Essential Question 6

Plenty of parallels can be drawn between the pardoner's prologue and his tale. One parallel between the prologue and tale would be how the Pardoner says that he sells fake relics for "pence, and specially for myself" (243), and in his tales, he warns those listening against such things as fraud which he is very guilty of. This tale is different from the others we have studied because of its theme. The knight's tale was one about honor and two lovesick knights. The miller's tale was about a strange love triangle, and the pardoner's tale was all about avoiding sin, especially greed. Another contrast to be made is that the knight's and miller's tales were told in third person and the pardoner's tale contained a mix of the first, second, and third person points of view. The knight's and miller's tales also do not contain any input from the teller, which the pardoner's tale is filled with input from the pardoner himself.

Essential Question 5

This is how my society functions. There are a few main roles. First of all, I have male and female members designated as procreators, to keep my society running for ages to come. Also, there is leadership in my society, not to mention a villain to test my society, an educator, fatherly and motherly figures, and all sorts of heroes and heroines. I made this happen using only five individuals.
Going in alphabetical order by first name, the first member of my society is Auron. He is a character from the hit Playstation 2 game Final Fantasy X. In Final Fantasy X, he serves as a guardian to the summoner Yuna, hails from dream Zanarkand, is quiet by nature, and knows everything before it happens. As a whole, he is a good guy too. In my society, Auron serves as a sapient individual, protector, guardian, hero, and scapegoat. He fulfills these roles in how he never lies about anything, protects what is his, never backs down on his word, never stops anything until finished, and is willing to take on the brunt of any task to ensure its completion.
Next on my list is Jeff Gordon. He is a NASCAR driver known for his successes on the race track and for charity work. He is also married and has a daughter. In my society, Jeff Gordon would be assigned the role of father figure, procreator, and healer of society. He has a daughter, which covers his role as a procreator, and he is a father figure who leads by example. His best example would be how he is a healer of society, devoting some of his own money to his very own Jeff Gordon Foundation, which helps children battling all sorts of diseases, such as cancer, leukemia, and the like.
After Jeff Gordon comes Marc Leger. We all know him as a senior at Trinity Catholic last year. According to his description of himself, he serves as both a laborer and villain. He does all the heavy lifting and building. He may also be a villain because he uses his wit to get what he needs, even at the expense of others. Knowing Marc, he is quite honest in his description in some ways.
Next up is Megan Fox. Most of us know her for her role in the Transformers movies. In both Transformers and Transformers 2, she is Sam’s girlfriend and serves as a heroine in her own right, working alongside Sam to ensure that they do their part to help the transformers in their battles. In my society, she serves as an entertainer, a heroine, lover, and procreator. Megan Fox and the other characters served as entertainment for the millions who saw the Transformers movies. She is also a lover, as she is Sam’s girlfriend in the Transformers movies. Megan Fox could also satisfy the procreation role from the female perspective.
Lastly, I have Oprah as a member of my society. We all know her for her sensational show called Oprah, where she assists real people with real problems. Because of this, she acts as a leader in my society, role model, nurturer, and educator. Oprah is definitely a leader by example. This is easiest seen if one watches her show. She is also a role model in her willingness to aid those who most need help. Oprah is also a nurturer and educator who breaths new life into people who thought themselves hopeless and educates our society about the problems it faces.
Those are the members of my society. The only real flaw could potentially be the villain, Marc Leger. Villains serve as tests for a society. If society can face a villain and come out successful, then that speaks for the success of that society. However, if no one can curb the villain, they may go on a rampage and wreak utter havoc. No offense, but I doubt that Marc could get very far in his mischief as long as Auron is around. That is my ideal society and the kinds of characters that would be in it.

Essential Question 4

Where do we see seduction and lust start to destroy Gawain, our young hero? What is the author trying to tell us?

It is after Gawain beheads the green knight that we see seduction get the better of him. Green is a color that represents seduction, so it is no surprise that Sir Gawain succumbed to seduction after killing him. The offer to behead him was tempting, since there would be no way he could live if beheaded. Also, Gawain felt the need to defend his king, as the green knight mocked the knights of the round table when he said "Whose fame is so fair in far realms and wide? [...] Overwhelmed with a word of one man's speech, For all cower and quake, and no cut felt!" (310-315). In that case, it was a part of Sir Gawain's duty to be seduced into beheading the green knight.
In part two, Gawain is seduced yet again. Gawain is traveling, in search of the green knight. He finds a mysterious castle, which he visits. Among the many things that catch Gawain's attention is the queen. He describes "The fair hues of her flesh, her face and her hair And her body and her bearing were beyond praise" (943-944). The first thing he notices about the queen is her good looks. The narrator goes on to mention "that our knight and the noble lady Were accorded so closely in company there, With the seemly solace of their secret words" (1010-1012). The two flirt, and Gawain is aware that the queen is married, but proceeds anyways. In part three, this is taken to a whole other level.

