For background information to help you understand this small portion of The Iliad from the Language of Literature, you may wish to read about "The House of Atreus." Then read this section of The Iliad, and answer the questions below in complete paragraphs using only standard English.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Synthesis
If Beowulf could ask Achilles one question, what would it be, and defend why this would be the perfect question.
If Beowulf could ask Achilles one question, it would be "How can you be so selfish?" Achilles not only defies his rulers in refusing to fight alongside his comrades, because of Agamemnon, but he also defies the Gods, as he drags Hector's body around the city of Troy, without listening to Prium's complaints. Beowulf, on the other hand, obeys his superiors and carries out each and every deed with almost superhuman strength and speed and when it comes to death, Beowulf is not frightened by the aspect of death.
In the case that the opportunity is presented to Beowulf to inquire of Achilles concerning one thing in specific, he might ask why he's unwilling to submit to authority and esteemed elders. It's evident that Beowulf, though himself powerful and highly esteemed, is extremely honorable and submissive especially to authoritative men such as Hrothgar and Higlac. Beowulf and Achilles contrast deeply in this, Beowulf takes no pride in his own strength, but Achilles is extraordinarily prideful; he considers his withdrawal (directed at Agamemnon) from fighting to be punishment of a sort. Also, as seen in the battle with Hector, Achilles' pride causes him not to fight honorably and, afterward, to treat Hector's body as something worthless. It's quite understandable for one to seek vengeance over a murdered friend, but he is unwilling to humble himself to show Hector even the slightest degree of pity; he treats Hector worse in death than even Hector treats Patrocles earlier on.
If Beowulf could ask Achilles one question, it would be "How can you be so selfish?" Achilles not only defies his rulers in refusing to fight alongside his comrades, because of Agamemnon, but he also defies the Gods, as he drags Hector's body around the city of Troy, without listening to Prium's complaints. Beowulf, on the other hand, obeys his superiors and carries out each and every deed with almost superhuman strength and speed and when it comes to death, Beowulf is not frightened by the aspect of death.
ReplyDeleteIn the case that the opportunity is presented to Beowulf to inquire of Achilles concerning one thing in specific, he might ask why he's unwilling to submit to authority and esteemed elders. It's evident that Beowulf, though himself powerful and highly esteemed, is extremely honorable and submissive especially to authoritative men such as Hrothgar and Higlac. Beowulf and Achilles contrast deeply in this, Beowulf takes no pride in his own strength, but Achilles is extraordinarily prideful; he considers his withdrawal (directed at Agamemnon) from fighting to be punishment of a sort. Also, as seen in the battle with Hector, Achilles' pride causes him not to fight honorably and, afterward, to treat Hector's body as something worthless. It's quite understandable for one to seek vengeance over a murdered friend, but he is unwilling to humble himself to show Hector even the slightest degree of pity; he treats Hector worse in death than even Hector treats Patrocles earlier on.
ReplyDelete