Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Weeks 1-3


1. What genres do the following texts belong to?

Voluspa, Volsunga Saga, Beowulf, The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings.

Give some examples from these texts that support your identification (for example: "Voluspa is an example of the _____ genre, as the following references to gods from the poem illustrate: "Hear my words / you holy gods' (l.1) "By Odin's Will I'll speak the ancient lore" (l.3), etc).

2. What are some possible features of residual (or "secondary") orality preserved in Voluspa, according to the criteria Ong (1982) advances?

3. Identify a central incident that happens in at least four of the above texts, and discuss how it is both similar and different in each example (remember to site from the original texts).

4. How did Tolkien draw on the Old Norse and Old English texts in his Hobbit and Lord of the Rings fantasy novels? Provide some concrete examples.

5. Discuss how Tolkien's use of "tradition" (e.g. older literary sources) differs from the techniques and agendas of modernism (see Week 7 in your Reader).

6. What place do the old myths have in the modern world?

7. How does the film Beowulf and Grendel "problematise" the hero-myth of Beowulf ?

8. Discuss what you think any of these texts desire (in the sense of their intention, how they wish to be received, what pleasures they offer).
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24 comments:

  1. MartinMarch 14, 2013 at 4:01 AM

    6. What place do the old myths have in the modern world?
    I'm try to answer Question 6.
    We are already with the old myths.
    Firstly is a special place. if you go to the background of the literature where the old myths perhaps you'll realize that is not just 'old'. Because you can remind watching the Temple of Apollo, Parthenon etc.... I think people are not simply trying to preserve historic sites, as well as they protect the place to included story. If these places are well preserved, the story will not fade.
    secondly we are bordering the old myths of books or movies which are Wrath of Titans, Thor, Beowulf, Immortals (The telegraph,2012). That is good example of my topic. Filming the old myths, slightly different the original, but not a big deal. Continuously being filmed means the story of old myths is still exists with modern world. In the novel (original or remake), people can read anywhere, anytime.
    Lastly in the school we encounter with the old myths. Old myths was written a long time ago but the story is still interesting.
    Thank you

    Reference
    Top 12 films based on classical mythology. (2012,March 3). The telegraph,Culture Picture Galleries. Retrieved from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturepicturegalleries/9174269/Top-12-films-based-on-classical-mythology.html#?frame=2181357

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  2. UnknownMarch 15, 2013 at 2:37 AM

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    1. UnknownMarch 25, 2013 at 5:37 PM

      I agree with what you have stated above. In my opinion old myths belong in the media. It is often we see mythical characters such as Hercules/Thor and so on. In our case we have "Beowulf" a poem which was turned into a real life movie in 1999 and then again turned into a animated one 2007. So for that reason I think old myths belong in the media in the modern world.

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    2. HarrietMay 26, 2013 at 6:51 PM

      Myths are known to be a traditional story, one involving the early history of a people and often having supernatural beings or events. They are stories passed down through generation and still have a place in our modern world today, as they preserve historic features of a lost culture or tradition from ancient times. I do agree with both Martin and Reima and in saying that Myths still hold a special value in our world today.

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  3. UnknownMarch 15, 2013 at 2:38 AM

    4. How did Tolkien draw on the Old Norse and Old English texts in his Hobbit and Lord of the Rings fantasy novels? Provide some concrete examples.

    Tolkien was an expert on Old norse and Old English. It is common for Tolkien to use many Old English or Old norse words and names for people and things in his works (David, 2002) Tolkien knew that using Old English has power to make his works more literary and sentimental.

    For example, Tolkien used an Old English name “Saruman” in “Lord of the rings”. In here, Searu means ‘cunning’ or ‘treacherous’. That is, if readers read the book, they can guess what will happen or what the name means. It makes the understanding of reader’s more distinct (Hugo, 2012).

    Also, According to Christopher (2012) Smaug is the dragon, guarding a hoard of treasure, whose defeat is the quest of the Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, and his 13 dwarf companions. His name is the past tense of an Old Norse word smjúga meaning “to creep through an opening”. Gollum’s real name had been Smeagol (a word that might have existed in Old English), meaning “apt to creep into a hole” (para. 8).

