Compare of the Poets Present Emotions in the Poems In Paris With You and Ghazal

In these poems, the poets use a range of techniques to present feelings and emotion from the point of the speaker. Ghazal is in the style of a traditional Persian love poem, which puts forward powerful imagery and metaphors, in an attempt to summarise the emotion of love, while In Paris With You is a playful attempt to woo a previous lover in a more informal, colloquial way. Ghazal, as mentioned before, is written like a love poem. However, one may consider it an example of role reversal- unusually; it is written from the point of view of a woman, not a man.Although it is not a sonnet, the form of poem is a Ghazal- this is a type of song, of mystical love poetry: we can thus compare it to a sonnet in the way that love is explored as a theme. It is structured in rhyming couplets- these can be described like poems themselves, as they capture the speaker’s strong feeling of attachment. These also contain refrain words, which help to drive in the points being made, such as â€Å" me†, which forms part of the weak rhyme scheme.The love in the poem can be seen in the first stanza- â€Å"If I am the grass and you the breeze, blow through me/ If I am the rose and you the bird, then woo me†. These examples of natural imagery mean we can see how the idea of the speaker and the person they address being together is beneficial- in fact, drawing from the imagery, we could go further and say that the idea is a natural (good) thing. Another emotion present is longing. This is the feeling of desperation to be with the other person talked to.Focusing on the language used, Ghazal makes extensive use of metaphors to explore the relationship between the speaker and the person they feel love for. Many of the metaphors are in the form of pairs of items or objects that complement each other, reflecting the way in which the speaker sees the relationship. For example, â€Å"what shape should I take to marry your own, have you- hawk to my shadow, moth to my flame â €“ pursue me? † showcases the idea that the speaker is willing to transform to suit the other, in â€Å"†¦what shape†¦Ã¢â‚¬ . This could also be a cue to the reader that the writer is perhaps lacking in some confidence..Another example is â€Å"If you are the rhyme and I the refrain don’t hang/ on my lips, come and I’ll come too when you cue me†: using enjambment to keep the poem flowing like a song. Also, the two sides of a relationship are likened to being like the â€Å"rhyme† and â€Å"refrain†, which suggests a sense of the two people being one unit together. This refrain could be the word â€Å"me†: because it appears so frequently in comparison, it could be a representation of the lover showing inferiority to the one she loves, and desperation. In Paris with You is a poem with a theme of longing also.The speaker is this time a man recounting a relationship he had moved on from. Perhaps this could have been partly due to a certain partiality to drinking alcohol, which we are told about in â€Å"And I get tearful/when I’ve had a drink or two†. â€Å"I'm on the rebound† shows that it must have been rather long-term, if he is describing a recovery from it. Unlike Ghazal, which is less clear about the outcome, In Paris with You suggests that the relationship is a reality. The poem, unlike Ghazal, is made up of two stanzas of about 5 lines, which deal with the run-up to the situation, and then a longer one in the middle,.It could be argued that this represents a pause for thought, as then the mood, or tone, of the poem changes, as in the next two stanzas, the speaker focuses on enjoying the present, such as â€Å"that crack across the ceiling/ and the hotel walls are peeling/ and I’m in Paris with you†, which shows that the speaker does not care for the surroundings when he is with the woman he loves. Indeed, this could be described as the summary of the poem, o r meaning- us being together is far more important than being in traditional romantic and beautiful locations, such as the Notre Dame (more beautiful than romantic), which he promptly tells to â€Å"sod off†.In terms of language, the opening is not like Ghazal’s in the respect that it starts with the negative â€Å"but†, to discourage the person he is talking to from â€Å"talk(ing) to me of love†. This is an opportunity to recognise the colloquial nature of the poem, such as the use of the phrases â€Å"an earful†, and â€Å"sod off to sodding Notre-Dame†. This contrasts heavily with the more formal, overwritten tone present in Ghazal. We can also see this as the speaker makes words to carry on his rhyme scheme, such as â€Å"wounded/ marooned†, which brings a playful nature.Similarly, the final stanza draws heavily on the phrase â€Å"in Paris with you†, to show the importance of being with the person he wants to be with, and then â€Å"am I embarrassing you? † is used to add to the teasing nature of the tone. Looking to the tone, which we have just looked at, I believe that another emotion brought forward is playfulness, in the way that more orthodox methods of seducing people are turned down in favour of just being with each other, albeit in a way that uses references to â€Å"embarrassing† ideas about romance, and love poems.In conclusion, the two poems Ghazal and In Paris with You deal with the same topics of love and longing, using techniques such as imagery, contrast, and metaphor achieve these pictures, but the latter feels more like a pastiche to the first in the way that its colloquial and abrupt humorous tone is a juxtaposition to the comparatively formal of the first.

