A Knight
The knight is a man who lives by a code a chivalry and is very proud to be a warrior and prides himself in being a good person. He has also proven himself to be worthy of honor from many countries having fought many battles and being very wise. The only odd thing about the knight are his clothes are old and worn.
The Squire
The Squire is the son of the Knight who was very fit and active. He was also a lover who would make songs and art. He also was a very humble, willing and able to get things done.
The Yeoman
The Yeoman is very proud person, wearing his medal on his chest for people to see. He dressed in green and carried several weapons and was a real forester.
The Prioress
The Prioress is a well dressed and well mannered but is nice and will pity things and feel as though she must take care of them.
The Second Nun and Three Priests
They are exactly what it says they are.
The Monk
The Monk is a hunter, who has many horses and gray hounds to help him with this. The monk's beliefs are old ones that he has slowly been using with new beliefs, which made him admit that a hunter is not a holy man and that his beliefs may seem wrong but he raises the question as to why should you hold yourself to beliefs that make your talents useless.
The Friar
The Friar is seen as a very noble, merry, and helpful person. He was the type of person who tries to go through life easy mannered. He was also able to sing in order to please people and was always the one to win the prize at festivals. Rather than seeming like a poor beggar, he tried to be a beggar the rich and noble wanted to help.
The Merchant
The Merchant was a man of business. He knew how to deal with all types of business with intelligence, knowing foreign currencies, and knowing how to manage his trade and loads properly. This talent was something he prided and would only boast about the good times and not talk of bad times.
The Clerk
The Clerk was a man who used to study philosophy and valued learning over all things. Not having much money, his appearance may not have been to great, but he used what he had and borrowed to get books.
The Sergeant of the Law
This was a man who everyone saw as wise and knowledgeable and knew how to manage the laws expressed to the people without ever seeming to be wrong.
The Franklin
The Franklin was a noble man who seemed to have everything that could bring him luxury. He always had the finest of foods and drink and had people to prepare services for him.
A HABERDASHER and a CARPENTER, An ARRAS-MAKER, DYER, and WEAVER
These were your typical common people. They all had decent clothing and supplies and is basically the working man.
The Cook
The cook is able to cook all sorts of things and knows how to tell when food or ale has gone bad. The only problem he had was a sore on his shin.
The Ship man
This man was a sailor who knew his way through many routes and was a fine person but was likely to take advantage of people or take something to gain the upper hand.
The Physician
The physician was a man who knew his job very well, and used astrology to tell him the reasons and remedies for illnesses. He was always able to do this very well and make decent money because he worked with people who would send him the drugs for the illness. With this efficiency the physician was able to save reasonable amounts of money, which he loved.
The Wife of Bath
This was a lady who knew who how to make fine clothes and many experiences she could talk of, having been married several times and traveled to many places.
The Parson
The Parson was a very religious man who tried to use the rules given to him from the bible to be a good person, and would try to compensate for people who could not help themselves. Although nice to most people, if someone were to be unreasonable with him he wouldn't stand for it. As a religious man he mainly focused on the rules of the bible and was not a fan of ceremonies celebrating them.
The Plowman
The plowman was the brother of the parson and is a very hard worker who tried to live in peace and charity by loving god and accepting the good and bad times.
The Miller
The Miller was a really big and strong guy. He had the strength to tear doors from their hinges or to head butt them down. He knew how to take advantage of oppertunities to make money having a "thumb of gold" and how to humor people, knowing many poems that consisted mostly of obscene jokes.
The Manciple
The Manciple was a man who was able to get what he wanted and was treated as a noble. He had many masters teach him about market and how to get ahead of things which made it possible for him to live according to his own standards.
The Reeve
The Reeve was like a manager for his lord's servants and tasks. He knew how to make sure crops were planted at the right time by figuring out if there will be a drought or rain, and knew how to take care of all the animals his lord own. He knew all the tricks to his job as well, knowing how to not let any of the servants take advantage of him.
The Summoner
The Summoner is a guy who is unlucky when it comes to his appearance being covered in boils and pimples. Sometimes he would get to drunk and start speaking a couple phrases of latin. Despite those ideas, he is seen as a good comrade.
