Canterbury Tales II

The Wife of Bath
Characterization: Direct (the author tells what the character is like; reveals traits about a character in a straightforward manner)
Ex:
- "A worthy woman"
- "somewhat deaf "
- "Her kerchiefs were of finely woven ground"
- "Her hose were of the finest scarlet red and gartered tight; her shoes were soft and new. Bold was her face, handsome, red in hue."
- "She was skilled in wandering by the way"
- "She had gap teeth, set widely"
- "She had a flowing mantle that concealed large hips"
- "She liked to laugh and chat and knew the remedies for love's mischances"
Tone: At first the author's tone directed towards the Wife of Bath seems respectful and complimentary. He discusses the abundance of things she has experienced and about her extravagant appearance. His tone towards her turns to be unfavorable because she commits almost every sin.
Sense of humor: Ironic because he complimented her at the beginning but then grew to not favor her.

Character Study I

We've been in classes for about a month now and I was still getting use to the place. Baylor was now my home. I sat there in my Sociology of Medicine class thinking about how different my life was a year ago. I was in high school, trying to balance college applications and having the fun senior year experience. But boy was I glad I had applied for early action. The stress I had drove me crazy, but it was well worth it. I snapped back to reality when I realized the professor had asked me what I thought about the lecture. I quickly pulled an answer out of thin air and he replied with a smile. Phew.

My Dashboard

I've decided not to experience with Netvibes. I feel like it'll just be another thing I have to worry about. The way I stay oraganized works for me. I use the calendar on my phone for important events that are coming up or in the near future, or something that I know I may forget. I also leave notes in my notepad on my phone telling me not to forget to do something. As for schoolwork, I just remember it. When I get home from school I run through a checklist in my head of what I need to do. On my phone I also have the blog(s) bookmarked so it's convienient. I also have them bookmarked on my laptop. So to stay organized, what works best for me is putting it down in my phone or just remembering it. 

Phonar14 Video

- Phonar: photography narrative
- It's about habits and establishing them from the start
- Rapid fire production; thinking through doing
- Thinking from habits you already have
- Need passion & camera to be a photographer
- You become a slave to habits
- Systems have become someone's solution to a problem; you don't realize it until you think out of the system
- Systems don't want us to think for ourselves
- A photo is fixed in time, it ages
- There is a difference between an image and a photograph
- A photograph is bound by the experience rather than the evidence
- Everyone who has access to taking photos is a photographer
- Most photographers, if everyone is a photographer, keep their photos on social media (Facebook)
- We crop photos into rectangles because they're easier to ship around, but the actual photo is much bigger
- If you want to change the world you have to start describing it differently
- After we get out of the shackles of media, stories will change
- Nonlinear decentralized media environment: online & offline
- Transmedia: story is told from multiple platforms (ex-book, movie, video game, etc)
- When you're a trusted source you can tell your story so you know what you're talking about and people believe you and people can tell you their stories
- Connections lead to platforms and change you into something greater than a supplier; has the potential to be greater than just photography
- Something fixed in time has value
- Some images are to be believed but then questioned culturally
- When you not only read images but when you create images you should question them
- Photography has the ability to change the world
- When we think about ourselves beyond a supplier and as trusted collaborators it strengthens us and allows us to explore
Connections to Canterbury Tales
- It's a story that incorporates many stories and we need to look at the bigger picture
- Every story has a message if you look at it from different perspectives
- There's more depth to a story than just what happened; the experience is even greater
- The journey is a collaboration just like this world needs to be
- Keep in mind all different sides/perspectives