Poverty Is World’s Biggest Problem

Poverty is the most serious problem facing the world, according to a major worldwide poll out Sunday which put the issue well ahead of climate change, terrorism and war. Overall, 71 per cent of people named extreme poverty as the biggest global issue, compared to 64pc who cited the environment or pollution and 63pc the rising cost of food and energy. Terrorism, human rights and the spread of disease were singled out by 59pc, climate change and the state of the world economy by 58pc and war by 57pc. Even if the global recession has kept economic problems top of people’s minds this year, extreme poverty is clearly viewed as the world’s most serious global problem,† said Sam Mountford, research director for GlobeScan, which conducted the poll for the BBC World Service. â€Å"But with many other global problems seen as very serious, this represents a daunting agenda for institutions like the UN and G20 to address. † Results varied between nations. People in India and Pakistan rated terrorism as their top concern and it was also in the top three in Britain, Indonesia and Spain, which have suffered major attacks in recent years. Japan was the only country to view climate change as the most serious issue, while China ranked it second and the US ninth. More than 25,000 people in 23 countries were interviewed face-to-face, online or over the telephone for the poll, which was conducted between June and October last year.

Analysing The Effects Of Ddt Environmental Sciences Essay

Analysing The Effects Of Ddt Environmental Sciences Essay DDT is a white, solid, crystalline powder with no taste or odor. DDT (C14H9C15) is derived from reaction between chloral and chlorobenzene in presence of fumes of sulfuric acid. DDT is insoluble in water and it is soluble in organic solvents such as, fats and oils. DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) is an organochlorine pesticide widely used to control mosquito and insects that carry diseases like malaria, typhus, and other harmful diseases and pest in agriculture (Martin, 2008; Raghavendra et al., 2010). DDT was banned in the U.S. in 1972 because it was identified to cause damage in birds and other wildlife, but it is still used in some developing countries (Bhuiyan et al., 2008). It is still present in environment due to current use in other countries. DDT and its breakdown products (DDE and DDD) can easily break down by sunlight, but they are very hard to dissolve in soil. DDE (dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene) and DDD (dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane) are two major metabolites and breakdown products of DDT. DDD was also known as pesticide, but it was banned whereas DDE does not have any commercial use (Eskenazi et al., 2009). DDT was first synthesized in 1874 by Othmar Zeidler. In 1940, DDT was first used to treat Dutch elm disease. DDT was majorly used in World War II to protect troop and civilians from diseases. In 1939, Paul Mueller discovered DDT as insecticide and he won the Nobel Prize in 1948 for it. After this, people started using DDT as pesticide for their home, agriculture purpose and in gardens (Eskenazi et al., 2008). However, DDT started to cause diseases during this time and this increases public concern to Rachel Carsonà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s Silent Spring. Rachel Carsonà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s Silent Spring was published in 1962, which contains environmental impacts of DDT in the US (ATSDR, 2002; Eskenazi et al., 2008; Martin, 2008). DDT is strongly absorbed by soil and remains there for long period of time (Bhuiyan et al., 2008). They released f rom soil by various types of reactions such as, runoff, photolysis, aerobic and anaerobic biodegradation and volatilization (van den Berg, 2009). In surface water, DDT will bind to particles that are present in the water and sediments. DDT is taken up by small organisms and fish from the water and then bioaccumulate in organisms to higher trophic levels. DDT deposited into the adipose tissues and fats in organisms. DDT shows bioaccumulation and biomagnification as it has lypophilic property (Bhuiyan et al., 2008). In 1950s, first evidence of DDT toxicity in bald eagles, robins, osprey, pelicans, peregrine falcon, and fish-eating mammals was observed (Xiao et al., 2008; DDT: An Introduction, 1996; Martin, 2008). Objectives This paper has five objectives: (1) To discuss the sources and main causes of DDT; (2) To discuss its mechanism of action as insecticide or pesticide; (3) To discuss the health problems and toxicological effects associated with DDT; (4) To discuss the environmental impacts of DDT; (5) To discuss control measures and various methods of dealing with DDT sources and problems. DDT in the Environment DDT is not soluble in water but it can form strong bonding with soil particles. DDT is still present in environment in soils that were exposed to DDT during earlier time. DDT is a volatile so it can be transported and evaporated as a gas. DDT is not commonly found in groundwater because it is less soluble in water and it will more likely to bound with soil particles rather than water molecule (ATSDR, 2002; Walker, M., Powell, P., 2003; van den Berg, 2009).