    Additionally, Tolkien displayed the Old Norse in “Hobbit”. He gives us many Norse such as Dwarves, Gandalf, Durinn, Dvalinn, and Beorn etc. In here we can see many see similar rhyme of name of the characters like Gloin, Groin, and Oin. It means a deep relationship in their natural forms. (Vesa, 2012)

    References:

    1. David, W. (2002). Old English in LoTR. Retrieved March 15, 2013 from: http://www.wordorigins.org/index.php/more/880

    2. Hugo, J. M. (2012). The Influence of Old English on J.R.R. Tolkien’sThe Lord of the Rings. Retrieved March 15, 2013 from: http://www.academia.edu/1567195/Beowulf_and_the_Influence_of_Old_English_on_J.R.R._Tolkiens_The_Lord_of_the_Rings

    3. Christopher, H. (2012). The Hobbit Unearths a Hoard of Myths. Retrieved March 15, 2013 from: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/9575599/The-Hobbit-unearths-a-hoard-of-myths.html

    4. Vesa, P. (2012). North Germanic Languages: Old norse Retrieved March 15, 2013 from: http://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/Old_Norse

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  4. MartinMarch 18, 2013 at 5:34 AM

    1. What genres do the following texts belong to?

    Beowulf - Epic Poem. (a long narrative poem telling of a hero's achievement)
    (Old English historic epic poem from Anglo Saxon literature)
    Epic - The definition of a literary epic is a long narrative poem, often written about a hero or heroines (Yourdictionary,n.d)
    The poem included historical events but, the hero’s story is fiction.
    Since the early 19th century known as the Beowulf, because manuscripts didn’t have a title.
    We can’t find evidence that Beowulf was a real person, but several characters and places, and events are real.
    This poem is divided into 2 parts.
    First part, killed a Denmark’s monster, Grendel, second part , Beowulf took over the throne and old Beowulf kills a dragon and dies
    Beowulf has the great strength and courage. It can’t compare to human.
    “He outgrappled the monster and his evil kin.” (p.74)
    Beowulf most certainly achieves all of these when he battles Grendel, his mother and the dragon.
    In epic poem, the supernatural things are happen.
    For example – Grendel , dragon.

    Reference
    YourDictionary.(n.d). literary epic. Retrieved March 18, 2013, from http://www.yourdictionary.com/literary-epic

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    1. HarrietMay 26, 2013 at 7:45 AM

      Hi Martin,

      I definitely agree that Beowulf is a epic poem known as a long poem from an ancient oral tradition as it narrates the deeds and adventures of heroic or legendary figures or the history of a nation.

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  5. MartinMarch 19, 2013 at 1:13 AM

    1. What genres do the following texts belong to?
    Voluspa -Mythological Poem

    Myth is explaining how the world or humankind came to be in its present form
    This poem has created a new world and mythical stories. It has mythical characters and followed typical of the Nordic legends.
    “Far-famed Thor, the son of Earth, the son of Odin, goes forth to fight the Snake. Midgard’s defender sied triumphant, but the human race no longer has a home: nine steps beyond the Serpent’s body, Thor, wounded, walks in pride (p.3)”.
    Accroding to Dronke(1997) lóðurr is a god in Norse mythology. In Volusp, he is a role of the first human, however almost didn’t mention just remains ambiguous (p.18).
    18. Breath they had not,
    spirit they had not,
    no film of flesh nor cry of voice,
    nor comely hues.
    Breath Óðinn gave,
    spirit Hœnir gave,
    film of flesh Lóðurr gave
    and comely hues. — Dronke's translation

    Reference
    Adams,H .(1936). The Poetic Edda. Retrieved March 19, 2013, from http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/poe/poe03.htm
    Dronke, U.(1997). The Poetic Edda : Volume II : Mythological Poems. Oxford: Clarendon Press.

    Volsunga Saga - Saga. (13th century Icelandic Heroic saga)
    Saga means- narrative of achievements and events in the history of a personage, family or legend of heroic exploits (dictionary.2013)
    The Volsunga Saga is divided into three parts
    First part- the ancestors of Sigurd, children of Volsung.
    Second part – Sigurd, Völsunga Saga.
    Third part- After Sigurd's death, about sigurd's wife (Gudrun) and his brother-in-laws
    The reason why is Volsunga Saga is Heroic saga.
    There once was a man by the of Sigi, who was the son of the god Odin. He became outlawed from his homeland when he killed a man by the name of Bredi, the Thrall of a powerful man named Skadi. The reason for this murder was that Sigi and Bredi went out for a days hunting and Bredi came back with more kills than Sigi. Sigi then killed Bredi and hid his body in a snowdrift (Anderson,E.1995)
    Volsunga has These elements of saga 1.unusual birth of the hero 2. a threat to the younghero 3. the notion of the dragon slayer