Canterbury Tales I

Geoffrey Chaucer
- Middle class merchant, page in royal house, soldier, diplomat, royal clerk; medieval society
- While serving in the English army in France, he was taken captive and held prisoner; King Edward paid his ransom
- Early poems were based on European poetry
- Later work displayed insight into human character
- Inspiration may have come from his pilgrimage to Canterbuy
- Medieval literature: romance to comedy, rhyme to prose, crude humor to religious mysteries
Vocabulary
- Solicitous: showing care or concern
- Garnished: decorated, trimmed
- Absolution: act of freeing someone of a sin or criminal charge
- Commission: authorization
- Sanguine: confident, cheerful
- Avouches: asserts positively
- Prevarication: evasion of truth
from The Canterbury Tales: The Prologue
- Background: medieval Christianity, pilgrimages were popular ways to express religious devotion
- Canterbury is southeast of London and a major destination for pilgrimages
- People flocked the cathedral to pay respect to Archbishop Thomas a Becket who was murdered
- It's the return of spring with the rain, birds chirping, flowers and leaves
- This time of year, people want to go on pilgrimages; many chose to visit Saint Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral
- He stayed at tavern in Southwark called Tabard Inn; diverse group of 29 travelers walked in
- Joined the group and in the morning they continued one
- The knight is the noblest and polite; his son acts as his apprentice; they both have great strength but are devoted to love
- The son fights for his lady; he sings, plays flute, etc. very passionate and responsible
- Accompanying them is the knight's Yeoman (freeborn servant); he is a forester
- The Prioress is named Madame Eglentyne; she isn't apart of the royal court but she acts like it(delicate and dainty); speaks French; compassionate towards animals
- The Monk loves hunting and horses
- The Friar is a member of the religious order that lives by begging; he hears confessions and assigns easy penance to people who donate
- He is popular with wealthy landowners, innkeepers, and barmaids; pays no attention to beggars because they won't help him; the donations he gets allows him to dress and live rich
- The Merchant borrows money and no one knows he's in debt
- The Clerk devours books rather than food
- The Man of Law, a lawyer, prepares flawless legal documents; appears busier than he actually is
- Franklin is a wealthy farmer; preoccupied with food
- Five Guildsmen (all artisans); with them is a shipman (cook) who stole wine from his merchant
- taffeta-clad Physician bases practices of medicine on knowledge of astronomy and the 4 humors; has good setup w/apothecaries; well acquainted with ancient & modern medical authorities but reads little scripture
- slightly deaf Wife of Bath; keen seamstress; jolly & talkative; gives good love advice
- Parson: gentle & poor; pure of conscious and true to the teachings of Christ; hates excommunicating; kind to sinners; accompanied by his brother the Plowman who works hard and loves God
- Miller: crude jokes and drinking; stout & strong; steals from costumers
- Manciple: stocks an Inn of Court (school of law); uneducated; manages his lord's estates
- Reeve is a good carpenter
- Summoner arraigns those accused of violating Church law; uses power corruptly for own good; uses position to dominate young women in his jurisdiction
- Pardoner; thinks he rides fashionably; disrespectful manipulation of the poor for his own material gain; despised by the Church
- Narrator apologizes for any possible offense; wants to tell the truth even if its disgusting
- The host (governor, judge, record keeper) of the group welcomes the company; wants everyone to be happy and entertained
- Each person will tell two tales on the way to Canterbury and two on the way back; the most meaningful will receive a meal paid for by everyone else
- They start their journey and if anyone disagrees with the host, they will pay for everything spent along the way
-The knight begins the first tale

Bede Notes

Background
- Majority of Britains are illiterate
- Through the monastery, Bede had access to books and literature
The Situation of Britain and Ireland: Their Earliest Inhabitants
- Britain (Albion) is surrounded by Gaul, Germany, and Spain
- Opposite side of Britain is the isles of Orcades
- Britain is known for good pasture, rich in grain, rivers, shellfish, pearls, metals
- Nights are short in summer ; summer days and winter nights are long
- 5 books of divine law, five languages, four nations- English, British, Scots, Picts
- Latin is common medium through the study of the scriptures
- Original inhabitants were Britains in south; Picts in north
- Ireland is mild and healthy in climate, no reptiles, scented air; original home of the Scots

from The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
- East Anglia and Northumbria were split up by Vikings and those w/o property went oversea to Seine
- The king's best thanes died at the same time
- Anglia and Northumbria harassed Wessex with raiding bands
- 6 ships did evil in the Isle of Wight
- The English battled the Danes at sea and the English won
- That summer, 20 ships perished with men
- Alfred, the English king, passed away 6 days before All Saint's Day
- Athelwald went over sea to Essex with all the ships he could get, lured Anglian forced to break the peace
- Eohric, Aethelwald, Byrhtsige, Ysopa, and Oscytel died in battle
- The Kentish and Danes fought
- A comet appeared
- Alfred died; peace was fastened in Tiddingford

Declaration of Learning Independence

The declaration of learning independence allows students to learn as they please. We are given independence to explore and comprehend in the style that works best for us. Some may learn visually, through experience, or through listening to someone/something. This indepence we are given in this class gives each and every one of us the fair opportunity to take on learning in a way that works best for us. 

