Reference no: EM133238399

Assignment - English Beowulf Literature Analysis

Write addressing one of the prompts on either Beowulf or The Ramayana.

Choose from the following prompts:

Prompts for Beowulf are as follows:

1. Using Beowulf as a paradigm for the heroic epic, which three elements strike you as the most characteristic or vital that are found in the epic? Which of these would be most effectively expressed through character consciousness and through a poetic or narrative consciousness?

2. Many of the poem's defining features are derived from long-standing traditions of the oral narrative. In contrast, what do you consider particularly "literary," "written," or "composed" about Beowulf?

3. Recall a challenge Beowulf faced that did not directly involve a monstrous enemy. How did this occurrence, presented as part of the linear narrative embedded within it, complement Beowulf's heroic progress?

If you choose to write about The Ramayana, the following is the prompt to address in the journal:

From The Ramayana of Valmiki,

1. Define the role of dharma in connection to Rama's journey. Who is his most important guide along the way helping him make his decisions from your perspective? Why is this so important when defining his role in the epic?

2. Explain how existentialist ideals in connection to the natural law impacts the plot in the epic? Is this relevant in our world today? Would the characters stand the test of time?

From The Iliad:

a. Would you consider Achilles to be the quintessential tragic hero? Why or why not? Focus on matters of hubris and hamartia as you answer this question. Give specific examples and illustrations to prove your point.

b. Consider the presentation of the gods in The Iliad. What is their role? Do they control humans? Do humans have free will? Are the gods fickle, or do they support some essential order?

c. Focus on how, despite some similarities that can be pinpointed between Hector and Achilles, that they can be interpreted as essentially being opposites.