall building rebukes Grendel’s touch and the door to the hall swings open as if shying away from him, such is the contrast between good and evil, shown in this next quote. “The iron-braced door turned on its hinge when his hands touched it.” (721-722)

There is foreshadowing used to show that Grendel will eventually be defeated and will not succeed in defeating Hrothgar’s kin. “Nor was that the first time he had scouted the grounds of Hrothgar’s dwelling - although never in his life, before of since, did he find harder fortune or hall-defenders.” (718-719) This quote makes it clear that Grendel will never terrorize the people of the hall again. Grendel’s negative attitude also shows he is destined to fail. “Spurned and joyless, he journeyed on ahead and arrived at the bawn” (720-721) When the door to the hall swings open as if shying away from Grendel’s touch, Grendel becomes furious. “Then his rage boiled over, he ripped open the mouth of the building, maddening for blood, pacing the length of the patterned floor with his loathsome tread.” (723-726) These quotes show the negative connotations associated with Grendel and evil in general: anger, rage, and being a despicable, loathsome creature. Grendel lusts for blood, to the extent that he is driven to madness and this is expanded on by describing him pacing the floor in distress. The next quote tells that Grendel has a flame of destruction in his eyes, when he sees all the sleeping men in the mansion. “A baleful light, flame more than light, flared from his eyes.” (726-727) This descriptive imagery shows even the light in Grendel’s eyes was not pure, and it represents the negativity associated with evil. The quote, “And his glee was demonic.” shows how he took joy in all things evil. It is the concluding evidence for what a terrible creature he is, for a creature who takes joy in evil is truly evil themselves. Ironically it is his happiness described as being demonic, though he himself really is a demon.

The dominant impression of lines 710 to 730 in the story Beowulf is of the fight between good and evil, where good triumphs in the end. This impression of the contrast between the two forces is supported by the literary devises of repetition, imagery, foreshadowing and personification. These devices help support the idea that while evil will always prey on good, there will be retribution and justice in the end.

Antigone Final Draft: Creon -- Guilty

Creon is rightfully guilty of the deaths of Antigone, Haemon, Eurydice, and of denying Polyneices a proper burial. Creon was blinded by his anger towards Polyneices, too prideful to forgive Antigone for her crime, and too stubborn and thoughtless to listen to Haemon or heed his warning. Creon’s rash actions caused the tragedy of his wife and son's suicides in the play Antigone. 
After hearing Terisias’s prophecy Creon decided Antigone should be freed. “Alas—it’s difficult. But I’ll give up. I’ll not do what I’d set my heart upon. It’s not right to fight against necessity” (Sophocles line 1236-1238). Since Creon did not act in time, Antigone killed herself. 
This was the first of many deaths. “Chorus Leader: [about Haemon] At his father’s hand? Or did he kill himself? Messenger: By his own hand––angry at his father for the murder” (line 1309-1310). Haemon’s suicide was a thoughtless response to Antigone’s death. When Eurydice also committed suicide Creon cries, “Alas for me . . . the guilt for all of this is mine––it can never be removed from me or passed to any other mortal man. I murdered you [Eurydice]. . . I speak the truth. Hurry and lead me off, get me away from here, for now what I am in life is nothing” (line 1463-1469).
Creon's foolishness led these things to happen to his family. By the end, he had nothing to live for. “Messenger: Creon was once a man we all looked up to. He saved the state, from its enemies. He took control and reigned as its sole king—and prospered with the birth of noble children. Now all is gone. For when a man has lost what gives him pleasure, I don’t include him among the living—he’s a breathing corpse” (line 1452-1459)
Creon, being guilty of so many deaths, felt he was better off dead. “I’ve learned it in my pain...the wretched agony of human life” (line 1417-1423).

Source: Sophocles, Antigone (e-text)

Antigone paper: Creon--Guilty

Creon is rightfully guilty of the deaths of Antigone, Haemon, Eurydice, and of denying Polyneices a proper burial. Creon was blinded by his anger towards Polyneices, too prideful to forgive Antigone for her crime, and too stubborn and thoughtless to listen to Haemon or heed his warning, causing the suicides of his son and wife. Creon’s rash actions caused the tragedy in Antigone.
After hearing Terisias’s prophecy Creon decides Antigone should be freed. “Alas—it’s difficult. But I’ll give up. I’ll not do what I’d set my heart upon. It’s not right to fight against necessity.” (p30 1236-1238) Since Creon did not act in time Antigone died.

Antigone’s death was the first of many deaths. “Chorus Leader: (about Haemon) At his father’s hand? Or did he kill himself? Messanger: By his own hand––angry at his father  for the murder.” (p32 1309-1310) Haemon’s suicide is a thoughtless response to Antigone’s death. When Eurydice also commits suicide Creon cries, “Alas for me . . . the guilt for all of this is mine––it can never be removed from me or passed to any other mortal man. I murdered you (Eurydice). . . I speak the truth. Hurry and lead me off, get me away from here, for now what I am in life is nothing.” (p38 1463-1469)

Creon's foolishness let these things happen to his family. He has no more to live for. “Messanger: Creon was once a man we all looked up to. He saved the state, from its enemies. He took control and reigned as its sole king—and prospered with the birth of noble children. Now all is gone. For when a man has lost what gives him pleasure, I don’t include him among the living—he’s a breathing corpse.”

Creon being guilty of so many deaths, feels he would be better off dead. “I’ve learned it in my pain...the wretched agony of human life.” (p34 1417-1423)




Source: Sophocles, Antigone (e-text)

First Post Ever!

So this is supposed to be about me? Okay. I really like that we get to make blogs in class. I like blogs. maybe I'll finally figure out how to work them cause the computer is usually really confusing for me. Anyways today is October 3rd it's a Mondayyy and I'm writing my post thing. Now we're on the same page and here's a little bit about me. 

I'm fifteen, sometimes i forget that, and I live in Minnesota, and right now I really want to go to Lake Superior cause that's somewhere I like and it's always pretty up there. I really like music and artsy stuff and other exciting things like going on adventures. I bike most places I go and I get lost a lot, so that's something I'm good at. I'm also good at finding cool stuff on the street, making things that don't go in the oven and running I guess cause I do cross country. So that's a little bitty bit about me byyye.