Beowulf and McCloud

Setting the Record Straight

Scott McCloud explained that comics, or "picture manuscripts," go as far back as ancient Egyptian times in chapter 1. I would have never guessed - but if one considers McCloud's definition of comics: "juxtaposed pictorial and other images in deliberate sequence, intended to convey information and/or to produce an aesthetic response in the viewer," then his claim that ancient calligraphy are comics would be true. Comics truly have a wide variety of genres. McCloud made it clear that comics are not only about super-heroes and silly romance in the first chapter of his graphic novel. This way McCloud eliminates the readers judgment and stereotyping of comics, in order to make them curious and continue to read, or at least look at the pictures.

As I rarely read comics, it was difficult for me to focus on McCloud's text and his message at times. I found myself scanning the pictures, rather than reading the text some times, just as I did with the two Beowulf graphic novels. I made a copy of the vocabulary page from one of the books, because I found that interesting. I also wanted copies of pages with text on them, because the text was old and a kind I would rarely find. However, I again found myself reading the story more through its pictures than its words. The intense and symbolic color in the Beowulf novel's was definately more enticing and understandable than its diction.

Beowulf and Grendel's Mother

Having read the three translations, I realized how one interpretation's plot can be quite different of another. I read, the required, Seamus Heaney (2000), Elsie Straffin Bronson (1910), and John Josias Conybeare (1826), in hope to compare the different time periods. Each translation has a different set-up. The first is written like a poem, whereas Bronson's is much more like a story told; it is written in paragraphs. The third by Conybeare however, is a pleasant mixture of both styles.
I focused on the battle between Grendel's mother and Beowulf .In Heaney's interpretation, Grendel's mother seems to be strong and angry, yet not strong enough to kill Beowulf to "avenge her only child" or even to exhaust him in the faught. In Bronson's version however, things seem more hectic, due to the long sentences. In this version it seems as though Grendel's mother managed to sit on Beowulf and attempt to stab him with her dagger. Here, Beowulf also seems more vulnerable through the description that he "stumbled so that he fell." Both warriors are worn out by each other's strength.
In the last translation, Beowulf and Grendel's mother are described as more equal than either translations before, through the length of the text, which draws out the battle. It shows both of their weaknesses and failures throughout the fight. In addition, this interpretation of the story is the only one of the three that mentions the history of Hrunting, the sword, and its failure to pierce Grendel's mother. Lastly, Beowulf his not "glad" or "elated" in the version of 1826. Instead, "the gallant sword dropp'd fast a gory dew." This version is much more detailed and precise than the others.

A Hero

Heros are created when there is a social or personal unrest. Martin Luther King Jr., for example, is a hero, because he stepped forward in a time of severe social injustice. He led many people who believed that change could happen, at least to a degree. On a personal level, he is a hero, because he handled his personal unrest and dissatisfaction well. The world, right now, needs hero's quickly; it needs a hero who cannot be pushed aside or silenced by a government, like so many true heros are. It needs a true hero who uses words, not weapons. This hero should convince others to test their own heroism into action, rather than putting all hope and responsibility into them.

Allegory of the Cave - by Plato

The Allegory of a Cave is a short story told by Socrates and written by Plato. It discusses the question of truth, as well as the pain involved when truth is found. A quote by Walter Bagehot sums this idea up, "One of the greatest pains to human nature is the pain of a new idea."
The nameless character in the parable is forced, rather than called to the adventure. He is literally set free from his chains and then "forced suddenly to stand up, turn his head and walk with eyes lifted to the light; all these movements would be painful."
Only later in his journey does he choose to continue the adventure, due to his curiosity.
His trial is the process of learning the truth. The narrator of the story uses intensifying light to show the intensifying truth of the world. It goes from reflections in water, to looking at the light of the moon and stars, and finally the sun. Soon, the character understands that what he knew before he was set free, means nothing to what he knows now. The newly changed character decides to return to his cave to inform his former comrades of his newly gained knowledge, in an attempt to share his happiness. However, once he enters the cave he is unable to see in the old darkness. The ignorant others in the cave would "laugh at him and say that he had gone ... only to come back with his sight ruined." They do not understand his change and he can no longer associate with them as he used to.
The tale makes one think: what is your priority? Happiness or knowledge? Considering the phrase "ignorance is bliss" - and is that even true? Maybe one can be happy and knowledgeable at the same time? Personally, I feel that knowledge makes things more complicated and therefore more difficult to be truly satisfied.

What is an American?!

There are things that Americans do that one could say are typically American, such as speaking to strangers in the grocery store. American students generally say nothing when the teacher asks a questions. Only American men wear khaki pants and sandals to restaurants, and only American women wear shorts no matter how heavy set they are. These are some things Americans do. Still, what IS an American? When the World Trade Centers were attacked Germany's chancellor proclaimed that, "We are all Americans!" But, what is an American? I am an American, because that is what my father is, and I have a United States passport. Does that make me an American? Is someone from South America an American? "Americans" have claimed themselves as Americans in a sense to conquer all of the western hemisphere.

American Cheese

http://drake.marin.k12.ca.us/staff/doherty/slampoems.htm

Symbols, Allegories, and Socialist Novels - these are a few of my favorite things

The religious theory is my absolute favorite genre. I enjoy interpreting symbolism so much that I went out one day to buy myself Penguin’s Dictionary of Symbols. It is a dictionary that discusses how different cultures interpret all sorts of objects as symbols. Most of the interpretations of a symbol are surprisingly similar between two seemingly very different cultures. Due to my fascination with symbolism, I also enjoy allegories tremendously. Allegories are stories with a message. This message can only be understood if its symbolism is correctly analyzed. Most allegorical stories I have read so far have discussed the coming of age, often with the use of a light/dark dichotomy. However, my favorite allegory is by Heinrich Boehl, which discusses socialism versus capitalism.

This leads to my second favorite: the socialist novel. Novels such as 1984, or The Jungle inspire me, yet depress me terribly. Although they are depressing and frustrating, these novels have been one of the reasons why I have decided to become a teacher. I am hoping to discuss these social issues with my own students some day in hope to inspire some of them to action and social change. I myself have been convinced by social justice novels, and have a dim feeling that social justice can be done, at least in a class-room or a home.