English homework

Annotating a LITERARY Text

In Lit, instead of focusing on rhetorical analysis that identifies the rhetorical devices that an author uses to produce an effect on the reader, students focus on literary analysis and the author’s use of literary devices to convey a theme.

In this assignment, you’ll be asked to read and annotate two pages of “The Wanderer.” You will be reading beyond the plot for the layers of meaning created by the literary devices used by the author. Before proceeding, turn on Track Changes under the Review tab in Word . Be sure your Track Changes shows All Markup not just a Simple Markup.

The Wanderer

Often the solitary man prays for favour, for the mercy of the Lord, though, sad at heart, he must needs stir with his bands for a weary while the icy sea across the watery ways, must journey the paths of exile; settled in truth is fate! So spoke the wanderer, mindful of hardships, of cruel slaughters, of the fall of kinsmen:

’Often I must bewail my sorrows in my loneliness at the dawn of each day; there is none of living men now to whom I dare speak my heart openly. I know for a truth that it is a noble custom for a man to bind fast the thoughts of his heart, to treasure his broodings, let him think as he will. Nor can the weary in mood resist fate, nor does the fierce thought avail anything. Wherefore those eager for glory often bind fast in their secret hearts a sad thought. So I, sundered from my native land, far from noble kinsmen, often sad at heart, had to fetter my mind, when in years gone by the darkness of the earth covered my gold-friend, and I went thence in wretchedness with wintry care upon me over the frozen waves, gloomily sought the hall of a treasure-giver wherever I could find him far or near, who might know me in the mead hall or comfort me, left without friends, treat me with kindness. He knows who puts it to the test how cruel a comrade is sorrow for him who has few dear protectors; his is the path of exile, in no wise the twisted gold; a chill body, in no wise the riches of the earth; he thinks of retainers in hall and the receiving of treasure, of how in his youth his gold-friend was kind to him at the feast. The joy has all perished. Wherefore he knows this who must long forgo the counsels of his dear lord and friend, when sorrow and sleep together often bind the poor solitary man; it seems to him in his mind that he clasps and kisses his lord and lays hands and head on his knee, as when erstwhile in past days he was near the gift-throne; then the friendless man wakes again, sees before him the dark waves, the sea-birds bathing, spreading their feathers; frost and snow falling mingled with hail. Then heavier are the wounds in his heart, sore for his beloved; sorrow is renewed. Then the memory of kinsmen crosses his mind; he greets them with songs; he gazes on them eagerly. The companions of warriors swim away again; the souls of sailors bring there not many known songs. Care is renewed in him who must needs send very often his weary mind over the frozen waves. And thus I cannot think why in this world my mind becomes not overcast when I consider all the life of earls, how of a sudden they have given up hall, courageous retainers. So this world each day passes and falls; for a man cannot become wise till he has his share of years in the world. A wise man must be patient, not over-passionate, nor over-hasty of speech, nor over-weak or rash in war, nor over-fearful, nor over-glad, nor over-covetous, never over-eager to boast ere he has full knowledge.) A man must bide his time, when he boasts in his speech, until he knows well in his pride whither the thoughts of the mind will turn. A wise man must see how dreary it will be when all the riches of this world stand waste, as in different places throughout this world walls stand, blown upon by winds, hung with frost, the dwellings in ruins. The wine halls crumble; the rulers lie low, bereft of joy; the mighty warriors have all fallen in their pride by the wall; war carried off some, bore them on far paths; one the raven bore away over the high sea; one the grey wolf gave over to death; one an earl with sad face hid in the earth-cave. Thus did the Creator of men lay waste this earth till the old work of giants stood empty, free from the revel of castle-dwellers. Then he who has thought wisely of the foundation of things and who deeply ponders this dark life, wise in his heart, often turns his thoughts to the many slaughters of the past, and speaks these words:

‘“Whither has gone the horse? Whither has gone the man? Whither has gone the giver of treasure? Whither has gone the place of feasting? Where are the joys of hall? Alas, the bright cup! Alas, the warrior in his corslet! Alas, the glory of the prince! How that time has passed away, has grown dark under the shadow of night, as if it had never been! Now in the place of the dear warriors stands a wall, wondrous high, covered with serpent shapes; the might of the ash-wood spears has carried off the earls, the weapon greedy for slaughter—a glorious fate; and storms beat upon these rocky slopes; the falling storm binds the earth, the terror of winter. Then comes darkness, the night shadow casts gloom, sends from the north fierce hailstorms to the terror of men. Everything is full of hardship in the kingdom of earth; the decree of fate changes the world under the heavens. Here possessions are transient, here friends are transient, here man is transient, here woman is transient; all this firm-set earth becomes empty.”’ So spoke the wise man in his heart, and sat apart in thought. Good is he who holds his faith; nor shall a man ever show forth too quickly the sorrow of his breast, except he, the earl, first know how to work its cure bravely. Well is it for him who seeks mercy, comfort from the Father in heaven, where for us all security stands.

HERE ARE THE LINKS FOR THE BOOKS

The textbooks for this class are all open access, which means you can access them by clicking on the hyperlink. No need to purchase or pay for it. 

· British Literature: Middle Ages to the Eighteenth Century and Neoclasical.  Edited by Bonnie J. Robinson and Laura J. Getty. Publisher: University of North Georgia Press. ISBN: 978-1-940771-28-1.

· British Literature II: Romantic Era to the Twentieth Century and Beyond.  Edited by Bonnie J. Robinson. Publisher: University of North Georgia Press. ISBN: 978-1-940771-11-3.

· Abrahms, M. H.  A Glossary of Literary Terms  

Reading and Review Questions

1. What are all of the kennings in the poem, and what do they mean?

2. Where is the wanderer? Is there any symbolic meaning in the setting of the poem?

3. Do the last lines, with their focus on Christianity, fit with the rest of the poem? Why or why not?

4. What makes a man wise, according to the poem? How is it an AngloSaxon perspective on wisdom, or is it?

5. How much does shame play a role in the wanderer’s perspectives? Should he feel shame, in either an Anglo-Saxon or a Christian context?

DISCUSSION 2

For this discussion board, you will choose  any one of the following prompts. Once you have made your selection, please draft your initial post based on the instructions below.

a. Which lines/passages of the poem "The Dream of the Rood" are a biblical allusion ( see pages 9-10 in A Glossary of Literary terms for a definition of allusion) that is specifically referring to the Harrowing of Hell? Once you have identified the lines, remember to paraphrase them in your own words. What role does this biblical allusion serve in presenting Christ to a recently converted populace? How does it contribute to the formation of a national identity? 

b. Beowulf is considered a canon of British literature. Read the explanation of the epithet, canon of literature, in  A Glossary of Literary Terms (pages 28-32) and identify the reasons why Beowulf is considered a canon of British literature. When giving your reasons in support of the assertion that it is a canon, remember to provide evidence from the literary work either in the form of quotations or a detailed explanation as to why you consider it so. Absence of textual evidence will make your claim/assertion weak and can result in a lower grade.

c. How does Marie de France present the concept of “knighthood” in "Sir Launfal"? What does it mean to be “gentle”? Does her attitude toward chivalry complement or critique it? How so? Before you compose your draft for this prompt, remember to read the description of chivalric romances in the glossary ("Chivalric Romance,” pages 34-35). Please remember to provide textual evidence from both the sources in support of your claim/assertion. 

d. Chaucer uses humor very deliberately: not just to entertain, but also as a form of commentary. What are some examples of humor being used to comment on an issue, a behavior, or a character in the lines you were required to read (pages 351-371)? Read about how and why humor in used in literary works in  A Glossary of Literary Terms (pages 329-332) before you draft your post. Please remember to provide quotations as evidence from both the literary text and the glossary and then explain the use of humor in that specific context. 

e. From you reading of Sir Thomas Malory’s  Le Morte d’Arthur, highlight the salient features of the chivalric code the knights followed. How does the code compare to Christian codes. Discuss these two codes and how they may have interacted in that time? Use specific examples from the reading in the form of quotations from the literary text to form your arguments. 

Please compose your post in formal prose that obeys writing conventions, e.g., capitalize the first letter of every word at the beginning of the sentence, end sentences with periods, avoid run on sentences, use formal words, avoid language that is informal. This is an English course, and you will be graded on the basis of the proper use of the language and writing conventions. If you use quotations, ensure that you format them correctly using the quotation sandwich method (see  Quote Sandwich Example Handout). Revise, edit, and proofread before you post them here. Please cite any source you use for this post. Please do not copy and paste from the web. I will be checking for plagiarism by running your writing through a plagiarism checker. If I feel you have copied from some outside source without proper documentation, I reserve the right to give you a zero on the assignment. 

As with all discussion boards, your initial response should be at least 300 words. Then reply to two (2) other posts. Your response should be of at least 100 words each.  Feel free to exceed these minimum requirements. Try to pick students who do not have any comments yet. When commenting, please add to the conversation by making a connection to the other person.  Please compose your post in academic prose that demonstrates clear purpose and logical organization. Most importantly, make sure your initial post comprises of more than one paragraph.

Annotating a LITERARY Text

In Lit, instead of focusing on rhetorical analysis that identifies the rhetorical devices that an author uses to produce an effect on the reader, students focus on literary analysis and the author’s use of literary devices to convey a theme.

In this assignment, you’ll be asked to read and annotate two pages of “The Wanderer.” You will be reading beyond the plot for the layers of meaning created by the literary devices used by the author. Before proceeding, turn on Track Changes under the Review tab in Word . Be sure your Track Changes shows All Markup not just a Simple Markup.

