- Jun 2019
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I think you’d like to lock me in your chest!
She is speaking of men's behavior at the time, they want to control their wives and "lock them up" from the world.
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wives our vices hide Till we are married, then we show them well; 290 That is a scoundrel’s proverb, let me tell!
Women need to act the part and hide their wicked behavior until they've secured a husband.
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Benedicite!
She is lecturing to her husband how the neighbor's wife has things better and accuses him of trying to seduce the maid.
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They all loved me so well, by God above, I never did set value on their love!
Three were good men and two were bad- yet she claims that they all loved her well in their own ways.
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I bear no malice to virginity; Let such be bread of purest white wheat-seed, 150 And let us wives be called but barley bread;
She's not bashing the women who follow the rule of virginity, she's just saying it isn't for her.
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That they were made for passing out, as known, Of urine, and our two belongings small Were just to tell a female from a male,
She is questioning the purpose of genitals. Is it really just to use the bathroom and to differ between two genders? Didn't god intend for more?
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marriage.
I think this reflects the societal double standard of women, and how women can be held to a much higher standard than men. Overall I'm surprised by this story given the time it was written.
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He has not every vessel all of gold; Some are of wood and serve well all their days.
Not everyone else has to be the gold standard, other people who are "less" are just of good of people.
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Out of permission; there’s no shame should grieve In marrying me
All of her marriages ended in a way that was "proper", so she should be able to marry again without judgement.
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virginity;
I think she is basically saying that virginity and the traditional religious beliefs at the time are not for her.
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I understand he had more wives than one; And now would God it were permitted me
Kind of a double standard. Men/religious figures could marry however many times they want, but women are ridiculed for multiple marriages.
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God bade us to increase and multiply;
It's God's wishes for humans to "multiply" so she is wondering why it is wrong then to marry multiple of times.
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I never should have married more than once.
I wonder if she thinks this for religious reasons or because he first husband was who she truly loved.
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And all were worthy men in their degree.
She declares that ll of the men she married were worthy men, yet she's married multiple times.
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And grant that summoners good men become!
This is a bold statement considering the story is being told in front of another summoner.
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And you shall come to hell with me tonight,
With the old woman's wish the summoner is taken to hell by the devil.
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The Devil,” said she, “take him alive today, 365 And pan and all, unless he will repent!”
"take him alive" = the old woman is wishing for the summoner to be taken by the devil.
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I have been sick, and that for many a day.
He is going to blackmail a sick older woman- he really had no conscience.
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crone
A cruel or ugly old woman. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crone
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yet God knows I know of her no vice.
He is trying to blackmail a elder woman, even though she hasn't even done anything wrong/ criminal.
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The peasant said one thing, but thought another. 305 Let us go forth upon our travellers’ way;
Could the moral of the story be to watch what you say or truly mean what you say?
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“God knows, never a bit. It is not his intention, trust to it.
When the man cried for the devil to take his cart he wasn't sincere and the devil knew this and he knew because of this he couldn't take the cart. The summoner cannot take things without blackmailing people- so both of them have limitations on things they cannot take.
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And if that either of us gets more than other, 270 Let him be true and share it with his brother.
I wonder if this will hold true or if they will break their promise given their nature.
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My loyalty will I preserve to my dear brother, As I have sworn, and each of us to other, 265 That we will be true brothers in this case;
They remain sworn brothers, even after they reveal their true identities to one another and they both acknowledge their evil nature.
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bailiff,
A person in the court who keeps order. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bailiff
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And sometimes we are servants unto man, As to that old archbishop, Saint Dunstan, And to the apostles servant once was I.”
A very corrupt church at the time.
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And sometimes have we power of both, you know, That is to say, of soul and body too.
Similar to the knight's tale- a higher power out of human control rules.
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No kind of conscience for such things have I.
The summoner almost proudly admits he has no conscience when it comes to his theft practice- like he's done it a lot and got used to it.
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extortion
The yeoman obtains things by force of threat ( very fitting with the summoner's behavior).
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My lord is harsh to me and niggardly, My job is most laborious, you see;
This suggests to me that the yeoman is a servant to someone else who holds land.
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140 And they struck hands and made their solemn oath
The yeoman ( a person who holds land or a servant) asks for the summoners kindness and guidance, and they both strike a friendship.
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He dared not, no, for very filth and shame, 130 Say that he was a summoner, for the name.
This connects a lot to how the summoner in the prologue in Chaucer's pilgrimage acts. Summoners seem to carry a bad name.
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He wore a short coat of the Lincoln green
The color green reoccurs a lot in these tales.
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And was a thief, just such a thief was he. His master got but half of every fee.
The summoner is a thief, who takes money from the sinners that he learns of, but he takes too much money and keeps it for himself (he seems very greedy).
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He could protect of lechers one or two To learn of four and twenty more, mark you.
He helped people who had sinned because they would tell him who else has sinned.