Rules of Courtship

1. When a man is considering courting a girl, or vice versa, the first thing one must be able to do is treat him/her well. Treat him/her as you’d like him/her to treat you. Another test for this is how well you can treat others when away from the beloved.

2. You must be a hero/heroine to the beloved. This doesn’t mean that you have to do everything for him/her, but be willing to help them out. Random acts of kindness are a good way to go about this.

3. It is important to mind one's words. Care must be taken to not say anything that could be somehow offend others, or even the beloved. You do not want them to get the wrong idea about you. Only do and say things that the beloved would approve of, whether he/she is present or not.

4. Talk to them. How else are you going to ask him/her out or let him/her know how you feel about him/her? Speaking of things you share in common, things that you or your beloved like, and other small talk is not a bad place to start.

5. If you’re having a bad day, do not take it out on the beloved. You can tell them that you had a rough day, but do not do it in such a way that they have a bad day too.

6. Take your time. Courtship is best if taken at a slow pace. Do not tell them how you feel right away, or encourage them to do things that he/she may be uncomfortable doing. Sure, there may be others after the beloved. Let them make this mistake and be foiled because of it, but don't let that happen to yourself.

7. Be approachable. Don’t look sloppy, but rather, show that you care about your appearance and have respect for yourself. Body language applies here too. Take those hands out of your pockets and be sure to smile.

8. Give them some space. Do not constantly hang around him/her, the beloved likes to spend some time alone too. If he/she asks for some time to be alone, give it.

9. Be sure to treat his/her friends well, as relationships are made and broken by friends' opinions.

10. Remember to be yourself. Do not be acting nicely only around the beloved and like a grouch around others. It is very easy to tell if someone is faking their manners. If you think you're good enough to be with this person, you have to show it to them as well as to others.

Essential Question 2

Discuss biblical allusions and religious symbolism in Beowulf.

Beowulf is an epic poem filled with religious symbolism. After all, it was written in the Old English era of British Literature. In those days, literature was filled with religious references. In Beowulf, a prevailing theme is pagan beliefs vs. the church. A good example of this conflict is that between Beowulf and the Grendels. Grendel is an evil monster that devours the people at Heorot, and Beowulf stands for the people. After he defeated Grendel's mother, Beowulf said that "our encounter would have ended at once if God had not guarded me" (1640-1641). Also, God is described as "The Creator [who] ruled over all humankind, even as He does today" (1045-1046). In the times when Beowulf was written, it was customary that everyone stood for their king, who they believed to be sent by God to rule them, and in turn, God and the king offered protection for the people. In that way, Beowulf was standing up for God when he stood up for Hrothgar and the people of Heorot. Also, a common religious reference is that of snakes. It is likely that the snake stands for evil, as in the story of Adam and Eve. Beowulf fought sea serpents before fighting Grendel's mother, and his sword was said to have a hilt adorned with serpents, which could be symbolic of Beowulf's dark deed of murdering Grendel and his mother. Those are some religious references in Beowulf and their significance.

Essential Question 1

What are the social obligations of a hero? Is Beowulf aware of his deification process?

There are numerous social obligations of a hero mentioned between lines 1-390 in Beowulf. Among the many mentioned would be bravery, strength, courage, worldliness, leadership, and in some cases, sent by God. Beowulf is aware of his deification process, but at the same time, he is oblivious to it. Beowulf knows that he is descended from Danish royalty, which was sent by God when the Danish people were "lacking a lord" (16). Beowulf also decides to help Hrothgar fight Grendel, and he assumes leadership over a large squad of armored soldiers. In that way, he assumes the role of a hero, yet, Beowulf himself was never said to be sent by God. In a way, he could be, since he is attempting to fight a demon that "could no longer approach the throne of grace, that precious place in God's presence, nor did he feel God's love" (111-113). Also, Beowulf is descended from Danish royalty, which was given by "the Lord of Life, King of Heaven" (16-17). It appears that Beowulf is going to fight Grendel for God's and the people's sakes. It is unclear if God sent Beowulf to defeat Grendel, however.

