Beowulf As a Source Text for Tolkien's Monsters
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Load more
Recommended publications
-
The Battle with Grendel
That Herot would be his to command. And then He declared: 385 ' "No one strange to this land Has ever been granted what I've given you, No one in all the years of my rule. Make this best of all mead-halls yours, and then Keep it free of evil, fight 390 With glory in your heart! Purge Herot And your ship will sail home with its treasure-holds full." . The feast ends. Beowulf and his men take the place of Hrothgar's followers and lie down to sleep in Herot. Beowulf, however, is wakeful, eager to meet his enemy. The Battle with Grendel 8 Out from the marsh, from the foot of misty Hills and bogs, bearing God's hatred, Grendel came, hoping to kill 395 Anyone he could trap on this trip to high Herot. He moved quickly through the cloudy night, Up from his swampland, sliding silently Toward that gold-shining hall. He had visited Hrothgar's Home before, knew the way— 4oo But never, before nor after that night, Found Herot defended so firmly, his reception So harsh. He journeyed, forever joyless, Bronze coin showing a Straight to the door, then snapped it open, warrior killing a monster. Tore its iron fasteners with a touch, 405 And rushed angrily over the threshold. He strode quickly across the inlaid Floor, snarling and fierce: His eyes Gleamed in the darkness, burned with a gruesomeX Light. Then he stopped, seeing the hall 4io Crowded with sleeping warriors, stuffed With rows of young soldiers resting together. And his heart laughed, he relished the sight, Intended to tear the life from those bodies By morning; the monster's mind was hot 415 With the thought of food and the feasting his belly Would soon know. -
Cinema Exclusive on Set Page 2 Caption
Page 1 Cinema Exclusive on set Page 2 Caption: In July 2013, as Martin Freeman and Peter Jackson looked on, Sir Ian McKellen shot his last scene as Gandalf Title: The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies On December 10th the last journey to Middle-earth opens in theaters. Cinema was on set and saw devastated cities and elves smeared with blood Page 3 Cover Story “After these battles, a little drama is quite enticing” – Peter Jackson Caption: Although Bard the Bowman is only vaguely described in the book, the character plays a central role in “The Battle of the Five Armies.” Page 4 Caption: “The Tinkerbell of Middle-earth: “She is sweet, but you shouldn’t get into it with her,” Evangeline Lilly warns about her character, the Ninja-elf Tauriel By Philipp Schulze Thick snowflakes fall quietly on the crumbled city walls of Dale. Richly decorated wells and gates, now overgrown with grass and weeds, testify to the former riches of the kingdom in the north of Middle-earth. And houses, slippery paths, and a row of rotten trees give an impression of the catastrophe that must have happened here. 171 years ago, Smaug the dragon breathed fire on Dale and laid waste to the city. Now the metropolis at the foot of Erebor is once again the scene of death and destruction. Frightening Orcs have begun to hunt the men who have fled to the ruins of Dale from Esgaroth. With swords and axes drawn, they fight their way, screaming loudly, through the narrow allies of the ruined city. -
Uncovering the Origins of Grendel's Mother by Jennifer Smith 1
Smith 1 Ides, Aglæcwif: That’s No Monster, That’s My Wife! Uncovering the Origins of Grendel’s Mother by Jennifer Smith 14 May 1999 Grendel’s mother has often been relegated to a secondary role in Beowulf, overshadowed by the monstrosity of her murderous son. She is not even given a name of her own. As Keith Taylor points out, “none has received less critical attention than Grendel’s mother, whom scholars of Beowulf tend to regard as an inherently evil creature who like her son is condemned to a life of exile because she bears the mark of Cain” (13). Even J. R. R. Tolkien limits his ground-breaking critical treatment of the poem and its monsters to a discussion of Grendel and the dragon. While Tolkien does touch upon Grendel’s mother, he does so only in connection with her infamous son. Why is this? It seems likely from textual evidence and recent critical findings that this reading stems neither from authorial intention nor from scribal error, but rather from modern interpretations of the text mistakenly filtered through twentieth-century eyes. While outstanding debates over the religious leanings of the Beowulf poet and the dating of the poem are outside the scope of this essay, I do agree with John D. Niles that “if this poem can be attributed to a Christian author composing not earlier than the first half of the tenth century […] then there is little reason to read it as a survival from the heathen age that came to be marred by monkish interpolations” (137). -
LOTR and Beowulf: I Need a Hero
