Beowulf- First half

Christianity

The influence of Christianity is obvious from the first section of Beowulf which gives a brief interpretation of the Creation story from Geneses. Then it describes Grendel as a member of Cain’s race.

All through the first part of Beowulf references are made to the “Maker”, “God”, the “Lord”, “the Lord God”, “the Father”, the “holy God” all in a pretty Christian way.

Grace

The concept of grace is also mentioned several times such in the last part of section IV with the line “almighty Father— guard you in his grace” (1201). Section VI gives us another example of the usage of grace “. . . Holy God—In His grace has guided him to us” (1202). This idea of God’s grace is pretty decidedly a Christian concept.

Another interesting point is regarding the use of weapons. When Beowulf and his warrior companions are awaiting a certain confrontation with Grendel it is chosen that they should fight without the use of weapons. Beowulf states that if Grendel decides to use weapons that is would be up to the judgment of God to decide who wins. I don’t think I am taking too much liberty in saying that this is faith.

It is also important that in Beowulf (or the sections I have read so far) there is a clear separation between Evil and Good and further more between people who are purely pagan and those who have been influence to some degree by Christianity.

Mythical Creatures

I also notice quite a few mythical creatures mentioned in Beowulf (as to be expected). I did however have a few points of only slight and probably irrelevant confusion. The first section lists several mythical creatures as descendants of Cain, including trolls, elves and “the living dead”. My question is does “living dead”= vampires? I am thinking is does :)

Next, are the evil underwater creatures Beowulf describes slaying 9 of in the section IX mermaids? Again it sounds like a pretty clear mermaid reference to me.

Rabbit Trail-- The Tale of Genji

  

There is a Japanese movie coming out in December based on The Tale of Genji.  Toma Ikuta stars as Genji( yay!!! love him!).  And there are a few important twists. Shikibu Murasaki, the woman who wrote The Tale of Genji is featured as a character in the movie.  It is a Japanese move and based on The Tale of Genji, so it is pretty much doomed to end tragically.

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                                                                                (='.'=) – “Toma-kun!”

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(the bunny wants to go watch a show called Hana Kimi now, but has to help "master" write an essay!) 

The Tale of Genji

So here is my essay pitch. . . . .

I would like to write my essay on The Tale of Genji.  So I have a few different angles I could approach this essay from.

1. Exploring what it means to be a man ---- and feminized

In The Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh is feminized is specific and impactful ways.  Both his physical appearance and actions are described in feminine way.  He loves Enkidu as a woman would love Enkidu and is quite beautiful.

In The Tale of Genji (or the sections I have read so far) I found that Genji was similarly feminized.

I realize that the feminization comes from completely different ideas, because these two pieces come from completely different times and cultures.  In Japan there is an ancient idea of Bishonen (beautiful men—androgynous-- mostly adolescents back in the day!!) and men with feminine features are even to this day considered very attractive. 

(google search J rock-- If you dare. I wanted to add a picture and chose not too-- You're welcome  :D

 

Also Genji actually has sex with another man (or I should say boy—creepy pedophile!) a practice that was actually not that strange in ancient Japan.  It seems being male or female was determined more by their place in society than their sex (Leupp pg. 26).  Anyways, this angle could be so fun and filled with gender and culture!

2. Exploring what it means to be a hero—or should the main character be a hero?

This could take so many forms (how exciting!)

I could compare Genji with Gilgamesh again but this time show how their characters develop into heroes or don’t ever develop into heroes.  

• How does the novel differ from myth (or epic) in showing heroes?
• In both of these I could explore how the fact that The Tale of Genji was written by a woman for women.
• I could also compare The Tale of Genji to The Pillow Book which was also written by a woman around the same time and place.

There are countless ideas I could explore just using The Tale of Genji, I don’t even need Gilgamesh or any other main text.  The novel is like 1,000 pages, extremely complex and still has a huge impact on Japanese culture!

Some Sources---  

Keene, Donald. Japanese Literature: An Introduction for Western readers. Charles E. Turtle          Company. Rutland, Vermont and Tokyo. 1955.  

 Leupp, Gary P. Male Colors: The Construction of Homosexuality in Tokugawa Japan. University of California Press. Berkley and Los Angeles, California.1999. pp. 26.

Rabbit Trail— The Epic of Gilgamesh

While researching for another class, I stumbled upon a little article claiming that Gilgamesh and Enkidu have a homosexual relationship in The Epic of Gilgamesh.  I would think that what Ninsun says to Gilgamesh about Enkidu “you will love him as a woman and he will never forsake you” is probably their best evidence.  

However, I would argue that this claim is quite a bit of a stretch.  There are many stories of strong and passionate brotherly love in other ancient texts as well (a lot in the Bible). I do not think Eros (passionate love/intimate love) has to be sexual in nature.  Can’t brotherly (sisterly) love be powerful?

 Now, we might call this type of relationship a “bromance”.  Just in case you don’t know what a “bromance” is I have added a video that explains. 

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(='.'=) – “Can you feel my heart beat?”

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                          (The bunny is making an only slightly obscure Korean pop music reference) 

Cain and Abel--- Rabbit Trail

Rabbit Trail---

There is a Korean Drama (television show) called “Cain and Abel” based on the story of Cain and Abel from Geneses.  I have never seen the show (even though I watch a lot of Korean Dramas) but It got high ratings when it came out.  The themes in Cain and Abel are as relevant and relatable now as they were in Ancient times.  You can watch “Cain and Abel" on http://www.dramafever.com along with a whole lot of other amazing shows.