Vocabulary #4

obsequious - adj. attentive in an ingratiating or servile manner;attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery
Ex- They were served by obsequious waiters.
beatitude - a state of supreme happiness
Ex- All of our actions are to be directed toward such beatitude.
bete noire - a person or thing that one particularly dislikes
Ex- Uncle Edward was my father's bete noire.
bode - verb indicate by signs
Ex- Their argument did not bode well for the future.
dank - adj. unpleasantly cool and humid
Ex- Walking into the dank basement sent chills up my body.
ecumenical - adj. of worldwide scope or applicability; concerned with promoting unity among churches or religions
Ex- The local churches are sponsoring an ecumenical services on the green.
fervid - adj. extremely hot; characterized by intense emotion
Ex- The candidate made a fervid speech that held the audience's attention.
fetid - adj. offensively malodorous
Ex- The fetid water of the marsh made me sick.
gargantuan - adj. of great mass; huge and bulky
Ex- The giant almost flattened the travelers with his gargantuan foot as he walked through the forest.
heyday - noun the period of greatest prosperity or productivity
Ex- The paper has lost millions of readers since its heyday in 1972.
incubus - someone who depresses or worries others; a situation resembling a terrifying dream
Ex- Debt is a big incubus in developing countries.
infrastructure - noun the stock of basic facilities and capital equipment needed for the functioning of a country or area; the basic structure or features of a system or organization
Ex- Access what damage you can and rebuild the critical infrastructure system.
inveigle - verb influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering
Ex- We cannot inveigle him into putting pen to paper.
kudos - noun an expression of approval and commendation
Ex- Kudos to everyone that put the event together.
lagniappe - noun a small gift (especially one given by a merchant to a customer who makes a purchase)
Ex- Jenny gave her favorite teacher a lagniappe.
prolix - adj. tediously prolonged or tending to speak or write at great length
Ex- He found the narrative too prolix and discursive.
protege - noun a person who receives support and protection from an influential patron who furthers the protege's career
Ex- He was an aid and protege to the former senator.
prototype - noun a standard or typical example
Ex- The firm is testing a prototype of the weapon.
sycophant - noun a person who tries to please someone in order to gain a personal advantage
Ex- I thought you wanted a competent assistant, not a nodding sycophant.
tautology - noun useless repetition; (logic) a statement that is necessarily true
Ex- John's English teacher told him to avoid tautology in his essay.
truckle - verb yield to out of weakness; try to gain favor by cringing or flattering
Ex- The student truckled to the bully who would push him on the playground.