Jestice/English 4 Lord of the Rings and Beowulf: I need a hero! (100 points) Directions: 1. On your own paper, and as you watch the selected scenes, answer the following questions by comparing and contrasting the heroism of Frodo Baggins to that of Beowulf. (The scene numbers are from the extended version; however, the scene titles are consistent with the regular edition.) 2. Use short answer but complete sentences. Fellowship of the Ring Scene 10: The Shadow of the Past Gandalf already has shown Frodo the One Ring and has told Frodo he must keep it hidden and safe. Frodo obliges. But when Gandalf tells him the story of the ring and that Frodo must take it out of the Shire, Frodo’s reaction is different. 1. Explain why Frodo reacts the way he does. Is this behavior fitting for a hero? Why or why not? Is Frodo a hero at this point of the story? 2. How does this differ from Beowulf’s call to adventure? Scene 27: The Council of Elrond Leaders from across Middle Earth have gathered in the Elvish capital of Rivendell to discuss the fate of the One Ring. Frodo has taken the ring to Rivendell for safekeeping. Having already tried unsuccessfully to destroy the ring, the leaders argue about who should take it to be consumed in the fires of Mordor. Frodo steps forward and accepts the challenge. 1. Frodo’s physical stature makes this journey seem impossible. What kinds of traits apparent so far in the story will help him overcome this deficiency? 2. -
An Examination of Scandinavian War Cults in Medieval Narratives of Northwestern Europe from the Late Antiquity to the Middle Ages
PETTIT, MATTHEW JOSEPH, M.A. Removing the Christian Mask: An Examination of Scandinavian War Cults in Medieval Narratives of Northwestern Europe From the Late Antiquity to the Middle Ages. (2008) Directed by Dr. Amy Vines. 85 pp. The aim of this thesis is to de-center Christianity from medieval scholarship in a study of canonized northwestern European war narratives from the late antiquity to the late Middle Ages by unraveling three complex theological frameworks interweaved with Scandinavian polytheistic beliefs. These frameworks are presented in three chapters concerning warrior cults, war rituals, and battle iconography. Beowulf, The History of the Kings of Britain, and additional passages from The Wanderer and The Dream of the Rood are recognized as the primary texts in the study with supporting evidence from An Ecclesiastical History of the English People, eighth-century eddaic poetry, thirteenth- century Icelandic and Nordic sagas, and Le Morte d’Arthur. The study consistently found that it is necessary to alter current pedagogical habits in order to better develop the study of theology in medieval literature by avoiding the conciliatory practice of reading for Christian hegemony. REMOVING THE CHRISTIAN MASK: AN EXAMINATION OF SCANDINAVIAN WAR CULTS IN MEDIEVAL NARRATIVES OF NORTHWESTERN EUROPE FROM THE LATE ANTIQUITY TO THE MIDDLE AGES by Matthew Joseph Pettit A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of The Graduate School at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts Greensboro 2008 Approved by ______________________________ Committee Chair APPROVAL PAGE This thesis has been approved by the following committee of the Faculty of The Graduate School at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. -
The Lord of the Rings: the Card Game Scenarios, a Select Few Are Only Intended for Use When Playing the Scenarios Presented in the Hobbit Saga Expansions
The Hobbit: On the Doorstep features new cards that players may use to customize their decks when playing the scenarios in The Hobbit Saga Expansions. While most of the included player cards are fully compatible with all published The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game scenarios, a select few are only intended for use when playing the scenarios presented in The Hobbit Saga Expansions. Component Overview ™ The Hobbit: On the Doorstep includes the following components: - This rules insert - 165 cards, consisting of: - 5 Hero Cards “He was trembling with fear, but his little face was set and grim. Already he was a very different hobbit from the one - 45 Player Cards that had run out without a pocket-handkerchief from Bag- - 102 Encounter Cards End long ago. He had not had a pocket-handkerchief for ages. He loosened his dagger in its sheath, tightened his - 13 Quest Cards belt, and went on.” There is an online tutorial for the game available at –J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/lotr-tutorial You can enter and track your plays and scores of these scenarios and others online through The Lord of the Welcome to The Hobbit: On the Doorstep, the second and Rings: The Card Game Quest Log at http://www. final part of The Hobbit Saga Expansion for The Lord of the fantasyflightgames.com/lotr-questlog. Rings: The Card Game! Unlike other The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game expansions, which explore new adventures set in Middle- Saga Expansion Player Cards earth, the Saga Expansions give players the opportunity to directly participate in, or even recreate, the narrative events All of the player cards in this saga expansion are fully described in the classic novels written by J.R.R. -