Source Annotation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Source Annotation - Essay Example He also concludes that Americans are feeling an economy strain because of this. The quality of the source is credible considering that other scholars on the topic reaffirm the author’s sentiments. For instance, Himmelstein verifies the fact that medical bills are expensive, which has pushed people to file for bankruptcy. This proves the credibility of the source. I agree with points formulated by the author as the source fits into my argument because the Zuckerman also celebrates the fact that America has experienced an increase in the medical expenditure, a sentiment that has been shared by other scholars. This is due to the fact that the government has increased its resources towards achieving a better healthcare plane for its citizens. This positively influences the life of the Americans by cutting down all healthcare policies. I tentatively disagree with the fact that the prices of health have increased bankruptcy levels since the government of America has developed healthcare policies for its citizens. I therefore rule out chances that the American citizens are bankrupt and cannot afford to cater for their healthcare

Financial analysis report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Financial analysis report - Essay Example This can add to strength of Microsoft, showing that the company has a track record of rapid growth. Price/Sales Ratio: Microsoft’s price to sales ratio is above the industry average that shows that the company has better investment prospects than its peer companies or the market itself. Price/Book Value Ratio: This ratio should be lower for better value but Microsoft’s price/book ratio is greater than the industry. Therefore, market places less value to the book value of the company. Receivable Turnover: The receivable turnover shows that Microsoft can quickly convert its accounts receivable into cash than the other companies in the market. Current Ratio: The Microsoft’s current ratio is quite strong, following the trends. It is better than the industry showing that creditors have much security in investing in Microsoft. Quick Ratio: Microsoft’s quick ratio again reveals a favorable trend and a strong position. Inventory Turnover: The inventory turnover of Microsoft shows the marketability of its inventory and reasonableness of quantity on hand. It is lower than the industry average showing Microsoft’s weakness. Book Value/Share: Microsoft’s book value per share is greater than the other companies in the industry, indicating a high book value of net assets behind each share.

Comedy Of Errors Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Comedy Of Errors - Essay Example The actions were perfectly organized by the set designer Nina Ball. From the first moment of the play, the audience was hypnotized with the songs and cues, approximating the action to the present days. The touching scene was a shipwreck, which separated the family and created the intrigue over the plot. The role of Dromeo twins was perfectly played by Danny Scheie. The main female characters – Adriana (Nemuna Ceesay) and Luciana (Tristan Cunningham) represented the brilliant scene getting the best lines and the total affection of the audience. Costumes designer Beaver Bauer surprised the audience with the simplicity of dresses suitable for the comical style of the play. The main theme of the play is the loss of individuality represented by the characters of twins. The production concept helps to understand the themes and values of the play. Shakespeares works in the forms of drama, comedy or tragedy are unique because they cover the psychological aspect of the personality. All the production elements came together perfectly to form one whole artistic piece. The play contains a deep interest in the person’s nature, his feelings, inspirations and passions, sorrows and numerable mistakes. Shakespeare’s plays are often really metaphorical and his verves might be difficult to understand. The comedy has some contextual meaning devoted to love, though he term â€Å"love† is not really used in the play. All of us realize what love is and have experienced it at least once in a lifetime, but it is often difficult to define the meaning of love and put the perception of this phenomenon into words. It is even understood differently by people. Rationalists and the adherents of science claim it to be just a chemical reaction in the human brain; cynics insist that this feeling is a disease, but the comedy manages to show it as an art, whereas the author

