Battle of Good and Evil: Grendel vs. Beowulf

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Randall, Stephen J. "Offshore Oil." Dictionary of American History. Ed. Stanley I. Kutler. Vol. 6. 3^rd ed. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2003. 170-171. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Gale. Patrick F Taylor Science & Tech Academy. 27 Sept. 2010 <http://go.galegroup.com/ps/start.do?p=GVRL&u=jeff53810>.

Karam, P. Andrew. "Drilling for Offshore Oil." Science and Its Times. Ed. Neil Schlager and Josh Lauer. Vol. 6: 1900 to 1949. Detroit: Gale, 2000. 521-523. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Gale. Patrick F Taylor Science & Tech Academy. 27 Sept. 2010 <http://go.galegroup.com/ps/start.do?p=GVRL&u=jeff53810>.

"offshore drilling." Encyclopedia of Marine Science. C. Reid Nichols and Robert G. Williams. Facts on File Science Library New York: Facts on File, 2009. 404-408. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Gale. Patrick F Taylor Science & Tech Academy. 28 Sept. 2010 <http://go.galegroup.com/ps/start.do?p=GVRL&u=jeff53810>.

"Senator Demands Detail on U.S. Oil Exports - Blogcritics Sci/Tech." Blogcritics - News Reviews and Opinion. Web. 29 Sept. 2010. <http://blogcritics.org/scitech/article/senator-demands-detail-on-us-oil/>.

Crouse, Ron. "Hot Springs on the Ocean Floor." Water: Science and Issues. Ed. E. Julius Dasch. Vol. 2. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2003. 169-173. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Gale. Patrick F Taylor Science & Tech Academy. 28 Sept. 2010 <http://go.galegroup.com/ps/start.do?p=GVRL&u=jeff53810>.

"$50bn Infra Plan Backed by Barack Obama | GDS Publishing." Infrastructure News US | GDS Publishing. Web. 29 Sept. 2010. <http://www.americainfra.com/news/50bn-infra-plan-backed-by-Barack-Obama/>.

"Beowulf Courage Quotes." Shmoop: Study Guides & Teacher Resources. Web. 29 Sept. 2010. <http://www.shmoop.com/beowulf/courage-quotes.html>.

Mayfield, Sierra. "Storybook.html." Student Web Server. Web. 29 Sept. 2010. <http://students.ou.edu/M/Sierra.P.Mayfield-1/storybook.html.html>.

"Boy Toy/Quotes." The Fairly OddParents Wiki - Timmy Turner and the Fairly OddParents! Web. 29 Sept. 2010. <http://fairlyoddparents.wikia.com/wiki/Boy_Toy/Quotes>.

"Spider-Man (2002) - Memorable Quotes." The Internet Movie Database (IMDb). Web. 29 Sept. 2010. <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0145487/quotes>.

Jury, By. "Grendel & Charlie." E G O S P E W. Web. 29 Sept. 2010. <http://egospew.com/blog/2007/06/07/grendle-charlie/>.

"Grendel by John Gardner - Quotes Book Notes Summary | BookRags.com." BookRags.com | Study Guides, Lesson Plans, Book Summaries and More. Web. 29 Sept. 2010. <http://www.bookrags.com/notes/gre/QUO.htm>.

"Beowulf - Story." Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems, Pace University. Web. 29 Sept. 2010. <http://csis.pace.edu/grendel/projf981e/story.html>.

"Grendel – Silence Opens Doors." Silence Opens Doors. Web. 29 Sept. 2010. <http://www.silenceopensdoors.com/tag/grendel/>.

"Photos : N D Hill's Portfolio : Grendel's Mother." ImagineFX - Forums. Web. 29 Sept. 2010. <http://community.imaginefx.com/fxpose/n_d_hills_portfolio/picture50294.aspx>.

"Beowulf Mortality Quotes." Shmoop: Study Guides & Teacher Resources. Web. 28 Sept. 2010. <http://www.shmoop.com/beowulf/mortality-quotes.html>.

"The Seafarer Text of the Poem." ENotes - Literature Study Guides, Lesson Plans, and More. Web. 29 Sept. 2010. <http://www.enotes.com/seafarer/text-poem>.

"Early Clothing in Costume History - Saxon, Frankish and Anglo Saxon Costume 500-1000AD." Fashion History Costume Trends and Eras, Trends Victorians - Haute Couture. Web. 29 Sept. 2010. <http://www.fashion-era.com/ancient_costume/clothing-saxon-frankish-anglo.htm>.

