1. The first 3 stanzas deal with the passing of time between when we are first introduced to the Green Knight and the time when Gawain has to leave to finish the contest. The next two stanzas deal with the motif of the arming of the warrior. In the sixth and seventh stanzas, we are introduced to the shield with the pentangle and what it symbolizes to Gawain's faith. In the eigth through the eleventh stanzas, we travel with Gawain on his journey. Stanzas 12-17 Gawain arrives at the castle and is made welcome by the king, and in stanza 18 the people of the castle are making sure that Gawain is a man from King Arthur's castle. In stanza 19, we have our first introduction to the lady and the old crone (Morgana), and the following stanzas serve to begin the connection with Gawain and the lady. There is a connection hinted at between the lady and the crone. The way the crone has a grip on the lady's arm and seems to be leading her suggests that she holds some kind of control over her. In the 23-25 stanzas in this section, the author is establishing the connection with Gawain's quest for the Green Knight and the king of the castle. It suggests at the role the king will play in Gawain's search to prove himself.
2. Games in this section seem to reflect on seem to reflect on King Arthur and the way that no one in Camelot seems to take anything completely seriously ("and yet, though sad, they all made jests" ln. 541). One of the less obvious of the games reflects on and foreshadows to the connection between Gawain and the lady ("their witty word-play surpassed the sports of the other lords" ln. 1014). This is the first hint the reader has that there will be some mental game-playing between Gawain and the lady. I think the author is using this to suggest to the reader that this is the only connection that there is between the two. What is happening with them is only a game and isn't meant to have any special significance in the long run.
3. Once again in this section, we see the symbol of the time of year. One of the biggest things that the time of year plays into is the drawing closer of the deadline for Gawain to fight the Green Knight. While the Yule time of year is supposed to be a time of celebration and feasting, this year seems to be different for Gawain. There is an overtone of dread that is a little hard to pick up on. There could be a conection between this overtone and the fact that the Yuletide had been strategically placed very close to the pagan religious holiday, and this idea could be playing into what is going on/what will happen with Gawain.
4. In this section, Gawain seems to be a little bit more important than he did in the last. He seems to be more brave than in the last one where he only decided to fight the knight after King Arthur was going to. He seems to be more accepting of his fate to enter the beheading contest with the Green Knight. We see more confidence in him, suggesting that he has now proven himself as a warrior, and feels more deserving of his role as a knight. His confidence contrasts with the humbleness of his character in the previous section.
5. There is a contrast between the two settings. In Camelot, the atmosphere is more fun-loving. The king is youthful and easy to provoke to a fight. He likes to play games, and this trait reflects on his subjects, especially at feasting times. In contrast, there is an overshadowing of seriousness in Byrtelac's castle that is made even deeper by the presence of the old crone. Even at the times of feasting and celebration, there is a hint of something sinister lurking deeper in the moods of the people.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Hrolf Kraki Questions
2. Role of kings: This theme is meant to show the reader how the king is supposed to lead and encourage his men to fight for honor. He chooses when his men fight and how they prepare for battle. Sometimes, the king's bad decisions are reflected on his men as they follow his orders. While Hrolf Kraki is the best example of a king in this narrative, leading his men forward and even performing his own mighty feats in battle, King Adils serves as his dramatic foil. He chooses to insult King Hrolf and his champions by pretending that they are welcome ("Realizing that the game could not go on this way, he stood and said 'what is the meaning of this fighting?'" pg. 60), while he is actually going behind their backs and plotting against them. He has his men mutilate their horses and ambush them in the hall, among other things. He is a good example of how the king's decisions reflect on the reputation of his warriors.