The Pardoner
The Pardoner is a friend of the summoner. The pardoner also looks a bit better than the summoner, and carries his appearance in an untraditional fashion, one trait being he doesn't wear a hood although he has long hair. He was also the best at his job, and liked to sing to get money.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Important Events of the Middle Ages
The Crusades
Many battles and wars were fought during the middle ages that were referred to as the "Crusades", and these were fought by most of Christian Europe against many of the races and religions in the surrounding areas that had been excommunicated from the Christian Community because of all the religious controversy. The original plan for the Crusades was to take back their Holy Land and Jerusalem that had been taken over by Muslims. It was supported highly by a excess of soldiers that had been recently used to Christianize their new areas in Europe that needed an outlet for their skills. The church encouraged people to fight for their war by telling them things like their sins would be forgotten and after Jerusalem is taken by soldiers who participated would go to heaven after death.
The Murder of Thomas a Becket
Becket was archbishop of Canterbury who gained a bad name with King Henry II. Becket was incorporable with the King and didn't sign a document that would have stopped a war. Becket fled to France where Louis VII offered him protection. Becket began to overuse his powers excommunicating any of his opponents, three of which fled to Normandy where Henry heard of these problems. So when ranting one day Henry gave an apparent order to murder Becket, which was carried out by four knights who first, went into inside the cathedral and talked to Becket first, and when he refused to comply, they slaughtered him in front of a room full of monks reciting vespers.
The Magna Carta
The Magna Carta is a charter that basically told the King that his position does not give him any benefits that are above the law. This was created to protect the subjects of the kings and give them rights to acts like Habeas corpus. During the time it was introduced it didn't prove very helpful but as it has built up over time it has become the basis of many ideas that our Constitution rules today.
The Black Death
The black death was a deadly plague that was around the world during the middle ages and wiped out communities and forced horrible sacrifices and decisions to try to control the spreading epidemic. People who caught the black death, shown by signs of sickness and rashes, would be immediately quarantined and banished or boarded up in their homes which were sometimes burned down to the ground to make sure the disease wouldn't spread anymore. The plague caused a dramatic drop in world population from about 450 million to about 350 million during the times of the plague.
Many battles and wars were fought during the middle ages that were referred to as the "Crusades", and these were fought by most of Christian Europe against many of the races and religions in the surrounding areas that had been excommunicated from the Christian Community because of all the religious controversy. The original plan for the Crusades was to take back their Holy Land and Jerusalem that had been taken over by Muslims. It was supported highly by a excess of soldiers that had been recently used to Christianize their new areas in Europe that needed an outlet for their skills. The church encouraged people to fight for their war by telling them things like their sins would be forgotten and after Jerusalem is taken by soldiers who participated would go to heaven after death.
The Murder of Thomas a Becket
Becket was archbishop of Canterbury who gained a bad name with King Henry II. Becket was incorporable with the King and didn't sign a document that would have stopped a war. Becket fled to France where Louis VII offered him protection. Becket began to overuse his powers excommunicating any of his opponents, three of which fled to Normandy where Henry heard of these problems. So when ranting one day Henry gave an apparent order to murder Becket, which was carried out by four knights who first, went into inside the cathedral and talked to Becket first, and when he refused to comply, they slaughtered him in front of a room full of monks reciting vespers.
The Magna Carta
The Magna Carta is a charter that basically told the King that his position does not give him any benefits that are above the law. This was created to protect the subjects of the kings and give them rights to acts like Habeas corpus. During the time it was introduced it didn't prove very helpful but as it has built up over time it has become the basis of many ideas that our Constitution rules today.
The Black Death
The black death was a deadly plague that was around the world during the middle ages and wiped out communities and forced horrible sacrifices and decisions to try to control the spreading epidemic. People who caught the black death, shown by signs of sickness and rashes, would be immediately quarantined and banished or boarded up in their homes which were sometimes burned down to the ground to make sure the disease wouldn't spread anymore. The plague caused a dramatic drop in world population from about 450 million to about 350 million during the times of the plague.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Lit 12 Anglo Saxons
Beowulf
Beowulf, the story of one of the greatest warriors ever, is a very interesting story. The fact that it is a poem has you read it more epically and the old language helps you understand the beliefs and meaning of something as such to a warrior. Beowulf is amazing, while although he is boastful of the things he has done, he always manages to back up his words and amaze everyone with the strength and bravery a man could posses, and not taking one demon, but two, the first being killed almost instantly by Beowulf's grip ripping his arm off and the second an almost unbelievable fight underwater ending with a blow that sent her to her grave.
