KRK-DG-2 <-(hey Jake Wonderwaffle! =)

Pg. 1

"An island lay a short distance from Halfdan's stronghold; on it lived a karl or freeman named Vifil...two hounds Hopp and Ho. Vifil was a man of substance and if threatened, was well versed in the arts of old magic.”

Vivil was a friend of King Halfdan and was a sorcerer, which explains why he was alone. The island and he held magical powers. Normally, animals are no mention except for when they are important so they must be significant in this story.

KHK-J-1

 The first paragraph from chapter one tells the liniage and the conections with the first group of characters. This beginning is typical of most pre-medieval/pagen stories. King Halfdan has two sons ,Hroar and Helgi, a daughter, Signy, and a brother named Frodi(who kills Halfdan for kingship). The typical beginning is esental so those who are new to the story/characters can know where they came from and why they do what they do.

seafarer

       The seafarer can easily be seen as two parts, the first about a young inexperienced pagan man, the second an old wise christen man, both of which see the world differently. The first part is about the young seafarer complaining about how he feels exiled wether at home or at sea. But when he grows old he reminisces about the loss of his king and that he is truly all alown now. He finds God and says that is all that matters any more.

6 Q.s

1. He can’t wait to get home but once he is he can’t wait to get back to the sea.

2. Because all of his people have been killed off (he might be in Beowulf).

3. She wants him to go through all the feelings that he has put her through (probably unintentional).

4.             A. He is remembering that it was miserable with physical hardships but he still wanted to go back. In the second half he was saying that death is the end result, and that except for God nothing really matters.

            B. He is remembering the slaughter of his people and how nothing is left except for the remains of a crumbling wall, and how easily these things vanish as if they didn’t exist.

            C. She is unhappy and wonders how they started happy and got to this state. She knows that people had tried to spit them up, but she didn’t break it off. She then questions how the guy that she thought was the right one became a murderer and now she is living a life of hardships.

5. They are all about the main character being in exile and the mood is gloomy. The theme life is a hard and full of disappointments, loss, and sorrow.

6. One idea is that life is hard and full of sorrow and that everything end. Religion is important to some but not all, though all are at least partly religious.

300 word thing

The story of Finn was told in Beowulf as one of warning and a foreshadow of what was to come and that often history repeats itself. After Beowulf killed Grendel, this tale was told to show that Beowulf was like other Danish heroes. The hero in the Story of Finn doesn’t appear until the end. In the beginning, the Danish are brought together with the Frisians due to an arranged marriage between King Finn’s and the Danish King’s sister. During the night, King Finn’s men attack the Danes without warning and for no clear reasons. Without the element of surprise, the outcome might have changed. This was viewed as a cowardly jester, and King Finn was blamed for the ambush. Queen Hileburh lost her brother, King Hnaef, and the surviving Danes are forced to bow down to King Finn, although he treated his in-laws well and gave the gifts just as he would his own. The Queen was sick about the death of her brother as is Hengest, King Hnaef’s loyal second, and he wanted revenge. Over the winter, Hengest used King Finn’s hospitality to turn the other soldiers against him eventually a Danish warrior gives Hengest a sword. He is able to show that his loyalty to Kind Hnaef has never faltered. During the ensuing battle, he managed to avenge his King’s death by killing Finn, looting their meed hall, and taking the Queen home to where she belonged.  He becomes the true hero in this tale by getting revenge and being loyal to his king even after his death. Loyalty was a trait that was prized by the people. Following the story, Queen Wealthow asks Beowulf to take care of her two sons if anything should happen to Hrothgar. Unfortunately the sons are killed, and the throne is usurped by Hrothulf.

Beowulf 3-31

Shield Sheafson's great grandson King Hrothgar builds a great mead-hall (Heorot) where all his gathered warriors and people can drink and get gifts (monster party). Their happieness angers Grendel who terrorizes the Danes, killing and eating them for 12 years. Beowulf hears of the Danes trubbles and sails to Denmark with 14 men. They come ashore and ar chalenged many times by the gards. He requests that he be allowed to kill Grendal and is allowed by King Hrothgar.

Concgobhar vs. Branwen

1. Concgobhar vs. Matholwch - They are both terrible kings and have too much pride. Concgobhar is terrible at everything but is handsome. Matholwch tries but listens too much to the petty greivances of his people

Cet vs. Bendigfran - Are great warriors and kings, they listen but actually rule their people. They have something magical about them and have proven themselves fit to rule. 

2. Compare the conflicts in the two stories in 2-3 sentences. In Conchobhar, it is basically about Cet getting revenge on Conchobhar by using the brain ball that came from the great warrior that came from Cet’s nation and was killed by Conchobhar. It is suppose to have magical properties that will help Cet kill Conchobhar. The Irish King wanted to make peace by marrying the sister of the king of England. The conflict begins when Efnisien maims the Irish King’s horses, and finally escalates into war between the Irish and English when the Irish treat Branwen disrespectfully.

3. The Role of Kings- A good king is suppose to listen to his people but still be able to know what is best. Usually, kings have supernatural qualities and also proven themselves on the battlefield both as a commander and a warrior.

The Role of Women- The women's role was to distract Conchobar in order to make it easier for him to be killed by Cet. In the other story, the women are used as peace agreements. All they are good for is heirs. Once they produced a son then they could be easily replaced or removed.

 The concept of magic- The magic in Conchobhar is the brain ball, which is, suppose too avenge the death of himself. Magic runs through out “Branwen Daughter of Llyr.” For starters, the English King was a semi-giant and had magical powers, and Branwen made and trained a bird to go for help. There is a magic caldron and a family of giants in England.

Paganism vs. Christianity- “The Death of Conchobhar” was Pagan except for the very end, which was modified to include Christianity when Conchobhar became enraged due to the death of Jesus.  In “Branwen Daughter of Llyr,” there is no reference to Christianity, but magic is a component in the story and Paganism. The caldron was magical represented rebirth because it resurrected those who had been killed.

 Man alone in a hostile world- Except for the battle, Cet was all alone when he stole the brain ball and came up with the plan to kill Conchobhar with the help of the women during his tour in Ulster. Branwen became a prisoner in her new country after she had a son. The Irish people felt the king had been wronged and forced her from her position, and she had no one to help her.

4. Compare the endings of the two stories: how are they alike.

In the end, the two major characters transcend their deaths' because their story is told time and time again. Their bodies are gone, but their legacies live on.

 5. List your favorite moment from each story.

 Conchobhar- When Conchobhar is hit by Cet's brain ball.

 Branwen- When Bendigfran goes and almost single handedly takes the Irish out.

 6. Find a photo for each of the characters in Branwen - post these to your blog.

Bendigeidfran son of Llyr

Branwen

Efnisien

Matholwch King of Ireland

Gwern son of Matholwch
(the one laying down)

Nisien

7. Find a song that fits a theme of Branwen.

Breath Me, Sia