Anglo Saxon poetry

Something I found especially interesting among all of the poems we read this week was the unmistakable thematic commonality of the inclusion of animals. However, I don't just mean there was an animal randomly appearing in each story but rather, as I read through each of the poems I would come across either actual animals representing previously discussed themes (like in The Husband's Message the gulls were circling) OR the characters themselves would be animal-ized (is that even a word?).

However, I'd like to back-up for a moment and connect this with another common theme that was heavily emphasized and agreed upon in class. It is quite obvious that each of the poems included the thematic element and setting of banishment/exile. Contextually, we know this would make sense because of how common banishment was during this time as new Lords and Kingdoms would gain power. I bring this up because I noticed that many of the characters who found themselves sorrowfully exiled or fighting their own banishment were described in relation to animals.

For instance, in The Wife's Lament the main character describes herself as being forced to live in "a forest grove, under an oak tree in an earthen cave". Usually, we think of bears or other animals living in 'earthen caves' as shelters. Using this as a description of an exiled human being's home creates a sense of difference and is used as a form of displacing the exiled (minority).

Furthermore, in Wulf and Eadwacer (Woo-lf and AID-WALKER) the men on the island are described as fierce if they are received by others who pose a threat. Upon reading this I definitely got a Lord of the Flies vibe and immediately characterized the men as savages who have resorted to their animalistic tendencies to, first and foremost, protect and defend.

One further example I found is from The Battle of Brunanburh when the warriors are described as "grizzle-haired" while fighting. This, in stark contrast with the description of the animals such as that "greedy war-hawk" and the "gray animal the wolf in the forest" who are described as enjoying the corpses after the battle has ended. I believe that, by using animalistic characteristics to describe warriors, the author of the poem is trying to emphasize the point that the intentions and tendencies of human interaction had built up (or been torn down?) to a primal level during this period of time. Furthermore, by including the actual animals and describing them completing an evolutionary and naturalistic act, I believe the author may be trying to suggest that, as complex as humans may be, in the end, we are all animals and our primal instincts will be the only thing that remain when all else is lost...

Works Cited

“The Battle of Brunanburh”. Handout. Medieval Literature. Burris Lab. 27 Aug. 2013

“The Wife’s Lament”. The Exeter Book. Eds. Krapp, George Philip and Van Kirk Dobbie, Elliot. Columbia: UP, 1936. Print.

“Wulf and Eadwacer”. The Exeter Book. Eds. Krapp, George Philip and Van Kirk Dobbie, Elliot. Columbia: UP, 1936. Print.

Anglo Saxon Literature and Beowulf

This week marks my first experience with and exposure to Anglo Saxon history and literature. Beginning with Doc's amazing PowerPoint's, I quickly knew my previously held elementary understanding of the so-called 'dark ages' would soon be replaced.

Doc's first PowerPoint was primarily focused on explaining the history of the Medieval times. From this, I learned that during this era so many important events occurred and one of the clearest ways to understand these happenings (in both a subjective and objective sense) was to seek understanding in the art produced during them. By exploring the literature, artifacts, relics, etc. that survive from this period in time, one is given a rare, subjective glimpse into the creators mind that can, in turn, be understood through modern contexts.

In retrospect, this may have been the most beneficial and surprising things I learned this whole week. I never would have expected to understand this period so well, so fast that I could begin to empathize with characters that represented a civilization which existed over 1,000 years ago. Ultimately, all of this aided in my arrival at, perhaps, the most important realization of all; the term 'dark ages' amounts to nothing more than a gross oversimplification and stereotypical coining of this period of time.

Sure enough, Doc had prepared yet ANOTHER amazing PowerPoint. However, this one focused more specifically on the history of 'Anglo Saxon'* literature. One of the main points discussed in this presentation was the distinction between the story and the scribe. Having learned that the pagan, oral translation of stories were ultimately recorded by Christian scribes, my initial approach to reading the literature was compromised and I soon began to read each with a grain of salt. This point was reiterated when a brief outline of the common themes and motifs that were central to Anglo Saxon literature were discussed. Each of them I felt, had an undertone of Christian symbolism and, as a result, I was able to identify many of these (Christian) themes when reading Heaney's translation of Beowulf.

In Grendel lines 514-518 explain how Beowulf braved the water, "Taking its measure, mastering currents, Riding on the swell." and goes on to say how an encounter with Breca lasted seven nights. Additionally, in line 3039 in The Death of Beowulf, a "serpent on the ground, gruesome and vile, Lying facing him [Beowulf]" is described in addition to the mentioning of twelve warriors that rode around his [Beowulf's] tomb. The symbolism appearing in Grendel describes Beowulf controlling the waters like Moses and, later on, compares him to God after emerging victorious after the seventh night. In The Death of Beowulf, a serpent is described lying near Beowulf as he near's death, symbolizing the evil power and chaos that will soon overtake the kingdom as a result of his passing. Furthermore, near the end of the second reading, twelve warriors are described as taking place in the burial procession, in contrast with the twelve sons of Israel. These biblical allusions serve as indicators of the Christian's hand in the translations of Anglo Saxon literature. It is an especially significant point because it puts into question the role of the translator and reminds the audience to consider their role when reading pieces such as Beowulf.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this week, in part because I was able to learn at a different speed and in a different way than I initially expected. Beowulf and the history of the Medieval era has certainly given me a lot to think about in regards to my specialty area and I hope to further explore the elements of each more throughout the semester.

Works Cited

Heaney, Seamus. Beowulf: A New Verse Translation. NY: Norton, 2001. Print

*I put Anglo-Saxon in quotations because, as we all learned, there were many more tribes than just the Anglos and the Saxons who, unfortunately, get thrown under this alleged all -encompassing term.

Art museum

This afternoon's trip to the David Owsley Museum of Art's medieval collection significantly helped aid in my understanding of the Middle Ages. While observing each piece of art, I was able to both understand and gain new insights about the time period as well as reiterate some of my own previously held beliefs about Medieval times.

The first thing I noticed when I entered the West Gallery was the amount of pieces that had some sort of religious involvement. Whether it was literal pieces such as Christ or a more symbolic piece such as Aertsen's Kitchen Still Life with a Scene of the Supper at Emmaus Beyond all of them shared the same underlying theme of Christian representation. From previous experience and observations, I knew that religion was a significant part of the Middle Ages but today I learned exactly to what degree this significance actually was.

A large part of this revelation came from reading the descriptions next to each piece. For example, I learned from Christ? that this type of limestone head would have been placed on some sort of large-scale, 13th century sculpture exclusively for the purpose of embellishing a cathedral because cathedrals were regarded as the focus of town life. From this, I was able to gain understanding and hypothesize the effect and importance that religion might have played for peasants in small towns during this time.

Another example comes from Giovane's Saint Jerome. I found this piece to be the easiest to connect with on an emotional level in the sense that I felt I was able to instantly empathize with the human emotions that the subject in the painting expressed. Furthermore, the placard pointed out the very interesting observation that, historically speaking, Saint Jerome was known to be vegetarian and, in this painting specifically, is supposed to be portrayed as elderly. However, the painting suggests that he actually has a very muscular athleticism to his appearance despite his lifestyle and age. I find this especially significant because this may help gain understanding into the subjective view of the artist who experienced medieval times first hand. I wonder if, because the painting is a depiction of Saint Jerome, did the artist specifically portray him with such strength so as to suggest that this power may only be attained by the grace of God? Could this physical strength be a symbolic of the inner strength and connection that may have been needed between himself and God as he translated the New Testament from Greek to Latin?

However, my absolute favorite piece of medieval art in the museum was Vannini's The Gathering of Manna. As I read the description, I was happy to recognize its two main subjects (Moses and Aaron) as well as the historical significance of the event that was taking place (as laid out in The Bible). Furthermore, Dr. Comber later explained the reasoning behind the glowing 'horns' emitted from Moses's head and how it served as a prime example of Christian representation of Jews during the Middle Ages. This reminded me of the hostility between groups that specifically arose from religious differences during this time and begged the question, how did Jews represent Christian's during this time?

Overall, my understanding of the importance of religion and emphasis on Christianity was heightened with this trip to the art museum. I feel these new connections made today will be discussed frequently throughout the rest of this semester either literally or symbolically and will especially aid me during my Specialty Area research.

Works Cited

Aertsen, Pieter. Kitchen Still Life with a Scene of the Supper at Emmaus Beyond. 1551/1553, Oil on wood panel. David Owsley Museum, Muncie, Indiana.

French. Christ?. 1225/1235. Limestone. David Owsley Museum, Muncie, Indiana.

Giovane, Jacopo Palma il. Saint Jerome. N.d. Oil on canvas. David Owsley Museum, Muncie, Indiana.

Spanish. Christ. 1225/1250. Wood, metal, paint. David Owsley Museum, Muncie, Indiana.

Vannini, Ottavio. The Gathering of Manna. 1635. Oil on canvas. David Owsley Museum, Muncie, Indiana.