The Irony in the Ideal Hero - 700 Words

The Irony in the Ideal Hero Beowulf is an epic poem about a great hero in pagan society written by a Christian poet. During the time that Beowulf was written, the Germanic tribes were in flux, transitioning from paganism to Christianity. The conflict between the ideal pagan warrior and Christian ethics is evident throughout the poem. Beowulf is portrayed as the ideal hero because of his bravery, strength, and skill as a warrior; his success over Grendel and Grendel’s mother is rewarded with riches, a typical practice in pagan society. The tenets that make Beowulf a great hero conflict with Christian ideals such as love they neighbor and thou shalt not kill. Peace, mercy, and kindness are essential ethical components of Christianity while†¦show more content†¦People today are still seeking revenge, one could say that a settlement from a lawsuit could be considered a modern day death price, and the death penalty could be synonymous with the more violent forms of revenge performed by Germanic warri ors. The promise of reward is another aspect of Pagan warrior life that conflicts with Christian ethics. Beowulf fights Grendel not only to help save the Danes but also for personal gain. By defeating Grendel, Beowulf is rewarded with land, wealth, and a gleaming reputation as a fierce and courageous warrior. â€Å"There is nothing you wish for/that won’t be yours if you win through alive† (line 660-61). There is a contradiction of the Christian ideal that one should perform good deeds not out of expectation for reward but because it is the righteous thing do. The idea of fighting for personal gain and glory is also antithetical with the value placed on humility in the Christian religion. Beowulf is anything but humble when he boasts about defeating the â€Å"sea-brutes† (line 549) to Unferth in the Great Hall, the night he arrives in Heorot. Beowulf continues to toot his own horn when he declares, â€Å"I will show him how Geats shape to kill/in the heat of ba ttle† (line 602-603). After defeating both Grendel and his mother, Hrothgar awards Beowulf with various riches such as helmet, breast-mail, a sword known as the Hrunting, and eight horses. Later on in the story,Show MoreRelatedThe Representation of Women in Much Ado About Nothing Essay1492 Words   |  6 Pagesportrayal of women in Much Ado About Nothing. Hero can be easily compared with Beatrice being of a similar class and very close relatives. Then you have the characters of Margaret and Ursula, the servants, who are also very comparable and show a portrayal of women in lower classes. This scene is cementing the idea that the play is a Shakespearean comedy and we can see this because the Party is used to create dramatic irony between Beatrice and Benedick in their amusingRead MoreMankinds Place in the World: Oedipus Essays772 Words   |  4 Pagesto make our prayer as to the man surest in mortal ways and wisest in the ways of God.† (1. Prologue. 35. 43.), the audience can understand Oedipuss role as king and the respect to his power, as with an irony on the fate bestowed upon our hero. As the fate of Oedipus is that of the tragic hero, Aristotles descriptions of simple and complex plots within a tragedy lead to such â€Å"events that are fearful and pathetic (Aristotle. 70). As Aristotle said that a tragedy should evoke two emotions: terrorRead MoreComparison of Oedipus the King and Death of a Salesman Essay1025 Words   |  5 Pagesplay are setting, irony, plot, characters, and theme, which will be discussed in the essay. Oedipus the King opens in a Greek amphitheatre depicting the front of a Theban palace. Throughout the play, the setting remains constant. This changes to a more fast-paced play with different settings in different places in Death of a Salesman. Dramatic irony in Oedipus the King is evident throughout, which is similar to the latter play, but in a different form. In here, the irony is evident. OedipusRead MoreSir Gawain And The Green Knight Essay1687 Words   |  7 PagesSir Gawain and the Green Knight contains ambiguity and irony that make it interesting to read and teach. Gawain’s conflict arose when he accepted the girdle that could protect him and when he lied to his host, severing fellowship with the lord for courtesy with the lady. By utilizing a social reconstructionist philosophy of teaching that emphasizes personal beliefs and ethics, a teacher will help the students establish their identities and learn to appreciate classic literature. Sir Gawain and theRead MoreAnalysis Of Byrons Poem1306 Words   |  6 Pages One such work is Byron’s, Don Juan. The poem follows the adventures of the Spanish hero Don Juan. He travels around the world and gets involved in bizarre situations, usually due to a romantic interest. The poem seems to share more similarities with the epic tradition than Wordsworth’s. Don Juan’s titular character, like many heroes in other epics, pre-existed the Byron poems. The story is vast in scale; it follows Don Juan’s adventures in love and travel. Juan’s adventures pull him from situationRead More Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby and the Tragic Hero Essay977 Words   |  4 PagesGatsby and the Tragic Hero      Ã‚  Ã‚   Aristotle invented a list of criteria in an attempt to determine the exact definition of a tragic hero.   The list states the following - the tragic hero must cause his own down fall; the tragic heros fate is undeserved; the tragic heros punishment exceeds his crime; the tragic hero must be a great and noble person according to the standards of the current society.   In Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby can be defined as a tragic hero who possesses all ofRead MoreMaking difficult decisions show up in life more often than realized. These choices can alter a800 Words   |  4 Pagesthe end leads the characters to discover themselves. In both stories the authors use the literary devices theme, irony and symbolism to compare and contrast the main ideas. In â€Å"The Bicycle† Horton illustrates the theme of making difficult choices. The choices Hannah makes alters her life in positive and negative ways. Being completely devoted to the life of a pianist seemed to be the ideal choice at first, but in the end she realized how much of her childhood she had lost and how lonely she became.Read MoreVerbal Irony In Oedipus Rex941 Words   |  4 Pages‘Oedipus Rex’ is a tragic play written by Sophocles, that is known for its countless examples of irony found within it. The story of Oedipus is a classic Greek tragedy. Oedipus is the son of King Laius and Queen Jocasta in Thebes. The Oracle at Delphi reveals to them the tragic fate within their family. Their son Oedipus was destined to kill his father and marry his mother. To try and prevent this horrendous fate, King Laius sends his son to be terminated at the mountain of Kithairon. Although KingRead MoreSophocles Oedipus Rex as Modern Tragedy Essay examples1184 Words    |  5 Pagesliterary studies. So, for the purposes here we’ll use Aristotle’s five criteria of a tragedy: a tragic hero of noble birth, a tragic flaw or mistake, a fall from grace, a moment of remorse, and catharsis. By any standard, Oedipus Rex clearly meets these five criteria. In The Poetics, Aristotle uses Oedipus to illustrate the ideal tragedy. Aristotle writes Oedipus is a model tragic hero because he is a man of high standing, but not perfect (he is guilty of excessive pride and self righteousness)Read MoreOedipus The King : A Tragic Hero1541 Words   |  7 PagesAristotle (384-322 B.C.) defines a tragic hero as one who possesses the characteristics of hamartia, peripeteia, anagnorisis, and that the characters fate must be greater than deserved (Else). Since the main character in Sophocles’ classic tragedy Oedipus Rex or Oedipus the King matches up to Aristotle’s definition, Oedipus certainly exemplifies what it is to be a â€Å"tragic hero.† The play’s protagonist Oedipus is revered as a good man and intelligent ruler who acts quickly to support Thebes- a city

