Class 9 - Oct 25

As you read Beowulf this week, consider the words and acts of the hero.  What does he say or do that makes him heroic?  Are any of his words or actions dishonorable?  What other characters in the story can you compare to him? Are there any other heros in this tale?

Assignment:

• Reread the second half of the poem, from line 1650 through the end.  Continue to look for poetic devices  such as alliteration, kennings, and simile.  Mark any proverbial statements that offer universal truths for us to consider. 
• Optional - Begin to highlight names/places (pink) and structural elements (green) in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.

Class 8 - October 18

This week we launched our discussion of Beowulf.  Welcome to Old Scandinavia! What contributions will this enduring classic make to our conception of the hero?  Lets compare Odysseus with Beowulf, and both of them with Christ as we strive to separate that which is good in man from that which is chaff.

As you read, notice the problems/decisions that the characters face.  What do they do to overcome them?  Ask yourself whether they should take the courses of action they take.

*Should Beowulf and the Geats have traveled across the channel to help the Danes?

*Should the coastgaurd have asked Beowulf and his men to reveal their identity before entertaining them? (compare with the customs of hospitality in The Odyssey) And should he have have required them to leave their weapons behind in order to visit Hrothgar?

As you read, be on the lookout for poetic devices that are characteristic of this work.  We enjoyed the imaginative epic similes of Homer.  How does the scop of Beowulf draw us into his song artistically?  Note kennings (creative compound words) and alliterations (repetition of consonant sounds in a line) when you come across them.  What else other devices do you notice?  Can you incorporate some of this artistry into your own writing? 

And what about those universal proverbs?  Our Anglo-Saxon poet would not have us overlook timeless maxims.  He has his characters speak truths that connect his tale to a body of universal and ancient wisdom.  How do these sayings stand up in the light of scripture?  Consider these examples from the lines we discussed this week:

"Fate goes everywhere as a must." - Beowulf

"Behavior that's admired is the path to power among people everywhere." - the scop as narrator

"Anyone with gumption and a sharp mind will take the measure of two things: what's said and what's done." -  coastgaurd of the Danes

Mark any similar sayings as you come across them.  Do they remind you of others that you've heard - perhaps even in the Proverbs of Solomon?  For instance, compare the coastgaurd's remark with Proverbs 20:11.

For next week:

• Review Beowulf lines 1-1650. 
• Mark at least 2 blues in this first section
• Be prepared to narrate any section in this first half for the class
• Prepare for a mock trial of Poseidon.  He sunk Odysseus' raft.  Should he have done that?  Make an ANI chart to explore this issue.   List reasons that he should have sunk the raft in the A(affirmative) column.  List reasons he should not have sunk the raft in the N(negative) column.  List any other interesting information that pertains to this issue in the I(interesting) column.  You should have at least 10 points listed in each column.  Use questions from the "5 Topics" page to help you discover points for your chart.  Remember that ANY answer to ANY of those questions when asked about this issue can go in one of the three columns.  
• (Note* In an earlier version of this post, I had written "ship" instead of "raft".  In the original question (Caleb's), the term was "boat".  The "boat" is  a raft, and Poseidon sinks it in book 5 after Odysseus leaves Kalypso's island. In a flashback that occurs in book 12, Odysseus recounts that Zeus sunk his ship and all his men perished.  This created some confusion, but since our issue has to do with Poseidon, we are considering the sinking of a raft, not a ship.)

Class 7 - October 11

We wrapped up our book by book discussion of The Odyssey this afternoon. What a ride! Hang on to those ideas!  We've got more to talk about!  Let the thoughts and actions of Odysseus linger in your mind as we meet Beowulf in the weeks to come.
Did reading The Odyssey affect your ideas about what it means to be a hero?  How does Odysseus differ from the hero you had in mind on the first day of class? Any similarities?

Assignments for next week:

• Try your hand at writing an epic simile.  We'll have fun sharing these in class.  It can be funny, but keep it clean ;-)
• Finish your careful read of Beowulf using the yellow and blue highlighters.  Be prepared to narrate any section.  I highly recommend notes in the right side margin to supplement the ones that are already there.
• Use blue at least 3 times in each half of the book.   
• Bring both books to class.

Only the Lover Sings

Enjoy this tribute to the poetic artistry of Homer in his masterpiece The Odyssey.

http://circeinstitute.org/2012/10/only-the-lover-sings/

Class 6 - October 4

We spent the first half of class today familiarizing ourselves with the epic poem Beowulf.  There is much insight to be gained by comparing The Odyssey with Beowulf, and you all did a great job bringing out those ideas this week.  As we contemplate the idea of the hero together this semester, our understanding deepens when we observe these two men in light of the cultures from which they came, as well as in the light of God's revelation to us in scripture. 

Be sure to bring both books with you to class!  The truth is that you'll never finish reading either of them.  There is too much to explore in these classic works to check them off your list and put them on the shelf to collect dust.  Keep contemplating, questioning, and comparing. 

This week's assignment
Beowulf:
Do a careful read of Beowulf, lines 1 - 1650.   Use your yellow highlighter to mark the flow of thought and your blue highlighter to mark lines that impress you or that you think sound particularly poetic.  Keep your narration notes along the right side margin so that you can narrate any given section on request.

The Odyssey:
Identify a character that interests you and something they did in the story.   Write a question asking whether they should have done it.
Ex: Should Odysseus have ordered his men to tie him to the mast?

Have a great week!