Literature Analysis #1

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
1. The story opens in London, 600 years in the future where nearly everyone and everything is industrialized. Everyone takes orders from a few people at the top of a World State. Humans are grown in a lab and divided into various castes. They are conditioned to believe moral "truths"- consumerism is the main focus. The main job of everyone is to keep the economy stable and strong. Sex is casual. A narcotic called soma is part of the everyday lifestyle. There is no sadness, individuality, no families, no literature, and no religion. Conservative Bernard has a date with unorthodoxed Lenina. While they are at the Savage Reservation (a place completely opposite of "The Other Place") they meet a boy named John (who turns out to be the Director's long lost son) and his mother. Bernard uses John as blackmail to the Director so he doesn't get exiled; the Director resigns. John isn't impressed with the civilized world, and the fact that he isn't allowed to quote Shakespeare. John refuses to have sex with Lenina and calls her a whore. His mother, Linda, overdoses on soma and dies; no one understands why he is so sad because to them, death is no big deal. John causes a riot and Bernard and Helmholtz try to help him but end up being exiled. Johns runs away to an abandoned light house, flogging and starving himself. Everyone comes to watch and take part in an orgy where John ends up having sex with Lenina. The next morning he hangs himself.
2. Brave New World has a few themes; science as a mean of control is a quite apparent one. Biology, psychology, and physiology are misused in the control of reproduction, Soma, and entertainment machines. The World State's control over human activity destroys even the scientific progress that gained it such control. Another theme includes consumer society. The attitudes and behaviors of the world in the book are extremes of our society today where people's happiness is based off the ability to satisfy their needs. Freedom and confinement is another strong theme emphasized in Brave New World. People are in a constant state of imprisonment of happiness. They are condition to not feel negative emotions. They are imprisoned by brainwashed sayings, drugs, and promiscuity. 
3. The tone of Brave New World is satirical, parodic, and dramatic. The book is a satire of society today.This society is made to be seen as wonderful and prosperous while the book really is a warning of the completely controlled society. Students even turn pale and sick when hearing the word "mother." In chapter 13, Lenina forgets to give a bottle its immunization. The text dramatically says, "Twenty-two years, eight months, and four days from that moment, a promising young Alpha-Minus administrator at Mwanza-Mwanza was to die of trypanosomiasis." Also at the end of chapter 3 it says, "Slowly, majestically, with a faint humming of machinery, the Conveyors moved forward, thirty-three centimeters an hour. In the red darkness glinted inumerable rubies." Brave New World combines dark drama with healthy puns and parodies such as "Orgy-porgy" or "Thank Ford!"
4. The author used a parody of a utopian society to create a disutopian society. Irony is also used in the book in which the reader knows things that the characters do not, and that this new world is an extreme version of our society. Being able to identify a metaphor too strengthened my understanding of the book. The Director continuously referred to the people as insects in saying, "This hive of industry." The author used symbolism of soma to represent the use of instant gratification to control the people. Multiple allusions to Shakespeare are present such as, "O brave new world that has such people in it." Another example from chapter 11 illustrates the authors use of visual imagery when describing characters and scenes- "Finally–and this was by far the strongest reason for people's not wanting to see poor Linda–there was her appearance. Fat; having lost her youth; with bad teeth, and a blotched complexion, and that figure (Ford!)–you simply couldn't look at her without feeling sick, yes, positively sick." Personification is also used, as it is seen  in a sentence in chapter 18- "Eternity was in our lips and eyes." In that same chapter, the author also used a hyperbole when Bernard asked the savage if he had eaten something that had made his stomach upset due to his ill-looking face. Hence the Savage responded with "I ate civilization." Precision of language is present in Brave New World. Society is described in which scientific exactitude is everything: "eighty-eight cubic meters of index cards". The story is mainly narrated from the third person point of view of Bernard of John."'In brief,' the Director summed up, 'the parents were the father and the mother.'…'These,' he said gravely, 'are unpleasant facts; I know it. But then most historical facts are unpleasant.'"
(I read the book online so I can't cite the pages)
Characterization
1. An example of direct characterization includes, "The mockery made him feel an outsider; and feeling an outsider he behaved like one, which increased the prejudice against him and intensified the contempt and hostility aroused by his physical defects..." A second example of direct characterization is, "Tall and rather thin but upright, the Director advanced into the room. He had a long chin and big rather prominent teeth, just covered, when he was not talking, by his full, floridly curved lips. Old, young? Thirty? Fifty? Fifty-five?" An example if indirect characterization includes, "'And then he spends most of his time by himself-alone.' There was horror in Fanny's voice." A second example of indirect characterization is, "Alpha children wear grey. They work much harder than we do, because they're so frightfully clever. I'm awfully glad I'm a Beta, because I don't work so hard. And then we are much better than the Gammas and Deltas. Gammas are stupid. They all wear green, and Delta children wear khaki. Oh no, I don't want to play with Delta children. And Epsilons are still worse. They're too stupid to be able to read or write. Besides they wear black, which is such a beastly color. I'm so glad I'm a Beta." The author uses both approaches to further the novel's themes and his purpose/message he wants the readers to take in.
2. Yes the author's syntax is adjusted when focusing on a character. The syntax becomes more lyrical to express a specific character and how they feel and think. An example of this is clear when John talks about love and Shakespeare.
3. As the protagonist, Bernard Marx is a dynamic character(at least for a time being). As the start of the story Bernard is reserved. He stayed away from soma, avoided confrontation, and wasn't a sexually active man. After John came into his life, Bernard completely changed and became outgoing. He now took soma, hosted parties, and attracted women. Bernard shifted from being timid to being narcissistic. By the end, he has lost his popularity and is back to being dissatisfied with his life. Bernard is a flat character and can easily be described in one sentence-someone who is consumed with misery. 
4. When reading Brave New World I felt like I was meeting a character rather than a person. The way Bernard dealt with situations he faced wasn't compatible with how one would react today. His responses were unrelateable "Bernard gave his orders in the sharp, rather arrogant and even offensive tone of one who does not feel himself too secure his superiority. To have dealing with members of the lower castes was always, for Bernard, a most distressing experience. For whatever the cause...Bernard's physique was hardly better than that of the average Gamma. He stood 8 centimeters short of the standard Alpha height and was slender in proportion. Contact with members of the lower castes always reminded him painfully of his physical inadequacy." I personally feel that the author just seemed to describe characters. 

Just a video I saw that others may want to watch.

My Sister Can Read

It took my sister 5 minutes and 18 seconds to read it with 8 mistakes.