Arm Intervention Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Arm Intervention - Essay Example "Even actions that seem to aim only at the establishment or restoration of order have implications for justice." (Hoffman) The decision to intervene poses a perplexing set of questions. It is observed that the United States has no vivid guideline to decide where and when to intervene. As for example the Clinton administration had to face many problems regarding arm intervention in Somalia, Haiti and in Bosnia. Which was termed p. 21. ) as "Provisional, fragile, and reversible." Mandelbaum, 1996). It is imperative for the Administration and Congress both to adopt certain criteria to follow before approving the military intervention. There are several factors which make the intervention difficult for the administration. Now the world has become volatile and unpredictable which pose a hindrance to draft out a strategy which is clear and attainable. Then there is dilemma for the Americans to decide about the military intervention. Henry Kissinger has described this dilemma. ... Then there is dilemma for the Americans to decide about the military intervention. Henry Kissinger has described this dilemma. "America's dominant task is to strike a balance between the twin temptations inherent in its exceptionalism: the notion that America must remedy every wrong and stabilize every dislocation, and the latent instinct to withdraw into itself. Indiscriminate involvement in all the ethnic turmoil and civil wars of the post-Cold War world would drain a crusading America. Yet an America that confines itself to the refinement of its domestic virtues would, in the end, abdicate America's security and prosperity to decisions made by other societies in faraway places and over which America would progressively lose control. Not every evil can be combated by America, even less by America alone. But some monsters need to be, if not slain, at least resisted. What is most needed are criteria for selectivity." (Kissinger, 1994), There is no doubt that U.S is in desperate need of military intervention policy which is The United States needs a military intervention policy that is unswerving with America's role as the greatest power of today's world. It requires safeguarding the national security interests of U.S by keeping in mind many military options which include preventive attacks, deterrence, diplomacy and sometimes peace operations. "An intervention policy should discriminate between America's interests and how best to defend them so that America's limited military resources will be used where they are most needed and most effective and not wasted on inconsequential operations of little lasting significance" References Coady, C.A.J. (2002) .The Ethics of Armed Humanitarian Intervention.

Executive summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Executive summary - Essay Example The People’s Insurance, known to the Mexicans as Seguro Popular, was a new public insurance scheme that assured legislated access to comprehensive health care by most of the citizens in Mexico including the ones in the rural areas. Concurrently, in 2009, the swine flu outbreak in Mexico came testing the country’s complex health system as thousands of apprehensive people poured into hospitals and clinics for diagnosis and care. Significantly, the health-care system in Mexico is a collage of developing and frequently confusing services as a hundred and five million people in the country continue to suffer from ailments of the developing world like tuberculosis and malaria, with other emerging maladies such as diabetes being listed by the World Health Organization as the leading cause of death in the country followed by liver and heart disease (Tracy 2011). More pressure prevailed as the influenza crisis caused by the H1N1 virus unfolded with the ill frequently visiting lo cal hospitals and clinics but one getting the facilities depended on a few factors i.e. where they lived, their employee and their total income. All the same, Mexicans have everything from a small private system to enormous global health insurance programs that comprise of private, public and employer funding; however, despite the selection of facilities, it is still an unequal system according to the Pan American Health Organization stating that since the different care providers get different levels of payment, they also provide different levels of care at various levels of quality (Sheila 2009). Extensively, even though public health care in Mexico has been rising, it still has the lowest per capita expenditures among the OECD countries having just a 6.6 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) which worked out to be about 800 dollars per person in 2006 while Canada spent close to $3,700 per person which has duly increased to $5,000. Mexican private health system is structured in a way that about three million wealthy and middle class Mexicans, which includes the foreigners employed in Mexico, pay private insurers to gain access to high quality state of the art medical services and facilitates; on the other hand, most of the Mexicans insured through the public insurance system pay from their pockets to get better services through the private care (Tracy 2011). The private sector is booming with new clinics and specialized hospitals growing hastily in Mexico City, Guadalajara, and the most affected Monterrey that is becoming a major centre for medical tourism for the many Americans who are trying to escape their own expensive health care system. The Americans and other foreigners are gathering to the city’s growing number of glinting new hospitals to get services like obesity surgery, angioplasty, hip replacements etc; for instance, replacing a hip in the United States goes for about $43,000 to $63,000, but in Mexico one can bargain at around $12,000. The Mexican health system also has public