"Beowulf Tradition and Customs Quotes." Shmoop: Study Guides & Teacher Resources. Web. 29 Sept. 2010. <http://www.shmoop.com/beowulf/tradition-customs-quotes.html>.

"Cryptomundo » Grendel: Another View." Cryptomundo - for Bigfoot, Loch Ness, and More - Blog Home. Web. 29 Sept. 2010. <http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/grendel-bille/>.

"Anglo-Saxon Religion." Research at UVU. Web. 29 Sept. 2010. <http://research.uvu.edu/mcdonald/Anglo-Saxon/A-S-Life&Culture/Religion.html>.

"BBC - Primary History - Anglo-Saxons - Anglo-Saxon Beliefs." BBC - Homepage. Web. 29 Sept. 2010. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/anglo_saxons/anglo-saxon_beliefs/>.

"Online Library of Liberty - APPENDIX I: THE ANGLO-SAXON GOVERNMENT AND MANNERS - The History of England, Vol. 1." Online Library of Liberty - Front Page. Web. 29 Sept. 2010. <http://oll.libertyfund.org/?option=com_staticxt&staticfile=show.php?title=695&chapter=67258&layout=html&Itemid=27>.

"The Sutton Hoo Room." Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems, Pace University. Web. 29 Sept. 2010. <http://csis.pace.edu/grendel/projs4a/sutton.htm>.

"Sutton Hoo." Sir Thomas Browne. Web. 29 Sept. 2010. <http://penelope.uchicago.edu/~grout/encyclopaedia_romana/britannia/anglo-saxon/suttonhoo/suttonhoo.html>.

"AD 700 – Sutton Hoo." Current Archaeology. Web. 29 Sept. 2010. <http://www.archaeology.co.uk/the-timeline-of-britain/sutton-hoo.htm>.

"Cinemaddicts.org Blog » 2007 » November." Cinemaddicts.org Blog. Web. 28 Sept. 2010. <http://cinemaddicts.org/blog/2007/11/>.

Is Offshore Oil Drilling Mandatory For America?

In the case of the United States, offshore oil drilling is a must. Oil is a necessity of everyday life. The beneficial aspects of offshore oil drilling overpower the detrimental aspects of it. The world is utterly dependent upon oil, so it is essential that the United States as a country reap as much as oil as is feasible to be obtained. Large offshore oil spills are an extreme rarity. The last major oil spill was the Exxon Valdez incident that occurred in March of the year 1989. Despite the inevitable fact that their all many alternative energy sources in the world, there is no immediate replacement for oil that is significant enough to completely halt drilling offshore for oil.

As far as oil is concerned, it is accessible on land as well as under water. However, there is a much greater abundance of oil located under water than there on land. It has been said that at least 25% of the world’s oil is located at sea (Karam 522).Oil is used to power a significant amount of machinery that Americans manipulate on a day-to-day basis such as cars, boats, and airplanes. The oil found offshore is a vital energy source in regards to the powering of these multiple forms of machinery (Karam 522). The offshore oil drilling industry plays a significant role in the American economy (Karam 522). America exports 3 million gallons of oil per day, which accumulates a great deal of income for the country. Offshore oil drilling provides many job opportunities for citizens who may be in need of them as well. Americans agree to jobs that are of a risky nature because they may not have a second option (Karam 521). There is no major alternative source of energy prevalent enough to provide Americans with the option to defer from the use of oil. Offshore oil drilling has been speculated for the great enormous impact it has had on the short and intermediate future of the world (Karam 522). Until another major alternative energy source is brought to the forefront, America must continue to use oil in order to maintain its status and way of life as a country.

Despite the fact that there is a great deal of oil located under water, there is also oil to be found on land. Since 05-06, America has shown great interest in the exploitation of all feasibly accessible oil fields (Berger, Eugene, Seibold 406). America has recently developed many products through the usage of wind and solar energy in attempts to cut down on pollution. America has expressed interest in the use of oil shale (Berger, Eugene, Seibold 407). The United States imports a larger amount of its oil from other countries than it exports to other countries. The largest oil and overall petroleum reserves are located in Saudi Arabia and other Middle East (Berger, Eugene, Seibold 406). As the U.S. continues to drill offshore for oil, it allows more of the oil located under water to contaminate the marine life that it possesses. Although not major, minor oil spills that occur are viewed as harmful to the environment (Berger, Eugene, Seibold 407). Not only is it dangerous for marine life, but it is a perilous task for humans. Citizens who partake in this profession are taking a serious chance by doing so because of the large risks they are subjecting themselves to (Karam 521).

