EVELYN ASHLEIGH, NICK HUDSON, ANNE KITCHENS, BENNETT KOPPERUD
TEEM DESTINEE
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Wylie Period 1 Team 5 (Destinee)
Cultural contrast can be made conspicuous in literature; Ancient Greek and Anglo-Saxan works are no exception. Demonstrating esteemed character traits in each culture are Beowulf, an Anglo-Saxan epic poem, and Oedipus The King, an Ancient Greek tragedy. Beowulf and Oedipus are the stories’ respective heroes, and each represents characteristics highly valued in their cultures. The Anglo-Saxan work depicts a hero of monumental physical power. Beowulf is a mighty, virtuous warrior, who nobly defends the Danes, a people to which he does not belong. Demonstrating his legendary strength, he defeats a thought-to-be invincible monster, Grendel, without the use of a sword, or any weapon whatsoever. Clearly, this shows how highly the Anglo-Saxans regarded brutal force, but this event also signifies that the Anglo-Saxans were a people of companionship, who valued a hero willing to sacrifice himself not only for his own people, but for others, as well. In looking at Oedipus, a very different hero is depicted. It is evident that rather than physical might, the Greeks had high respect for a hero with a strong and clever mind. Oedipus gained his very kingship through the use of his astuteness, when he successfully solved a riddle presented to him by a sphinx, thereby defeating her. This act of mental strength spurred Oedipus’ rise to prominence and esteem. The Greeks were a people with an insatiable thirst for knowledge, and this is reflected in their literature, as Oedipus is a figure praised for his mind, rather than physical strength. While both Oedipus and Beowulf were conquerors, in a sense, their feats came about in contrasting ways, representing the values and praised traits of their respective cultures.
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As a group, we feel that contrasting Beowulf, for Anglo-Saxon literature, and Oedipus, for Greek literature. We agree that the Greeks and Anglo-Saxons both valued different attributes in a ruler; the Greeks valued knowledge, while the Anglo-Saxon valued physical might. However, we do not agree that the Anglo-Saxons were people of companionship. Rather, the Anglo-Saxons were people of valor. In our opinion as a group, we feel this suits the Anglo-Saxons much better because Beowulf is trying to prove himself to not only his people and the Danes, but to the world and succeeds. Of course, that is our opinion and it is interesting seeing things from a different perspective whether we agree or not.
ReplyDeleteAlso, we feel that beside that Beowulf and Oedipus are similar in more ways than both being rulers. They both saved a group of people, Beowulf saved the Danes and Oedipus saved the people of Thebes, and in turn gain respect and power to eventually obtain the title of ruler. However, there are also many differences too. As your group said, how they obtained their statuses of ruler, Beowulf obtained his through his might and Oedipus through his mental capabilities. There is also, why they faced their respective foes, Beowulf defeats Grendal and his mother and Oedipus defeats the sphinx. Beowulf went of out his way to face Grendal in order to obtain glory, while Oedipus was forced to defeat the sphinx's riddle or be killed and eaten by sphinx.
Marc Yu, Michael Abelev, Hyrum Judkins
wyl.p1.t3