Pride and Prejudice Essay

Mingling Motives

What is the basis of an enduring marriage? There are many paths which one may choose to take in guiding a marriage. In the novel Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen, three of these marital motives are described: prudential, mercenary, and love-based motives. Each of these relations contain their own advantages and disadvantages. In the end, it is clear that the prudent motive is the best to follow. The model of prudence is similar to being a student. Good students know what they want to achieve in life and work hard towards those goals. Lazy students wait until the last minute to decide on goals, but by that time, the more prudent students have taken the best available options. The model of prudence has to do with caution and deciding on a partner with care, generally to satisfy social needs and long-term goals. Even though prudential marriages are guided at improving one’s standing in society, they do not flout the possibility of happiness. Charlotte Lucas, for example, married Mr. Collins for prudential reasons, stating, “I am convinced that my chance of happiness with him is as fair as most people can boast on entering the marriage state” (Austen 125). On the other hand, mercenary and love-based motives are based on short term feelings that are likely to pass in time. Such intentions are shortsighted; they fail to address the bigger picture that the future presents. Prudent motives are the best to follow because they address how a person’s standing in society may be improved and how such an outlook will play out in the future.

Prudent motives are best because they are concerned with improving one’s current state of affairs. Generally, most relationships aim at gaining the support of another for physical and emotional sustenance. Among the many relationships mentioned within the novel Pride and Prejudice, the best example of a prudent relationship would be that of Elizabeth Bennet towards Fitzwilliam Darcy. From the beginning of the novel, Elizabeth generally rejects and puts Mr. Darcy down as “the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world” (13). At this time, Elizabeth was attached to Mr. Wickham, because “‘He is also handsome,’ replied Elizabeth, ‘which a young man ought likewise to be if he possibly can. His character is thereby complete’” (16). Clearly, Elizabeth views good looks as paramount in any relationship, because that is how Mr. Wickham is. After Mr. Darcy proposes to Elizabeth the first time, he is rejected immediately, despite being good looking himself. After a few months, Elizabeth visits Pemberley estate, the home of Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth’s reaction upon seeing the house is “to be mistress of Pemberley might be something!” (239). After hearing positive accounts about Mr. Darcy from his servant and seeing the flamboyance of his estate, Elizabeth feels that she may be able to see herself with Mr. Darcy. It is not Mr. Darcy’s first proposal, letter of apology, or outward charm that catches Elizabeth’s attention; it is his house and its grandiosity. Elizabeth was drawn by his wealth and social status, which were considered to be key elements of a sensible marriage in her time. In pursuing Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth seeks to satisfy the demands of her society as well as her craving for a handsome husband.

Prudent relationships are also ideal for ensuring security in the future. In a prudent relationship, those involved attempt to appease the demands of their society by joining together for socially acceptable reasons. The fact that Mr. Darcy was well-to-do and good looking was enough for Elizabeth. She is living up to her idea of a functional relationship. As long as she continues to live up to these goals, both Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth should have no trouble raising a family and getting along as any other couple would. The benefit here is that prudent relationships are aimed at self-improvement and status, rather than happiness.

Mercenary intentions are based solely on achieving pecuniary advantages. Of all the relationships presented within the text of Pride and Prejudice, the relationship between Lydia and Mr. Wickham would be the best example of a mercenary relationship. Lydia ran off with Mr. Wickham after he left for Brighton to dodge debts he owed to his fellow officers. After Lydia runs off with Mr. Wickham, the Bennet family is deeply traumatized with fears that Lydia’s running off will make the family seem uncontrolled and thus less respectable. Mrs. Bennet’s brother, Mr. Gardiner, goes out to find Lydia and Wickham to ease the pain of their current situation. He does find Lydia and Wickham, and reports in a letter that “They are not married, nor can I find there was any intention of being so” (292). What a mercenary relationship attempts to accomplish is that it sets out to gain only goods and fiscal advantages. Mr. Wickham had no intention to marry Lydia, simply because she had no money and he could hardly provide for himself. Only after Mr. Darcy offers to pay off Mr. Wickham’s gambling debts and find him a job does he see a purpose in getting married to Lydia, although she would not have much to offer him.

