Why Its Important to Read Beowulf

In the film Annie Hall, Diane Keaton confesses to Woody Allen her interest in attending some college classes. Allen is supportive, and has this bit of advice: Just dont take any course where you have to read Beowulf. Yes, its funny; those of us who, by professorial demand, have plowed through books written in other centuries know just what he means. Yet its sad, too, that these ancient masterpieces have come to represent a form of scholastic torture. Why bother anyway? you may ask. Literature isnt history, and I want to know what actually happened, not some story about unrealistic heroes who never existed. However, for anyone truly interested in history, I think there are some valid reasons to bother. Medieval literature is history -- a piece of evidence from the past. While the stories told in epic poems can rarely be taken for actual fact, everything about them illustrates the way things were at the time they were written. These works were morality pieces as well as adventures. The heroes embodied the ideals to which knights of the times were encouraged to strive, and the villains performed actions they were cautioned against -- and got their comeuppance in the end. This was especially true of Arthurian tales. We can learn much from examining the ideas people had then of how one ought to behave -- which, in many ways, are like our own views. Medieval literature also provides modern readers with intriguing clues to life in the Middle Ages. Take, for example, this line from The Alliterative Morte Arthure (a fourteenth-century work by an unknown poet), where the king has ordered his Roman guests to be given the finest accommodations available: In chambers with chimpnees they changen their weedes. At a time when the castle was the height of comfort, and all the castle folk slept in the main hall to be near the fire, individual rooms with heat were signs of great wealth, indeed. Read further in the poem to find what was considered fine food: Pacockes and plovers in platters of gold / Pigges of pork despine that pastured never (piglets and porcupines); and Grete swannes full swithe in silveren chargeours, (platters) / Tartes of Turky, taste whom them likes . . . The poem goes on to describe a sumptuous feast and the finest tableware, all of which knocked the Romans off their feet. The likely popularity of surviving medieval works is another reason to study them. Before they were set to paper these tales were told by hundreds of minstrels in court after court and castle after castle. Half of Europe knew the tales in The Song of Roland or El Cid, and everyone knew at least one Arthurian legend. Compare that to the place in our lives of popular books and films (try to find someone who never saw Star Wars), and it becomes clear that each tale is more than a single thread in the fabric of medieval life. How, then, can we ignore these literary pieces when seeking the truth of history? Perhaps the best reason for reading medieval literature is its atmosphere. When I read Beowulf or Le Morte DArthur, I feel as if I know what it was like to live in those days and to hear a minstrel tell the story of a great hero defeating an evil foe. That in itself is worth the effort. I know what youre thinking: Beowulf is so long I couldnt possibly finish it in this lifetime, especially if I have to learn Old English first. Ah, but fortunately, some heroic scholars in years past have done the hard work for us, and have translated many of these works into modern English. This includes Beowulf! The translation by Francis B. Gummere retains the alliterative style and pacing of the original. And dont feel you have to read every word. I know some traditionalists would wince at this suggestion, but Im suggesting it anyway: try looking for the juicy bits first, then go back to find out more. An example is the scene where the ogre Grendel first visits the kings hall (section II): Found within it the atheling bandasleep after feasting and fearless of sorrow,of human hardship. Unhallowed wight,grim and greedy, he grasped betimes,wrathful, reckless, from resting-places,thirty of the thanes, and thence he rushedfain of his fell spoil, faring homeward,laden with slaughter, his lair to seek. Not quite the dry stuff you imagined, is it? It gets better (and more gruesome, too!). So be as brave as Beowulf, and face the fearsome fables of the past. Perhaps youll find yourself by a roaring fire in a great hall, and hear inside your head a tale told by a troubadour whose alliteration is much better than mine.