While oil is available on land, there is too much located under water that we need in our hands. Geologists feel as though any possible remaining oil fields lie under water (Karam 523).There are not enough products powered by alternative sources for us to do away with the prominent usage of oil. Alternatives such as oil shale have been deemed economically unfeasible by the government of the U.S. (Berger, Eugene, Seibold 407). America needs the funds that are produced from its exportation of oil. In the year 2004, America exported 268 million barrels of oil (Blogcritics 1). Despite the fact that we import more oil than we export, the money accrued from selling this amount of oil to other nations can be very vital to our economy. This would be an extremely substantial loss in revenue. There are natural holes located on the ocean floor, therefore rendering no feasible solution to completely eliminate marine life from being contaminated. The hot springs in the ocean floor act as a hydrothermal vent (Crouse 169). While offshore oil drilling is a rather death-daunting and death-defying profession, it is still a field in which many people are afforded job opportunities (Karam 521).

Despite the fact that there are risks to offshore drilling, it is too vital of a component to the country for us to abruptly put an end to it. As a country, we are too oil-dependent for us to dismiss oil as our main energy source. Oil is used to power cars, provide job opportunities, and accumulate income. We need all of the oil we can reach in order to maintain our average everyday lives as American citizens. Due to the fact that the majority of oil is located under water, it is imperative that America continue its offshore oil drilling efforts.

Monday, September 20, 2010

Grendel's a Parody?

"Then Halfdane's son presented Beowulf

with a gold standard as ... showered with such gifts
in front of the hall-troops."

The novel Grendel by John Gardner can be compared to the Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf. Some would venture to say that Grendel is a parody, or mocking imitation of Beowulf. In the poem Beowulf, the character of Grendel is portrayed as a simple-minded creature whose only goal is to be evil and annihilate everyone and everything he possibly can. However, the character Grendel as written about in the novel Grendel depicts the monster as being more of a comical character who takes a divine interest in both literature and philosophical worldviews. Another way in which Grendel can be thought of as a parody of Beowulf is that Grendel is boasting to the humans in Gardner’s version Grendel, whereas, Beowulf is the main character boasting in the ancient Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf. There are many significant differences in the perspectives of both stories and therefore lead to both stories having a their own unique appearances and outlooks.