Pet Friendly By Sue Pethick - 1324 Words

Animal companionship is available through many choices and may include such examples as furry, four legged creatures or those that may slither and frighten even the most ardent animal lover. Still, the mutual bond that forms between owner and guardian transcends the daily duties associated with pet ownership. These emotional relationships are corroborated through personal stories and often presented in heartwarming movies and novels. Pet Friendly by Sue Pethick utilizes an encouraging theme to embody one example, which exemplifies how pet ownership, including the rewarding aspect of adoption, has a magnitude of positive benefits on the physical, emotional, and social well-being of the human companion. There are a significant number of†¦show more content†¦Unfortunately, some individuals may have reservations about animal adoption because of preconceived notions of low success rates. Mindful of these concerns, Pet Smart Charities sought information regarding the success rates of animal adoptions. In three surveys performed over a one year period with respondents who adopted dogs and cats from either a PetSmart location, Adopt-a-Thon event, or shelter, Neidhart and Boyd concluded there was an overwhelming positive response to animal adoption (175). Ninety percent reported being very satisfied with the animal chosen, while only two percent responded very dissatisfied. Additionally, eighty eight percent reported being very satisfied with the adoption experience, and ninety eight percent would recommend their adoption location to others (176). While adoption is just the beginning of the subsequent years of happiness and companionship for the pet and the caretaker, numerous oth er benefits accompany this camaraderie. Individuals who share their lives with animals reap numerous physical benefits, which leads to an improvement of overall health. One of the most widely known physical rewards is simply achieved by exercising with a dog, which mutually benefits both parties and involves merely taking the recommended thirty minute daily walk (Benjamin 1). Additionally, the reduction in heart disease, which is a more