Mercenary relationships rarely last, because a person can only offer so much money, not to mention, there will always be someone else with more money. In the long run, any mercenary relationship would still be bent on leeching off of the goods of the significant other, or in Mr. Wickham’s case, Mr. Darcy. Even after Mr. Darcy pays off Mr. Wickham’s debts, Mr. Wickham has the nerve to request “that Darcy might yet be prevailed on to make his fortune” (373). Wickham’s lust for money makes him feel indifferent towards Lydia, which ultimately conveys the failure of a mercenary relationship to include any regard for the other individual. The main fault here is that only so much money may be taken at one time, and relationships with a person’s money never last when there is none left to exploit.

Last among the types of relationships described in Pride and Prejudice, and perhaps the most common type of relationship now would be the love-based relationship. The best example of a love-based relationship within the novel would be that of Mr. Darcy towards Elizabeth Bennet. At the beginning of the novel, Elizabeth appears to dislike Mr. Darcy because of the impact of the prejudices of Mrs. Bennet, the lies of Mr. Wickham, and Mr. Darcy’s initial scorn towards Elizabeth. Despite this, Mr. Darcy thinks through these obstacles, and still feels that he does, in fact, love Elizabeth. From the outset, the relationship between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy seemed doomed to failure because “His sense of her inferiority, of its being a degradation, of the family obstacles which judgment had always opposed to inclination, were dwelt on with a warmth which seemed due to the consequence he was wounding, but was very unlikely to recommend his suit” (188). Mr. Darcy did not believe in the classist structure of the society he lived in. He saw Elizabeth as another person who was to be treated as equally as anyone else. Such a relationship could only bring short term happiness. Mr. Darcy would be with Elizabeth, but would be brother-in-law to the infamous Mr. Wickham and face scorn and ridicule from his superiors, such as his aunt, Lady Catherine. In the words of Lady Catherine to Elizabeth, “Let me be rightly understood. This match, to which you have the presumption to aspire, can never take place. No, never” (343). To marry Elizabeth, Mr. Darcy would first have to give up many of his previous relationships with members of his class, simply because marrying Elizabeth would bring him down in his society.

The long term effects of love are also potentially problematic. In marriage, a husband and wife take vows. In a marriage dictated by love, these vows may be about loving each other. However, according to C.S. Lewis, “A promise must be about things that I can do, about actions: no one can promise to go on feeling in a certain way.” (Lewis 107). Mr. Darcy was very much in love. With Elizabeth However, like with mercenary relationships, the state of being in love is transient. Any relationship based only on soft feelings towards another person would not be a lasting relationship. It is essential to have a mutual regard for each other above any feelings of love. As time passes, love becomes obsolete in much the same way that thirst would be quenched after taking a drink of water. It is also fairly easy to pretend to be in love as well. With love being a feeling that is subject to change and being a feeling that is easy to imitate, that is why loving relations are overshadowed by prudent relationships.

Prudential marriages are the wisest of all marriages. The main goal of a prudential marriage is to unite for practical reasons, such as security or to rise up on the social ladder. Elizabeth used prudent judgment in deciding to marry Mr. Darcy at the end on the story. She realized that a marriage to Mr. Darcy meant that she would rise in class, would satisfy her mother’s demand to get married rather than remain a maiden, and would be satisfying the demands of her society by marrying well. However, Mr. Darcy would not have it as simple as Elizabeth would. Mr. Darcy would drop in class by marrying Elizabeth, not to mention that he would be brothers with Mr. Wickham, and would suffer at the hands of his superiors for his decision to marry so lowly. Mr. Darcy must have really loved Elizabeth, considering how all the odds were pitted against him in his marriage. Likewise, the mercenary marriage of Mr. Wickham and Lydia bore no advantages to speak of. Lydia was attracted to Mr. Wickham’s charm, and Mr. Wickham was not exactly drawn to Lydia as he was trying to escape financial trouble. Mr. Wickham never intended to marry Lydia, but only did so because Mr. Darcy offered to pay off his debts and find him a job if he obliged. Eventually, Lydia and Mr. Wickham grow tired of each other, and still remain financially insolvent.

