The Heroes Of Beowulf And Sir Gawain And The Green Knight...

As kids we grow up watching superhero movies and books that teach us moral lessons for when we grow up and participate in society. Although we do not know it at the time, these stories help to put cultural beliefs and lessons in our minds so we grow up to follow these sets of standards. This is not a recent phenomenon, however, as it has been happening for centuries on end. For example, during the Anglo-Saxon Period and the Late Middle Ages, there were stories that portrayed their societal beliefs and morals through the same Monomythic framework that even our modern stories possess, as suggested by Joseph Campbell in his monumental work The Hero with a Thousand Faces. Such narrative poems as Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight represent what the Anglo-Saxons and the Middle English saw as both acceptable and non-acceptable demeanor. Both works possess the same values and beliefs while others, distinctly oppose, something that can be clearly observed through the careful arch etypal study of the heroes of Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. In Beowulf, the hero first embarks on his journey when he goes to the land of the Danes to assist in defeating Grendel. He does so in wishing that he can gain fame and honor for himself. Being â€Å"high-born and powerful† (I.198.14), he was said to be the mightiest man on earth and comes to offer his â€Å"wholehearted help and counsel.† (I.278.21). Here the reader can start to distinguish that the hero first comes and statesShow MoreRelatedMain Ideas and Themes of Beowulf Essay1138 Words   |  5 Pages Beowulf and Sir Gawain have many things in common. We will be discussing them later on, but their main similarity is that theyre both heroes. A hero is a person who must pass through a test and a battle (mental, spiritual or physical) to help someone else. He must be selfless, and act for others rather than himself. All societies have supported heroes, like the ancient Greeks Hercules and the modern day Spiderman. These are hero stereotypes, with supernatural Read MoreLiterary Analysis Of Sir Gawain And The Green Knight1200 Words   |  5 Pagesthrough the depiction of the heroes’ experiences on their journeys and the knowledge they gain by the quest’s end. For example, in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, a chivalric romance written in the Late Middle Ages, Gawain epitomizes a knight with the characteristics that knights from the Late Middle Ages were expected to possess according to the requirements outlined in the rules of chivalry, such as honor and valor. Likewise, Beowulf, the hero of the folk epic Beowulf, embodies the qualities ofRead MoreThe Cultural Values And The Archetypal Patterns Of The Novel Hero With A Thousand Faces 1331 Words   |  6 Pages Throughout the world of literature, heroes or protagonists are often characters created by culture. Through these characters, we discover the faults and the virtuous qualities that this time period had to offer. As the heroes make their way through the journey, t he reader learns the culture through the character’s actions and mistakes. For instance, in the early Middle Ages, women were seen as inferior and were not put on a pedestal, unlike their deception during the Late Middle Ages after theRead MoreSir Gawain And The Green Knight Essay1020 Words   |  5 Pages Heroic stories in English literature have unmatched fame because of the traits that the heroes exude. Both Sir Gawain, from â€Å"Sir Gawain and the Green Knight† translated by Marie Borroff, and Beowulf, from Beowulf translated by Burton Raffel, serve as heroes in different times of Medieval English Literature. Many of the basic principles that describe heroes in Medieval Literature are seen in both of these characters even though they were written in different times. There are distinct similaritiesRead MoreCompare And Contrast Beowulf And Sir Gawain And The Green Knight761 Words   |  4 Pages Epic Heroes Across Medieval Culture In the literary works Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, an admirable warrior and knight are depicted. Although Sir Gawain and Beowulf both possess such characteristics as bravery and strength, readers can observe differences in other traits that make them heroes of their own time that is attributable to the societal mindset in which the poems were written. The goal of this essay is to compare and contrast how Beowulf, which was written in the earlyRead MoreThe Journies of Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Essay803 Words   |  4 PagesBeowulf vs. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight In the worlds of Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the journeys of two heroes, Beowulf and Sir Gawain, are depicted through the form of poems. The two stories have become two of the most important works of literature in the English history. In the two poems, both Beowulf and Sir Gawain face great challenges in their journeys as heroes. Beowulf embarks on a quest to defeat Grendel and his mother while Sir Gawain faces many difficulties on hisRead MoreEssay about A Comparison of Beowulf and Sir Gawain794 Words   |  4 Pagesof Beowulf and Sir Gawain A hero is someone who is idealized for his courage and noble qualities. Beowulf and Sir Gawain can certainly be called heroes. They both have many qualities that are expected of heroic knights and warriors. They are both brave, gallant, and skilled men, but are they the perfect heroes their people believe them to be? While they are portrayed as perfect heroes and they possess many heroic qualities, Beowulf and Sir Gawain are far from perfect. Beowulf and Gawain areRead MoreCompare And Contrast Sir Gawain And Beowulf930 Words   |  4 Pagesones that we consider to be the heroes. These â€Å"heroes† are defined as such for being something such as brave, noble, or selfless in the eyes of the people that are around them. All heroes have done something that has helped out for the good of another person, even if they are doing it for their own personal benefit. Heroes are those who have the strength and courage to solve a problem when it could or was not done by anyone else. Sir Gawain and Beowulf are heroes in literature who have done somethingRead MoreBeowulf and Sir Gawain: a Comparison of Two Heroes Essay1066 Words   |  5 PagesIn Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight there are two heroes that help the present day reader gain insight into what the hero of the Middle Ages would have held as ideals and necessary triumphs. Beowulf and Sir Gawain each fill a different role within their unique societies. B eowulf is a leader and a savior in times of need, willing to go to any length to help another group of people as well as his own kingdom. Sir Gawain is also willing to rise during moments of trouble within his courtRead MoreCompare And Contrast Beowulf And Sir Gawain1358 Words   |  6 PagesBeowulf and Sir Gawain are both heroes, one is a warrior who becomes a King and the other a Knight in King Arthur’s Court. Beowulf takes place in 6th century Denmark and Sweden, it was written during the Anglo-Saxon Literary Time Period. Beowulf’s journey takes place over many years. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is an Arthurian romance believed to have been written in the late fourteenth century by an anonymous author (Baker). Sir Gawain’s journey takes place over one year’s time, from Christmas

Political Theories And Ideology Of Liberal Democracy Essay

Many challenges put a stress on Modern Democracy because of the political theories and ideology our government holds, the current politicians taking office, inequalities throughout social classes and economies, and the opinions of â€Å"We the People†. Nearly every country claims to be some form of a democracy, but not all these self-proclaimed democracies allow for free politics, good government, and rule of law (Crick, 2002). Liberal democracy has begun to win over its royalist, fascist, and collectivist rivals over the course of the last few centuries, and the freedom to vote has been steadily expanded to those who were without it. But the liberal democracies of the world do have problems. Democracy is only as good as its citizens, and the quality of those citizens demands certain constant factors (7 Concerns, 2012). Gerrymandering is the process in which political boundaries are redraw or changed in order to benefit one political party over another one; if one party has power of the state legislature, then they can change political boundaries to maximize their chances of winning congressional districts to win an election. By doing this, unfair and skewed results are produced because redrawn lines can be made to help one party win over the other, since constituents for the losing party will be divided between districts (Tormsen, 2015). This will also allow the winning party to win more electoral votes and seats (Tormsen, 2015). This practice is uniquely American and can beShow MoreRelatedThe Role Of Liberal Values At The International Level1617 Words   |  7 Pages4. By using its influence to diminish the role of liberal values at the international level As China is becoming a global power today, China’s views on liberal values are gaining a greater share in the global marketplace of ideas negatively affects America’s national interests, since its growing power and the example of its development could have considerable ideological influence upon other countries. China’s economic rising power has deflected international criticism of its records of democratizationRead MoreThe Current Chinese Government Fits Into The Category Of Authoritarian Regimes856 Words   |  4 Pages The current Chinese government fits into the category of Authoritarian Regimes because Chinese government just use the coercion to limit political pluralism in order to maintain their power, but allows some social pluralism and does not use ideology or coercive mobilization to shape citizen’s interests, or support for the regime. However, China had been in a category of totalitarian regimes once after the World War 2 ended. After the world war 2, under the Mao’s control, China’s sovereignty imposedRead MoreConservatism And Liberalism914 Words   |  4 Pagesbeen a part of the political ideas and thoughts from the beginning of the of the American democracy. The democracy roles have changed in society over