Jeremy, thanks for this great post! I wonder if perhaps the revelation of various cycles, both in microcosm and macrocosm, may be enhanced by the natural world as it surrounds and permeates the characters and events of the work. These are characters that live and act within nature, and are affected by weather, the ocean, the sky, and the seasons in ways that may be foreign to people of our era. Perhaps one aspect of the ecological environment prevalent in the work is the change that takes place all around as nature proceeds.
Your comments here really resonated with some of my own thoughts, especially those concerning fate. I interpreted that specific aspect of the book in its own particularity as a sort of "end all" for everyone, but I think you make a very astute observation that once fate is reached by one king/warrior/building/other, there is another waiting to take its place, even if unconsciously. An example of this is the way Wiglaf takes up the mantle of courage and heroism as he stands by Beowulf's side even as Beowulf's cycles (life and hero) come to an end. Great piece!
This is very interesting! I like your comment on how beowulf lives in a cycle: fight, win, celebrate, and continue. As you said, he continues this cycle all the way until his death. But that’s true for every hero unfortunately. They continue the cycle until their untimely death.
I also wanted to tie in the manuscript of beowulf to the lines that describe Heorot. Like Heorot, the manuscript for Beowulf was burned. I think it is really interesting to connect that, somehow, the burning and destruction of Heorot is foreshadowing of the burning of the manuscript.
Hey Jeremy! I expected a great analysis on this epic poem, and you delivered (as usual)! I really appreciate your attention to foundations of stories. In our Henry James class last semester, you spent a lot of time discussing the structures of the stories we read, and I'm pleasantly surprised your technique is making a comeback! One thing that I struggle with when reading literature is picking up on patterns--or cycles, as you call them. It's a huge strength of yours, and I commend you for that! Were you good at geometry in high school, by chance? Your talent for finding patterns within texts and analyzing the patterns in your analysis is incredibly impressive. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this, and I look forward to reading more from you!
I'm currently taking notes to lead discussion in class on Tuesday, and I like your take on the cyclical nature of the poem and the tools used to highlight that. Telling the audience at the beginning of the story that Heorot was going to be burned makes the reader focus less on the "whats" or events of the story and more on the "hows" or cycles that the story is built on. I wonder if the cyclical nature of the story, along with the reference to the audience's knowledge of "...those princes' heroic campaigns" (3) is evidence that this poem was part of a series. Or maybe it's just evidence that history repeats and repeats and repeats, and stories do as well.
One of the many things that I particularly enjoy about Beowulf is the cyclical nature of life and death that is presented. I like how you point out how this cyclical nature is also present within the story of Beowulf as a character. This along with the several religious references presents an interesting take on a group of people that would most assuredly be pagan. These are a few of the aspects that I find particularly engaging about "Beowulf".
The beginning of this was honestly pretty interesting, I had never thought of Shield Sheafson being a sort of foreshadow to Beowulf and his inevitable life and death. Especially on the concept of a great hero rising and falling, and the concepts of cycles like that was something I had never considered. Overall really great examination of the text!
I enjoy the insight and characterization you give of Beowulf early on here. The repetition of show up, fight, celebrate, leave, and repeat shortly followed by the the quote Beowulf was "meant to die" speaks a lot, not only to Beowulf but also to the warrior archetype as a whole in this poem. I like the fact that you see and note that every protagonist is a hero in this.
This was a super cool close-look at something really important to this piece that I had not given due attention to. I had considered the idea of cycles, but only in passing because of their mentioning in previous discussions about "Beowulf". Your diving into this theme of cycles that is available in the poem along with your presentation of the various examples of people, monsters, and objects has provided a very rich and articulate examination that I will carry in my mind every time I reread the poem from now on.
In fact, let me go read it again now. Thank you for the insights!
Jeremy, thanks for this great post! I wonder if perhaps the revelation of various cycles, both in microcosm and macrocosm, may be enhanced by the natural world as it surrounds and permeates the characters and events of the work. These are characters that live and act within nature, and are affected by weather, the ocean, the sky, and the seasons in ways that may be foreign to people of our era. Perhaps one aspect of the ecological environment prevalent in the work is the change that takes place all around as nature proceeds.
Your comments here really resonated with some of my own thoughts, especially those concerning fate. I interpreted that specific aspect of the book in its own particularity as a sort of "end all" for everyone, but I think you make a very astute observation that once fate is reached by one king/warrior/building/other, there is another waiting to take its place, even if unconsciously. An example of this is the way Wiglaf takes up the mantle of courage and heroism as he stands by Beowulf's side even as Beowulf's cycles (life and hero) come to an end. Great piece!
This is very interesting! I like your comment on how beowulf lives in a cycle: fight, win, celebrate, and continue. As you said, he continues this cycle all the way until his death. But that’s true for every hero unfortunately. They continue the cycle until their untimely death.
I also wanted to tie in the manuscript of beowulf to the lines that describe Heorot. Like Heorot, the manuscript for Beowulf was burned. I think it is really interesting to connect that, somehow, the burning and destruction of Heorot is foreshadowing of the burning of the manuscript.
Hey Jeremy! I expected a great analysis on this epic poem, and you delivered (as usual)! I really appreciate your attention to foundations of stories. In our Henry James class last semester, you spent a lot of time discussing the structures of the stories we read, and I'm pleasantly surprised your technique is making a comeback! One thing that I struggle with when reading literature is picking up on patterns--or cycles, as you call them. It's a huge strength of yours, and I commend you for that! Were you good at geometry in high school, by chance? Your talent for finding patterns within texts and analyzing the patterns in your analysis is incredibly impressive. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this, and I look forward to reading more from you!
I'm currently taking notes to lead discussion in class on Tuesday, and I like your take on the cyclical nature of the poem and the tools used to highlight that. Telling the audience at the beginning of the story that Heorot was going to be burned makes the reader focus less on the "whats" or events of the story and more on the "hows" or cycles that the story is built on. I wonder if the cyclical nature of the story, along with the reference to the audience's knowledge of "...those princes' heroic campaigns" (3) is evidence that this poem was part of a series. Or maybe it's just evidence that history repeats and repeats and repeats, and stories do as well.
One of the many things that I particularly enjoy about Beowulf is the cyclical nature of life and death that is presented. I like how you point out how this cyclical nature is also present within the story of Beowulf as a character. This along with the several religious references presents an interesting take on a group of people that would most assuredly be pagan. These are a few of the aspects that I find particularly engaging about "Beowulf".
Very well said!
The beginning of this was honestly pretty interesting, I had never thought of Shield Sheafson being a sort of foreshadow to Beowulf and his inevitable life and death. Especially on the concept of a great hero rising and falling, and the concepts of cycles like that was something I had never considered. Overall really great examination of the text!
I enjoy the insight and characterization you give of Beowulf early on here. The repetition of show up, fight, celebrate, leave, and repeat shortly followed by the the quote Beowulf was "meant to die" speaks a lot, not only to Beowulf but also to the warrior archetype as a whole in this poem. I like the fact that you see and note that every protagonist is a hero in this.
Very well worded!
This was a super cool close-look at something really important to this piece that I had not given due attention to. I had considered the idea of cycles, but only in passing because of their mentioning in previous discussions about "Beowulf". Your diving into this theme of cycles that is available in the poem along with your presentation of the various examples of people, monsters, and objects has provided a very rich and articulate examination that I will carry in my mind every time I reread the poem from now on.
In fact, let me go read it again now. Thank you for the insights!