Greetings, fellow literature lovers!


I'm bringing the brit lit blog back - drop a comment if you're with me!

In a couple of days I'll be posting a list of British Literature novels and such that I'm considering reading, and have all you vote as to which one (or ones) I'll read.

I'm also up to suggestions so if you have a favorite you'd like to discuss, leave the title (or titles) in your comment.

Can't wait to hear from all you loyal readers.

Adieu for now,

~brit_lit_chic

Apparently, I am more of a procrastinator than I thought.  Or assignment extender, or slow reader.  Which ever term you feel in more politically correct.  Truth is, I am so far behind in this class, that I am going to have to skip over some of the books that I was originally planning on reading and discussing here, and read mainly the AP books, so I can receive AP credit on this course, and go to a outstanding college and become rich and famous (well, hopefully).

Sadly, one of the books that didn't remain after the cut was Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. I was able to read it (well, most of it), and really did enjoyed it.  The language is absolutely beautiful in my translation (by James Winny) and made even more beautiful that you can read it side by side with the original text.  I think that's one of the reasons I read it too slowly.  That and the fact that even though it is translated into more readable English, some of the words are extremely archaic and obsolete.


It is definitely worth reading, though.  And it is quite interesting to see how the original story, an original, straight-from-the-source translation, compares to the various versions of the story I grew up with.  One of the things that always puzzled me as a kid was why the lady of the castle kissed Sir Gawain as a gift.  What was that all about?  In kiddie versions, I have realized, they leave a lot of stuff out.  It seems the lady was trying to seduce Sir Gawain, not just to kiss him, but to go to bed with him.  And he holds her back with words, trying to protect her honor as a married lady and his honor as a chivalrous knight who is supposed to fulfill the wishes of a lady.  Quite interesting, to say the least.  Their banter was quite entertaining to read.  (Below:  an old  manuscript depicting the Temptation of Sir Gawain)


Though I will most likely not get back to writing anything more about Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, I encourage you to read on you own, if you have time.  I am reading the version translated by James Winny, published by Broadview Press, as part of their Broadview Literary Texts.  The link is at the top of this blog entry.


The book that I am presently reading is excerpts from "The Canterbury Tales."  I'll be writing more about that later.


Well, TTFN,

brit_lit_chic

In this reading, Beowulf and his victorious Geats leave the Danes and carry their well-earned gold home to their lord Hygelac.  They are warmly welcomed, and Beowulf tells his tale.  Beowulf gives Hygelac some of the gifts from Hrothgar, and Hygelac bequeaths land and a great hall to Beowulf.  Years pass, Hygelac dies in a battle, and his son becomes ruler of the Geats, with Beowulf as his mentor.  Some years later Hygelac’s son is killed through treachery, and Beowulf becomes lord of the Geats.  He rules for 50 prosperous years.  Then a dragon starts to mercilessly brutalize his people, and he, an old man, prepares to fight and kill it.

 

The poet uses many colorful phrases to describe the dragon, such as…

“the burning one who hunts out barrows” (line 2272), “slick-skinned” (line 2273), “scourge of the people” (line 2278), “hoard-guardian” (line 2293), “guardian of the mound” (line 2302), “hoard-watcher” (line 2303), “vile sky-winger” (line 2314), “fire-dragon” (line 2333), “sky-plague” (line 2347), and “the evil one” (line 2514), “dawn-scorching serpent” (line 2760).

 

Write three such descriptive phrases for another animal: cat.

catcher of mice, lap-warmer, sentinel in the window, queen of felines, shadow-stepper

Ohkay, so I wrote more than three.  But hey, I like cats.

 

The man who died right before Beowulf killed Grendel is first named in line 2076 (he died in line 740).  Why do you think the poet decided not to name him until Beowulf himself tells the story of his fight with Grendel?

At the time of his death, the main focus of all the men was to kill Grendel.  Casualties were expected.  Plus, the man who was killed was a Geat, and at that point of the story, the story had a more Danish focus, and even though they give their condolences for a man being slain, their sorrow was not as great as it would have been if the man had been a Dane.

However, when Beowulf tells the tale, he is telling it from his point of view, as a Geat, whose brother-at-arms was slain by a monster that was not originally their problem to deal with.  He gives honor to the fallen man by naming him and recounting the tale of his death, instead of leaving it to the man’s comrades.  In having Beowulf do so, the poet reveals more of Beowulf’s character.

I know this is pretty short, but I have to rush to catch up to where I'm supposed to be.  Sorry!