many years. The basic principles and ide as have remained the same. The degree of conservatism and liberalism have also become different, because of its extremism, radical, and neutral territories. In the democracy of America history, groups have continued to debate the ideas of Rights, Liberty, Justice, and Equality as an ideal liberal as a way of lifeRead MoreThe Democratic Peace Theory954 Words   |  4 PagesThe democratic peace theory was not always seen as the substantial argument and significant contribution to the field of International Relations that it is today. Prior to the 1970’s, it was the realist and non-realist thought that took preeminence in political theoretical thinking. Though the democratic peace theory was first criticized for being inaccurate in its claim that democracy promotes peace and as such democracies do not conflict with each other, trends, statistical data, reports have suggestedRead MoreMarxist View Of The Distribution Of Power Within Society And The Political System1336 Words    |  6 PagesMarxist view of the distribution of power within society and the political system. It will then summarise how we commonly define a liberal democracy and what are its recognisable features within a pluralist context such as in Britain. Finally, it will ask how Marxists might view the above as affecting participation in such a political system. Overall this essay will outline the uneven distribution of power Marxism sees in a capitalist, liberal democratic society; the class conflict this is based on, andRead MoreThere Are Many Theoretical Perspectives Used When Examining1646 Words   |  7 Pagesinternational political system. In this paper I will explain two of the most important: liberalism and realism. Though they are both strong theories, liberalism is best when it comes to explaining international politics. Liberalism better examines all of the influence that impact the decisions made within the international system and better represents the emotions and personal ag endas of the state. Liberalism can be considered a combination of constructivism and realism.It takes democracy into accountRead MoreMedia Studies1668 Words   |  7 Pagesopposing views on the role of media in society have thus far dominated media studies: the Marxist and liberal-pluralist perspectives. Simply, Marxist theorists see the role of the mass media as a means of maintaining the existing state of affairs, while the liberal pluralists see the role of the mass media as a means to promote the freedom of speech. The following essay will look more closely into the theories of these two schools with regards to how they see the role of the media in society, and offer someRead MoreU.s. Relations Between The International System Essay1592 Words   |  7 Pagesanalyze state relationships in the international system. The IR theories of Realism, Liberalism, and Constructivism are crucial in predicting the future of Sino-U.S. relations, as each theory holds a distinct position on st ate relations in the international system. Thee presence of anarchy in the international system; the lack of central authority in the international system must be acknowledged when analyzing state affairs. Realist theory argues that states act in response to anarchy and presume theRead MoreIn 1989, Francis Fukuyama published the End of History? on the National Interest. Throughout the1800 Words   |  8 Pagesturbulence and the systematic reformation. His argument that the history will no longer evolve has two main significations. First, the ideas or ideologies humans developed throughout the history reached their end points. The victory of the west meant that there was no other alternative ideology to substitute for liberal democracy. Second, the western liberal democracy will be universalised as it is proven to be the ultimate form of government. (1989, pp. 3-4) However, despite his claims and supporting evidencesRead MoreNeo Liberalism And Its Impact On Society1414 Words   |  6 Pagesproactive welfare state. The concept of neo liberalism basically revived from liberalism. By this it can be suggested that liberalism was absent from politics in order to emerge in a new form. Neo liberalism is not basically a distinct ideology and a not proper form of liberalism. It shares only some of the historic views with liberalism which would be general. Another concept which is introduced is economic liberalism. It is defined as that the states do not intervene in

School Ties The Code Of Honor Essay Example For Students