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(='.'=)– “소지섭오빠!"
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Dial “M” for murder— ext. 408 if you plan to kill your brother

Cain and Abel

I am going to talk about a few elements of the story of Cain and Abel.  When reading Geneses 4 there are many things we just assume that are not in the text. Centuries of cultural interpretations, mutilations of the text in children’s stories, wonky church doctrines, movies, you name it, have impacted our understanding of this story.

So I am going to list somethings that we tend to assume but that are not actually in the text. And then show that they are either disproved by the text or not elaborated upon enough to assume one way or the other.

• Cain did not care as much about presenting a good offering to the Lord (he just gave him whatever).

Says who? The Bible doesnt speak clearly on this point, it simply states that Cain gave the “Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground” (Gen 4:3). It doesn’t say why God found favor in Abel’s offering just that he did.

• Abel was perfect

Was he? The Bible goes into very little detail about Abel, the only things we know about him are that he was a “keeper of sheep”, his offering was pleasing, and he talked to and was killed by Cain. For all we know Abel provoked Cain.
• God hated Cain
I do not see in evidence of God hating Cain. In fact God warns Cain in verse 7 stating that sin was "crouching" at his door and he must overcome it. God’s punishment could also be seen as merciful; he prevented Cain from being killed at the hands of men. Nothing is written stating that God hated Cain even though at other times it is written that God hates someone. It says Malachi 1: 2-3 that God loved Jacob but hated Esau. (These twin brothers are discussed in Geneses starting in chapter 25) However, nothing like this is stated about Cain.

• God was asking Cain a question because he did not know the answer
I don’t see why asking a question and not knowing the answer are mutually exclusive, like I said in class I ask questions of my children all the time that I know the answer to. “Did you hit your brother?” instead of “I saw you hit your brother”.

It is a judicial process (a really merciful one at that). God is giving Cain the opportunity to fess up without any prying.

But if he is omniscient wouldn’t he know Cain wasn’t going to fess up?

So What? One of the most annoying things is when someone tells you “I’m not even going to ask you this question because I already know you are going to lie to me.” Parents often use that line and boy is it frustrating, makes one want yell “So what, just let me speak for myself!!!”

God gives Cain the ability to speak for himself by asking this question, the fact that God knew he wasn’t going to fess up wouldn’t change the purpose of actually asking the question. Like I said it is a judicial process.

• Cain’s Anger was his undoing

Cain is never punished for his anger; instead he is given a warning not to sin. Anger in itself is not considered a sin in the Bible. There are many times when God is Angry and “Be angry and do not sin” is repeated twice in the Bible (Psalms 4:4 & Ephesians 4:26).

*One last thought*
Does anyone else find what God says to Cain filled with love?
A clear warning, then “What have you done?” instead of “You killed your brother!” I don’t think Cain is the massive villain he is painted to be, but instead a man who sins and finds his “guilt (punishment)* to great to bear”(Gen 4:3)
 *“punishment” and “guilt” are both given as possible words for the text.

The Flood Story

Flood Story Cliff Notes Style

Mankind is being evil. . . Noah Finds favor in Gods eyes . . . God tells Noah to build ark. . . . Therefore saving Noah, his family and a lot of animals . . . there is a big flood . . . everyone or thing (not including ocean creatures) not on the ark is wiped from the earth . . . Flood subsides . . . Noah and everyone/thing else get off the ark . . . God promises never again in the form of a rainbow.

Attributes of Yahweh

Yahweh (the God of the Flood story) is complex to say the least. I’ll put it this way, God is not a static character in Genesis (or the rest of the Bible for that matter). I actually had a pretty difficult time pulling out “descriptions of the type of god Yahweh is” from the text alone.

Yahwah grieves

“And the Lord was sorry that he had made man on the earth and it grieved him to his heart” Geneses 6:6 ESV

First, though I really like my translation of the Bible, I find “וַיִּנָּ֣חֶם” which in the ESV is translated as “was sorry” is better translated as “And it repented the”. But regardless this verse shows that Yahwah was upset and not just regretted creating man but “grieved” over the fact that he created man.

I would also like to point out that regretting something does not guaranty you did not know it would happen. I knew I would regret taking a nap today, did it anyways and currently regret it. But the situation in the Bible is bigger than napping. Perhaps Yahwah creates mankind (knowing that he would regret it) to teach future man a lesson.

Yahwah is Just

“But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord” Geneses 6:8 ESV

Yahwah could have easily destroyed all mankind but he did not do this. Instead he spared the ones who were “righteous”, Noah and his Family.

Yahweh Blesses

“And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.” Geneses 9:1 ESV

The first thing Yahweh says to Noah after the flood is to bless mankind. And I might add, allows them to eat meat! “Every moving thing shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything.” Genesis 9:3 ESV

Rabbit Trail—

I was going to put a picture of Noah here, but I could only find white Noahs. Since that is not even genetically logical, I will refrain from posting a picture of Noah.

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                                             (='.'=) –“Thanks centuries of racism!”

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                                                      (The bunny is sarcastic)