Each of these relationships are plagued with disapproval and a lack of propriety. The only relationship that does not fit this description is that of Elizabeth. In marrying Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth has nothing to lose. Like a good student who takes down the notes of what their society tells them, Elizabeth heeds to the message her society tells her about class structure and achieving fortune. Conversely, Mr. Darcy’s marriage to Elizabeth causes him to drop from his high standing in society and gets ridiculed by his superiors for his decision. Only around Elizabeth might Mr. Darcy be truly happy, because in society, he would simply be cast aside. Mr. Wickham’s mercenary marriage to Lydia was carried out only to pay off his debts. Mr. Wickham never had any real feelings for Lydia, which would cause him to become bored of her. It is clear that prudential motives are the best motives to base a marriage on. Elizabeth has everything to gain from her relationship with Mr. Darcy both now and in the future. What makes this possible is the fact that she faces no real dilemmas when she gets married with Mr. Darcy. All goes smoothly and rests in Elizabeth’s favor. That is why a prudential marriage is the best type of marriage.

Works Cited

Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. New York: Barnes and Noble Classics, 2003.

Lewis, C.S. Mere Christianity. New York: HarperCollins, 1952.

Character Description 2

Fitzwilliam Darcy, from the novel Pride and Prejudice, is characterized as fair and just in all pursuits.
From the start, Mr. Darcy is perceived as “the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world” (Austen 13). Much of this is based off of the lies Mr. Wickham spread about him and stereotypes devised by Mrs. Bennet. Mr. Darcy was very wealthy, but quiet and socially awkward, which must have been the reason why everyone thought him so proud. It is because he was so different. Eventually, Mr. Darcy directs his affections towards Elizabeth Bennet and eventually proposes to marry her. He was rejected immediately, and purely because of rumors and lies that Mr. Wickham had spread. Mr. Darcy was clearly vexed by this because he knew himself to be a better man. He wrote a letter to Elizabeth, in which he described “feelings which may be offensive to yours, I can only say that I am sorry” (195). Expecting to be upbraided, Mr. Darcy wished to convey his point of view over the issues that kept him from marrying Elizabeth. Each of his descriptions are against his favor, and Mr. Darcy’s willingness to amend his apparent seeming flaws make him come across as an even greater hero.
Mr. Darcy is comparable to a rock. He is solid and stands strong. He had to deal with Mr. Wickham and then with Elizabeth’s rejection of him. Nonetheless, he believes himself better for it when he writes his letter to Elizabeth in an attempt to clear his name. When he is being rejected, Mr. Darcy says, “Nor am I ashamed of the feelings I related. They were natural and just” (191). Mr. Darcy knew that if Elizabeth were more enlightened on the matters she was presented with by his proposal, she would find his actions to be justified.
Considering the justice and patience of Mr. Darcy’s true character, his temperament could be compared to the driving style of former NASCAR driver Darrell Waltrip, whose conservative strategy of driving slowly to conserve gas and skip pit stops won him many races.

Character Description 1

George Wickham, from the novel Pride and Prejudice, is branded by the negative characteristics of lying and gold digging.

In many instances, George Wickham tells falsehoods, especially about Fitzwilliam Darcy. Among the reasons why Elizabeth would not marry Mr. Darcy was because he had supposedly, “deprived the best years of his life of that independence which was no less his due than his desert” (Austen 190). However, Mr. Darcy wrote a letter to Elizabeth to reveal Wickham’s true character. Mr. Wickham was to inherit one thousand pounds from Mr. Darcy’s father and become a clergyman at Pemberly. Instead, he took three thousand pounds to study law. After not hearing from Wickham for three years, Mr. Darcy was confronted by him again, and he wished to become a clergyman at Pemberly only if he received more money.

George Wickham may be described as the wind. Throughout the novel, he is always coming and going. The situation Mr. Darcy explained in his letter is a perfect example of this comparison. George Wickham is all about the money, and this can be seen in his brief relationship with Ms. King. Ms. King was to inherit a fair amount of money from her deceased grandfather, and that is when Mr. Wickham turned his attention towards her. Elizabeth was slow to see the mercenary in Mr. Wickham, and was shocked when she realized, “How differently did every thing now appear in which he was concerned! His attentions to Miss King were now the consequence of views solely and hatefully mercenary; and the mediocrity of her fortune proved no longer the moderation of his wishes, but his eagerness to grasp at any thing” (204). Later on, Mr. Wickham gets married to Lydia rather unwillingly, and comes after the newly married Mr. Darcy for more money after he had paid off all of Mr. Wickham’s debts.

In short, George Wickham’s stealing and lying make him similar in many respects to former president Bill Clinton, who lied under oath while claiming to tell the truth.