Managing human resources management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Managing human resources management - Essay Example Through effective human resource management, employees can contribute effectively to the overall company success and attainment of goals. Human resource management is also responsible for maintaining outstanding associations between employees within the organization. Every employee in an organization has his or her personal goals, and it is the responsibility of human resource management to ensure that the goals of the organization integrate with the individual’s goals. Therefore, this paper will focus on offering recommendations to St-Patrick’s Nursing Home human resource manager on how to eliminate the numerous human resource problems and improve on employee retention. Recruitment and selection are a process that engrosses numerous activities that require a great deal of time. The primary aim of recruitment and selection is to guarantee that the most appropriate individuals with the most appropriate skills are employed by an organization. The health sector is a huge service industry that experiences rapid changes. This makes the recruitment process subject to numerous internal and external factors. The selection results should emanate from a systematic and comprehensive process (Fottler et al, 2007: 32). In planning for recruitment, a human resource practitioner is required to be in apprehension of the wider issues that involve the recruitment process. When planning the recruitment of people in the health organization, it is imperative to identify the requirements of a job (Fottler et al, 2010: 45). The staffing needs are articulated in the job analysis. A job analysis is a purposeful and systematic process that offers significant, descriptive information on the job vacancy (Durai, 2010: 77). This analysis offers a broken down evaluation of different components of the job. This analysis also gives the basis of the functions of the personnel (Fottler et al, 2007: 56). Needless to say, this analysis can work best

TV Al Hijrah Essay Example for Free

TV Al Hijrah Essay Malaysia was one of the earliest British colonies to operate a radio broadcasting service. However, the British government did not show much interest in radio in its early stage of development (Asiah Sarji, 1994). Amateurs electric companies, telecommunication personnel, and radio enthusiasts were among those who started the ball rolling. In 1921 A.L Birch, the chief electrical engineer of the Johor state government, experimented with a Peto Scott type of wireless set obtained from overseas (Malay Mail July 30 1921). In 1923 he formed the Johor Wireless Society, which triggered the formation of nearly one dozen radio societies throughout Malaya. News music and songs from the phonograms were among the first programmed broadcast. The first radio station was established not in Singapore but in Kuala Lumpur. It was the up-country gathering point for rubber estate workers and tin mines and also the capital of the Federated Malay States. It was an unofficial and an amateur radio club, which organized plans to create a local service. Although experimental broadcasts of the Singapore amateur group had begun earlier, the Kuala Lumpur operation was more successful. The Kuala Lumpur Amateur Wireless Society started experimental work in November 1929 and officially commenced its regular broadcast service at 6.30 pm with â€Å"tea dance music from the Selangor Club†. A talk on the activities of the radio club was also transmitted that night. For this and subsequent broadcast, the group was allowed the use of the Post and Telegraph Department transmitter located at Petaling Hill. The station had been constructed in 1928 and then rebuilt the following year to make it permanent installation. This was the central sta tion in the Malayan telegraphic network, but the amateurs managed to convert it to operate telephonically so that voices and music as well as Morse code could be transmitted. In 1931 the Kuala Lumpur Amateur Radio Society (KLARS) acquired its own transmitter a crystal controlled â€Å"Marconi S3A† through government channels and begun using it in May 1931. The chief enhancement afforded by the new equipment was that it operated on shortwave. By functioning on much higher frequencies, the transmitter could provide signals to cover the full length of the peninsula, parts of the Netherlands East Indies and Borneo, even though its power was only 180 watts. The post and Telegraphs Department of the Federated Malay States (FMS) was responsible once again for providing the new equipment to the amateurs, and it volunteered to â€Å"render any assistance to the society†. The selection of the exact wavelength was debated upon by the members, but in the end 75 meter band (4 MHz) was chosen as best for reception for the whole country. After two years of operation, the station shifted to 48.92 meter band or 6.125 MHz In 1933 more permanence was given to the amateurs when they were allocated