Bring on the red pens!

[hypotenuse]

I'm putting this in here so I can grab it from school if needed. It's not finished. Have to do a second paragraph on whether or not I think the author did ok, and if I agree with him.

Wouldn't mind if anyone has input though.... hint, hint.

*************************************

Harris, Joseph “Beowulf’s Last Words” Speculum 67 (1998): 1-32.

In “Beowulf’s Last Words” Joseph Harris traces the phrase “famous last words” as its use changes through the years. This introduction foreshadows his contention that Beowulf’s last words, or death song, have been viewed through a modern perspective to the detriment of our understanding the fullness of this work. It is his contention that the death song of Beowulf actually begins before facing the dragon that will ultimately be his death. Harris submits that reading Beowulf’s death song with insight gained from similar Norse poetry of the time not only expands the richness of the work but also expands the actual number of lines devoted to the motif of Beowulf’s death song. Working through the death songs of these Old Norse sagas, Harris spells out a generic type consisting of elements observed in a traditional death song. He explains the validity of such a comparison by stressing the importance of the poem’s origin as a compilation of oral history predating the actual composition of the author. When reading “Beowulf” with this understanding, Harris claims to refit the interlocking pieces of a death song rich in a texture that was previously lacking due to its incomplete nature.

[hypotenuse]

Mailed it to myself at yahoo. Surely I'll be able to access one or the other.


Lynne - talking to herself, been hanging out with the duck for too many years

[lynnzop[$]]

I take it from your thread title change that you are serious. Okay, I'm not an English teacher, nor do I play one on TV....but here are a couple of suggestions:

1. First sentence is too long for my brain to process (or maybe I just need another cup of dew ). I'd break it into two sentences.

2. Add a comma after understanding in the last sentence and I BELIEVE "it's" should be "its" (no apostophe).

Lynn

[hypotenuse]

Better?

[hypotenuse]

Ok. Changed the sentence order as well. I'm going to work on the second paragraph now.

Thanks Lynn!

[lynnzop[$]]

[CurtisEdmonds]

Could you start off with a quote from the "death song", whatever that is? It's not something I am familiar with, at all.

[hypotenuse]

Ok. Here's the entire thing. Is it too short?


*********************

Bethlyn Wood
September 23, 2002


Harris, Joseph “Beowulf’s Last Words” Speculum 67 (1998): 1-32.

In “Beowulf’s Last Words” Joseph Harris traces the phrase “famous last words” as its use changes through the years. This introduction foreshadows his contention that Beowulf’s last words, or death song, have been viewed through a modern perspective to the detriment of our understanding the fullness of this work. Harris submits that reading Beowulf’s death song with insight gained from similar Norse poetry of the time not only expands the richness of the work but also expands the actual number of lines devoted to the motif of Beowulf’s death song. Working through the death songs of these Old Norse sagas, Harris spells out a generic type consisting of elements observed in a traditional death song. He explains the validity of such a comparison by stressing the importance of the poem’s origin as a compilation of oral history predating the actual composition of the author. It is his contention that the death song of Beowulf actually begins before facing the dragon that will ultimately be his death. When reading “Beowulf” with this understanding, Harris claims to refit the interlocking pieces of a death song rich in a texture that was previously lacking due to its incomplete nature.

Joseph Harris’ article on “Beowulf’s Last Words” is nicely organized structurally as well as being logically convincing. I agree with his contention that we tend to view any work through the perceptions of our culture and the understandings associated with our times. His insistence in considering “Beowulf” within the context of the Old Norse sagas, which more closely parallel the values and traditions of the timeframe, is understandable and Harris convincingly makes his point. His argument as to the parameters of Beowulf’s death song is easy to follow. I like the way the author presented each element of a traditional Old Norse death song, pulling sections from the Norse poetry and setting up comparisons with sections of “Beowulf “. In many instances Harris addresses conflicting viewpoints, fully explaining his logic, including references for his alternate stance. In “Beowulf’s Last Words”, Harris presents a very convincing argument for reviewing the parameters of Beowulf’s death song.

[hypotenuse]

Sure thing Curtis!

It's the part in Beowulf were he dies at the end. IE - I'm dieing, bury me here, I did such and such with my life, I'm dieing, I did such and such for my people, damn I'm good. I'm dieing some more.



Let me find it and I'll type in a few lines.

[lynnzop[$]]

I like it up to the last two sentences. For some reason, it's just not making a SMACK finish. : screws up mouth and thinks a bit :

In many instances Harris addresses conflicting viewpoints, fully explaining his logic, including references for his alternate stance. In “Beowulf’s Last Words”, Harris presents a very convincing argument for reviewing the parameters of Beowulf’s death song.

Maybe too many "convincing"s...you use the word 3 times in the pp. How about substituting "compelling"?

Final sentence - perhaps reinforce Harris's contention that the poem be read in the context of the time (i.e., Old Norse) as opposed to our time. I think that will round it out better and give a stronger tie in.

PS It's "dying" just in case you ever want to write it in a paper.

[hypotenuse]

It's considered to start near line 2724 which starts like this:

Beowulf spoke: in spite of his wounds,
mortal wounds, he still spoke
for he well knew his day in the world
had been lived out to the end -- his allotted time
was drawing to a close, death was very near.