Vocabulary #3

accolade - noun a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction
Ex- Emma won the accolade last July.
acerbity - noun a sharp sour taste; a sharp bitterness; a rough and bitter manner
Ex- The old woman's acerbity was clear when she yelled at the kids for playing soccer in the field across the street.
attrition - noun the act of rubbing together; wearing something down by friction; a wearing down to weaken or destroy; 
Ex- The council tried to wear down the opposition by attrition.
bromide - a trite or obvious remark
Ex- Some bromide about the literary life being as unfair as the normal one may have to do
chauvinist - noun an extreme bellicose nationalist; a person with a prejudiced belief in the superiority of his or her own kind
Ex- His prejudiced behavior brands him a chauvinist.
chronic - adj. being long-lasting and recurrent or characterized by long suffering
Ex- The husband tried to settle the chronic disputes between his wife and her mother.
expound - verb add details, as to an account or idea; clarify the meaning of and discourse in a learned way, usually in writing; state
Ex- He was expounding a powerful argument.
factionalism- self-interested
Ex- Frequent internal splits have produced great factionalism.
immaculate - adj. completely neat and clean; free from stain or blemish; without fault or error
Ex- Leonardo DiCaprio wore an immaculate white suit in The Great Gatsby.
imprecation - noun the act of calling down a curse that invokes evil (and usually serves as an insult); a slanderous accusation
Ex- She hurled her imprecations at anyone who might be listening.
ineluctable - adj. impossible to avoid or evade:"inescapable conclusion"
Ex- Although death is ineluctable, we must not allow our natural fear of oblivion to prevent us from having an enjoyable, productive life.
mercurial - liable to sudden unpredictable change
Ex- Jim has a mercurial temperament.
palliate - verb provide physical relief, as from pain; lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of
Ex- Treatment works by palliating symptoms.
protocol - noun code of correct conduct; forms of ceremony and etiquette observed by diplomats and heads of state
Ex- Protocol prevents the prince from making any public statement in his defense.
resplendent - adj. having great beauty and splendor
Ex- She was resplendent in a lavender dress.
stigmatize - verb mark with a stigma or stigmata; to accuse or condemn or openly or formally or brand as disgraceful
Ex- The institution was stigmatized as a last resort for the destitute.
sub rosa- happening or done in secret
Ex- The committee operates sub rosa
vainglory - noun outspoken conceit
Ex- He didn't hesitate to flaunt his great personality vainglory in public.
vestige - a trace of something that is disappearing or no longer exists
Ex- After the huge fire, only a vestige of the house remained visible in the ashes
volition - noun the act of making a choice; the capability of conscious choice and decision and intention
Ex- He decided to enter rehab of his own volition because he wanted to restart his life.

Beowulf Essay

There are various types of heroes that are synonymous. In Beowulf, Beowulf exemplifies an Anglo-Saxon hero. In this monomyth, Beowulf displayed bravery, strength, and honor as an epic hero. Similar to Beowulf, Martin Luther King Jr. embodies the characteristics of a contemporary heroic symbol of his time, demonstrating fearlessness, intelligence, and honor. 

Beowulf is an artifact of his time, being a person who is able to provide a sense of security to people. Beowulf fought to protect people, not for revenge. “They had in remembrance my courage and might. Many had seen me come safe from the conflict; Beowulf expected no reward for his action, but rather just being able to put another notch in his belt.” Beowulf was the ideal Anglo-Saxon hero, famous for winning against evil every time which gave him the right to be confident. As this idol, people looked up to him. Beowulf wasn't arrogant-he had integrity. Beowulf was known for going against the odds and risking his life. As a king, it was Beowulf's job to protect his people, and even though he knew he couldn't defeat the dragon, it didn't stop him from trying. Wiglaf knew it was his duty to protect his king and when he saw Beowulf fall he joined the fight. This is the cultural values of duty and honor that were demonstrated. Beowulf not only displays the qualities of a hero, but it displays the nature of leadership and politics of society, and the outer forces. This epic was consumed with three big forces: fate, God, and human action. 

Martin Luther King Jr. is the ideal hero of modern day society. He was an average, respected citizen who rose above the challenge. He faced the problem of racism and segregation and symbolized the potential and power that people have. He was a hero. He was someone who fought back and cared more about the people around him than himself. Martin Luther risked his life and never gave up trying, same as the way Beowulf persevered. He proved modern society's acceptance of change. In today's society, individual rights are prominent, and Martin Luther King Jr. embodies a hero of our time that fought for what he believed was right. He is seen as someone who gave his words, actions, and life on behalf of others.