space to construct a studio next to the transmitting room at Petaling Hill. The broadcasting facilities came in handy for the Japanese during their occupation of three years and eight months. They used broadcasting for propaganda. After the Japanese surrender, the British military administration took charge of broadcasting. On April 1, 1946, the day the Malayan Union came, the governments setup the Department of Broadcasting or Radio Malaya (Glattbach Balakrishnan, 1978: Sarji 1994). The sole function of broadcasting until the country independence in 1957 was to help the government to control the social and political confusion that followed the war and the communist of 1948. [pic] Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) first introduced black and white TV on December 28, 1963. The opening was done by the Prime Minister Tuanku Abdul Rahman at 6pm and the first person who appear on the TV Screen was 9M2RI ( Raja Iskandar) with the establishment of one TV network, Saluran 5 TV Malaysia which operated from its temporary studio in Dewan Tuanku Abdul Rahman in Jalan Ampang Kuala Lumpur. At that time the transmission was from 6.00pm to 9.00pm on the week days and on weekends from 6.00pm to 11.00pm. Initially its area of coverage was confined only to the capital city. Then, later between 1964 and 1965, the nation witnessed the greater expansion of TV transmitters. Finally on October 6, 1969 broadcast operations in the nation’s capital moved to its present site Angkasapuri. Six days later radio and TV broadcasting operations were officially merged and kept under the purview of the Malaysian Information Department on November 17, 1969, RTM started its second network. In 1969 channel 2 was launched and in 1978 color TV was introduced. Despite the rapid development of broadcast in West Malaysia, East Malaysia received their first broadcasting programmed in 1971 (Sabah) and 1975 (Sarawak). The first private commercial broadcasting station was established in June 1983 by System Television Malaysia Berhad and was name as TV3. This was the decade of privatization. It all began with the shifting to new administration from the former Prime Minister Tun Hussein Onn’s to the new administration of Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. This new administration’s firm belief in privatization sped up the establishment of many private broadcasting stations. TV AL HIJRAH In 622, Muhammad SA faces stiff opposition Quraish tribe in Mecca. He then left the last Mecca to Medina. Prophet Muhammads migration from Mecca to Medina to be the beginning of a very significant history in Islam and thus marked the beginning of one of Muharram in the Islamic calendar. Hijrah means to move. This event is a very big impact. Al Hijrah connotation grow and not purely calendar Prophets pilgrimage, but also extended to any change towards betterment. Hence TV Al Hijrah intends to play the role of a TV for the society continued to change towards betterment. Al Hijrah TV is proud to be a form of broadcasting Islamic content to maintain high standards in the published programs, even high pioneered digital stations (HD) in the local broadcasting industry. TV Al Hijrah is a state-owned free-to-air television network in Malaysia, which is owned and operated by Al Hijrah Media Corporation, a government owned company. It broadcasts from its headquarters in Pusat Islam, Kuala Lumpur. On 16 September 2009, the first Islamic television station in Malaysia, Al Hijrah TV show as a marker of a new era in the broadcasting industry in Malaysia. The primary purpose of this station is to provide a platform TV to educate, entertain and unite the community. Content is appropriate for all ages, for Muslim and non-Muslim audience. The main demographic targeted at young audiences and groups less than 40 years. As the first Islamic TV stations to introduce Islam as a lifestyle, TV Al Hijrah play an important role as a platform for sharing knowledge, information and thoughts to share with Muslims of all walks viewers. TV Al Hijrah offer fresh content and programs that meet the needs of the present audience. Each of content researched and developed not only to attract the attention of the audience through the creative publication, but especially the Islamic current tastes. Most important of all content published on the values ​​of Islam which is anchored to honesty, openness and progressive. TV Al Hijrah has strictly adhered to the teachings and principles of Islam, at the same time respecting the local culture and tradition is not against religion, while adhering to the moral and universal values. They also celebrate knowledge and innovative ideas as well as respect for diversity of views. Prioritize unity and seek solutions through knowledge and information. Quran and Hadith as the main reference which for promoting idea of ​​comparative paradigm capable of lifting, absorption of new technologies especially in the field of broadcasting. It was also offering innovation in multi-platform for media and new media.

