Beowulf As a Hero Lesson Journal

• Length: 10 pages
• Subject: Drama - World
• Type: Journal
• Paper: #85213791
• Related Topics: Beowulf, To His Coy Mistress, Bath, Glory Road

Excerpt from Journal :

Those with issues to overcome are always more heroic. Hector also becomes a hero when, after at first running from Achilles, he eventually stands up to him and dies a heroic death.

The Iliad is primarily a war epic. In your opinion, is the Iliad condemnation of the it could easily be argued that the Illiad glorifies war, as much of the poem is spent portraying the warriors as brave and courageous, even as they go on killing rampages. Warriors are describes as "masters of the battle cry" and "warlike" in glowing epithets. When Achilles originally refused to fight, he is roundly condemned for it by all of the other Greek characters. Even the weapons of war, such as Achilles impenetrable shield, are glorified. But homer is more complicated than simple -- war also brings death, which he describes in great detail. Hector's death is perhaps the most graphic of all, and this depiction of the fallen hero can easily be read as a condemnation of war.

The Legend of Arthur

Lesson 1 Journal Entry # 9 of 16

Journal Exercise 1.7A: Honor and Loyalty

I believe that Arthur is extremely honorable. He acts with honesty and integrity and is loyal to those who are also loyal to him. He enforces the rules of chivalry for the knights of the round table. He is an active military hero -- he doesn't just send his soldiers out to do fighting for him, and when he dies, his death is as honorable as he is.

Write a brief paragraph explaining the importance or unimportance of loyalty in being honorable.

Loyalty is extremely important in being an honorable person. Being honorable means that you live your life to the highest standards of integrity, and being loyal to your friends definitely falls into that category. Being disloyal would likely mean doing things that are not honorable: lying, treating others badly, committing betrayal. it's difficult to imagine honor without loyalty.

Lesson 1 Journal Entry # 10 of 16

Journal Exercise 1.7B: Combining Sentences

[I do not have access to the text or know what the practice activity is.]

Complete the Practice Activity on page 202 of your text. After completing this activity, read over your Essay Assessment or another journal activity you've completed.

Identify three passages that could be improved by combining two or more sentences with coordinating or subordinating conjunctions. Below the practice activity in your journal, write the original passages and the revised sentences you've created.

Be sure to indicate which journal or writing assignment they came from.

The Canterbury Tales

Lesson 1 Journal Entry # 11 of 16

Journal Exercise 1.9A: Irony in the Canterbury Tales

Three ironic characters:

The Prioress: The prioress has redefined her own role in the world. She imitates the behavior of the women at the royal court, and she adds to her religious garb with a courtly love motto, Love conquers all," hardly appropriate for a woman of the church. She is realistic but not religious.

The Monk: The narrator portrays the Monk with a vivid image of his bridle jingling "as loud and clear as a chapel bell." The irony here is that the monk should be at the chapel itself, not on his horse. He lives like an aristocrat, not a monk, and he partakes in the sport of the upper class; hunting.

The Friar: Like the monk, the Friar is very bad at doing his original job. He disdains the very people who need his help, and he gives out penance with the intention of scamming people out of their money. He is lecherous and greedy -- hardly what a friar should be!

Lesson 1 Journal Entry # 12 of 16

Journal Exercise 1.9B: What Women Want

Why do women get married? They are perfectly capable of living life on their own, making a good living, and even having children, all without a husband. But there are tings that come with marriage that you cannot get as a single woman, besides the tax breaks. Lifelong commitment, a cohesive family unit, companionship, and the legal standing to deal with a spouse's medical and financial needs. Security is certainly an issue for most people who get married, not just women.

Lesson 1 Journal Entry # 13 of 16

Journal Exercise1.9C: The Wife of Bath

What opinions does the Wife of Bath express in her tale?

The wife believes that women cannot be discreet or keep a secret. She retells the story of Midas as proof of this opinion. She also prays that all women obtain husbands who are meek, young and fresh in bed, and that the women outline their husbands.

What do all her opinions -- and her tale itself-tell you about her character? You may want to look at your reading notes to answer this question.

The Wife of bath is a complicated woman, and she wants to be recognized for her inner beauty and vigor. She would like men to know what women truly want so that she can be happy again. The Wife is idealistic -- she believes people can change.

Do you think Chaucer's rich portrayal of the Wife of Bath is an indication that he had progressive views about women for his time? Why or why not?

It seems progressive for his time that any man would consider what women want and that Chaucer, as a powet, would take the time to tell a story from a woman's point-of-view. He also seems to have good insights into women's psychology, which seems progressive for the time.

What do men and women each think the other wants most out of life? Out of a relationship? How have attitudes changed since Chaucer's time?

I think it's easier now than in Chaucer's time, because men and women have come to want more of the same tings -- financial security, family, a share of the American dream, a good education, a good career.

Lesson 1 Journal Entry # 14 of 16

Journal Exercise 1.9D: Vocabulary Development

Part 1: Antonym Map

Create an antonym map, as described on page 144 of your text, for each of the following words: Agility

Definition: The power of moving quickly or easily

Antonym: Clumsiness. The knight lacked agility with his horse.

Eminent

Definition: High in station, rank, or repute

Antonym: Unkown. The Wife of Bath was eminent in her community.

Accrue

Definition: To increase by growth or addition.

Antonym: Dwindle. The king's wealth accrued over many years.

Arbitrate

Definition: To decide and judge.

Antonym: To let it go. The king let the court jester arbitrate his disagreement with the queen.

Benign

Definition: kindly; not a threat.

Antonym: hateful; hostile; harmful. The king rules fairly and was quite benign.

Guile

Definition: sly or clever

Antonym: artlessness, frankness, openness. The queen completely lacked guile and always told the truth.

Obstinate

Definition: stubborn and determined

Antonym: agreeable, amenable, helpful the king was quite obstinate about changing his mind..

Frugal

Definition: economical, spartan

Antonym: generous, lavish, wasteful. The prince was not frugal in his spending.

Duress

Definition: threat or hardship

Antonym: freedom, independence the queen signed her new will under duress.

You should illustrate the meaning of the vocabulary words with a description of one of the characters from the "Prologue."

You should also illustrate the meaning of the antonym for the word with a different character from the "Prologue."

Part 2: Etymology

Use a hard-copy dictionary or an online dictionary like (www.dictionary.com) to identify the etymology of and define the following words: ground, shade, account, draw, and vain.

Write both the etymology and the definitions you find in your journal; then use the word in two different sentences to illustrate two different definitions for each word.

Tales From World Literature

Lesson 1 Journal Entry # 15 of 16

Journal Exercise 1.10A: Revisiting the Monster Archetype

Think of monsters you might find in popular stories or movies today. What do they look like? What do they act like? How does he/she feel about other people?

Make a list of 10 characteristics that most villains or modern monsters seem to have in common.

As you read "The Third Voyage of Sinbad the Sailor," think about how the giant in this story is like or unlike other monsters you've studied and heard about in popular culture.

Lesson 1 Journal Entry # 16 of 16

Journal Exercise 1.11A: