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ENG-2205 Assignment 6

Beowulf

1. Summarize the prologue (“The Rise of the Danish Nation”) of Beowulf in 100 words.

"The Rise of the Danish Nation" sets the stage for the epic poem Beowulf, introducing the lineage of the
Danish kings, particularly Scyld Scefing, a legendary figure whose origins are mysterious. Scyld's arrival as
a child is marked by divine intervention, and he grows to become a great ruler, ushering in a golden age
for the Danes. Upon his death, he is sent back to the sea in a grand funeral, symbolizing the cyclical
nature of life and death. The prologue establishes the backdrop of honor, heroism, and fate that will
unfold in the subsequent tale of Beowulf's adventures.

2. What are the people and who is their ruler mentioned in the prologue (“The Rise of the

Danish Nation”) of Beowulf? What ritual does his warrior band do for his death? Who is his

son? Who is the successor of this ruler’s son?

The Spear-Danes Scyldings, known as the Scyld Scefing tribe, is ruled by Shield Sheafson. Sheafson's
body was placed into the water in a boat full of gold and armor. Beow Sheafson is Shield Sheafson's son.
Beow's successor is Halfdane.

3. What is Heorot? What is the name of the ogre who attacks Heorot?

Heorot is the magnificent mead hall built by King Hrothgar, leader of the Danes, as a symbol of his power
and wealth. It serves as a place for feasting, celebration, and gathering of warriors.

The ogre who attacks Heorot is named Grendel. He is described as a monstrous descendant of the
biblical Cain, a being of darkness and malice who envies the joy and camaraderie of the Danes in Heorot.
Grendel's attacks on Heorot set the stage for the conflict that drives much of the narrative of Beowulf.

Marie de France

“Bisclavret”

1. How is the protagonist introduced in the beginning of the story “Bisclavret”? What does he

usually do in a week and what does he do when his wife insistently asks him about that?

In the beginning of "Bisclavret," the protagonist is introduced as a noble knight named Bisclavret. He is
depicted as a man of honorable and loyal character. Each week, Bisclavret disappears from his home, and
his wife becomes increasingly curious about his whereabouts. When she persistently asks him where he
goes, Bisclavret initially evades her questions, but eventually succumbs to her relentless interrogation
and confides in her his secret: he transforms into a werewolf and roams the forest. This revelation sets in
motion a series of events that form the central conflict of the story.
2. What are the important things of his in his process of disappearance she wants to know in

order to make her plot? What does she decide to do and what lines in the story reveals her

decision and attitude towards him after he reveals the truth?

The wife wants to know where his clothes and human form are when he transforms into a wolf. She
decides to betray him by stealing his clothes, forcing him to remain in wolf form. Her decision and
attitude are revealed in the lines where she hides his clothes and shows no remorse.

3. What is her plot? Whom does she have involved in her plot? What does they do after the

plot is fulfilled?

Her plot is to keep him in wolf form and marry another man. She involves a knight with whom she is
having an affair. After the plot is fulfilled, they get married and live in the protagonist's castle.

4. What does the king discover and what does he do after that discovery?

The king discovers Bisclavret's wolf form and takes him into his care. When the king goes hunting in the
forest, Bisclavret leads him to the place where his clothes were hidden, revealing the truth.

5. What happens during the festival the king holds in the court? In what way does he come to

know about the whole story of Bisclavret? What does he decide to do afterwards?

During the festival, a minstrel sings a lay about a knight who turns into a wolf. The king realizes that the
story mirrors Bisclavret's situation. He decides to punish the wife and her new husband for their
betrayal.

“Laustic”

1. Who are the main characters in the story “Laustic”? What are the relationships among them?

The main characters in the story "Laustic" are the knight, his wife, and the neighboring bachelor. The
knight's wife and the bachelor are engaged in a secret affair, while the knight is unaware of it.

2. What does the knight’s wife do to keep her affair with the neighboring bachelor? How does she tell lie
to her husband when he asks her about her activities? What does he decide to do afterwards?

To keep her affair with the neighboring bachelor, the knight's wife uses a nightingale as a messenger to
communicate with him. When the knight asks about her activities, she lies by telling him that the
nightingale is causing her sleepless nights. The knight decides to capture the nightingale to alleviate his
wife's distress.

3. What is the result from the husband’s action? What do his wife and her lover react to that?

The result of the husband's action is the death of the nightingale, which was the means of
communication between the knight's wife and her lover. His wife and her lover react with sorrow and
anger at the loss of their means of communication.
4. Why is the story named “Laustic”?

The story is named "Laustic," which is the Old French word for "nightingale." The nightingale plays a
crucial role in the plot as the messenger between the knight's wife and her lover, making it a fitting title
for the story.

Petrus Alfonsi

1. What is the significance of God in the “Prologue” of Alfonsi’s The Scholar’s Guide?

The significance of God in the "Prologue" of Alfonsi’s The Scholar’s Guide lies in the author's
acknowledgment of God as the ultimate source of knowledge and wisdom. Alfonsi emphasizes the
importance of divine guidance in the pursuit of learning and understanding.

2. What are the main themes of the selected stories of The Scholar’s Guide in the textbook?

The main themes of the selected stories of The Scholar’s Guide in the textbook include the exploration
of moral and ethical dilemmas, the nature of human existence, the pursuit of knowledge, and the
interplay between reason and faith. These themes are woven into the narratives to provoke
contemplation and reflection on the human condition.

Writing

Based on your reading of one text from the textbook (either Gilgamesh, or Homer’s Iliad, or

Homer’s Odyssey, or Sophocles’ Antigone, or Ovid’s “Apollo and Daphne,” or Augustine’s

Confessions, etc.), 1/ create a topic in form of an essay’s title, then 2/ create a thesis of about

1-3 sentences in length for that essay.

Essay Title: The Tragic Hero's Journey: A Study of Achilles in Homer's Iliad

Thesis: In Homer's Iliad, Achilles epitomizes the quintessential tragic hero as he undergoes a
transformative journey characterized by hubris, anger, and eventual acceptance of fate, ultimately
revealing the complexities of human emotion, honor, and mortality. Through Achilles' experiences, the
poem explores the inherent conflicts between individual desires and societal expectations, shedding
light on the timeless themes of pride, wrath, and the pursuit of glory amidst the backdrop of the Trojan
War.