The Color Purple And The Awakening - 1379 Words

Both Celie from Alice Walker’s The Color Purple and Edna Pontellier from Kate Chopin’s The Awakening live in a world that wants to keep them down. However, this oppression sparks the tinder of their feminist ideas and ultimately leads to the fire that changes their world. Although, Celie’s awakening is much more spiritual while Edna’s is more of a fact based realization. Before looking at the women themselves, it is important to look at the world they live in. Both take place on the eve of the gilded age and the dawn on the industrial revolution. During this time in history, 1st wave feminism had started across the world, particularly in the United States. Edna is an upper class woman, she would be considered a southern belle. And as such she is often in the spotlight of her social group so everything she does is judged by her friends and family. So when she rebels sexually, at a time when something our society would consider mundane their society would consider flat out unacceptable Edna is unsuitable in the world she resides in. At that time another big part of Feminism was women s suffrage, attempts for women to gain the same political rights as men at the time. However, Edna never expresses interest in something that at the time was considered rebellious. Edna is openly rebellious so it is interesting that she never wants to help others in their pursuit for freedom but is willing to risk her social identity, marriage, and family just for a sexuall identity. EdnaShow MoreRelatedHistorical Background of The Color Purple, I know why the caged bird sings, and The Awakening1383 Words   |  6 PagesHistorical Background of The Color Purple, I know why the caged bird sings, and The Awakening In a stereotypical society, the reader expects for the protagonist of a novel to be a strong, heroic male who saves the day and gets the girl. However, in the classic works â€Å"The Awakening† (Kate Chopin), â€Å"The Color Purple† (Alice Walker), and â€Å"I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings† (Maya Angelou), a different kind of protagonist is portrayed. In these novels, the protagonist is a heroine who grows throughoutRead MoreThe Color Purple: Reflections Of Alice Walker Essay728 Words   |  3 Pagessharecroppers. Throughout her life, she has been forced to face and overcome demanding lessons of life. She transferred the struggles of her life into a book, that got her awarded a Pulitzer Prize and she became known as a world renowned author. The Color Purple is a compelling novel about redemption and revenge. The conflict between racism, sexism, and the power of strong female relationships is how Alice expressed her life and incorporated it into the story. When she was 21 she worked at The DepartmentRead MoreThe Color Purple by Alice Walker926 Words   |  4 PagesThe award-winning novel, â€Å"The Color Purple† by Alice Walker, is a story about a woman going through cruel things such as: incest, rape, and physical abuse. This greatly written novel comes from a very active feminist author who used many of her own experiences, as well as things that were happening during that era, in her writing. â€Å"The Color Purple† takes place in the early 1900s, and symbolizes the economic, emotional, and social deprivation that African American women faced in Southern statesRead MoreLiterary Analysis: The Color Purple Essay1388 Words   |  6 Pagesmost prevalent themes in historical types of these kinds of literature is racism. In America specifically, African Americans endured racism heavily, especially in the South, and did not gain equal rights until the 1960s. In her renowned book The Color Purple, Alice Walker narrates the journey of an African American woman, Celie Johnson (Harris), who experiences racism, sexism, and enduring hardships throughout the course of her life; nonetheless, through the help of friends and family, she is ableRead More Stephen Cranes Red Badge of Courage Essay1237 Words   |  5 Pagestrue intent of color use, this book loses a meaningful interpretation that is needed to truly understand the main character, his feelings and actions. Crane uses very distinct colors in his text to represent various elements that the main character, Henry or â€Å"the youth†, is feeling along his adventure of enlisting into battle. Red, yellow and gray are the main colors Crane uses consistently in the majority of the chapters to describe Henry’s inner conflicts and feelings. The color purple is mentionedRead MoreEssay about Autobiography in the Fiction of Alice Walker1077 Words   |  5 PagesWhen reading Alice Walker’s â€Å"The Color Purple† and â€Å"Everyday U se,† it is evident that she writes about her life through her use of allegory. Alice Walker uses the events of her childhood, her observation of the patriarchy in African American culture, and her rebellion against the society she lived in to recount her life through her stories. Alice Walker grew up in a loving household in the years towards the end of the Great Depression. Although her family was poor, they were rich in kindness andRead MoreOvercoming Prejudices and Self Acceptance-the Color Purple1401 Words   |  6 PagesOvercoming Prejudices for Self Acceptance Throughout Alice Walker’s novel, The Color Purple, the main character, Celie, reveals all of the hardships she has endured during her life. Celie confides in her younger sister, Nettie, and God to express the way she feels in certain situations. As the story progresses, Celie eventually finds her voice and breaks away from all the men who oppressed her during her life. For the duration of the novel, prejudice becomes a reoccurring theme. Not only doesRead MoreWomen are not only Beautiful, but Equal: The Awakening by Kate Chopin1284 Words   |  6 Pagesand servility, and moved toward their valuation as individuals of intellect, talent, and independence. The culture about women’s empowerment has been reflected in literature and history throughout many ages. In a famous 20th century novel –The Awakening by Kate Chopin– Edna, the protagonist of the novel, exemplifies the domestic identity of women. 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To distinguish herself from other feminists, she proposed the unique concept of Womanism. If womanism is the theory, her long novel, The Color Purple, is a concrete practice of this theory. In Van Goth’s country Netherlands, a beautiful and quiet country, it has so many famous artists in the history: Rembrandt van Rijn, Frans Hals, Jan Vermeer. In the 19th century, Netherlands, France and other