The Roots of Middle-Earth: William Morris's Influence Upon J. R. R. Tolkien
University of Tennessee, Knoxville TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange Doctoral Dissertations Graduate School 12-2007 The Roots of Middle-Earth: William Morris's Influence upon J. R. R. Tolkien Kelvin Lee Massey University of Tennessee - Knoxville Follow this and additional works at: https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_graddiss Part of the Literature in English, British Isles Commons Recommended Citation Massey, Kelvin Lee, "The Roots of Middle-Earth: William Morris's Influence upon J. R. R. olkien.T " PhD diss., University of Tennessee, 2007. https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_graddiss/238 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctoral Dissertations by an authorized administrator of TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. For more information, please contact [email protected]. To the Graduate Council: I am submitting herewith a dissertation written by Kelvin Lee Massey entitled "The Roots of Middle-Earth: William Morris's Influence upon J. R. R. olkien.T " I have examined the final electronic copy of this dissertation for form and content and recommend that it be accepted in partial fulfillment of the equirr ements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, with a major in English. David F. Goslee, Major Professor We have read this dissertation and recommend its acceptance: Thomas Heffernan, Michael Lofaro, Robert Bast Accepted for the Council: Carolyn R. Hodges Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School (Original signatures are on file with official studentecor r ds.) To the Graduate Council: I am submitting herewith a dissertation written by Kelvin Lee Massey entitled “The Roots of Middle-earth: William Morris’s Influence upon J. -
The Comforts: the Image of Home in <I>The Hobbit</I>
Volume 14 Number 1 Article 6 Fall 10-15-1987 All the Comforts: The Image of Home in The Hobbit & The Lord of the Rings Wayne G. Hammond Follow this and additional works at: https://dc.swosu.edu/mythlore Part of the Children's and Young Adult Literature Commons Recommended Citation Hammond, Wayne G. (1987) "All the Comforts: The Image of Home in The Hobbit & The Lord of the Rings," Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature: Vol. 14 : No. 1 , Article 6. Available at: https://dc.swosu.edu/mythlore/vol14/iss1/6 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Mythopoeic Society at SWOSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature by an authorized editor of SWOSU Digital Commons. An ADA compliant document is available upon request. For more information, please contact [email protected]. To join the Mythopoeic Society go to: http://www.mythsoc.org/join.htm Mythcon 51: A VIRTUAL “HALFLING” MYTHCON July 31 - August 1, 2021 (Saturday and Sunday) http://www.mythsoc.org/mythcon/mythcon-51.htm Mythcon 52: The Mythic, the Fantastic, and the Alien Albuquerque, New Mexico; July 29 - August 1, 2022 http://www.mythsoc.org/mythcon/mythcon-52.htm Abstract Examines the importance of home, especially the Shire, as metaphor in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Relates it to the importance of change vs. permanence as a recurring theme in both works. -
How Many Strides from Hobbiton to Mordor?
Journal of Interdisciplinary Science Topics How many strides from Hobbiton to Mordor? Tabitha Watson The Centre for Interdisciplinary Science, University of Leicester 18/04/2018 Abstract This paper uses ratios in order to determine the number of strides an average sized hobbit would have to take to complete the journey from Hobbiton to Mount Doom. It was found that an average human male is approximately 1.7 times taller than the average hobbit, making a hobbit’s stride length around 46 centimetres. This value was then applied to the distance between the start and end points of the quest, showing that the hobbit would be required to take a grand total of 4870433 strides to complete the journey. Introduction Journey Start and Distance Mode of The plot of The Lord of the Rings, a popular fantasy Part End Points (km) Transport trilogy, centres on a Hobbit’s quest to destroy the Hobbiton to 1 737.08 Foot ‘One Ring’, Sauron’s tool of evil dominion, in the fires Rivendell of Mount Doom [1]. This paper aims to determine Rivendell to 2 743.52 Foot how many strides the titular hobbit, Frodo Baggins, Lothlorien would need to have taken to travel from his home in Lothlorien Hobbiton all the way to Mordor, the location of 3 to Rauros 626.04 Boat Mount Doom. Falls Rauros Falls Theory 4 to Mount 756.39 Foot Hobbits, also known as halflings, are a fictional race Doom of diminutive humanoids which inhabit J.R.R Tolkien’s Table 1 – The four main parts of the journey realm of Middle Earth. -
