Grendel and The Shaper

In Grendel, the shaper paints a picture of a beautiful world in Hart. Even though this world that he had created is fictional, people believe him. The shaper’s stories give the people hope that the world could be a better, happier place and they want that so they believe him. Grendel’s true story isn’t as happy and bright as the shapers therefore people don’t want to listen to him. No one wants to listen to a pessimist. I couldn’t find an artist that actually paints these pictures but I did find a person that wanted to believe in brighter days. After the Chinese revolution the Chinese wanted a happier more fulfilling life. Mao Zedong promised his people that things would get better. He painted this picture of the perfect life that could only be created after the revolution. Unfortunately Mao’s plans failed and the Chinese Revolution wasn’t as successful as they planned. The Chinese people were optimists and they wanted to believe anything Mao said, just like the people of Hart. They wanted a better life so they were optimistic and fell into the lies of the shaper. This angered Grendel because he saw the savage past and no one believed him.  

America

America 
By Claude McKay

Although she feeds me bread of bitterness,
And sinks into my throat her tiger's tooth,
Stealing my breath of life, I will confess
I love this cultured hell that tests my youth.
Her vigor flows like tides into my blood,
Giving me strength erect against her hate,
Her bigness sweeps my being like a flood.
Yet, as a rebel fronts a king in state,
I stand within her walls with not a shred
Of terror, malice, not a word of jeer.
Darkly I gaze into the days ahead,
And see her might and granite wonders there,
Beneath the touch of Time's unerring hand,
Like priceless treasures sinking in the sand.

Claude is expressing his frustrations about America but he is also expressing some love for his country. " I love this cultured hell that tests my youth" meaning he loves the ups and downs that Americans bring that keep up on his toes. He also expresses that time is ticking sad isn't going to stop.

Rondeau

             Rondeau

Jenny kissed me when we met,

            Jumping from the chair she sat in;

Time, you thief, who love to get

            Sweets into your list put that in:

Say I’m weary, say I’m sad,

Say that health and wealth have missed me,

Say that growing old, but add,

            Jenny kissed me

- Leigh Hunt

I think that Leigh Hunt wrote this poem to show that hard times don’t get him down. Even though he is having trouble with money and his health, he is still going strong. Leigh still feels as though his life is at its peak because Jenny kissed him.  This poem illustrates that health and wealth aren’t the most important things in life and love is everlasting.

Fire and Ice

Fire and Ice

Some say the world will end in fire,

Some say in ice.

From what I’ve tasted of desire

I hold with those who favor fire.

But if it had to perish twice,

I think I know enough of hate

To say that for destruction ice

Is also great

And would suffice

- Robert Frost   

I chose the poem Fire and Ice by Robert Frost because it relates to the 2012 apocalypse.  I thought that it was ironic that Robert Frost was thinking that the world was going to end the same way that we think its going to end and its been decades since his poem was written. I like this poem because it is saying that either way the world will be ending whether you like it or not.

Word Hoard 2

Omen- an occurrence or phenomenon believed to portend a future event

Prow- a pointed projecting front part

Plough- chiefly british variant of plow

Belie- to give a false impression of

Assailant- one who attacks violently with blows or words

Chafe-to irritate or vex

Unscathed-wholly unharmed

Ample- of larger or great size, amount, extent, or capacity; more than enough

Oppression- the act of subjugating by cruelty; a feeling of being heavily weighed down in mind or body

Venture- an undertaking that is dangerous daring or of uncertain outcome; a business enterprise involving some risk in the expectation of gain

Harrow- archaic: to plunder or sack; modern: a farm implement for plowing; to inflice distress or torment on

Dwindle- to become gradually less until little remains

Dissuade- to turn away from, by persuasion

Loathsome-highly offensive, arousing aversion or disgust

Then Beowulf made his last boast:
"I ventured many battles 
in my youth; now, old, 
I will seek another,
try again for glorious 
deeds, if that avenger
will come out."

Beowulf is expressing his need to go out and fight again. He wants to feel the power of winning and being a hero.

Many people want to feel that they are needed in real life. When people feel that need they go and serve for out country or protect our cities.

He thought of home
but could not go
in a ring-prowed ship
against the sea storm,
against the wind.

Beowulf feels a moment of weakness when he cant fight against the power of the sea.

Many people feel that on a daily basis: that they are helpless and powerless. 

Beowulf vs todays heros

Heroism in Beowulf and now is basically the same. A hero is a person who is admired for their courage. Beowulf is considered a hero because he killed Grendel the monster, who no one had the courage to stand up against. Heroism isn’t much different today other than out hero’s are firefighters and policemen. Most firefighters are considered hero’s because they run into burning buildings with one thing in mind: Save everyone you can. Firefighters are present day hero’s because the act courageously and selflessly much like Beowulf.