Death of Biblical History System †Free Samples to Students

Question: Discuss about the Death of Biblical History System. Answer: Introduction: Several incidents that has been described in the Biblical texts has been contested by modern scholars and historians as not the true history of Israel. There been mention of incidents and names of rulers which cannot be confirmed by the scientific process of historical investigation. If it is possible for some historians, to use the biblical texts as a source for the reign of Solomon, why are the materials in Genesis to Judges ruled out as a source for the period of Abraham, the exodus, or settlement in Canaan? In Bible it is believed that Israel had its origin from the time of Moses, when he helped the Israelites, to be free from the Egyptian Pharaohs. However, in terms of scientific historical investigation, the existence of Moses is not accepted as a historic figure, rather he is held as a mythical character. Therefore, epistemology, has led to distinction between what is the history of Israel as considered by the historians as factual, and scientific. The history of Israel remains debatable due to the various school of thoughts that are existent. The people have debated the various concepts and theories that have been described in the Bible and the scientific history, and both have contributed in the History of Israel. Reference: Mfa.gov.il.Mfa.Gov.Il. Last modified 2018. Accessed March 30, 2018. https://mfa.gov.il/MFA/AboutIsrael/History/Pages/Facts%20about%20Israel-%20History.aspx. Whitelam, Keith W. "The Death of Biblical History."Far from Minimal: Celebrating the Work and Influence of Philip R. Davies. London and New York: TT Clark. Last Modified 2012