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summoner
A summoner= a person who calls and brings people accused of spiritual crimes to the court. This one seems somewhat evil and manipulative.
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And payers of short tithes to shame descended.
Tithes= A payment of 1/10th of their earning that is paid to the church. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tithe A archdeacon makes people pay some of their earnings with the promise that they will be forgiven for their sins.
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That of a summoner may no good be said; I pray that no one will be angry made.
The summoner is not necessary a good person, and maybe a manipulative/ conning.
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Up rose our host, and acting as our cock, He gathered us together in a flock,
The characters are almost like animals.
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That each of you, as if to shorten the day, Shall tell two stories as you wend your way
I think Chaucer is still speaking? He seems to be explaining how he will now tell two stories for each character.
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Strong was the wine and pleasant to each guest. A seemly man our good host was, withal,
When I first thought of pilgrimages I thought it would be a long and hard journey and not like this.
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To gain some silver, preferably from the crowd; Therefore he sang so merrily and so loud.
Not really the "correct" idea of Christianity.
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his eyes were narrow As hot he was, and lecherous, as a sparrow;
Suggesting that he's quick tempered.
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They were afraid of him as of the death.
This is a very powerful description.
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REEVE
A president like figure of a town or village. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reeve_(England)
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layman
A uneducated person.
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But never did he fail, for rain or thunder, 495 In sickness, or in sin, or any state,
He's a very driven and determined person and seems to always put others first.
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Bold was her face, and fair, and red of hue. She’d been respectable throughout her life, Married in church, husbands she had five,
I think Chaucer presents this is a way that is more candid than judgemental. He merely states her previous life.
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Her stockings were of the finest scarlet red,
This reminds me so much of the Scarlet letter.
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He knew the cause of every sickness,
Reminds me of The Sargent of the Law- he just seems TOO good at his profession.
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Nice conscience was a thing he never kept. And if he fought and got the upper hand,
He doesn't seem to be a very good person...
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He sadly rode a carthorse,
Is there a reason that he is so sad?
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Were with us, clothed in the same livery,
They are all professionals that would likely interact, so it makes sense that they are dressed the same and almost seem to be the same person.
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A pleasing live was the custom he’d won,
Interesting that he won the life, not earned it.
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in his company;
Does "in his company" refer to the knight or to Chaucer?
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And every law he knew entirely by rote.
He's memorized every law and rule- he doesn't even need to look things up for reference.
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Nowhere a man so busy of his class, And yet he seemed much busier than he was.
He seems to enjoy money and valuables, but he also seems to work hard for what he has.
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Not one word spoke he more than was necessary;
He seems either very shy or very smart ( no need to speak his opinion if that could later be used against him).
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Of Aristotle and his philosophy
I wonder how much Aristotle influenced the clerk's tale.
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But, to tell the truth, his name I can’t recall.
I was wondering if there was a reason that the merchant's introduction was so short ( he does later get a tale). I think the fact that Chaucer doesn't remember his name indicates that the merchant might be a sneak-by quiet kind of guy (he is in debt and might be use to avoiding the people he owes money to).
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.
I definitely think this is the first time that Chaucer explores a very flawed character. The Knight's description depicted him as honest and brave. The Prioress's description depicted her a well manners and good-hearted. This just seems like Chaucer is bashing the friar. While the friar might be liked by some (the rich) he doesn't seem to care for women ( marrying a lot of them off) or the poor, so I'm not sure how much his charity efforts extends to.
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rote.
A bowed string instrument.
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Very many excellent horses had he in stable:
There's a lot of references of nature and animals with these characters.
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Then pity ruled her
I can see this foreshadowing a problem for her.
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forester
A person in charge of a forest, or planting. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forester
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And at one side a sword and a buckler, And at the other side a dagger bright,
It's interesting that the yeoman's introduction focuses on aspects like his weapons, where the knight and squire focused more on their characters (the squire was like May, the knight wasn't quick tempered etc.).
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He was as fresh as is the month of May.
Earlier we had a mention of the month of April, now it mentions May- spring seems to be a common theme.
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Though so strong and brave, he was very wise And of temper as meekly as a maid.
So he seems to be physically perfect, and mentally/ logically perfect.
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and what a gentleman, Who, from the moment that he first began 45 To ride about the world, loved chivalry, Truth, honour, freedom and all courtesy.
We start off with a knight, who seems to be perfect and hold all of the true values of being a knight. I wonder if as we go on down the list of characters they become more flawed.
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pilgrimage,
It's very fitting that the story starts off in spring ( a time of renewal) and then transitions to talk about pilgrimages (which can be seen as spiritual/ religious renewal).
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Round Table, and he that had it was honoured,
Neither King Arthur nor the other knights felt that he had sinned either.
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sojourned
Stayed somewhere temporarily. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sojourn
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‘I hold it happily made whole, the harm that I had; You are confessed so clean, cleared of your faults,
Even though Gawain feels shamed, the king insists he is cleared of his sin.