The story shows many of the belief structures that warriors or Anglo-Saxons had during their time. To be a warrior was a very proud thing and many of the good warriors seem to hold a courageous attitude and always want to do good for a selfless cause and only wanting to be remembered for it, Beowulf being a great example when he says "Bid my warriors raise a splendid moundon the shore-cliffsafter my funeral firethat a remembrance shalltower high on Hronesness." Warriors deal with eachother in odd ways, not being afraid to boast, rather boasting is very popular to gain respect and friendship amongst people and is shown through out the text and especially shown when Beowulf is confronted by one of the King's warriors who tries to test Beowulf on how great he is and Beowulf gladly reminds him of his amazing deeds shown in the chapter 'Beowulf comes to Herot.'
Beowulf is a hero that can be recognized in almost every culture especially our own in the U.S. Super Hero's often possess the attitude Beowulf portrays to make people have trust and confidence in him such as Superman an example being "Perhaps in kindness I may advise Hrothgar how he, wise and famous,may overcome this enemy" a phrase spoken by Beowulf to ensure that the King will want his help. He also possesses an extreme ammount of strength, demonstrated where he ripped the arm off of Grendal and is somehow a significantly better warrior than others in his world. One of the only aspects I can think of that doesn't help him relate as a super hero would be he can't fly, other than that, he is basically your medi-evil superman.
The way Beowulf dies is although in a way cliche, since many heroes die for causes that are above them, but it is very epic and lets you know how proud warriors could feel to have fought along side their king they looked up too or having the will to continue to fight despite the fact you will probably die. The only problem I had with the ending was Beowulf's desire to have the treasures he fought for around him, although you see the character trait throughout the book, this part really shows how stuck up and narcisistic a proud warrior like Beowulf really is.
Beowulf, the story of one of the greatest warriors ever, is a very interesting story. The fact that it is a poem has you read it more epically and the old language helps you understand the beliefs and meaning of something as such to a warrior. Beowulf is amazing, while although he is boastful of the things he has done, he always manages to back up his words and amaze everyone with the strength and bravery a man could posses, and not taking one demon, but two, the first being killed almost instantly by Beowulf's grip ripping his arm off and the second an almost unbelievable fight underwater ending with a blow that sent her to her grave.
The story shows many of the belief structures that warriors or Anglo-Saxons had during their time. To be a warrior was a very proud thing and many of the good warriors seem to hold a courageous attitude and always want to do good for a selfless cause and only wanting to be remembered for it, Beowulf being a great example when he says "Bid my warriors raise a splendid moundon the shore-cliffsafter my funeral firethat a remembrance shalltower high on Hronesness." Warriors deal with eachother in odd ways, not being afraid to boast, rather boasting is very popular to gain respect and friendship amongst people and is shown through out the text and especially shown when Beowulf is confronted by one of the King's warriors who tries to test Beowulf on how great he is and Beowulf gladly reminds him of his amazing deeds shown in the chapter 'Beowulf comes to Herot.'
Beowulf is a hero that can be recognized in almost every culture especially our own in the U.S. Super Hero's often possess the attitude Beowulf portrays to make people have trust and confidence in him such as Superman an example being "Perhaps in kindness I may advise Hrothgar how he, wise and famous,may overcome this enemy" a phrase spoken by Beowulf to ensure that the King will want his help. He also possesses an extreme ammount of strength, demonstrated where he ripped the arm off of Grendal and is somehow a significantly better warrior than others in his world. One of the only aspects I can think of that doesn't help him relate as a super hero would be he can't fly, other than that, he is basically your medi-evil superman.
The way Beowulf dies is although in a way cliche, since many heroes die for causes that are above them, but it is very epic and lets you know how proud warriors could feel to have fought along side their king they looked up too or having the will to continue to fight despite the fact you will probably die. The only problem I had with the ending was Beowulf's desire to have the treasures he fought for around him, although you see the character trait throughout the book, this part really shows how stuck up and narcisistic a proud warrior like Beowulf really is.
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