Beowulfs Pagan and Christian Elements

Beowulfs Pagan and Christian Elements The unknown poet of Beowulf wrote about the Geats and the Danes, Germanic tribes who lived in pre-Christian times on the continent.   The plot of the story, therefore, has many references to pagan beliefs and superstitious customs. On the other hand, a man who lived in Anglo-Saxon England composed the poem; therefore, there are examples in the poem of Judeo-Christian beliefs. The poem, therefore, speaks of both Wyrd and God of both the Germanic Fate that directs mens lives to inevitable destruction and the Christian God who cares for the lives of His children. The poem fused Christian and Pagan ideals to reflect on the time and place in which it was written. Brodeur, the author of an article states a period in which the virtues of the heathen Heroic Age were tempered by the gentleness of the new belief; an age warlike, yet Christian. As a good Christian, the poet found himself faced with the task of treating this originally pagan material in a manner acceptable to a Christian audience (183). Brodeur helps us understand the context of the poem and begins to help answer they question, why it was written like this and how this plot was formed. Another important statement in the article was when Brodeur says a Christian perception of the insane futility of the primitive Germanic thirst for vengeance; and the facts that Beowulfs chief adversaries are not men but monsters and that the king of the Geats did not seek wars with their neighboring tribes may reflect a Christian appreciation for peace among humans (22). It was also a period in which people such as Hrothgar and his Daneswere punished for their idolatry (207). Throughout this poem, we see the cross between striving for a Christian God and fighting for pagan vengeance. Christianity and Paganism combined together created a holy ground on which Beowulf was built. Paganism is a belief defined as a person holding religious beliefs other than those of monotheistic. Some basic customs go along with this belief. One is the custom of worshipping a profusion of Gods. More than ninety percent of the time, it was in the form of a sacrifice. Another custom believes in fate and that is it supposed to control your destiny or duties in life. This is known as Wyrd. Another custom is beliefs in imaginary things like dragons and magic. In addition, they lived in a desolate tone. They believed in earth-bound view on life. Paganism came to be compared by Christians with a feeling of indulgence, speaking to the individuals who are arousing, materialistic, liberal, unconcerned with the future, and uninterested in religions that are more standard. Pagans were set out with admirable sense, to enjoy earth or himself. Again, believing in fate, if they were going for the worst they would look at it without bitterness. Lastly, they believed that fame was the only way for one to reach immortality. As you can see, majority of these customs are a little far-fetched. Some of these irrational ideas explains a lot of part we see in Beowulf.   Some pagan elements we see in Beowulf are Hrothgars peoples actions and basic pagan beliefs along with cultural importance and old tales. Christianity is a religious belief defined as one who received Christian baptism or is a believer in Jesus Christ and his teachings. This belief like Paganism, come with some basic customs. First, they believe in one God. They believe that afterlife exists and it is like a utopia. They also believe in prayer as a way to give thanks to God for helping us avoid evil. Lastly, they have an optimistic outlook that is centered on a man who devoted himself to overpowering evil to create a better world for his followers. Again, these rules play a major role and effect the use of Christian elements in Beowulf. Some examples in this poem are the narration, Hrothgars speech, the Queens speech, and Beowulfs speech. Again, these points in the poem are very important to the plot and it is impacted by religious beliefs. Narration was impacted heavily by Christianity and is found throughout the text of the poem. An example straight from the poem is when the narrator said A comfort sent by God to that nation (13-17). Here the narrator is talking about Beo. He is the son of Shield Sheafsons. He is also Hrothgars great-great grandfather. Another example is when the narrator says, The clear song of a skilled poet tellingà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦how the Almighty had made the earth (81-98). Here, the narrator is describing scenes at Herot and it refers to God as the Almighty. They believe that he created the earth and that is derived from the Bible. These few examples of narration help prove other documents statements thinking how this poem has Christian elements. In Christina and Pagan Elements Edward B. Iriving Jr. states There are references to Gods creation of the universe, the story of Cain, Noahs flood, devils and hell, and the Last Judgment (177) Here, Edward B. Irving Jr. is telling us that they made referen ces to monumental moments in the catholic churchs history. The one that sticks out the most is Noahs Flood. It is a part in the church bible that represents the freedom our religion has fought for and gained. In the same article, the author also said, The date of Beowulf is much controverted, but are no conclusive arguments against dating the poem to the age of Bede, a date which was favored by a majority of Beowulf scholars of the last generation (179). Again, the author is providing critical facts helping us date the time of Beowulf and comparing it to the timing of the peak of Christian practice. Therefore, this could help us differentiate the reasons for creating the poem. Personally, one like myself could think that is poem is more centered around the Christian faith because there are just more facts proving it. Going against that, I believe there are only a few theories that prove hints of pagan faith because again, there are fewer facts in Beowulf and the pagan faith was a sh aky practice during the time and there are some confined and complete documents of practice, but it was not as strong as the Christian faith. In 1960, Margaret E. Goldsmith published The Christian Theme of Beowulf and continued along the same lines in several articles culminating in her 1970 book, The Mode and Meaning of Beowulf. She finds teachings of Augustine and Gregory in Hrothgars sermon and views the poem as a kind of Christian historical novel.   