Bobby Geroulanos 1/14/20 Period 2 - Blog #2

Mythology 2020

Bobby Geroulanos Period 2

01/14/20

Aim: How did the Medieval Anglo-Saxons se figurative language to develop oral traditions? 

Do Now: What connections can be drawn between The Norse and Beowulf's history?

As a class we discussed how geography and history had a major effect on the Norse and the story of Beowulf.  The Vikings who came from Northern Europe pillaged many areas nearby, bringing their influence with them. 

We then discussed grammar, and its relation to the story of Beowulf. 

Stock epithets are adjectives that emphasize special traits of a noun. For example, Hercules can be called “lion-hearted” and the sea is “wine-dark”. 

We were then asked by Ms. Fusaro to chose someone in the class, and create a stock epithet about them. The class gave many humorous examples, such as when Ben called called Gautaman “big-brained”. 

Next, we discussed the Kenning, a conventional poetic phrase used to replace or add on to the name of a person or thing. It was used in medieval times, such as to call a boat a “wave traveler’ for a boat, in Icelandic. Interestingly, they are still widely used today. Some examples include:

Fender bender = slight car accident 

Pencil Pusher = a person with a clerical job

Hot potato = something no one wants

Lastly, we discussed the appositive, when a second expression supplements a first. For example: Washington, our first president, the phrase “our first president” is in apposition with “Washington”. 

After learning about grammar we learned about the biblical story of Cain and Abel. We watched a video, where we learned about the two brothers, the sons of Adam and Eve, who would make sacrifices to God. However, God favored Abel’s sacrifice over Cain’s, making Cain jealous. He then murders his brother, and God curses Cain. 

We then answered a few questions about the story that included:

1. Why would God choose Abel’s sacrifice over Cain’s?

2. What lessons are intended for people to learn from this story?

3. Is there ever retribution for the sins of our parents. 

Since the period was ending, Ms. Fusaro summarizes what we are supposed to learn from this story. Abel sacrifices the first born of his flock of sheep to God. Cain offers crops from the ground. Abel is the one who is making a sacrifice, as he is giving up to God the future of his flock. He does not know what will happen to his flock, but he needs new sheep to be born in order to ensure his flock’s survival, yet instead he gives it to God. Cain on the other hand, takes crops from the ground, instead of the fruit from the trees and plants, food that would not be eaten anyway. That is why God prefers Abel’s sacrifice. From the murder of Abel we see the first sin committed after the fall of Adam and Eve. It creates the hereditary line of evil, from which Cain is the first. Many of Cain’s descendants will do terrible things, which connects to the idea of the sins of the father. 

Reflection:

At first glance, the English of the Medieval Era may seem complicated different to that of modern day. However, when we analyze their use of language we that many elements of it are used today. The best example is the kenning, which are still used widely to this day. Language is something that can be easily taken for granted and as English speakers, learning some of the roots of how we talk can help us appreciate it more.  The story of Cain and Abel showed us the true meaning of sacrifice and how the sins of the parents can pass down to descendants for generations.