Anglo-Saxon Riddle

Hwylc is hæleþa þæs horsc ond þæs hygecræftig		What man is so mind-strong and spirit shrewd
þæt þæt mæge asecgan, hwa mec on sið wræce,		He can say who drives me in my fierce strength
þonne ic astige strong, stundum reþe,		On fate's road when I rise with vengeance,
þrymful þunie, þragum wræce		Ravage the land, with a thundering voice
fere geond foldan, folcsalo	5	Rip folk-homes, plunder the hall-wood:	5
ræced reafige? Recas stigað,		Gray smoke rises over rooftops--on earth
haswe ofer hrofum; hlyn bið on eorþan,		The rattle and death-shriek of men.I shake
wælcwealm wera. Þonne ic wudu hrere,		The forest, blooms and boles, rip trees,
bearwas bledhwate, beamas fylle;		Wander, roofed with water, a wide road,
holme gehrefed, heahum meahtum	10	Pressed by might. On my back I bear	10
wrecen on waþe, wide sended;		The water that once wrapped earth-dwellers,
hæbbe me on hrycge þæt ær hadas wreah		Flesh and spirit.
foldbuendra, flæsc ond gæstas,		Say who shrouds me
somod on sunde. Saga hwa mec þecce,		And what I am called who carry these burdens.
oþþe hu ic hatte, þe þa hlæst bere.	15	Sometimes I plunge through the press of waves
Hwilum ic gewite, swa ne wenaþ men,		To men's surprise, stalking the sea-warrior's	15
under yþa geþræc; eorþan secan,		Fathomed floor. The white waves whip,
garsecges grund. Fifen biþ gewreged,		Foam-flanks flaring, the ocean rips,
fam gewealcen * * *		The whale's lake roars, rages--
hwælmere hlimmeð, hlude grimmeð,	20	Savage waves beat on the shore, cast rock,
streamas staþu beatað, stundum weorpaþ		Sand, seaweed, water on the high cliffs	20
on stealc hleoþa stane ond sonde,		As I thrash with the wave-power on my back
ware ond wæge, þonne ic winnende,		And shake under blue, broad plains below.
holmmægne biþeaht, hrusan styrge,		I cannot flee from the helm of water
side sægrundas. Sundhelme ne mæg	25	Till my lord lifts me to a higher road.
losian ær mec læte se þe min latteow bið		Say, wise man, who it is who draws me	25
on siþa gehwam. Saga, þoncol mon,		From sea-clutch and cover as the deep
þonne streamas eft stille weorþað,		Sometimes my lord seizes and shoves me,
yþa geþwære, þe mec ær wrugon.	30	Muscles me under the broad breast of ground,
Hwilum mec min frea fæste genearwað,		Packs my power in a dark, narrow prison,	30
sendeð þonne under salwonges		Where the hard earth rides my back.
bearm þone bradan, ond on bid wriceð,		I cannot flee from the weight of torture,
þrafað on þystrum þrymma sumne,		Yet I shake the home-stones of men:
hæste on enge, þær me heord siteð	35	Horn-gabled mead-halls tremble,
hruse on hrycge. Nah ic hwyrftweges		Walls quake, perch over hall-thanes,	35
of þam aglace, ac ic eþelstol		Ceilings, cities shake.
hæleþa hrere; hornsalu wagiað,		The air is quiet
wera wicstede, weallas beofiað,		Above the land, the sea broods, silent
steape ofer stiwitum. Stille þynceð	40	Till I break out, ride at my ruler's call--
lyft ofer londe ond lagu swige,		My lord who laid bonds on me in the beginning,
oþþæt ic of enge up aþringe,		Creation's chains, so I might not escape	40
efne swa mec wisaþ se mec wræde on		His power unbowed-my guardian, my guide.
æt frumsceafte furþum legde,		Sometimes I swoop down, whipping up waves,
bende ond clomme, þæt ic onbugan ne mot	45	Rousing white water, driving to shore
of þæs gewealde þe me wegas tæcneð.		The flint-gray flood, its foam-flanks flaring
Hwilum ic sceal ufan yþa wregan,		Against the cliff wall. Dark swells loom	45
streamas styrgan ond to staþe þywan		In the deep-hills on hills of dark water,
flintgrægne flod: famig winneð		Driven by the sea, surge to a meeting of cliffs
wæg wið wealle. Wonn ariseð	50	On the coast road.
dun ofer dype; hyre deorc on last,		There is the keel's cry,
eare geblonden, oþer fereð,		The sea-guests' moan. Sheer cliffs wait
þæt hy gemittað mearclonde neah		Sea-charge, wave-clash, war of water,	50
hea hlincas. Þær bið hlud wudu,		As the high troop crowds the headland.
brimgiesta breahtm, bidað stille	55	There the ship finds a fierce struggle
stealc stanhleoþu streamgewinnes,		As the sea steals its craft and strength,
hopgehnastes, þonne heah geþring		The souls of men, while white terror	55
on cleofu crydeþ. Þær bið ceole wen		Rides the waves' back. Cruel and killing
sliþre sæcce, gif hine sæ byreð		On the savage road--who stills us?
on þa grimman tid, gæsta fulne,	60	Sometimes I rush through the clouds riding
þæt he scyle rice birofen weorþan,		My back, spill the black rain-jugs,
feore bifohten, fæmig ridan		Rippling streams, crack clouds together	60
yþa hrycgum. Þær bið egsa sum		With a sharp shriek, scattering light-shards.
ældum geywed, þar þar ic hyran sceal		Sky-breakers surge over shattered men,
strong on stiðweg. Hwa gestilleð þæt?	65	Dark thunder rolls with a battle-din,
Hwilum ic þurhræse, þæt me on bæce rideð		And the black rain hums from a wet
won wægfatu, wide toþringe		Waves from the war-cloud's womb. breast,	65
lagustreama full, hwilum læte eft		The dark horsemen storm. There is fear
slupan tosomne. Se bið swega mæst,		In the cities in the souls of men when dark
breahtma ofer burgum, ond gebreca hludast,	70	Gliding spectres raise light-sharp swords.
þonne scearp cymeð sceo wiþ oþrum,		Only a dull fool fears no death-stroke;
ecg wið ecge. Earpan gesceafte		He dies nonetheless if the true lord	70
fus ofer folcum fyre swætað,		Whistles an arrow from the whirlwind
blacan lige, ond gebrecu ferað		Streaking rain through his heart. Few
deorc ofer dryhtum gedyne micle,	75	Find life in the rain-shriek's dart.
farað feohtende, feallan lætað		I urge that battle, incite the clash
sweart sumsendu seaw of bosme,		Of clouds as I rage through riders' tumult	75
wætan of wombe. Winnende fareð		Over sky-streams. Then I bow down
atol eoredþreat; egsa astigeð,		At my lord's command, bear my burden
micel modþrea monna cynne,	80	Close to the land, a mighty slave.
brogan on burgum, þonne blace scotiað		Sometimes I storm beneath the land,
scriþende scin scearpum wæpnum.		Sometimes rage in the cavern of waves,	80
Dol him ne ondrædeð ða deaðsperu,		Sometimes whip the waters from above,
swylteð hwæþre, gif him soð meotud		Or climb quickening the clash of clouds.
on geryhtu þurh regn ufan	85	Mighty and swift-say what I'm called
of gestune læteð stræle fleogan,		And who rouses and calms my fierce power.
farende flan. Fea þæt gedygað,
þara þe geræceð rynegiestes wæpen.
þonne gewite wolcengehnaste	90
þurh geþræc þringan þrimme micle
ofer byrnan bosm. Biersteð hlude
heah hloðgecrod; þonne hnige eft
under lyfte helm londe near,
ond me on hrycg hlade þæt ic habban sceal,	95
meahtum gemagnad mines frean.
Swa ic þrymful þeow þragum winne,
hwilum under eorþan, hwilum yþa sceal
hean underhnigan, hwilum holm ufan
streamas styrge, hwilum stige up,	100
wolcnfare wrege, wide fere
swift ond swiþfeorm. Saga hwæt ic hatte,
oþþe hwa mec rære, þonne ic restan ne mot,
oþþe hwa mec stæðþe, þonne ic stille beom.