Beowulf is an epic story that symbolizes an ideal hero of that time. Beowulf portrayed these qualities as he took risks and displayed immense courage. Martin Luther King Jr. too displayed courage. Both Beowulf and Martin Luther King Jr. exemplified heroes of their time periods-heroes that embodied bravery and courage. They both fought against something they wanted destroyed, however, Beowulf used heavy violence while Martin Luther King Jr. strayed away from it. They are well known for leaving an impact on society as heroes. 

Will Study For Food

Since we're now seniors, that means college applications and scholarships. To be honest, I haven't really been looking into scholarships yet, but it is something that I need to do. I've been so overwhelmed with school work, ACT/SAT prep, and college applications that I haven't devoted any time into researching scholarships. I need scholarships so that I can actually go to a college of my choice and further my education to start on the path for my future career. I need scholarships so I don't make my parents go bankrupt and have to sell their house. I don't really have a goal of how much money I would like to receive from scholarships; I will be thankful for anything I get. Every little bit pf money adds up and helps out. One scholarship that I absolutely will be applying for is the Santa Barbara Foundation Scholarship. This foundation gives scholarships to quite a few students, in hope that a lack of money won't stop them from attending college. Scholarship awards range from $500 to $5,000 per academic year. Recipients must maintain full-time status and a minimum 2.0 GPA to remain eligible. Recipients are eligible for 4 years of undergraduate funding and 4 years of medical/graduate level funding. Beginning now, I am going to research other scholarship opportunities that are available to me.

Comprehension Questions

Prologue

1. The way Shield became ruler of the Danes was unusual because he was an orphan that was adopted by the king of the Danes. Shield's funeral was legendary because he was laid to rest on his ship covered in treasure. Shield is Hrothgar's great grandfather.

Heorot is Attacked

1. Hrothgar took the responsibility to construct the magnificent Heorot, a mead-hall. Grendel attacked the hall every night for 12 years. The Danes felt great grief and sorrow and lost hope in God, praying to rid Grendel from their land.

The Hero Comes to Heorot

1. When Beowulf heard of Hrothgar's problems with Grendel, he gathered soldier and set sail to Heorot.

2. When the Geats first arrive in Denmark they meet the sea-guard of Danes. The sea-guard warns the Geats not to raid the Danes, however, Beowulf tells him he has come to help defeat Grendel.

3. Hrothgar's herald is Wulfgar. Wulfgar tells Beowulf and his men that he has seen braver strangers as them. He tells Hrothgar to exchange words with Beowulf because of his bravery. Hrothgar then tells Wulfgar to bring Beowulf to him so that they can discuss Grendel. I am surprised Hrothgar knows so much about Beowulf.

