Beowulf and I is an Other
Metaphor in Beowulf and I is an Other
James Geary states that "metaphor grounds even the most abstract ideas in the physiological facts of our bodies" (96). This is nowhere more true than in the medieval epic Beowulf, which uses fantastic physiological feats of strength and body to illustrate the abstract principles of virtue and nobility in the epic's hero. This paper will provide a metaphorical comparison between Beowulf and Geary's I is an Other and show how physiology is used to bring metaphor (and the underlying abstract principles) to life.
The hero of Beowulf is described as being superhuman in terms of bodily strength. Beowulf has powerful lungs and is able to hold his breath for impossible lengths of time while underwater. He can swim great distances and hold his own in hand to hand combat with the ferocious monster Grendel, who eats ordinary human beings as though they were bite-sized snacks. Beowulf, on the other hand, has extraordinary strength and is able to rip off the arm of Grendel. He is as strong, if not stronger, than the enemy. Beowulf is "lord of the seamen" and the "Geatish hero" and is hailed for his feats of daring, just as Grendel is feared for his feats of ferocity.
Of his enemy, Beowulf says, "No battle skill has he" (11.20) that can shatter Beowulf's shield, and the metaphor is apparent: Grendel is inferior to Beowulf in terms of fighting the...
Your answer should be at least five sentences long. The Legend of Arthur Lesson 1 Journal Entry # 9 of 16 Journal Exercise 1.7A: Honor and Loyalty 1. Consider how Arthur's actions and personality agree with or challenge your definition of honor. Write a few sentences comparing your definition (from Journal 1.6A) with Arthur's actions and personality. 2. Write a brief paragraph explaining the importance or unimportance of loyalty in being honorable. Lesson 1 Journal
When Grendel tries to attack the place, it is seen as the attack of chaos aimed at structure and order. "Then a powerful demon, a prowler in the dark, / nursed a hard grievance" (86-87). Grendel is not an intelligent enemy but he is definitely powerful. His immense power turns him into a dangerous force since reason doesn't reside inside him. The hall was a symbol of civilization as
Humanities Annotated Bibliography Annotated Bibliography Beowulf: A dual-language edition. (1977). NY: Doubleday. One of the most striking examples of literature to come out of the Dark Ages was Beowulf, created by an anonymous Anglo-Saxon poet and considered by many scholars to be the most important work of its time. There is no official date to the work, but it has been traced to somewhere between the 8th and the early 11th Century.
Likewise, the Nazis also employed state agents and encouraged citizens to inform on one another to the authorities for speaking out against the Nazi regime. Obviously, the author wrote the work as a caution about the intrusion of the state into the psychological autonomy of the individual. In the West, that type of state domination is not an issue in contemporary society. On the other hand, there are very
Warrior Hero: A Stranger in a Strange Land The figure of the hero is set apart from the common herd of ordinary men by virtue of his special qualities and abilities; in some works, this separateness is literal - he is in a strange land apart from his own kin. To see how this alienation enhances the tale of the hero's conflict, The Odyssey, Beowulf and The Tragedy of Othello,
Like so many of us, he feels that heaven has cursed him. The element of disgrace would mean that he has fallen out of favor with God. He feels that all of his efforts are "bootless" (useless). However, the skylark has risen above this, implying that by remembering his love, he will also rise above it. This author used the example of heaven because it is universal. We all think
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