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in good faith,
Gawain's good faith= the faith he had to stay true to his knightly values.
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and if you offer another I’ll readily requite you and yield it you swiftly again – of that be you sure – as foe. But one stroke to me here falls; the covenant stated so,
The giant was only promised one stroke. Even though he barely injured Gawain he isn't allowed to strike at him anymore without breaking the deal.
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He menaces him mightily, but touches him not, swiftly withholding his hand ere it might hurt.
The green knight takes another swing- but misses.
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‘You are not Gawain,’ quoth the man, ‘held so great, that was never afraid of the host by hill or by vale, for now you flinch for fear ere you feel harm. Such cowardice of that knight have I never heard.
Gawain is still called a coward because he flinches- yet he showed up to receive his fate.
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as if he were no way cowed;
Cowed= submit to someone because of intimidation https://www.dictionary.com/browse/cowed Gawain will not submit to the green knight in that way, he accepted his fate.
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Strike but the one stroke, and I shall stand still and offer no hindrance, come work as you like, I swear.
He was only promised one strike.
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Sir Gawain the man did greet, he bowed to him
They are formal and respectful to one another, even under the circumstances.
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Well wild was the way where they by woods rode, till it was soon time that the sun in that season does rise. They were on a hill full high, the white snow lay beside; the man that rode him by bade his master abide.
The attention to detail and the specifics here is astounding. I almost feel like the author knows this region very well or even lived there himself.
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This castle to Christ I commend: May he grant it good chance!’
There's a lot of religious references. Here he is praying to god that the people in the castle are given good fortune.
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his steed to be brought he bade.
He commands for his horse to be brought to him.
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.
I think this part was merely testing to see if Gawain would still go on the journey. He had comfort and food that he has to give up. He also shows his character by refuses to give in to the women's advances, even though he himself did desire her.
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thrice,
Three times (another symbol of three). https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thrice
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there is no man under heaven might hew him, for he may not be slain by any sleight upon earth.
So by showing his true character and knightly behavior to her, he found a way to survive the beheading.
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‘I’ll no gifts, before God, my dear, at this time; I have none to give you, nor naught will I take.’
He feels that it would be against God to accept any gifts from her.
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unless you have a leman, a lover, that you like better,
This again reminds me of Lanval. In that case Lanval is accused of having no attraction to women, here Gawain is accused of having another lover that he must like better than the queen.
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“third time pays all,”
The symbolic number three is coming up again.
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The lord persuaded him not to, pressed him to linger,
I feel like this is a trap. Gawain's going to accidentally end up staying too long and break his oath with the green knight.
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the brave knight said, nor such flanks on a swine he’d not seen before.
Is Gawain saying he's never seen tusks like that before because those animals are not in his region or because he knows how badly the king wants praise?
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that the baron and boar were both in a heap, in the white water.
Quite the image- the king and the boar tumbling and fighting in the water.
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froth foamed from his mouth foul at the corners, and he whet his white tusks.
This makes me thing he has a disease.
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hunts the ill-fated swine
A boar is a wild male hog. A swine is more of a pig, and can be any gender. https://www.livescience.com/50623-pigs-facts.html
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to a young thing, to yearn to show and teach some tokens of true love’s craft What! Are you ignorant
She lists all of his characteristics as a knight that he has and she praises him. Yet then she insults him because he won't admit anything about love. It reminds me of the green knight-who got his battle by offending the king.
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knows not how to manage his manners in company,
She insults him.
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The lady did not forget, to come to greet him too;
I can see more problems arising.
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‘How does this sport please you? Have I won praise? Have I won thanks, thoroughly served by my craft?’
The king desires to please Gawain- I'd expect this to be the other way around.
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Then sheared out the shoulders with their sharp knives, hauled them through a little hole, left the sides whole. Then they slit up the breast and broke it in twain.
Again there is vivid descriptions from the author. I think this holds a larger psychological aspect. The king and his men spend all day hunting and now they are still doing hard labor preparing the meat- while Gawain was unfaithful with the kings wife. Gawain may not begin to feel guilty.
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he had failed in forms of politeness.
A very disgraceful thing to do as a knight.
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yet the knight held to his guard, and acted full fair.
Gawain remains loyal to his own values as a knight. This says a lot about his character because he isn't giving into his own desires and he is a few days from death.
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the knight with speeches clear answered her every case.
I think that he is recognizing that a good knight wouldn't give into him temptations.
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Your are welcome to my body, Your pleasure to take all; I must by necessity your servant be, and shall.’
She offers herself to him- again this reminds me of Guinevere in Lanval's story.
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and then chat with my knight whom I have caught;
She uses the term "caught", like Gawain is a animal that she's hunted.
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It was the lady, the loveliest to behold, that drew the door after her full silent and still, and bent her way to the bed; and the knight ashamed,
This queen is a lot like Guinevere in Lanval's story. The women seem to take the initiative when it comes to wanting relationships/desires.