I maintain a messy mentality

A multiple mistake-maker

Responsible for riveting works

Manipulated in a multitude of ways

Can produce multi-colored portrayals

Best used by writers around the big blue-ball

Clearly conveys thoughts of the class-dictator

Answer: Pen

Aren't Beowulf and Grendel the Same?

"Not that I fool myself with thoughts that I'm more noble."

The novel Grendel differs in style and appearance from the epic poem Beowulf, which it was based upon. A reason for this difference in style could be contributed to the fact that Grendel is narrated from Grendel’s perspective whereas the poem Beowulf tells the story from Beowulf’s point of view. I believe Gardner made the decision to use Grendel as a narrator because Grendel’s monstrous nature allowed him to best convey his thoughts and opinions towards certain subjects without being subjected to public scrutiny. A second reason for Gardner’s decision would be to provide readers with the opportunity to examine the story from an alternative perspective. This change of perspective could result in the alternation of a reader’s view towards the story as a whole.

As a monster, Grendel is expected to maintain a rather pessimistic outlook in regards to the human race. Due to the fact that he is a monster and is also a descendant of the evil biblical figure Cain, Grendel is also expected to narrate in a violent and malevolent tone of voice. A monster typically has the desire to kill and annihilate and Grendel acquires this same mentality as he is a dragon. The final effect of Grendel’s status as a monster on the way he tells the story is the fact that he cannot effectively communicate with the humans.

Anglo-Saxon Bonding

"So this bad blood between us and the Swedes,

this ... force when they find out

that Beowulf is dead."

One of the most notable and vital bonds that existed within the Anglo- Saxon culture was that which occurred between a lord and his retainers. Two literary works of the Anglo-Saxon that embodied and placed a great deal of emphasis on that bond were The Seafarer and The Wife’s Lament. Both of these works illustrate the importance of loyalty and portray the tragedies of separation and exile from one’s lord.

The Seafarer tells the story of a sailor who was very adept at living on the ocean. For some unknown reason, the sailor feels driven to take to the ocean. Despite the sailor’s obsession with life in the ocean, he decides to attempt leading a life on land with the majority of the human race. Despite his valiant efforts, he could not develop an ardent and meaningful relationship with the human race. Ultimately, he determines that he cannot shy away from the ocean, and he accepts his inclination for life on the water as opposed to dwelling on land with the human race. He remains loyal to the water after feeling the lonely affects of deserting and separating from his calling.

The Wife’s Lament conveys the story of a woman who has endured a great deal of hardships throughout her life. Amongst her list of hardships was her forced separation from her dearly beloved spouse. Due to the spitefulness of her husband’s family toward the relationship that existed amongst this woman and her husband, she was exiled to a forest grove in great isolation from her husband. In this poem, the wife was very loving, caring, and loyal to her groom. The tragedy in this poem is that the wife was banished from her peaceful dwelling with her husband to a forest grove in great seclusion and isolation from human companionship.