Here is just another documented book providing correct and accurate information based on research within Beowulf and based on the portion written by Edward B. Irving Jr. On the other hand, there are some possible and documented facts that compare to the Pagan faith that need to be mentioned. The Christian Language and Theme of Beowulf provides a good amount of information on this. Thomas D, Hill mentions a crucial element when he says Pagan is a word used in at least three different senses in discussing this problem: the literal, the vestigial, and the ethical (199) The first sense is more realistic than the others and refers to documented practices of pre-Christian religion in which Germanic people participated. Beowulf contains documented pagan rituals and the ritual that stands out the most are three accounts of pagan funeral rites. The second pagan area involves how pagan rituals and practices are preserved through poetry. This section is not as clear as the previous area, but it still does bring a good point to the table. For example, the soldiers in Beowulf wore helmets with painted boars on them and the boar was a sacred animal that belong to the Germanic God Freyr. The third area revolves around the ethics and morality of this practice. Therefore, this is actually the real cause of most arguments involving Christian elements and Pagan elements in Beowulf. Thomas D. Hill gives us the background of it when he says The fundamental ethical code of the poem is unmistakably secular: it is the warrior code of the aristocracy, celebrating bravery, loyalty, and generosity with the hero finding his own immortality in the long-lasting fame of great exploits carried out in this world (180). The archetype of the code is not word for word, but similar to the code of Iliad which is part of the Pagan religion. As you can see, there are both Christian and Pagan elements being fused into this poem and they are clearly separated. However, both Christian and Pagan elements are being fused together to form some representation of both religions into one object, person, or place. First, Beowulf can be viewed in multiple ways. He can be viewed in both religions, but he comes together to for one. A Christian figure and a Germanic Warrior are two ways that Beowulf could be looked at in this poem. He can be viewed as a Germanic Warrior for his constant fights. He is having his big brawls with a big monster Grendel, Grendels troll mother, and a big fire-breathing dragon. It is somewhat strange that he is doing all of this fighting because he grew up as a very mature boy. He was known for having great kingly qualities. He develops into a wise and effective ruler as he ages. A great way to put it is he starts out as a heroic monster fighter and transitions to a dependable king. That looks and sounds li ke a very impressive accomplishment. Likewise, it can be looked at as a transition from a Germanic Warrior to a Christian figure. The poem states Beowulf was quickly brought to the chamber: the winner of fights, the arch warrior, cam first-looking in with his fellow troops to where the king in his wisdom waited, still wondering whether Almighty God would ever turn the tide of his misfortunes. This great quote is from lines 1310 to 1315.   This is great to prove the point that he is a Christian figure because he is asking for the forgiveness of God. He wants to be forgiven and know that all of his wrongdoings are forgiven. These wrongs were mostly of him fighting. This passage suggests that the culture of the Anglo-Saxons had a touch of both Christians and fierce warriors. Therefore, this fits in perfectly to that question of which one was he. Overall, Beowulf can be seen within this culture because it has so many direct connections with it. In The Christian Language and Theme of Beowulf Thomas D. Hill talks well about the combination of the religions when he says Many scholars, and perhaps most ordinary readers, have simply accepted this odd blend of pagan story and Christian teller as perhaps illogical and somewhat puzzling on purpose and implications, but nonetheless the way the poem is (200). Here the author of this portion of this research book is explaining how to combination of these two religions to form Beowulf is a way to cause problems for the reader. Scholars feel the author intentionally tried to confuse the reader so they can pick a side between Christian and Pagan meanwhile; the author could have tricked them and combined the two. That is why it is necessary to read in between the lines. In conclusion, Christian and Pagan elements play an immense role in Beowulf. This poem offers many options for the reader to choose. It allows them or gives them the power to create their own version of the poem. It gives clear hint and examples of both religions and that is what makes it difficult to separate or decide where this poem originates. Maybe that is something that we should not find out. The author could be trying to leave the readers a message based on these facts. These examples of religious practices could be the key to finding what we know beyond our history. It keeps your mind open and gives the reader the right away to let their mind race and think about the composition of Beowulf. It is obvious that the Christian, Pagan question is tightly connected and that it will most likely not be fully proven or solved any time soon. However, based on what scholars know, the best guess to this author would have to be a Christian poet with a Pagan past. The thing that would hel p the most would know the date. This would lead to almost every unsolved question about Beowulf. Scholars have favored in educationally guessing the time during the later period. This later period is around the late tenth century going into the early eleventh century. On these grounds alone, however, scholars can make no firm decision about the birth date of Beowulf. Work Cited: Bjork, Robert E., and John D. Niles. Christian and Pagan Elements. A Beowulf Handbook.  Lincoln: U of Nebraska, 1997. 176-92. Print. Donoghue, Daniel, and Seamus Heaney. The Christian Language and Theme of Beowulf. Beowulf: A Verse Translation: Authoritative Text, Contexts, Criticism. New York: Norton, 2002. 198-201. Print. Arthur Gilchrist Brodeur Vengeance the Pagan and Christian Inspiration. Christian and Pagan  Elements of Beowulf. Pace University, Web. 19 Jan. 2017.