School Ties The Code Of Honor Essay The Code of HonorHonesty, respect, accountability, these are all words the honor code stands by, its a foundation on which academic integrity abides, and a line drawn between whats right and wrong. The honor code in the movie School Ties meant more than just a signature one signed, it was a living entity, a guideline the school swore by, and those that broke the code met with the consequences. ?It is the students responsibility, not the teachers, to uphold St. Matthews honor code,? said the headmaster as he addressed the students gathered in the chapel for mass at St. Matthews. The headmaster understood the relevance of the code, and that the power was vested in the students to make it work for the entire student body. Another example of the honor code was when the history teacher addressed the class by asking the students to discuss among themselves who cheated on the recent test. He went on to strongly urged the class that overlooking the incident would be robbing them of the honor code. At the end of the movie the main character, David Green, takes the fall for Charles Dillon, the student who cheated. However, the headmaster finds out the truth from the prefect, Rip, and Dillon is expelled from school. As David leaves the headmasters office, the teacher reminds him, ?The honor code is a living thing, it cant live in a vacuum.? St. Matthews knew how to fill the vacuum, b ut it was the students that lived it. A life not set by rules or regulations, but an internal drumbeat, marching to the beat of its own, honesty. I have sincere doubts about the usefulness and the meaningfulness of the honor code, because addressing cheating requires more than just the honor code alone. Cheating is a problem in part because of the enormous pressure put on students by a schools high-strung atmosphere to achieve. I think students feel that in order to survive, they must take advantage of the gray areas of being honest, often stretching the limits as to cheating and using someone elses work. Therefore, any honor code implemented in such an environment will result in students changing cheating techniques to work around the code. I feel the best way to deal with this problem is to make students fully aware that cheating is unprofitable and nothing good come of it. Ultimately, the honor code works because it is fully enforced by the students themselves. As Mencken once said, For every complex problem there is a simple solution and it is wrong. Solving the issue of dishonesty requires far more than just an honor cod e alone.

Water Pollution in the Jamaican Society Essay Example

Water Pollution in the Jamaican Society Paper One hundred and fifty years ago, the monster began, this country had become a place of industry. Factories grew on the landscape like weeds. Trees fell, fields were up-ended, rivers blackened. The sky choked on smoke and ash, and the people did, too, spending their days coughing and itching, their eyes turned forever toward the ground. Villages grew into town, towns into cities. And people began to live on the earth rather than within it. Patrick News, A Monster Calls The theme chosen is socio economic issues; these are problems involving the economy and the social lives of citizens, the topic that was derived from this theme was Water Pollution in the Jamaican Society. The purpose of this theme is to make the researcher become more aware of the socio economic issues facing her community and moreover widen her knowledge on these issues. The theme relates to the researchers academic interest where as she intends to pursue a career in socioeconomics. She aims to bring about socioeconomic development and the overall quality f life in her society and also make others become more aware of the problems that the community and also their country are facing. Did you know nearly 1. 5 billion people lack safe drinking water? Did you also know that it is estimated that at least 5 million deaths per year can be attributed to waterborne diseases? With over 70% of the planet covered by oceans people have long acted as if bodies of water are limitless grounds for wastes. Raw sewage, garbage and oil spills have begun to overwhelm the diluting capabilities of the oceans and most coastal waters are now polluted. Water s needed by everyone for different uses; however water is a limited natural resource which is replenished at a certain rate. Simply put, if the rate of use exceeds the rate of natural replenishment then there will be less water for everyone until there is no water for everyone. Water is a fundamental survival need of mankind. In fact, denying people access to water is tantamount to denying them a basic human right. We will write a custom essay sample on Water Pollution in the Jamaican Society specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Water Pollution in the Jamaican Society specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Water Pollution in the Jamaican Society specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Still, about one billion people around the world do not have access to safe drinking water. In developing countries, especially in small island states such as Jamaica, water assumes great importance in sustainable development. Water is undoubtedly the most precious natural resource that exists on our planet. Without water life on Earth would be non-existent as it is essential for everything on our planet to grow and prosper. Even though humans are aware of this fact we ignore it by polluting our rivers, lakes and oceans. As a result are harming our planet and ourselves. This essay examines issues relating to sources and effects of pollution, prevention and further destruction in the Caribbean island of Jamaica. There are two types of water pollutants, point sources and nonprofit resources. Point sources of pollution occur when harmful substances are emitted directly into a body of