    Reference
    Dictionary.(2010). Saga. . Retrieved March 19, 2013, from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/saga
    Jesse, L .(1990).The Saga of the Volsungs transl. Berkeley: University of California Press


    The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings - Fantasy/ Children’s Fantasy novel
    This novels have created their own world and fiction that is an important factor about fantasy novel.
    There are many unrealizable characters which are Gandalf( wizard ), Gollum , Smaug (dragon), Dwarves, Trolls , even they can talk with humans.
    “ The dragon swooped once more lower than ever, and as he turned and dived down his belly glittered white with sparkling fires of gems in the moon- but not in one place (p.236)”.
    Most fantasy stories take place ‘an enclosed world that is often exotic and mystical’ (Glasson, 1955, p.55).
    Also author by using magic and interesting characters can lead children to feel interesting this novel.

    Reference

    Thewriter1132.(2008). The features of a fantasy quest: the Hobbit.Retrieved March 19, 2013, from http://bookstove.com/fantasy/the-features-of-a-fantasy-quest-the-hobbit/

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    1. UnknownMarch 19, 2013 at 9:32 PM

      I agree with your thought. Using magical and interesting characters in 'The Hobbits' and 'The Lord of the Rings' can make readers more impressed. It is really good point. However, I think Tolkien used easier words or sentences in 'The Hobbits' than 'The Lord of the Rings' because ,in 'The Hobbits', the goal of Tolkien was for children, not adult. Thank you for your writhing.

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    2. UnknownMarch 20, 2013 at 2:53 AM

      I think this reference can make my opinion strong, so I add this one. I hope it will be helpful for us. According to Scholastic (2013), "The Hobbit was written for J.R.R. Tolkien's own children" (para. 1).

      Reference:
      Scholastic. (2013). The Hobbit. Retrieved March 20, 2013 from: http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/book/hobbit

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  6. UnknownMarch 19, 2013 at 9:19 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  7. UnknownMarch 19, 2013 at 9:21 PM

    1. What genres do the following texts belong to?

    Voluspa, Volsunga Saga, Beowulf, The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings.

    I think four literatures are a kind of fantasy genre, but these can be separated in detail. Volsunga Saga and Beowulf may be heroic poems, but Voluspa is not. Also, the novels “The Hobbits” and “The Lord of the Rings” have similar points and different points. The differences are that “The Hobbits” is made for Children, but “The Lord of the Rings” is made for adult. That is “The Lord of the Rings” is more complicate or difficult to understand.

    Firstly, Voluspa (The Song of the Volva) is a mythological poem. For example, we can see the sentences “Hear my words, you holy gods.” (l.1), “By Odin’s Will I’ll speak the ancient lore.”(l,3). It displays that god’s behaviors and exploits of god.

    Secondly, Volsunga Saga is a epic prose and an Icelandic prose about the story of Sigurd and Brynhild. For instance, we can see the sentences “Sigurad answered, “Unknown to men is my kin. I am called a noble beast: (2) neither father have I nor mother, and all alone have I fared hither” ” and “A hardy heart urged me on hereto, and a strong … the doing of the deed.” (p. 58-62)

    Thirdly, Beowulf is an old English heroic epic poem. It shows the process that how the character ‘Beowulf’ becomes the king of Danes and fight against the monster ‘Grendel’. For example, We can see the sentences “And so the son of Ecgtheow had survived … when he had to come face to face with the dragon” and “Beowufl, son of Ecgthew, spoke: 'Many skirmish I survived when I was young and many times of war : I remember them well”.

    Fourthly, The Hobbits is a fantasy novel that is made for the son, Tolkien’s son, and other all children. It illustrates the inner side of a hero ‘Bilbo Baggins’. We can see the sentences '...modern novels of telling you 'what the characters are thinking. Tolkien does this too, in The Hobbit ...' (p. 314).

    Lastly, The Lord of the Rings is a high fantasy novel that the background is in Middle earth, a completely different world. For instance, we can see the sentences "Look!" said Grandalf. "How fair are the bright eyes in the grass! Evermind they are called, 'simbelmyne' in this land of Men, for they blossom in all seasons of the year, and grow where dead men rest.'" (p. 496).