"Now is the time when I would have wanted
to bestow this armor on my own son,
had it been my fortune to have fathered an heir
and live on in his flesh. For fifty years
I ruled this nation. No king
of any neighboring clan woud dare
face me with troops, none had the power
to intimidate me."


But in this article Harris claims it should begain before he fights the dragon at about line 2417:

The veteran king sat down on the cliff-top.
He wished good luck to the Geats who had shared
his hearth and his gold. He was sad at heart,
unsettled yet ready, sensing his death.
His fate hovered near, unknowable but certain:
it would soon claim his coffered soul,
part life from limb. Before long
the prince's spirit would spin free from his body.


He says that putting the before and after the dragon fight together you have a complete death song as is traditional in the Old Norse sagas.

Interesting article.


Lynne

[hypotenuse]

Still editing.

Almost out of time though.

Ack!

[hypotenuse]

This is it. Gotta print and go.


*************




Bethlyn Wood
September 23, 2002


Harris, Joseph “Beowulf’s Last Words” Speculum 67 (1998): 1-32.

In “Beowulf’s Last Words,” Joseph Harris traces the phrase “famous last words” as its use changed through the years. This introduction foreshadows his contention that Beowulf’s last words, or death song, have been viewed through a modern perspective to the detriment of our understanding the fullness of this work. Harris contends that reading Beowulf’s death song with insight gained from similar Norse poetry of the time not only expands the richness of the work but also expands the actual number of lines devoted to the motif of Beowulf’s death song. Working these Old Norse sagas, Harris describes a generic type of death song consisting of elements observed traditionally. He explains the validity of such a comparison by stressing the importance of the poem’s origin as a compilation of oral history predating the actual composition of the author. It is his assertion that the death song of Beowulf actually begins before facing the dragon that will ultimately be his death. When reading “Beowulf” with this understanding, Harris claims to refit the interlocking pieces of Beowulf’s death song as he units the words placed before and after his battle with the dragon. This interpretation completes Beowulf’s last words, now rich in a texture previously lacking.

Joseph Harris’ article on “Beowulf’s Last Words” is nicely organized structurally as well as being logically convincing. I agree with his opinion that we tend to view any work through the perceptions of our culture and the understandings associated with our times. In many instances Harris addresses these more modern viewpoints, fully explaining his alternate stance. I like the way the author presented each element of a traditional Old Norse death song, pulling sections from the Norse poetry and comparing these with sections of “Beowulf”. His insistence in considering “Beowulf” within the context of the Old Norse sagas, which more closely parallel the values and traditions of the timeframe, is understandable. With this analysis, Joseph Harris presents a most compelling argument for reviewing the accepted parameters of Beowulf’s last words.

[Redlass]

You're turning it in today, then?

You've convinced me that it is a fascinating article.

Since I'm too late, you can ignore my comments. The first sentence made me expect that the article was about the famous last words of a lot of people throughout history, not just Beowulf. I might have suggested starting with Harris' contention and then stating that he supported that contention by a quick historical survey.

I don't know this for certain, not having read the article nor having specialized in this area, but it might be redundant to say "similar Norse poetry of the time." You might be able to get away with deleting "of the time."

I'm not a fan of the "not only....but" construct, though there is certainly nothing inherently wrong with it.

Working these Old Norse sagas, Harris describes a generic type of death song consisting of elements observed traditionally.

The opening phrase is awkward. I'm not sure I understand what you mean by Harris working the Old Norse sagas. I would try to work that phrase into the sentence. Maybe saying something like:

"Harris describes a generic death song with traditional elements found in Old Norse sagas."

Another quibble: Does Harris explain the validity or does he justify it?

facing the dragon that will ultimately be his death.

I'm probably giving poor advice here since you are writing for academia, but I would prefer to read that sentence in a more active voice--instead of the dragon being his death, stating that he is facing the dragon that would ultimately kill him. (Ultimately may even be redundant unless you are trying to stress that the dragon didn't directly kill him, but rather that wounds taken from the dragon eventually killed him. I'm rather ashamed to say I don't know.)

Harris claims to refit the interlocking pieces of Beowulf’s death song as he units the words placed before

unites?

Again, though, you make excellent points and I think you explain the article very well. You provide both a summary and your interpretation of the article's effectiveness.

[hypotenuse]

I'm going to get over here earlier for my next paper. Oh yes! There are plenty more coming! Just had to get through my business law test first this time.

Thanks everyone.

I didn't have time to say how much I appreciate your help before pulling on my jeans as I was running out the door.... Was ten minutes late as it was.

Parking is scarce.

Anyhow, I'll tell you what grade we made when I get it back. Honestly, I'll be happy with a C.

But would love a B...

:snicker:


Lynne

[hypotenuse]

I do have the article if anyone (hi Bridgette! .) wants to read it. Adobe format. Just send me a PM or something with your email addie.

I'll do a bulk mailout.

Beowulf spam. Whodathunkit?

Lynne

[hypotenuse]

We made a 46/50!

:happy:

She liked my analysis but said y'all were a bit vague in places.

:snicker:

Thanks again! And I will send out the article. Promise. Soon!


Lynne

[murasaki]

Yea, Lynn!

--naomi

[mjfrombuffalo[$]]

whooo-hooo!!!

go Lynne, go Lynne!