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What screaming and bleeding, by banks they lay dying, and ever the hounds in a rush hard on them followed,
Again the author is being very detailed. The diction use makes this very vivid and emotionally heartbreaking.
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deer drove for the dales, darting for dread, hied to the high ground, but swiftly they were stayed by the beaters, with their stout cries.
A contrast to how we picture hunting today, where you must remain quiet and unheard.
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now achieved is my goal, I shall at your will dwell here, and do what else you deem fit.’
I wonder if Gawain is staying because the king wants him to or because he wants to be with the young lady longer.
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Dwell until New Year’s Day, and rise and ride on then. You shall be shown the way; it is not two miles hence.’
Since the king wanted him to stay so badly I'm wondering if he's lying about how far the green chapel is.
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The green chapel upon ground grieve for no more;
He is very close to the green chapel.
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with clean courteous chat, closed from filth, their play surpassed every princely game with which it compares.
This is another test; if Gawain will give into temptations and desire for the woman or if he will continue on his journey to death.
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They crave his acquaintance, and he quickly asks to be their sworn servant, if they themselves wished.
He seems to be a very courteous guest and treat the women with respect.
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She was the fairest in feature, in flesh and complexion, and in compass and colour and ways, of all others, and fairer than Guinevere, as the knight thought
This is beginning to remind me of Lanval- where a knight has temptation over a women who is more beautiful than those he's known.
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He rode as he prayed, And cried for his misdeeds;
I still think the true test is the journey. There's the harsh conditions and the psychological aspects of isolation. He also believes that he did something wrong to deserves this.
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and guide him to some home.
I think this is foreshadowing that he will find a shelter that is very comfortable and hard to give up before he goes to his battle.
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if they had heard any word of a knight in green, on any ground thereabout, of the green chapel; and all met him with nay, that never in their lives saw they ever a sign of such a one, hued in green.
I'm starting to winder if the true test was if he'd go on the journey.
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dukedom
He should have been given the rank of a duke ( I wonder what he did previously to deserve this). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dukedom
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Now geared was Gawain gay, lifted his lance right there, and gave them all good day – as he thought, for evermore.
I wonder if the writer is being so descriptive and prolonging Gawain's journey. I believe Gawain's desires to take the journey slow and extend his life/fate as long as possible.
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five wounds that Christ caught on the cross
5= a religious reference to Christian beliefs.
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Gringolet
The name of Gawain's horse. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gringolet
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with rich coat armour,
A contrast with the Green Knight, who had no armour, and Gawain is decked out in armour.
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what can men do but suffer?’
The wheel of fate and fortune has seemed to turn against him.
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‘Why should I falter? Such destinies foul or fair what can men do but suffer?’
Gawain is already recognizing his fate. He acknowledges that there's nothing he can do, so he might as well accept his outcome.
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All this courtly company came the king near, for to counsel the knight, with care in their hearts.
The entire kingdom and all of the knights and people seem to love and support Gawain.
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.
This story is full of detail (Sometimes I feel to a unnecessary extent), yet when the seasons pass that only takes one section.
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Both ground and groves green is their dress, birds begin to build and brightly sing they the solace of the soft summer ensuing after on bank;
The seasons seem to start passing quickly- probably because Gawain doesn't want time to pass.
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This gift of adventure
That kind of adventure is seen as a gift?
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.
This entire piece I kept wondering why this game was necessary? Is the giant just testing Arthur and his knights' characters? The word choice, rhyming patterns and descriptions are very beautiful!
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Full well they whiled that day till it worked its end on land
Everything just continues on well and calmly-like nothing has happened.
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that folk flailed it with their feet,
This almost seems almost unnecessarily cruel for the other knights to do.
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I am the weakest, I know, and of wit feeblest.
He claims he is the weakest? But he's a knight that guards Guinevere?
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Gawain, that sat by the queen, to the king he did incline: ‘I beseech in plain speech that this mêlée be mine’
Well it took him a minute but Gawain is the only knight that stands up.
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Horseman
I think there's significance in the fact that according to the knight he is a "giant" and Arthur belittles him down to a "horseman". I also think there's significance that the green knight has no name- it further distances him from the human world.
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If he had stunned them at first, stiller were then all the host in the hall, the high and the low.
I wonder if they are just confused about why he wants to have this beheading game, or if they see this as a threat to their king?
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head of this house, I, Arthur am named.
It's interesting and it says something about Arthur's character that he merely calls himself the "head of this house" instead of King Arthur, since the title of king is much more powerful.
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and all engraved with green in gracious workings;
I wonder if this is a hint or foreshadow about the survival of the beheading challenges.
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for a rider and his horse to own such a hue as grew green as the grass and greener it seemed,
Very powerful diction and imagery, with the giant and the horse being greener than grass.
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holly branch, that is greatest in green when groves are bare,
He seems to have some sort of connection to nature.