Role of the Warriors: For the most part, the warriors that we come closely in contact with in this saga are almost ideal to their roles. Mostly we are made to focus on King Hrolf's champions, who show many of the traits that best suited for their roles of warriors, such as honor, intelligence, physical & mental strength, selflessness, etc. I think Elk-Frodi seems like a more realistic version of a warrior. While he uses his strength to take from others, he still makes a point to make sure that his brother, Bodvar, knows that he is behind him. He also keeps his word in avenging his Bodvars murder by Skuld and her army ("If it is the last, I will avenge you, because I love you best of all men" pg. 46), and in doing this, he is taking care of the most important part of warrior culture, which is avenging one's kinsman.
Role of Women: The story of Hrolf Kraki has more prominent women than that of Beowulf. One of the most prominent female characters, Skuld, both conforms to and defies this theme. In her encouragement of sending her husband into battle, she is doing what is considered correct for women of her time. However, she is actually manipulating him into starting the war with King Hrolf so that she can kill him so that she can have revenge on him (and through him, their father) for her position in society.
Concept of Magic: Skuld is also one of the more powerful magical characters in this saga. She brings into play the idea of ressurection through her army of undead zombies("They rise up again and fight against us, and it becomes difficult to fight with ghosts" pg. 76). This motif is seen throughout medieval literature and is meant to allude to the introduction of Christianity to the warrior cultures.
Revenge: Possibly my favorite story of revenge ever is that of King Helgi and Queen Olof. As if it isn't bad enough for Helgi to force Olof to sleep with him, she tricks him into marrying their daughter. After he finds out, Helgi isn't even put off and tries to convince Yrsa to stay with him. From this story, we get the foundation for many of the other revenge stories in this saga. It sets up the theme as well as the background of King Hrolf, and suggests that the reason him and his band of champions are taken out by Skuld is because of his screwed up family tree, and also the fact that there is no magic in his family to protect him against the magic of Skuld.
Hospitality: The theme of hospitality is not as noticeable as that of revenge, or the roles of different people, but it is there. In the incident where King Hrolf and his men meet Hrani, it is made more noticeable after he invites them into his home that he isn't just a simple farmer. He is infact, Odin. The fact that a god would be hospitable and offer advice to a mere human is quite surprising, and added to this is the shock when King Hrolf has the bad grace to insult Hrani, turning him against them (. In many works of literature in history, insulting the gods is the cause of the downfall of many great leaders, and I believe this is the case with Hrolf and Hrani. In insulting Hrani's advice, gifts and hospitality, he is denying the help of the god and thus dooming himself and his men ("I do not recognize Odin...hovering in the background and causing us harm" pg. 77).
3. I believe this saga is commenting on the use of magic for both good and evil. Take the section with Hrani/Odin, for example. When King Hrolf and his men first meet Hrani as the simple farmer, he shows them hospitality and wisdom, using his magic to test Hrolf's men and telling him which of his men will not serve him well in battle. But after Hrolf insults the gifts of weapons from Hrani/Odin, the direction of the story changes. It is at this point that we see a shift in the magic. It is no longer used primarily for "good," but is rather used against King Hrolf and his men as they fight with Skuld and her ghostly army. The author uses this shift to show the reader that even the best king and the most powerful champions do not control the power for long. He is talking about how there is no way to know who the strongest person/group of people are in the world because it is always changing.
8. While Hrolf Kraki and Beowuf are a lot alike, the major difference is the influence of Christianity in the text. One of the most astonishing differences is the fact that in the totally pagan text of Hrolf Kraki, there are stronger and more independent women than there are in the Christian influenced Beowulf. This seems to comment on the supposed equality that Christianity is supposed to bring about and actually makes the reader stop to think about the development of culture within societies. It suggests that as cultures change, some important part of the previous society will be pushed out by the new one being established.
Role of the Warriors: For the most part, the warriors that we come closely in contact with in this saga are almost ideal to their roles. Mostly we are made to focus on King Hrolf's champions, who show many of the traits that best suited for their roles of warriors, such as honor, intelligence, physical & mental strength, selflessness, etc. I think Elk-Frodi seems like a more realistic version of a warrior. While he uses his strength to take from others, he still makes a point to make sure that his brother, Bodvar, knows that he is behind him. He also keeps his word in avenging his Bodvars murder by Skuld and her army ("If it is the last, I will avenge you, because I love you best of all men" pg. 46), and in doing this, he is taking care of the most important part of warrior culture, which is avenging one's kinsman.