4. When he enters, Beowulf tells Hrothgar that he will slay Grendel if Hrothgar in return provides shelter and food to his men. Hrothgar paid off Beowulf's father's feuds and now Beowulf has returned to repay an old favor.
Feast At Heorot
1. Unferth accuses Beowulf of vanity and losing to Breca in a contest. Beowulf explains that he was busy killing 9 sea monsters, and declares his strength. Beowulf then accuses Unferth of being responsible for the death on his family. This shows Beowulf's confidence and his will to prove himself to others.
2. During the feast, Queen Wealhtheow greeted everyone including Beowulf, and thanked God that he had come.
The Fight With Grendel
1. Instead of arming for battle, Beowulf disarmed, taking off all of his armor and putting away his sword.
2. When Grendel enters Heorot, he kills a man and then goes after Beowulf. Beowulf grabs Grendel and while trying to break free, Beowulf rips off Grendel's arm. Grendel escapes, but his wound is fatal.
Celebration at Heorot
1. Beowulf is like Sigemund because he is a hero who saved others from a monster. Beowulf isn't like Heremod because Heremod was a selfish king who never protected his people.
2. Hrothgar considers Beowulf to be his son and gives him a sword, shield, a golden set of armor, and a helmet. Unferth has nothing more to say as Beowulf is clearly a hero.
3. Finn's step-brother, leader of the Scyldings, dies in battle and his second in command makes truce in the war with the Frisians. With the truce, the Scyldings stayed with Finn over winter, eventually killing him and leaving back with his sister Hildeburh. Using a woman as bride to heal enmity between tribes is not a good idea.
4. Wealhtheow asks Hrothgar not to give the throne to Beowulf.
5. The necklace Beowulf is given, he eventually gives to his uncle Hygelac. Wealhtheow asks Beowulf to look after her sons.
6. Many men remain in the hall because they don't know the danger that is coming-Grendel's mother is coming for revenge.
Another Attack
1. Grendel's mother has come to Heorot because she is angry about the death of her son. It is not for the same reason that Grendle had, she has come in anger and vengeance for her son.
2. Hrothgar is in great sorrow after Grendel's mother takes the kings advisor, Aeschere. Hrothgar offers Beowulf chests of gold to slay the monster and set them free again from evil.
3. The mere is like a lake with boiling water and full of sea serpents and dragons. No man has ever reached the bottom and very few have ever gone near it. This is where Grendel's mother's den is.
Beowulf Fights Grendel's Mother
1. Beowulf tells Hrothgar to respond to Grendel's mother by sending Beowulf and his men to slay her so that they can be free from demons.
2. Before Beowulf enters the mere, he shoots one of the serpents with an arrow that lives within the dark waters of the mere.
3. Beowulf prepares for battle by dressing in noble garments. Unferth gives Beowulf the sword known as Hrunting. This sword has never failed a man in battle.
4. When Beowulf enters the mere, he spends the majority of the day swimming to the bottom. When he finally reaches the bed of the mere, Grendel's mother feels his presence and grabs him. Where Grendel's mother lives, it is engulfed with blood and gore of humans that the giants have killed.
5. The sword Beowulf borrowed from Unferth becomes unless when trying to penetrate Grendel's mother's skin.
6. Grendel's mother cannot penetrate Beowulf's armor which allows him to escape her knife.
7. Beowulf then kills Grendel's mother by slicing her neck with a sword made for giants. When she first dies, a light appears, guiding Beowulf out of the cave. Beowulf cuts the head off of Grendel and brings it to the surface. The blood of Grendel melts the sword he used to kill Grendel's mother. The hilt of the sword is still intact however, so he brings that to the surface as well.
8. Beowulf finds his small group of surprised Geats awaiting his return.
Further Celebration
1. Beowulf gives to Heorot the head of Grendel and the sword hilt.
2. Hrothgar tells Beowulf that he will provide protection for him and his people. Hrothgar tells us that Heremod was a horrible king who searched only for death and destruction. He tells us this so that Beowulf understands how to be a just leader. Heremod dies alone because of the pain he has put on his people. Hrothgar teaches us the example of how to lead when given an overwhelming source of power.
3. Unferth receives the sword he let Beowulf borrow when trying to kill Grendel's mother.
Beowulf Returns Home
1. Hrothgar predicts that Beowulf will be the king of Geats, received many treasures, and make peace with other nations.
2. Hydg is young and beautiful. She is wise while Modthryth is very evil and merciless.
3. He wants to end the feud between the Danes and Ingeld. Ingled will devoice the daughter and attack Hrothgar. An old warrior will convince Ingeld to fight. No because hero’s are supposed to be always act with honor.
4. He reports his adventures in a very exaggerated way. He's honest about the story but he explains it in a way that builds himself up more. It’s not that expected because he’s supposed to a noble hero but he is concerned about glory so it makes sense.
5. Beowulf gives most of his treasure to Hygelac and Hygd and in return Hygd gives him treasure and land for himself.
The Dragon Wakes
1. Part 2 takes place 40 winters (40 years) later.
2. Thief has stolen his gold. The man was poor and hungry and it was left there by a man from an ancient race who realized he, like his ancestors, would die and therefore buried the treasure.
3. The dragon rampaged through the land trying to find the thief and destroys his throne hall.
4. Beowulf thinks his home was burnt because he believes he has angered God. He makes a new shield to fight the dragon. He will fight it alone. He will die.
5. Hygelac dies against the Frisians. Beowulf was able to get away but he mourned for his death. He was offered the throne, but did not accept out of respect for Hygelac.
6. Heardred is killed while fighting the Swedes. Beowulf avenges him by killing Onela, the Swedish king.
7. Beowulf brings 11 men with him to meet the dragon.
8. Hygelac's oldest brother Herebeald was killed by a relative. An arrowed missed its target and hit Herebeald, devastating King Hrethel. There is a lengthy portion detailing his lamentations. War breaks out between the Swedes and the Geats. Beowulf avenges Hygelac's death by defeating Daeghrefn in front of the legions.
Beowulf Attacks the Dragon
1. Beowulf tells his companions to wait back while he fights because he is the only one that has any hope of killing him.
2. The first time Beowulf faces the dragon. his shield, helmet, and sword fail him and he is wounded. His companions all flee the dragon except for Wiglaf who stays to help. He tells the others that Beowulf chose them as his coompanions because he believed them to be great warriors and that they should not abandon him now in his time of need. He rushes to aid Beowulf.
3. The second time Beowulf meets the dragon, he bites him in the neck, leaving a mortal wound. Wiglaf impales the dragon.
4. Beowulf tells Wiglaf to bring the dragon's treasure to him. Beowulf thanks God for the treasure. He wants to be buried in a tower on a high cliff by the water where sailors can see the tower and remember his name.
Beowulf's Funeral
1. The warriors see Wiglaf trying to revive Beowulf and Wiglaf gets mad at them for leaving Beowulf. Wiglaf expects the Geats to be attacked and their nation destroyed. 
2. The messenger announces that Beowulf is dead. Ongentheow and his men make fun of the Geat. Hygelac comes to the Geats with reinforcements. Ongentheow retreated once he saw more men, but was cornered by Hygelac and was killed. The messenger says that the treasure is cursed. Beowulf can't be cursed because he had never been greedy. The final image is of a dragon.
3. Wiglaf tells the crowd how great Beowulf was at fighting.
4. The dragon was pushed off the edge of the cliff into the ocean because it was evil.
5. The Geats mourned and sung and everyone was sad during the 10 day burial.
6. The Geats say that Beowuf was a kind man. It is not something you would usually call a war hero who is killing a lot of people.