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it seemed that no man might his mighty blows survive.
I think his physical appearance is almost foreshadowing the challenge, because if he looks like that than it seems Gawain's loyalty is tested.It seems that if Gawain accepts the knights proposal then death is almost certain.
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with knots full many plaited in thread of gold about the fair green, here a thread of the hair, and there of gold.
The knots make the horse distinguishable, also with gold and green is makes the hair seem almost majestic.
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There good Gawain was graced by Guinevere beside
Beside= Next to https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beside Gawain must be very high ranking if he's next to the queen. I wonder how Guinevere will be portrayed in this one, because in Lanval she's known for starting problems with Knights with her desires.
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he liked his life lively, he loved the less either to long lie idle or to long sit,
Not only does King Arthur seem respectable because he had others served before him, but he also seems very active and hands on. "He liked his life lively" suggests that King Arthur isn't the type of king to have someone else do something for him.
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joyous a youth, and somewhat boyish
"Somewhat boyish" suggests to me that he is still somewhat young, considering at this time Kings could be in their 20's and have the throne.
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rich run forth to render presents, yelled their gifts on high, yield them to hand, argued busily about those same gifts. Ladies laughed out loud, though they had lost, while he that won was not wrath, that you’ll know.
Gifts are given similar to today's representation of Christmas. It seems common in these stories that giving gifts are a kind of power that people are showing off.
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Christ Himself
Christian religious reference. These knights seem to be perfect, or so remarkable that even God recognizes their greatness or heroism.
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With all that’s well in the world were they together
Foreshadowing a future problem.
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with many lovely lords, of leaders the best,
Since they are surrounded by the best men it makes Gawain stand out for his bravery since he volunteered for Arthur.
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Christmas
Christmas= a religious holiday.
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ever was Arthur highest, as I have heard tell. And so of earnest adventure I aim to show,
Britain seems to currently be the most powerful nation/region in the world. King Arthur reminds me of Beowulf, where he seems to be the most powerful born king.
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King demanded the judgment of the Court, according to the accusation and the answer.
Well King Arthur is being fair, asking for other people's judgement instead of just sentencing Lanval himself.
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Every day they came to his chamber, to know of his meat and drink, for much they feared that presently he would become mad.
The other knights are coming everyday and checking to make sure that Lanval is eating and drinking and is okay. So his fellow knights are still kind to him and like him, just like they did before he had riches.
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He would have been set in prison, but Gawain came first to offer himself as his surety, and with him, all the knights of his fellowship
It surprised me (and Lanval) that knights would pledge for him, because I'm sure Arthur wanted him in prison.
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“Lady,” answered the knight, “grant me leave to go, for this grace is not for me. I am the King’s man, and dare not break my troth. Not for the highest lady in the world, not even for her love, will I set this reproach upon my lord.”
He says he's not interested in her because of his loyalty to the king.
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Launfal bestowed rich gifts.
Again we see the distribution of gifts. I think it shows a lot about Lanval's character that he never received gifts before and when he finally receives treasures he gives it to others.
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In his heart he doubted that it was but a dream
The way his meeting of meeting his lady was described I thought it might be a dream, especially with the fact that no one can see her.
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, there is naught that you may bid me do—right or wrong, evil or good—that I will not do to the utmost of my power.
I'm not sure that other knights would agree with that statement, even if it's for the women they love. As a knight shouldn't they be loyal to their king first and always?
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whose day shall be so filled with riches and with mirth as yours.”
Does she mean riches literally? Is Lanval finally getting gifts from her because he never got any from Arthur.
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I bring you my love.
Well she's really upfront about her feelings. They met three seconds ago and she's already in love with him or what she's heard of him.
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No King on earth might have so sweet a shelter, not though he gave in fee the value of his realm.
So in a sense are these women more powerful or wealthy than king Arthur?
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t pavilion of silk
The maidens (and I assume the lady he is going to meet) seem to give off a kind of innocence (they are wearing white which can represent purity), and had wealth with gold and a silk tent.
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Right glad was the knight to do the bidding of the maidens. He gave no heed to his horse, but left him at his provand in the meadow.
This seems almost reckless to me. He's leaving his horse (which is his transportation and his security) just to follow them.
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e, attended by neither servant nor squire.
Is he frequently always alone? Even though the other knights like him.
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Arthur bestowed honours and lands on all his servants—save only on one.
I think this almost shows that Lanval is better than all of the knights, because he isn't treated well or rewarded by King Arthur. It's easier for the other knights to be "good" because they are doing a action knowing they will be rewarded, Lanval does a action because he is truly good.
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This lord, who was forgotten and misliked of the King
Why does King Arthur dislike and even forget about Launfal? Has Launfal done anything wrong in the past?
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Thereat he gave many rich gifts to his counts and barons,
This reminds me of Beowulf, where successful kings seems to continuously have the need to give gifts to prove they're success?
