“The Norton Anthology of Western Literature”; “Paradise Lost” & “The Inferno” Book Reviews

The Iliad

(a)The most important conflict in the work

The Iliad is world famous poem, written in dactylic hexameter. This is actually a combination of legends, historical facts, imagination, religion, which were combined by the great author. One the basis of historical conflict between the Greeks and Trojans, the author developed another conflict between an individual and society. This type of conflict is timeless and this helps to explain the universality and literature and historical weight of the writing. Through the two characters – Achilles and Hektor, Homer reveals the conflict between a person and societal values. Achilles seems to exist separately from the society; he follows his own rules and assumptions about things. Sometimes a lot is hidden behind his emotions and people around him experience difficulty with understanding him and his motives. Reasonable Hektor – the Trojan hero – is opposed to Achilles. His behavior is more human even during the war, he has a wife and a son and he aims to protect those, whom he loves. He is committed both to his family and to his native land and thus seems to be more attractive to the readers. Due to the fact that it is next to impossible to comprehend the behavior and inside world of Achilles, he remains a stranger. However, there is no chance to divide everything into black and white, two systems of values are confronting each other and each of them has all the chances to become and final winner, still this doesn’t happen, at least not in this sense. Finally Homer makes it evident to the readers that both characters just need to be equal members of society, in order to support the necessary balance there, as with the help of different worlds of values of the two heroes Homer shows the relations between personal and social values, how they are different and how they might contribute to each other.

The Odyssey

(a)What kind of man is Odysseus?

The character of Odysseus was really important for representation of the standards of that culture, a self-assureds strong man, who managed to earn love of the gods, and be adored by the mortal people. Most critics would agree that the character of Odysseus is rather complex, especially if to take into consideration that he was an epic hero. If to compare him for example to Achilles, who seems to be a classic option for tragic hero with hubris, tragic flow, his character is still much simpler. Achilles chose short but glorious life, seeking for his fame and recognition from other people. Odysseus is able to make much more difficult choices, involving his intellect and courage. At the same time he could tell lies or steal, which was unexpected for an epic hero. His high level of self-discipline helps not much when it comes to his curiosity. Looking for new knowledge and experience, he is aware of the fact that it is necessary to pay for this, like in the case with Sirens. It is not possible to identify him as either merciful or brutal completely, as Odysseus is able to reveal both of these qualities, depending upon the situation. His approach to victory is not blind, in other words, he strives for victory not for the same sake as his contemporaries, rather out of practical reasons as well. The fact that he is making all his choices himself, based on his own views, assumptions, moral attitudes, proves that he is a morally strong personality, ready to bear responsibility for his actions.

The Aeneid

(b) How does Virgil’s depiction of the underworld differ from Homer’s (in the Odyssey)?

Both main heroes Odyssey and Aeneas were to travel to the Underworld by the middle of the two famous poems by Homer and Virgil. There are a lot of similarities between the two poems; still they are different due to the fact that they were composed for various purposes and different societies. The story about Odysseus was devoted to the struggle of a strong, outstanding personality for his right to get home. His greatness and heroism are mixed with his fate and religion.  The Aeneid is considered to be a kind of political writing, as it was produced for Augustus – the first citizen of Rome. Correspondingly the main aim of the story was propaganda, rather than just entertainment. One of the important episodes of both poems is devoted to visiting of the Underworld by the heroes. Here there are a lot of similar scenes. Odysseus meets there his mother, who died actually. Aeneas meets there his father, trying to embrace him three times and fails, in the same way like Odysseus. However the messages of these episodes are different, as the author used symbolism to show the meeting of Odysseus his dead mother, who gave life to him. Whereas Aeneas’s meeting with his father is more of political power, as it was used to show the greatness of the Trojan hero in comparison to the Greek one. Human vs. political motives are evident from another fact – meeting of the unburied friends. For Odysseus this is Elpenor, who fell from the roof on Circe’s island, which is a usual life situation. Aeneas, however, meets Palinaurus, who had to scarify his life and died from the hands of vagabonds. Generally both authors used descriptions of these visits in order to present their views on life and death.

Beowulf

(c) Discuss the combination of pagan and Christian elements in the poem.