    References:

    Morris, W. & Magnussun, E. (Trans.). (1888). the Story of the
    Volsungs (Volsunga Saga). London: Walter Scott Press, p.58-62.

    Shippey,T.(2000) J.R.R. Tolkien: Author of the Century. London, HarperCollins, p. 314.

    Terry,P. (trans). (1990, 1966). Poems of the Elder Edda. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press

    Tolien, J.R.R (1997; 1937). The Hobbit, London: HarperCollins.

    Tolien, J.R.R (1993; 1954). The Lord of the Rings: The Two towers ,London: HarperCollins. P. 496.


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  8. MartinMarch 20, 2013 at 1:10 AM

    8. Discuss what you think any of these texts desire (in the sense of their intention, how they wish to be received, what pleasures they offer).

    I want to talk to about Beowulf.
    The author is not known. Beowulf was passed down from generation to generation it was told orally, then one day someone decided to write it down. Obviously it has funny because the story is still told to this day. Firstly, the themes of wealth and fame in Beowulf are interesting ones. Secondly inexistent monsters (Grendel, Grendel’s mother, dragon) thirdly, hero, defeat the monsters. When I read this book, I thought this story would for the throne. Beowulf defeats the many monsters and he has a power, courage. The most important thing, he will be a king. According to Smith, N (2012), the story goes into great detail about who is the son of what great leader, all with the ultimate purpose of establishing a tradition of heroic behavior, particularly in he case of Beowulf’s family (para1). Moreover Beowulf does want to help his fellow man, and he is very selfless in doing so. However, Beowulf is also quite open about his desire for fame and treasure (Smith, N. 2012). This behaviors help to reader to empathize. As a result, the reader is bound to be immersed in the story.


    123helpme. (2013). Beowulf. Retrieved March 20, 2013, from http://www.123helpme.com/view.asp?id=55181
    Smith ,N . (2012). Analysis of Beowulf. Retrieved March 20, 2013, from http://www.articlemyriad.com/analysis-beowulf/

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  9. UnknownMarch 20, 2013 at 2:28 AM

    6. What place do the old myths have in the modern world?

    In my opinion, The Old myths are still important in modern society. Old myths or legends are a key to understand ancient time or culture. Also, old myths have an essential part to make movies or literatures from past to now. That is, we can get to know the stream of history of a country through the old myths, and all countries may have these things. The old myths are spreading out all over the world as multimedia materials.

    For example, we can see the movies or novels “Thor”, "The Lord of the Rings”, and “The Hobbits” etc… It means there are many things that are basically made from various old myths and if the myths had not existed, the movies or literatures could have not existed too.

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  10. UnknownMarch 20, 2013 at 2:52 AM

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  11. HarrietMay 26, 2013 at 7:09 AM

    1. What genres do the following texts belong to?

Voluspa, Volsunga Saga, Beowulf, The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings.



    Voluspa is an example of a mythological poem, since it exploits the feature of gods “Then the gods met to give judgment/ you holy gods took counsel together”(l.22 & 23). Beowulf displays heroes instead, as it seems to be an heroic epic poem. Beowulf the great warrior, defeated the monsters and protected people. The mention of heroes “It threw the hero into deep anguish and darkened his mood’(l.132)”.


    While Volsunga saga is also an example of the genre, epic prose. Similar to Beowulf, this prose outlines journeys of heroes “Sigurd answered and said, ʺFew may have victory by means of that same countenance of terror, for whoso comes amongst many shall one day find that no one man is by so far the mightiest of all..." (l.91).

    The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings both share a similar genre in common, which is fantasy novel. But there is a slight difference in genre with The Hobbit fitting into a children fantasy novel while the Lord of the Rings is a high fantasy novel. In the Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins and other dwarfs engage in an adventure, involving a dragon, wizard and Goblin, comedic full of magic and fantasy. However with The lord of the rings different worlds are involved, creatures are made, and the adventures are more violent and dangerous, giving an almost out worldly experience.