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King Arthur—that fearless knight and courteous lord—removed to Wales, and lodged at Caerleon-on-Usk, since the Picts and Scots did much mischief in the land.
There seems to be a lot of ethnicity tensions between people of different cultures/nations. It also seemed strange that King Arthur couldn't inhibit that land because in the media the story of King Arthur depicts him as a all mighty, conquering ruler.
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earlybritishlit.pressbooks.com earlybritishlit.pressbooks.comSir Orfeo21
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Every good harper is welcome For my lord’s sake Sir Orfeo
The steward remains faithful to Orfeo through music even after 10 years.
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For very joy the people wept That he was come so safe and sound; For very joy they danced and leapt;
The people stayed loyal to their king, even after he left them for 10 years.
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steward
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To hear thy lips lie thus to me! So, sir, my boon, as thou art king!
Orfeo is using a slightly manipulating tactic. The king asked what he wanted- so he said his wife- then the king refuses. Orfeo hints that the king doesn't want to be seen as a liar.
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Each thus was stolen out of life, For such the fairies seize and keep
It's interesting that the fairies are viewed as "steeling" someone from their lives, when many of those people were s injured and believed to be dead, so how could they be stolen fro their lives?
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Amid the land a castle tall And rich and proud and wondrous high Uprose, and all the outmost wall Shone as a crystal to the eye. A hundred towers lit up the sky, Of diamond all battled stout; And buttresses rose up near by Arched with red gold and broad about.
Very beautiful, vivid and moving description.
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dispel
Dispel= to vanish. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dispel He's asking for death to end his pain and suffering.
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The wildest creatures hidden there For very joy about him played, And all the birds from everywhere Came forth and heard;
Even though he is miserable his music still has the power to make even animals happy.
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On dainty dishes and sweet fruits, Now must he dig to find a small Repast of herbs and bitter roots.
He goes to his lowest point in life to save his true love.
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turreted
Furnished with small towers (attached to a larger building/castle). https://www.dictionary.com/browse/turreted
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In poverty he left the town
Although what he does for true love is admirable, he does slack in the leadership of being a good king because of how he leaves his people.
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Forth must I fare on woeful quest To dwell where never man may be, Of beasts and birds to be the guest. And when ye know my soul has rest, Call then yourselves a parliament, And choose a king as seems you best. Do all as this my testament.”
I believe it's admirable that he's going on the quest alone, since he is a king and could make a knight assist him. He also trusts the parliament to find a new king, instead of choosing someone he would like to be king.
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king
Is the king Hades?
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wo gallant horsemen, young and fair, Rode to my feet, and bent the knee, ” And bade me come with haste and speed To parley with their lord the king. But I replied I durst not heed,
Was this a dream she had when she was asleep and bitten?
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Would have deemed his spirit were Housed in Heaven, such melody Was it, and such joy to hear.
A very powerful description of the emotion that his music can convey onto others.
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minstrelsy
A medieval musician/ singer. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/minstrel
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Orfeo most of any king Loved a harper and his lay
It's interesting that he loves music. When most people think of kings they think of brutal, strong men that enjoy fighting or activities to prove physical strength.
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Christian
Reference to religion. It seems that their religious affiliation is part of their character identity.
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mirth
Mirth= Glee or joyful https://www.dictionary.com/browse/mirth
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featly
Featly= A graceful manner https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/featly