Vocabulary #2

accoutrements - additional items of dress or equipment, or other items carried or worn by a person or used for a particular activity
Ex- The new system will provide the country with all the communications accoutrements of a more developed economy.
apogee - the highest point; a final climactic stage
Ex-  The White House is considered the apogee of American achievement.
apropos - adj. of an appropriate or pertinent nature; adv. by the way; at an opportune time
Ex- For alphabetical and even musical clichés it's apropos.
bicker - noun a quarrel about petty points; verb argue over petty things
Ex- Whenever the phone rings, they bicker over who's going to answer it.
coalesce - verb fuse or cause to grow together; mix together different elements
Ex- The puddles has coalesced into shallow streams.
contretemps - noun an unexpected and unfortunate occurence
Ex- The hotel had to deal with more than one contretemps before the end of the night.
convolution - noun the action of coiling or twisting or winding together; a convex fold or elevation in the surface of the brain; the shape of something rotating rapidly
Ex- The crosses were adorned with elaborate convolutions.
cull - noun the person or thing that is rejected or set aside as inferior in quality; verb remove something that has been rejected;look for and gather
Ex- The anecdotes are culled from Greek and Roman history.
disparate - adj. including markedly dissimilar elements; fundamentally different or distinct in quality or kind
Ex- They inhabit disparate worlds of thought.
dogmatic - adj. characterized by assertion of unproved or unprovable principles; relating to or involving dogma; of or pertaining to or characteristic of a doctrine or code of beliefs accepted as authoritative
Ex- He gave his opinion without trying to be dogmatic.
licentious - adj. lacking moral discipline; especially sexually unrestrained
Ex- Tom is licentious and has no regard for mortality toward the law.
mete - to distribute equally
Ex- He denounced the maltreatment meted out to minorities.
noxious - adj. injurious to physical or mental health
Ex- They were overcome by the noxious fumes.
polemic - adj. of or involving dispute or controversy; noun a controversy (especially over a belief or dogma); a writer who argues in opposition to others (especially in theology)
Ex- Brittany was surprised by John's polemic against the cultural realtivism of the sixties.
populous - adj. densely populated
Ex- Jenny was tired of the traffic on the populous island.
probity - noun complete and confirmed integrity; having strong moral principles
Ex- The committee feels that he has demonstrated little probity in this matter.
repartee - noun adroitness and cleverness in reply
Ex- His agile mind, quick wit and ready repartee made him something of a favorite to the media.
supervene - verb take place as an additional or unexpected development
Ex- Any plan that is made is liable to be disrupted by superveneing events.
truncate - adj. terminating abruptly by having or as if having an end or point cut off; verb make shorter as if by cutting off; approximate by ignoring all terms beyond a chosen one; replace a corner by a plane
Ex- Time didn't allow him to read the entire novel, so he simply presented a truncated version.
unimpeachable - adj. beyond doubt or reproach; completely acceptable; not open to exception or reproach; free of guilt; not subject to blame
Ex- The police questioned the unimpeachable witness because more details about the crime could be uncovered.