water. Point sources include pipelines, channels and drains from identifiable locations such as an industrial plant and landfills. A nonprofit source delivers pollutants indirectly through environmental changes. Agricultural and urban runoff and airborne particulates are examples of nonprofit sources, and their entry points to receiving waters are often difficult to identify. Diffuse or nonprofit pollution sources are significant due to their far reaching geographical and temporal effects and the difficulty to contain them once they are in the water systems. According to National Environment and Planning Agency (NEAP) Jamaican major environmental problems involve water quality and waste disposal. Did you know that 77% of Jamaican renewable water resources are used for agriculture and 7% is used for industrial purposes? Principal environmental issues facing Jamaican second largest industry are caustic soda contamination of water supplies, bauxite and alumina dust, and CEO-system dislocation. However, the island is so dependent on the export that it is very fisticuff to stop the practice. Being a limited resource in Jamaica, some day it will. But until then Jamaica needs to find mining techniques that are less harmful to the environment. The major environmental problem caused by the industry is the disposal of the tailings, which forms an alkaline mud. The original procedure that was used to dispose of the red mud to pump material into mined-out ore bodies and Dyke valleys, however, these red mud lakes resulted in the percolation of caustic residues (sodium) into the underground aquifers in local areas. Recent readings obtained from domestic water wells in he vicinity of Jamaican alumina refineries have indicated elevated sodium and PH readings. Also, the escape of caustic soda (which is used to extract alumina from raw bauxite) into the groundwater supply significantly increases sodium concentration of domestic well water mostly in the rural areas. Sodium is associated with a higher incidence of hypertension. As a result of its genetic composition, the Jamaican population is particularly subject to hypertension, which can be aggravated by high levels of sodium. On July 15, 201 2, 62,500 gallons or 250,000 liters of untreated trade effluent was purportedly released into the Pleasant Farm Gully, which leads to the ROI Cobber. It caused the pollution of the river and forced the National Irrigation Commission to shut down operations there, and the National Water Commission to shut down its intake from the river into the Spanish Town treatment plant The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEAP) took the first Step toward legal action against the West Indies Alumina Company (Windfall), which it blames for the fish kill at the ROI Cobber in SST Catherine. The alleged breach under the Wildlife Protection Act and the Natural Resources Conservation Authority Act. , NEAP revealed, concerned the discharge of trade effluent into the environment without the requisite license, while the reported breach under the Wildlife Protection Act had to do with allowing a toxic substance into a water body that contains fish. The preliminary water sample test results were showing that the ROI Cobber had a pH level of 1 1. 2 on August 30 when the fish kill was detected. Our results were 11. 2, which is very close to 14. That level was very alkaline and resulted in the fish kill, NEAP told the Sunday Observer. They added that the presence of sodium hydroxide, an alkaline sodium compound used by bauxite companies in their operations, had likely caused the waters alkalinity. The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEAP), has served an Enforcement Notice on the National Water Commission (NC) for the alleged discharge of improperly treated trade effluent from a sewer main on North Street, Kingston. The sewer main empties into a gully that discharges into the Kingston Harbor. The discharge of improperly treated trade effluent into the environment poses a serious threat to the health of persons in immunities in the vicinity, as well as to the natural resources within the Kingston Harbor, said a statement from NEAP For non-point pollution in particular, prevention is the most effective measure. Harmful production, consumption and disposal practices need to be monitored, controlled, and where possible prohibited, to prevent hazardous substances from reaching water bodies and impacting human and ecosystem health. Destruction is a mans will, nevertheless prevention is also a mans will, its a mans choice to choose between destruction and prevention. Pollution is an everyday thing, e all do it, we see friends, family and strangers do it, we know it is wrong so why do we further the destruction of our island? We are not just killing the small fishes in the sea, or making our beaches look unpleasant but making our small home unfit for our living. It has been written that the meek shall inherit the earth. What has not been written is that they shall inherit it after the greedy and the selfish have already polluted the air, fouled the water and poisoned the food chain. The actual moral of the parable is stand up for yourself, for our planet and for all who dwell here.