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  12. HarrietMay 27, 2013 at 12:05 AM

    6. What place do the old myths have in the modern world?

    Old myths such as the texts we have learnt throughout this paper and other myths that are recognised from other cultures are still present in this modern world of society that we call today. Myths are regarded as historical, obsolete and not in use but Old myths have worked itself into modern discourses. Universities respect and accredit all myths and this is what we are doing today with literature, and poetry and the study about the origin of English. Even until this day in some countries Old Myth stories are being used in Festivals as part of their culture. And even book writers still look back on Old Myth stories and film makers remake the stories by newly translated films etc. so Yes! And as I’ve mentioned before when replying to Martin and Reima’s comment, many countries and cultures have all sorts of myths, in which some cultures believe it is their founding document. It illustrates their origin of roots as well as depicting the early history of a people involving supernatural beings or events. Although with Old myths as an oral tradition being passed through generations we are fortunate enough that in this Modern world there is no need.

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  13. alisonchenJune 15, 2013 at 6:54 PM

    What genres do the following texts belong to?
    Voluspa, Volsunga Saga, Beowulf, The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings.

    Voluspa=poem

    Volsunga Saga=epic poetry

    Bewolf= epic poem

    The Hobbit=Revival of epic;fantansy as a children's genre

    The lord of the rings=an epic high fantansy novel


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  14. alisonchenJune 15, 2013 at 6:55 PM


    Give some examples from these texts that support your identification (for example: "Voluspa is an example of the _____ genre, as the following references to gods from the poem illustrate: "Hear my words / you holy gods' (l.1) "By Odin's Will I'll speak the ancient lore" (l.3), etc).


    1.Voluspa:(poem)

    Hear my words, you holy gods,

    great men and humble sons of Heimdall;

    by Odin’s will, I’ll speak the ancient lore,


    2.Volsunga saga (epic poetry)

    .How sayedst thou, Regin, that this drake (1) was no greater than
    other lingworms; methinks the track of him is marvellous great?ʺ

    Then said Regin, ʺMake thee a hole, and sit down therein, and
    whenas the worm comes to the water, smite him into the heart,
    and so do him to death, and win thee great fame thereby.ʺ

    3.Beowulf=epic poem

    My own people have been ruined in war; one by one they went down to death, looked their last on sweet life in the hall.Then an old narrower of the dark happened to find the hoard open,the burning one who hunts out barrows,the slick-skinned dragon, threatening the night sky with streamers of fire

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    1. alisonchenJune 15, 2013 at 6:56 PM

      4.The hobbit =Revival of epic;fantasy genre made for children

      Delete
  15. alisonchenJune 15, 2013 at 7:38 PM

    3.Identify a central incident that happens in at least four of the above texts, and discuss how it is both similar and different in each example (remember to site from the original texts).


    Voluspa:


    It describe the world and the human creation,destruction and rebirth.Due to the evil in the world,Gods and humans are temptation and collaborate to it.


    Beowulf:

    Beowulf is the hero of geats in Scandinavia.He helped the king of the danes to fight with a monster known by as Grendel.After he won,he went back to geatland in Sweden and later he becomes king of the

    geats.After fifty years,Beowulf defects a dragon.But he s really wounded in the battle.After his death,his people bury him in a burial mound in Geatland.


    The lord of the rings :

    The rings allows one to control a host of other ring handed down to the different peoples of Middle Earth:three rings belong to the immortal elves;seven to the dwarf；and nine rings to mortal humans.

    The ring that rules all the others gives its holder so much power that it corrupts all those who seek to wear it ,even the purest.The fate had come to a hobbit.Frodo, who had to carry this ring deep into the

    shadows of mordor and unmake it in the place precisely it was made.If this ring exists ,the world may fall in the power of the dark lord.So,Frodo,with his gardener Sam started an amazing journey with hope.

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  16. alisonchenJune 15, 2013 at 7:41 PM

    What place do the old myths have in the modern world?
    The place of visual, electronic quests, the themes of the old myths are retold. The old myths become the new stories in games, films and books, with the same human needs, wants, desires .

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  17. alisonchenJune 15, 2013 at 7:47 PM

    Smith ,N . (2012). Analysis of Beowulf. Retrieved March 20, 2013, from http://www.articlemyriad.com/analysis-beowulf/

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  18. alisonchenJune 15, 2013 at 8:12 PM

    Reference
    1.Dictionary.(2010). Saga. . Retrieved March 19, 2013, from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/saga
    Hugo, J. M. (2012). The Influence of Old English on J.R.R.

    2.Tolkien’sThe Lord of the Rings. Retrieved March 15, 2013 from: http://www.academia.edu/1567195/Beowulf_and_the_Influence_of_Old_English_on_J.R.R._Tolkiens_The_Lord_of_the_Rings

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