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Increase Font Size Toggle Menu HomeReadSign in Search in book: Search Contents Introduction: An Open Companion The ProjectAdditional Information:AUTHORS: Accessibility Statement Pressbooks’ Accessibility Policy:Contact us with any Accessibility Issues: I. The Middle Ages (ca. 476-1485) 1. Introduction: Caedmon's Hymn Bede: Biography2. Dream of the Rood 3. Introduction: Beowulf: Parts I & II Introduction: BeowulfStory SummaryThemesHistorical BackgroundLiterary StyleDiscussion Questions: Further Resources for Students:Reading: Beowulf Part II4. Beowulf: Part III 5. Judith X.XI.XII.6. The Wanderer7. Wulf and Eadwacer8. The Wife's Lament9. The Ruin 10. Selection of Old English Riddles I. A StormII. A StormIII. A StormV. A ShieldVII. A SwanVIII. A NightingaleXIV. A HornXXIII. A BowXXVI. A BibleXLV. DoughXLVII. A BookwormLX. A Reed II. Irish Literature 11. Cúchulainn’s Boyish Deeds Introduction: Cúchulainn’s Boyish Deeds III. Introduction: Anglo-Norman Literature 12. Selections: The Myth of Arthur's Return 13. Tristan and Iseult IntroductionSTORY SUMMARYLITERARY THEMESDiscussion Questions:Further Resources for Students:14. From: Guide for Anchoresses (Ancrene Wisse) 15. Romances of Marie de France IntroductionBiographyInfluencesWriting StyleDiscussion Questions:Further Resources for Students: 16. Sir Orfeo IV. Middle English Literature in the 14th and 15th Century 17. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (ca. 1375-1400) 18. Sir Gawain: Parts I & II IntroductionBackground:The Character of Sir Gawain: Story Summary: Themes:Discussion Questions:Further Resources for Students: 19. Sir Gawain: Parts III & IV20. Geoffrey Chaucer: The Canterbury Tales21. Canterbury Tales: General Prologue 22. Canterbury Tales: The Knight's Tale lines 1-34: About Duke Theseus, lord of Athens, and his achievementslines 35-93: Women complain that they have lost their husbands in battlelines 117-146: The achievement of revengelines 147-174: Two knights, Arcita and Palamon, are captured and imprisonedlines 175-233: Emily walks in the garden and is seen by the two prisonerslines 234-264: Arcita compares Emily with Venuslines 265-293: Palamon claims Emily to be his lady and lovelines 294-328: Arcita rejects Palamon’s claimlines 329-350: Arcita is ransomedlines 351-360: The conditions of the ransomlines 361-416: Arcita is released from prison and regrets losing the sight on Emily 23. Canterbury Tales: Miller's Prologue and Tale Introduction: The Miller’s TaleStory SummaryReading: The Miller’s PrologueThe Miller’s Tale 24. Canterbury Tales: The Wife of Bath's Prologue and Tale Introduction: The Wife of BathStory Summary:Reading: The Wife of Bath’s PrologueWife of Bath’s Tale 25. The Canterbury Tales: The Friar's Prologue and Tale The Friar’s PrologueThe Friar’s Tale 26. Canterbury Tales: The Pardoner's Prologue and Tale Introduction: The PardonerStory Summary:Reading: Pardoner’s PrologueThe Pardoner’s Tale 27. Canterbury Tales: The Nun's Priest's Tale Introduction: The Nun’s Priest’s TaleStory Summary:Reading: The Nun’s Priest’s Tale: PrologueThe Nun’s Priest’s Tale28. Chaucer's Retraction to Canterbury Tales 29. From: The Vision of Piers Plowman by William Langland From: The PrologueFrom: Passus IFrom: Passus 5Passus 6From: Passus 7From The C-Text30. Julian of Norwich: Revelations of Divine Love (Selections) 31. Margery Kempe: Excerpts from The Book of Margery Kempe IntroductionReading: The Birth of Her First Child and Her First Vision (excerpt)Her Pride and Attempts to Start a Business (excerpt)Margery and Her Husband Reach a Settlement32. The Wakefield Second Shepherd's Play33. Middle English Lyrics34. Robert Henryson: The Cock and the Jasp35. Everyman 36. Thomas Malory: Le Morte d'Arthur Introdution: Le Morte d’ArthurReading: Selection from Morte d’Arthur V. The Sixteenth Century 37. Sir Thomas More: Utopia UTOPIA38. From: The Book of Common Prayer39. From: The Schoolmaster by Roger Ascham 40. WOMEN IN POWER: Selected Readings Mary I (Tudor): IntroductionMary Tudor: BiographyLady Jane GreyIntroductionMary Queen of Scots: IntroductionElizabeth I: IntroductionBiography41. Edmund Spencer: the Faerie Queene (Book I) 42. Sir Walter Raleigh: Poems and From: The Discovery of the Large, Rich and Beautiful Empire of Guiana Sir Walter Raleigh: IntroductionBiography: Sir Walter RaleighPoems43. Sir Philip Sidney: From Astrophil and Stella 44. THE WIDER WORLD: Selected Readings The Wider World: Selected Readings Richard Hakluyt: BiographyReading: Hakluyt’s Dedicatory Epistle to The Principal Navigations, 1589Leo Africanus: BiographyReading: Leo Africanus on the North Africans, 1526An English Traveller’s Guide to the North Africans, 1547Voyage to the Arctic, 1577, with Reflections on Racial DifferenceAmadas and Barlowe’s Voyage to Virginia, 1584Introduction: Thomas HariotHariot’s Report on Virginia, 1585General History of the Turks, 1603Introduction: Thomas DallamReading: A Gift for the Sultan 45. Christopher Marlowe: Hero and Leander Hero and Leander 46. Christopher Marlowe: Doctor Faustus The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus 47. William Shakespeare: Introduction Biography 48. William Shakespeare: Selected Sonnets Introduction: Shakespeare’s SonnetsNotable Themes and SummariesReading: Selected Sonnets 49. William Shakespeare: Taming of the Shrew Introduction: Taming of the ShrewExtended OverviewReading: THE TAMING OF THE SHREW VI. Early Seventeenth Century 50. John Dunne: Selections Songs and SonnetsA Selection of Holy SonnetsFrom: Devotions upon Emergent Occasions51. Aemilia Lanyar: Salve Deus Rex Judaeorum 52. Ben Jonson: Epigrams and Poetry EpigramsPoemsFrom: Underwood 53. Selections by Mary Wroth From: The Countess of Montgomery’s Urania SongFrom: Pamphilia to AmphilanthusFrom: A Crown of Sonnets Dedicated to Love 54. GENDER RELATIONS: Conflict and Counsel From: The Arraignment of Lewd, Idle, Froward, and Unconstant Women: Or the Vanity of Them Choose you WhetherRachel Speght: From A Muzzle for Melastomus William Gouge: From Domestical Duties55. Francis Bacon: Essays56. Margaret Cavendish: The Blazing World 57. George Herbert: The Temple The Temple 58. CRISIS OF AUTHORITY Readings Crisis of Authority: The Beheading of Charles IFrom: King Charles, His Trial (1649)From: A Perfect Diurnal of Some Passages in Parliament, no. 288Crisis of Authority: Political WritingsRobert Filmer: From Patriarcha Introduction: John Milton’s Political WritingsReading: From The Tenure of Kings and MagistratesGerrard Winstanley: From A New Year’s Gift Sent to the Parliament and ArmyThomas Hobbes: From LeviathanCrisis of Authority: Writing the SelfLucy Hutchinson: From Memoirs of the Life of Colonel John HutchinsonEdward Hyde, Earl of Clarendon: From The History of the RebellionLady Anne Halkett: From The Memoires 59. John Milton: Poems and Sonnets IntroductionReadings: John Milton’s Selected PoemsLycidasSonnets 60. John Milton: Paradise Lost (Books 1-3) BOOK 1BOOK 2BOOK 3 61. John Milton: Paradise Lost (Books 4-6) BOOK 4BOOK 5BOOK 6 62. John Milton: Paradise Lost (Books 7-9) BOOK 7BOOK 8BOOK 9 63. John Milton: Paradise Lost (Books 10-12) BOOK 10BOOK 11BOOK 12 VII. The Eighteenth Century 64. Oroonoko by Aphra Behn Oroonoko: Or, the Royal Slave 65. Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift Gulliver’s Travels Appendix An Open Companion for British Literature I 16 Sir Orfeo An introduction for this reading has not yet been written. Reading: Sir Orfeo Adapted from the Middle English by Edward Eyre Hunt, 1909. We often read with new delight The lays that clerks would have us know, For lays there are that sing aright Each wondrous thing of long ago: Some are of weal, and some of woe, And some of joy and gentle mirth, And some of guile and treacherous foe, And some the strangest haps of earth; Some are of jests and ribaldry, And some there are of fairy lore; But most of all, as men may see, They sing of love and trials sore. In Britain in the days of yore The harpers writ that men should praise The gallant deeds that were before Of such the Britons made their lays.
Some people are influenced by books or stories of other heros and they follow in their footstep. These men at the time merely acted out of their good nature or true beliefs.
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earlybritishlit.pressbooks.com earlybritishlit.pressbooks.com
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marvelous death.
An interesting use of words here.
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That Beowulf is dead. In days gone by When our warriors fell and we were undefended He kept our coffers and our kingdoms safe. He worked for the people, but as well as that He behaved like a hero.
This says a lot about Beowulf's character. Even others around the world knew about how loyal Beowulf was to his people.
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Dead from knife-wounds.
Is this referring to knife-wounds= the dragon's teeth or knife-wounds with the idea that because Beowulf lost his men and their weaponry this was the reason he died.
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That I have been allowed to leave my people So well endowed on the day I die
Even as he is dying he is thinking of his people and their well-being- I think that says a lot about Beowulf's character.
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standard
A tree or shrub that is growing at full height. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/standard
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Broke ranks and ran for their lives To the safety of the wood. But within one heart Sorrow welled up: in a man of worth 2600 The claims of kinship cannot be denied.
So a man who's similar to a young Beowulf, where his heroism is born from within and is destined by a more powerful force.
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When Beowulf fought and fate denied him Glory in battle
I'm reminded of the wheel of fate/fortune. Sometimes your're at the top and sometimes you are not and this can all happen by chance.
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And racing toward its fate. Yet his shield defended 2570 The renowned leader’s life and limb For a shorter time than he meant it to
Similar to the metal chain in part 2, where is armour is the only thing that protects him.
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bereft
Lacked something needed, wanted, or expected. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bereft
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sensing his own death
There's been so much foreshadowing about Beowulf's death that I'd almost be surprised if he did survive at this point.
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He was a good king
I think it's important that they note this. Beowulf seems to take Hrothgar's advice about never being too overconfident or prideful and seems to me to have a similar ruling ability to Hrothgar.
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So the war-king planned and plotted his revenge.
This feels like the first time Beowulf actually plans a battle (seeming to me like he's matured), with Grendel and Grendel's mother there is less planning and more charging into immediate battle.
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Then Beowulf was given bad news, A hard truth: his own home, The best of buildings, had been burnt to a cinder, The throne-room of the Geats.
Similar to Hrothgar's situation with Herot, where once the throne room was burned then he feels his own lost.
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