4 STAR Dragon Word Problems 1. in January, There Were 34,371 New
4 STAR Dragon Word Problems 1. In January, there were 34,371 new born dragons. In February, another 61,428 dragons were born. However, in March, 42,985 dragons died. How many dragons are there? 2. The Iron Swords Company employed 62,134 men, but then the industry experienced a decline, and 3,986 men left. However, business began to pick up again, and the Iron Swords Company increased its employment of men by 761 men. How many men work at the Iron Swords Company now? 3. The great dragons of the west burnt 19,426 houses in their first week. They burnt 73,645 houses in their second week and more in their third week. In total, 155, 478 houses were burnt. How many did they burn in week 3? 4. The dragon master trained 34,417 dragons, but sadly, 1,259 of those dragons died. The dragon master needs 50,000 dragons. How many more dragons does he need? 5. Merlin trained 82,016 dragons, Miss Peters trained 399 dragons and Mrs Durose trained 31,427 dragons. What is the difference in the amount of dragons trained by Miss Peters and Mrs.Durose? 6. The dragon keeper had 93,502 dragon eggs in a deep cave. A powerful magician had 419 dragon eggs less than the dragon keeper. A witch had 7,654 dragons. What is the total amount of dragon eggs? 7. Merlin was selling 63,004 dragon spikes a month, and 3,265 dragon teeth. After a year, the sales of dragon spikes decreased by 7,567. -
Medievalism and the Shocks of Modernity: Rewriting Northern Legend from Darwin to World War II
Medievalism and the Shocks of Modernity: Rewriting Northern Legend from Darwin to World War II by Dustin Geeraert A Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies of The University of Manitoba In partial fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Department of English, Film, and Theatre University of Manitoba Winnipeg Copyright © 2016 by Dustin Geeraert 1 Abstract Literary medievalism has always been critically controversial; at various times it has been dismissed as reactionary or escapist. This survey of major medievalist writers from America, England, Ireland and Iceland aims to demonstrate instead that medievalism is one of the characteristic literatures of modernity. Whereas realist fiction focuses on typical, plausible or common experiences of modernity, medievalist literature is anything but reactionary, for it focuses on the intellectual circumstances of modernity. Events such as the Enlightenment, the Industrial Revolution, many political revolutions, the world wars, and the scientific discoveries of Isaac Newton (1643-1727) and above all those of Charles Darwin (1809-1882), each sent out cultural shockwaves that changed western beliefs about the nature of humanity and the world. Although evolutionary ideas remain controversial in the humanities, their importance has not been lost on medievalist writers. Thus, intellectual anachronisms pervade medievalist literature, from its Romantic roots to its postwar explosion in popularity, as some of the greatest writers of modern times offer new perspectives on old legends. The first chapter of this study focuses on the impact of Darwin’s ideas on Victorian epic poems, particularly accounts of natural evolution and supernatural creation. The second chapter describes how late Victorian medievalists, abandoning primitivism and claims to historicity, pushed beyond the form of the retelling by simulating medieval literary genres. -
Tolkien's Creative Technique: <I>Beowulf</I> and <I>The Hobbit</I>
Volume 15 Number 3 Article 1 Spring 3-15-1989 Tolkien's Creative Technique: Beowulf and The Hobbit Bonniejean Christensen Follow this and additional works at: https://dc.swosu.edu/mythlore Part of the Children's and Young Adult Literature Commons Recommended Citation Christensen, Bonniejean (1989) "Tolkien's Creative Technique: Beowulf and The Hobbit," Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature: Vol. 15 : No. 3 , Article 1. Available at: https://dc.swosu.edu/mythlore/vol15/iss3/1 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Mythopoeic Society at SWOSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature by an authorized editor of SWOSU Digital Commons. An ADA compliant document is available upon request. For more information, please contact [email protected]. To join the Mythopoeic Society go to: http://www.mythsoc.org/join.htm Mythcon 51: A VIRTUAL “HALFLING” MYTHCON July 31 - August 1, 2021 (Saturday and Sunday) http://www.mythsoc.org/mythcon/mythcon-51.htm Mythcon 52: The Mythic, the Fantastic, and the Alien Albuquerque, New Mexico; July 29 - August 1, 2022 http://www.mythsoc.org/mythcon/mythcon-52.htm Abstract Asserts that “The Hobbit, differing greatly in tone, is nonetheless a retelling of the incidents that comprise the plot and the digressions in both parts of Beowulf.” However, his retelling is from a Christian point of view. Additional Keywords Beowulf—Influence on The Hobbit; olkien,T J.R.R.