Christian and pagan elements construct an important part of the Anglo-Saxon poem – Beowulf. This is a story of Beowulf – a hero, who was confronting Grendel and Grendel’s mother. This poem could not be seen as purely belonging to Christian or Pagan culture, as there is a fusion of the elements of both traditions in it. The presence of monsters is the first factor, revealing the mixture of Pagan and Christian traditions. Monsters are presented symbolically, as elements of chaos contrasting to Gods. For supporters of Christian religion Satan and the Fallen could also be associated with monsters. The diversity of monsters in Pagan traditions is certainly more profound. However, at any rate their main role remains the same – research of complex problems and dilemmas. In Beowulf Grendel is described as being of the same race as Cain, who killed his brother in Christian religion. The use of treasure in many parts of Beowulf should also not be seen as purely Pagan ideal, as if treated as a way of presenting of society, it has evident bonds to Christian religion as well. Some critics considered Beowulf to be a hero, missing Christian virtues, thus clearly belonging to Pagan tradition. In reality the careless courage of this hero contradicts the key doctrines of humility and meekness in Christianity.

 

The Inferno 

 (a)What is the most vivid passage in the reading for you? Study it, and try to describe how its effects are created through language.

One of the most dramatic moments in The Inferno by Dante is when Francesca tells the story of her love with Paolo, which led them to the sin and being damned.

“When as we read of the much-longed-for smile
Being by such a noble lover kissed,
This one, who ne’er from me shall be divided,

Kissed me upon the mouth all palpitating.
Galeotto was the book and he who wrote it.
That day no farther did we read therein.” (Dante, 2002, p. 109).

Dante’s language contributes to transmitting of his pity to the readers. There is a piece of profound irony, as mutual love is supposed to bring a lot of job and happiness, and in reality it leads to eternal sufferings and sorrows. Paolo and Francesca wanted to be together and now they are together in their suffering, clearly this is not what they desired. The author doesn’t concentrate upon the sin, upon payment for this sin, rather does his best to present the two lovers in terms of their high feelings – “those two swept together so lightly on the wind and still so sad.” (Dante, 2002, p. 113). Francesca tells the story of her love with Paolo, who was the brother of her husband, about their associating themselves with Guinevere and Lancelot and their forbidden love, as Guinevere was married to the King Arthur. This association added emotional raise to their own feelings and led to further development of their relations. The lines of this famous passage are perfectly combined by Dante for revealing of the power of love and human emotions. There is also a strong contradiction – on the one hand these two persons have earned their presence in Hell and on the other hand there is no chance to feel anything but pity towards them. This story is told during the second circle in Hell, further the attitude of the author towards sins would change.

Hamlet

  • Post (on the “Hamlet”Forum) a summary of research into interpretations of the play. Provide citations for your work; DON’T just copy and paste — properly quote and paraphrase.

Hamlet is one of the famous plays by an outstanding playwright Shakespeare. The play was influential for many authors and preserved its actually till nowadays. There have been numerous interpretations of the play. One of them was presentation of Hamlet as the victim of external difficulties, which was considered to be the simplest interpretation of the play. Here Hamlet was seen not as an individual, who made a lot of mistakes due to his flaws or wrong actions, rather a person, who got into a terrible situation. There was not single person to support him upon his father’s death. The Romantic critics of the nineteenth century preferred the romantic interpretation of Hamlet. Hamlet is described as an idealist by them, who was torn apart by the realities of life, resulting for him so tragically. Hamlet’s monologues were used by them in order to support this position. The psychoanalytical approach was used to study the neurotic reactions of Hamlet, as he was said to have Oedipus Complex. This term came from ancient Greece and is used in case a boy develops romantic feelings towards his mother, which breaks his relations with his father. Exactly Oedipus Complex is seen here as the major factor, which caused the delay with killing Claudius.

Paradise Lost

For your last Reading Response assignment, post about the use of imagery in any part or parts of the poem you choose.

Paradise Lost by Milton is built on the basis of opposites, including Heaven and Hell, God and Satan, good and evil. In order to make these opposites more vivid to the readers Milton used the imagery. The imagery of darkness and light is one of the most universal and profound; angles are described to belong to the light and devils – to the dark side. Light is associated with God and God’s grace. It is possible for Milton to tell this story truly thanks to the fact that he is filled with this light, and the absence of light in Hell should be associated with absence of God and God’s grace.  ‘Brightness” for Milton is a type of characteristic for mind, revealing its virtues. Milton writes “”God is light,/ And never but in unapproachèd light/ Dwelt” (Milton, 2008, p. 305). The imagery of darkness is well contrasted to the light of Heaven, as when Satan fell from Heaven  “his form had yet not lost/ All her original brightness” (Milton, 2008, p.592).

 

Works cited:

Dante, A. The Inferno. Anchor; TRA BLG edition, 2002

Lawall, S. The Norton Anthology of Western Literature, Vol. 1. 8th ed. New York: Norton, 2006

Milton, J. Paradise Lost. Oxford University Press; Reissue edition, 2008

The terms offer and acceptance. (2016, May 17). Retrieved from

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016.

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

freeessays.club (2016) The terms offer and acceptance [Online].
Available at:

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]
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