Impact of IT on Tourism Industry

Question: Discussthe impact of IT on Tourism Industry. Answer: Introduction Tourism industry has recently revolutionized as a result of technological changes that has occurred within the industry in the past. Implementing information technology in Tourism industry is divided into three sectors that is transport sector, accommodation sector and attraction sector all these sectors involve application of information technology to ensure that all the sectors work properly. Information technology has continued to offer a wide variety of support in the management of activity in tourism industry (Bennett 1993). Therefore it is important to appreciate information technology as a discipline and to recognize the role played by IT in tourism industry. However there are other risks that may be associated with introducing IT in tourism industry. IT has to be monitored closely to ensure the information system works properly. This article provides a detailed analysis on how IT has affected tourism industry both positively and negatively and evaluate whether tourism industr y really need IT to manage information about the industry. Does tourism industry need I.T? With the increasing growth in tourism industry, manual services may be time consuming and expensive. Tourists are gradually growing in number and considering this trend, it will be very difficult to manage large number of tourist that has been significantly growing in the recent past. It is important for tourism industry to implement the use of information technology to assist in the management of this sector. Information technology will provide faster and reliable services as compared to manual services. Computer programs will also allow employees to process large amount of information regarding tourist than the manual methods (Black Lynch 2001). Labor cost paid to manual employees will be saved as manual employees will not be required. Importance of I.T on tourism industry survival Tourism industry can use information technology to reduce business costs that are incurred when manual services are offered to customers. Information technology helps the tourism industry in a number of ways. Record keeping can be done online via the use of information technology. Accounting and payments can also be done online. Tourists planning to visit certain attraction sites can book online without physically visiting the management offices to be offered for such services. The management staff can also make advertisement online hence helping them in marketing the services they offer (Buhalis Law2008). Tourists are also able to make enquiries concerning their visits. Requirements to apply I.T to tourism industry Applying information technology to tourism industry is a procedural process that should be conducted in phases under the care of well trained personnel. The cost of setting up a good information system in tourism industry may be relatively high. Therefore it is advisable for any tourism industry during the process of setting up an information system to manage their system that enough capital is required t set up a good system. A proper plan needs to be developed to determine the key areas where the system will manage. For example user support is a key area that should be automatically served by these machines. Design issues need to be addressed. A well designed system need to be set up by a team of well trained technicians (Inkpen 1998). Equipments that can be used to manage tourist activities such as automated tellers need to be set up. During the process of installing these machines, many factors need to be considered. A suitable place should be identified that will serve the tourists better without favor. Installation is a crucial stage in determining how best the system will serve the tourists. Therefore it is recommended for someone who is highly skilled to spearhead this stage. It is important for the industry to install the system in most offices to serve large number of clients. Employees should also be accessible to these machines. Training programs should be conducted properly to ensure that the entire employees are able to operate the machines without any distractions. It is important to note that training will determine the general outcome and performance of the entire system. It is important for the tourism industry to conduct a well detailed user training to ensure that both employees and system users are able to operate the machines without any distraction. How tourism industry uses I.T Information technology is used to perform various tasks within the tourism industry. With the help of database, data has become easy to manage. The organization can store relevant information in databases in the computer system. During complex decisions, information technology is used to make complex decisions. It therefore acts as a decision support tool that is used to make decision when the problem is not structured. Processing various transactions is done in a simple way by information technology. IT is able to capture transaction information and create new transaction based on transaction information. Tourism industry also uses information technology for communication either within the industry or outside the industry. Electronic mail is a form of communication service offered by IT. Employees and managers within tourism industry need to communicate with one another to complete various transactions. An executive support is offered by information technology. This is a tool that i s used by managers in tourism industry and even outside the industry to address problems arising within the industry. Advantages of I.T in tourism industry Information technology continues to shape tourism industry. The impact is profound and has brought many benefits in tourism industry. Some of the benefits of using information technology are discussed below (Law, Leung Buhalis 2009). Improved services time saving: tourism industry has benefited greatly from information technology. Better services have been offered to tourists at cheaper cost and within less period of time. Improved communication: communication within tourism industry has been greatly improved by the emergence of information technology. Employees have been able to communicate easily both managers and tourists. Improved financial management and cuts cost of operation within the tourism industry as manual methods of operation have been replaced by more reliable and cheaper technological methods. This has lowered the cost of employing manual labor. Improved tourist-management relationship: tourism sector has embraced social technology to improve the relationship with the tourist. Strong relationship between the tourism sector and the tourist has resulted into competitive advantage with other sectors. Risks associated with introducing I.T to tourism industry Implementing information technology to manage tourism industry has side effects that may impact negatively in tourism sector (Sheldon 1997). Below is a detailed analysis of some of the risks that may be experienced: Online fraud; there are number of scams that are brought by use of computers to manage information in tourism industry. For example someone may steal access to account that does not belong to him and manipulate data. Wireless internet vulnerabilities: this condition may result into stealing information that does not belong to someone. Session hijacking for example is a common fraud that has resulted into loss of data in some systems. Loss of data: data may be lost if the employees within the tourism industry are not properly trained. Loss of data may result into loss of tourists which may later impact the business negatively. Maintaining and monitoring I.T in tourism industry The success of information technology on any business largely depends on the ability of that particular business to maintain and monitor their systems. A properly maintained system deliver services faster and are reliable. Therefore it is important for tourism industry to maintain and monitor the condition of their machines to ensure that they can perform over a longer period of time. Automated system monitoring is important to ensure that systems hardware is properly functioning. System engineers should be hired to identify and correct the problems before they impact the business. Backup should be created to ensure that data of the system is properly maintained. The industry should ensure that they conduct a daily backup of data to ensure that incase of any system failure, information relating to customers can be retrieved (Werthner Klein 1999). Wireless networks should be given serious security concern to ensure that the industry wireless network is invisible and inaccessible by unauthorized people. Anti-viruses should be installed in the computers to ensure that computers are well protected from Spam and virus attacks. Conclusion In this article, I have discussed impacts of Information Technology in tourism industry. I have also realized that information technology plays a major role in shaping tourism sector in both positive and negative ways. Information technology continues to contribute to tourism industry worldwide and some countries have earned foreign exchange as a result of information technology. Even in the world of today tourism has generated a large amount of income and has also created employment. Information technology has also advanced the idea of human development in tourism industry resulting into socio-economic development. It is also important to note that for tourism industry to thrive well under information technology, we should maintain and monitor information technology to ensure that services offered are up to date and reliable. References Bennett, M. M. (1993). Information technology and travel agency: A customer service perspective.Tourism Management,14(4), 259-266. Black, S. E., Lynch, L. M. (2001). How to compete: the impact of workplace practices and information technology on productivity.Review of Economics and statistics,83(3), 434-445. Buhalis, D., Law, R. (2008). Progress in information technology and tourism management: 20 years on and 10 years after the InternetThe state of eTourism research.Tourism management,29(4), 609-623. Inkpen, G. (1998).Information technology for travel and tourism(No. Ed. 2). Addison Wesley Longman Lt Law, R., Leung, R., Buhalis, D. (2009). Information technology applications in hospitality and tourism: A review of publications from 2005 to 2007.Journal of Travel Tourism Marketing,26(5-6), 599-623. Sheldon, P. J. (1997).Tourism information technology. Cab International. Werthner, H., Klein, S. (1999).Information technology and tourism: a challenging ralationship. Springer-Verlag Wien.