The Wanderer

Often the solitary man prays for favour, for the mercy of the Lord, though, sad at heart, he must needs stir with his bands for a weary while the icy sea across the watery ways, must journey the paths of exile; settled in truth is fate! So spoke the wanderer, mindful of hardships, of cruel slaughters, of the fall of kinsmen:

’Often I must bewail my sorrows in my loneliness at the dawn of each day; there is none of living men now to whom I dare speak my heart openly. I know for a truth that it is a noble custom for a man to bind fast the thoughts of his heart, to treasure his broodings, let him think as he will. Nor can the weary in mood resist fate, nor does the fierce thought avail anything. Wherefore those eager for glory often bind fast in their secret hearts a sad thought. So I, sundered from my native land, far from noble kinsmen, often sad at heart, had to fetter my mind, when in years gone by the darkness of the earth covered my gold-friend, and I went thence in wretchedness with wintry care upon me over the frozen waves, gloomily sought the hall of a treasure-giver wherever I could find him far or near, who might know me in the mead hall or comfort me, left without friends, treat me with kindness. He knows who puts it to the test how cruel a comrade is sorrow for him who has few dear protectors; his is the path of exile, in no wise the twisted gold; a chill body, in no wise the riches of the earth; he thinks of retainers in hall and the receiving of treasure, of how in his youth his gold-friend was kind to him at the feast. The joy has all perished. Wherefore he knows this who must long forgo the counsels of his dear lord and friend, when sorrow and sleep together often bind the poor solitary man; it seems to him in his mind that he clasps and kisses his lord and lays hands and head on his knee, as when erstwhile in past days he was near the gift-throne; then the friendless man wakes again, sees before him the dark waves, the sea-birds bathing, spreading their feathers; frost and snow falling mingled with hail. Then heavier are the wounds in his heart, sore for his beloved; sorrow is renewed. Then the memory of kinsmen crosses his mind; he greets them with songs; he gazes on them eagerly. The companions of warriors swim away again; the souls of sailors bring there not many known songs. Care is renewed in him who must needs send very often his weary mind over the frozen waves. And thus I cannot think why in this world my mind becomes not overcast when I consider all the life of earls, how of a sudden they have given up hall, courageous retainers. So this world each day passes and falls; for a man cannot become wise till he has his share of years in the world. A wise man must be patient, not over-passionate, nor over-hasty of speech, nor over-weak or rash in war, nor over-fearful, nor over-glad, nor over-covetous, never over-eager to boast ere he has full knowledge.) A man must bide his time, when he boasts in his speech, until he knows well in his pride whither the thoughts of the mind will turn. A wise man must see how dreary it will be when all the riches of this world stand waste, as in different places throughout this world walls stand, blown upon by winds, hung with frost, the dwellings in ruins. The wine halls crumble; the rulers lie low, bereft of joy; the mighty warriors have all fallen in their pride by the wall; war carried off some, bore them on far paths; one the raven bore away over the high sea; one the grey wolf gave over to death; one an earl with sad face hid in the earth-cave. Thus did the Creator of men lay waste this earth till the old work of giants stood empty, free from the revel of castle-dwellers. Then he who has thought wisely of the foundation of things and who deeply ponders this dark life, wise in his heart, often turns his thoughts to the many slaughters of the past, and speaks these words:

‘“Whither has gone the horse? Whither has gone the man? Whither has gone the giver of treasure? Whither has gone the place of feasting? Where are the joys of hall? Alas, the bright cup! Alas, the warrior in his corslet! Alas, the glory of the prince! How that time has passed away, has grown dark under the shadow of night, as if it had never been! Now in the place of the dear warriors stands a wall, wondrous high, covered with serpent shapes; the might of the ash-wood spears has carried off the earls, the weapon greedy for slaughter—a glorious fate; and storms beat upon these rocky slopes; the falling storm binds the earth, the terror of winter. Then comes darkness, the night shadow casts gloom, sends from the north fierce hailstorms to the terror of men. Everything is full of hardship in the kingdom of earth; the decree of fate changes the world under the heavens. Here possessions are transient, here friends are transient, here man is transient, here woman is transient; all this firm-set earth becomes empty.”’ So spoke the wise man in his heart, and sat apart in thought. Good is he who holds his faith; nor shall a man ever show forth too quickly the sorrow of his breast, except he, the earl, first know how to work its cure bravely. Well is it for him who seeks mercy, comfort from the Father in heaven, where for us all security stands.

HERE ARE THE LINKS FOR THE BOOKS

The textbooks for this class are all open access, which means you can access them by clicking on the hyperlink. No need to purchase or pay for it. 

· British Literature: Middle Ages to the Eighteenth Century and Neoclasical.  Edited by Bonnie J. Robinson and Laura J. Getty. Publisher: University of North Georgia Press. ISBN: 978-1-940771-28-1.

· British Literature II: Romantic Era to the Twentieth Century and Beyond.  Edited by Bonnie J. Robinson. Publisher: University of North Georgia Press. ISBN: 978-1-940771-11-3.

· Abrahms, M. H.  A Glossary of Literary Terms  

Reading and Review Questions

1. What are all of the kennings in the poem, and what do they mean?

2. Where is the wanderer? Is there any symbolic meaning in the setting of the poem?

3. Do the last lines, with their focus on Christianity, fit with the rest of the poem? Why or why not?

4. What makes a man wise, according to the poem? How is it an AngloSaxon perspective on wisdom, or is it?

5. How much does shame play a role in the wanderer’s perspectives? Should he feel shame, in either an Anglo-Saxon or a Christian context?