The Handmaids Tale Essay Example For Students

The Handmaids Tale Essay The Handmaids Tale presents a futuristic society in which men and women do not have an emotional relationship. They need one another only for procreation. Men are represented as powerful and self-sufficient. Women are relegated to the position of servants. The intricacies of this society are examined through the characters of Offred and the Commander. By describing their daily lives, Atwood suggests that there are underlying problems in the Republic of Gilead relationships. She uses the Scrabble scene to symbolize that the characters needs are greater than society is able to meet. Through great risk the Commander seeks to change his relationship with Offred and therefore, take a small step toward changing society. Offred is summoned to the Commander’s room for unknown reasons. A plethora of possibilities go through her mind about why he would break the rules to see her. As she enters his office she notices his position and the serious tone of his body language. â€Å"I think I will cry,†(178) Offred thinks as she takes a seat. She is trapped in a sticky situation internally. She is obliged to go to the Commanders room at night, regardless if she doesn’t want to break the rules. Because of this new relationship, Offred is exposed to many new feelings and insights. Many of these feelings are uncomfortable and confusing. She does not know what to expect next. More important, Offred knows she is expendable to the Commander. From this situation Offred is given a new role as a handmaid. She is not only needed for her ovaries, but also wanted for her mind. The Commander uses her for himself, which is selfish yet Offred has an opportunity for Offred to open her mind as she once used to. She gains a new confidence and acquires a new sense about herself and her situation as a handmaid. Offred is not allowed to speak about her situation but has the ability to look at herself differently. She now has new meaning in the house, and a relationship of the mind with the Commander. The Commander says; â€Å"I want. †(178) Hearing this Offred does not want to give away her eagerness. He continues, â€Å"I would like you to play a game of Scrabble with me. †(179) He shows a new side to himself by exposing a weakness. A man who was an intimidating force in the house is seen differently. He exposes a forceless side. It is understood that he too suffers in this new society. He feels the lack of friendship, companionship, and love. He has shown vulnerability. He does not have everything he wants in life. It is hard to like the Commander because he is seen through the Handmaids eyes. A weak side to personality is rarely exposed in a leader. They are stereotypically presented as strong. When a weakness becomes obvious, the masses are satisfied because they can identify with the leader. It is understood that they are human and capable of making mistakes. The Commander is the stereotypical leader in the Republic of Gilead. Others look up to him and seek his power. Atwood has given him the name â€Å"commander† suggesting a higher ranking above others without even giving more details. A powerful label in life is seen as an immediate sign of power. Readers are programmed to respect people of authority, which happens just by knowing their label and not necessarily knowing them personally. Without getting to know him the readers subconsciously fill in what a commander should be. As Atwood describes the Commander in more detail, a different side begins to emerge and our thinking about him changes. As a man reading about him, I understand how the Commander feels. He has been socialized as a macho leader, with a one-dimensional side and no sympathy for others. Then a need for companionship emerges through the Scrabble invitation. By taking this interpersonal risk, a new respect was gained for him. He is no longer just the stereotypical norm. He has the guts to become involved in a relationship, and risk humiliation for companionship. Lamb to the slaughter, The sniper and Vendetta EssaySection IV: Waiting Room Chapter 8 What is â€Å"Gender Treachery?† The passage on the etymology of the term â€Å"Mayday† is correct. During World War II, the opening rhythmic pattern from Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony was interpreted as the Morse code for â€Å"v† (dot dot dot dash), and used to symbolize â€Å"victory†. What do we learn about Offred’s family in this passage? If a miscarried fetus may or may not be an â€Å"Unbaby† what would an â€Å"Unbaby† seem to be? â€Å"All flesh is grass† (Isaiah 40:6) is a quotation from the Bible meaning that all humans are mortal. Why does Aunt Lydia use instead the saying â€Å"all flesh is weak?† Does she really mean all humans? How about women? How is Offred’s silent correction a reply to her comment? Serena Joy’s speechmaking on behalf of housewifery is a clear satire on the career of Phyllis Shlafley, lawyer, right-wing activist, and cofounder of the Eagle Forum, who put most of her energy for many years into leading the fight against the Equal Rights Amendment while admonishing other women to stay home and raise their children. The Shape of Things to Come is the title of one of H. G. Well’s novels, alluded to ironically at the end of the paragraph beginning â€Å"She’s looking at the tulips.† Why does Offred envy Rita her access to the knife? Why is she startled at the end of the chapter when she realizes she has called the room â€Å"mine†? Chapter 9 What feelings does she have as she looks back on the early days of her affair with Luke? Nolite te bastardes carborundorum will be explained in Chapter 29. Note that a posting lasts two years. This will be important later. Chapter 10 Why are the words to the hymn Amazing Grace now considered subversive? Who did Aunt Lydia blame for the â€Å"things† that used to happen to women? What sorts of memories does she keep returning to in this chapter? Chapter 11 What do we learn about the Handmaid system during the scene at the doctor’s office? â€Å"Give me children, or else I die.† (Genesis 30:1). Deuteronomy 17:6 requires that for a couple to be stoned to death on account of adultery there has to be two witnesses to the act. Chapter 12 To what were women vulnerable in bathrooms â€Å"before they got all the bugs ironed out†? For Paul on hair, see 1 Corinthians 11:6-15. What does this mean: â€Å"I don’t want to look at something that determines me so completely†? The old sexist society was said to reduce women to mere physical objects. Has this changed? What does Offred suggest by saying of the attempted kidnapping of her daughter â€Å"I thought it was an isolated incident, at the time†? â€Å"Inheriting the Earth†: see Matthew 5.5. If Offred was parted from her daughter when she was five and she is eight now, the separation must have happened three years ago. Since at eighteen months the pattern of change was not clear to Offred, the revolution which established Gilead must have been quite recent. It is difficult to believe that such a thorough transformation of society in such a short time, but it is important to remember that this is not a realistic novel, but a satirical dystopia. What associations are aroused by the tattoo on Offred’s ankle? She is remembering scenes from the end of World War II, in which women who dated the Nazi occ upiers had their heads shaved in public. What two meanings of the word â€Å"compose† is she playing with in the last paragraph? Section V: Nap Chapter 13 What do you think about her comments on boredom as erotic? Offred lets herself go back in time to when she was in training with Moira. Does anyone blame women for being raped today? How has Offred’s attitude toward her body changed? What do her dreams about her husband and daughter have in common? What does she mean by saying at the end of the chapter â€Å"Of all the dreams this is the worst†?