Role of Women: The story of Hrolf Kraki has more prominent women than that of Beowulf. One of the most prominent female characters, Skuld, both conforms to and defies this theme. In her encouragement of sending her husband into battle, she is doing what is considered correct for women of her time. However, she is actually manipulating him into starting the war with King Hrolf so that she can kill him so that she can have revenge on him (and through him, their father) for her position in society.
Concept of Magic: Skuld is also one of the more powerful magical characters in this saga. She brings into play the idea of ressurection through her army of undead zombies("They rise up again and fight against us, and it becomes difficult to fight with ghosts" pg. 76). This motif is seen throughout medieval literature and is meant to allude to the introduction of Christianity to the warrior cultures.
Revenge: Possibly my favorite story of revenge ever is that of King Helgi and Queen Olof. As if it isn't bad enough for Helgi to force Olof to sleep with him, she tricks him into marrying their daughter. After he finds out, Helgi isn't even put off and tries to convince Yrsa to stay with him. From this story, we get the foundation for many of the other revenge stories in this saga. It sets up the theme as well as the background of King Hrolf, and suggests that the reason him and his band of champions are taken out by Skuld is because of his screwed up family tree, and also the fact that there is no magic in his family to protect him against the magic of Skuld.
Hospitality: The theme of hospitality is not as noticeable as that of revenge, or the roles of different people, but it is there. In the incident where King Hrolf and his men meet Hrani, it is made more noticeable after he invites them into his home that he isn't just a simple farmer. He is infact, Odin. The fact that a god would be hospitable and offer advice to a mere human is quite surprising, and added to this is the shock when King Hrolf has the bad grace to insult Hrani, turning him against them (. In many works of literature in history, insulting the gods is the cause of the downfall of many great leaders, and I believe this is the case with Hrolf and Hrani. In insulting Hrani's advice, gifts and hospitality, he is denying the help of the god and thus dooming himself and his men ("I do not recognize Odin...hovering in the background and causing us harm" pg. 77).
3. I believe this saga is commenting on the use of magic for both good and evil. Take the section with Hrani/Odin, for example. When King Hrolf and his men first meet Hrani as the simple farmer, he shows them hospitality and wisdom, using his magic to test Hrolf's men and telling him which of his men will not serve him well in battle. But after Hrolf insults the gifts of weapons from Hrani/Odin, the direction of the story changes. It is at this point that we see a shift in the magic. It is no longer used primarily for "good," but is rather used against King Hrolf and his men as they fight with Skuld and her ghostly army. The author uses this shift to show the reader that even the best king and the most powerful champions do not control the power for long. He is talking about how there is no way to know who the strongest person/group of people are in the world because it is always changing.
4. From the little bit I have learned about King Arthur and his knights, they contrast hugely with King Hrolf and his champions. In the saga of King Hrolf, his men are eager to fight for him and gain honor for both themselves and their king. However, in one of the stories I have heard about of King Arthur, his men are so reluctant to fight the green knight that he is forced to anger and wants to take him on himself. This contrast suggests at the differences between the pagan warrior and the Christian knight. While in the mind of the pagan warrior there is nothing better than winning glory in battle and dying for your king, the battle lust is not as strong in the Christian knight. They are easily provoked to fear, and their battle lust is easily quelled.
8. While Hrolf Kraki and Beowuf are a lot alike, the major difference is the influence of Christianity in the text. One of the most astonishing differences is the fact that in the totally pagan text of Hrolf Kraki, there are stronger and more independent women than there are in the Christian influenced Beowulf. This seems to comment on the supposed equality that Christianity is supposed to bring about and actually makes the reader stop to think about the development of culture within societies. It suggests that as cultures change, some important part of the previous society will be pushed out by the new one being established.
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