Drinking temptations
Drinking temptations Today in our society peer pressure has a huge effect on how we make our life decisions. Many of teens are tempted everyday. Whether drinking, drugs or sex, temptation is alive and well. Everyone seems to experience it. It's a natural part of life. I too have been pressured to do things I didn't want to do. Recently I have been tempted to drink. I was at work. My old job was a landscaping business that had all of their contracts through the water company. My bosses name was Michel. He was fairly young, maybe in his late twenties. He loved to party. He seemed to go out every night. He said he was enjoying life. We were in the truck going back to the water company because we were done for the day. Michel said, "Hey are you thirsty?" This is when the ninety-degree weather was in town and being behind a weed eater all day didn't really help keep me cool. I said, "You bet." So we stop at Speedway and he tells me to wait in the truck, so I sat there listening to the radio. We always had to listen to country. I hate country music. Anyways, He comes strolling back out with a twelve pack of Coronas. I looked at him. His face seemed like it might explode if he tried to stretch his smile any further. He jumps in the truck stirring up the dust and puts the beer between us. Michel pulls two out and hands me one. "This is the best thing to
The types of relationships that people have
Relationships There are many types of relationships that people have. A relationship is defined as a state of being related or interrelated. The three main themes, or relationships discussed are our relationship with the supernatural, our relationships with each other, and our relationship with the self. The first relationship is the relationship that we have with the supernatural. In the text Paradise Lost by John Milton, it shows us the relationship between Satan, God, and humans. The story mainly takes place with Satan coming down to Eden to get revenge. It begins out by showing the consequences of Adam and Eve's disobedience by eating the forbidden fruit. "Of man's first disobedience, and the fruit of that forbidden tree whose mortal taste brought death into the world, and all our woe, with loss of Eden, till one greater Man..."(Paradise Lost, p. 3001). This shows the relationship with the supernatural by showing how Adam and Eve disobeyed God's orders of not to eat from the forbidden tree and they did and then Satan came down to Eden to be revenged on men. Satan once lived in happiness; he was full of joy, and surrounded by pleasure. After he had forsaken God, he was punished for his unfaithfulness to the worst extremes. That is why he has come back to get revenge on God by hurting Adam and Eve, God's creations. If you believe in God and follow him and obey
Beowulf and Grendel
Megan Crawford August 14, 2000 Pre-IB English Ms. Pruett Grendel Beowulf and Grendel are two tales that share subject matter, plot, and setting. They tell of the exact same events, but however, Beowulf and Grendel have two entirely different themes. Beowulf is an epic poem about the honesty, bravery, and humility that defined the ideal Dane. John Gardner's Grendel, a retelling of Beowulf, is an entirely different outlook on the story. In it, Grendel becomes the hero and Beowulf the villain. The book depicts Grendel in a new light, as opposed to the horrific and senseless monster the poem portrays him to be. Gardner adds depth to Grendel's character and most of the book is about him searching for the reasons behind the existence and reasoning behind most everything he sees. Gardner's perspective of the monster makes the reader question the Anglo-Saxon concept of good verses evil that is presented in Beowulf. For instance, the Shaper states, "The incitement to violence depends upon total transvaluation of the ordinary values. By a single stroke, the most criminal acts may be converted to heroic and meritorious deeds." (Gardner 117). Meaning, that the only difference between acts of violence and heroic deeds is a matter of who commits them, and what might be appropriate for a king would be unheard of by a peasant. This view makes one consider just how heroic the "hero's"
"Religion's Role in Beowulf"
Bridget McFadden English IV Roberts November 15, 2000 "Religion's Role in Beowulf" In the epic poem Beowulf, the plight of evil creatures is described as "A brood forever opposing the Lords will, and again and again defeated"(Beowulf 26). Grendel's savage attacks on the noble castle of Hrothgar are an example of the opposing broods that exist. Grendel's defeat, however, reveals the universal notion enforced by religion that good triumphs over evil. Throughout the poem, even the most ultimate evil is conquered by the overwhelming powers of good. Therefore, in Beowulf, religion plays a significant role in defining the themes of good versus evil and determining the outcome of the battles within. Because Hrothgar and his ancestors are noble men, Hrothgar's throne is protected by God. Hrothgar's ancestors have proven their nobility and heroism through their quest for peace in a conflicted world. For example, Hrothgar builds Herot to create a community and as a representation of peace. Hrothgar's demonstration of pure religious virtues is reason for God to bless his throne. Grendel doesn't know God's love and does not dare to touch the throne (Beowulf 28). This is symbolic of the theme that evil will never overcome good. Grendel, despite his vicious powers, is unable to touch God. Thus, the symbol of a sacred throne delivers the comforting message that the evils found in
Selfishness in the Act of Service.
Erin Harrington September 11, 2001 Selfishness in the Act of Service Arriving on the Danish shore, with an heir of pride and honor, Beowulf swiftly leads his men up the countryside to Heorot. He is eager to rid the Danes of their misery. He believes that he is the answer who will defeat Grendel. Because this challenge is so dangerous, it terrifies many warriors, but it entices Beowulf to attempt it (Core 7). As we read, we cannot help but think how honorable it is for him to use his gifts to help others, but as we quickly see this is not all about helping the Danes. Beowulf is also gaining something for himself. He is helping himself gain a legacy and he is showing off his great mental and physical power. As soon as he arrives at Heorot, he tells king Hrothgar of his experience fighting against water-monsters. He describes how he will defeat Grendel with his famous handgrip. Unferth challenges Beowulf, and ridicules his week-long swimming match against Breca, which he lost. Beowulf reminds him that they were boys when they challenged each other, and that he lost the contest because sea monsters, which he defeated, attacked him. He also adds that he saved Breca's life in the process. Before going to sleep that night, Beowulf removes his armor and puts away his sword. He says that he will not use any weapons to fight Grendel. He boasts that he does not consider
Women's Role in Grendel.
Michael Waller 8/26/03 Grendel #1 Women's Role in Grendel In Grendel, John Gardner emphasizes the importance of women despite their position of servitude through his usage of the character Wealtheow. In typical Anglo-Saxon times, it was typical for women to be offered as tokens of peace within the noble courts. Wealhtheow's brother, King of the Helmings, bestowed her to King Hrothgar to promote peace amongst the Helmings and Scyldings: "She had given, her life for those she loved. So would any simpering, eyelash batting female in her court, given the proper setup, the minimal conditions." The men in the novel, even her brother, did not make any considerations for Wealtheow's feelings or ties to her current situation. Her plans were abandoned to fulfill their own desires; she was not a Scylding, nor did she desire to be one, but she understood the importance of the arrangement and endured. Queen Wealhtheow put up an excellent disguise when hiding the pain she experienced from being forced to be Hrothgar's wife. Wealhtheow was wistful; she missed her land and her brother, yet she persevered. She exhibited courage and soundness of spirit as she handled her precarious position with tact and reverence. Queen Wealhtheow showed excellent dignity and was admired by the entire community. Her presence "brought light and warmth, men began talking, joking and laughing, both Danes
Beowulf - Original writing
30/03/01 BEOWULF Silence in the hall dark and deeper, another night for the men. One of the feasters sleeping in Heorot was doomed and soon to die... Grendels mother was worried that he had not come home for his supper, she comes out of her cave and shouts," Grendel, honey where are you? " The tree leaves moves and the voice echoes throughout the moors, still Grendel was no where to found or heard. Meanwhile back in the forest the party began. A huge fireplace was lit up surrounded by a table full of piping hot chicken, turkey and some beers. There was a delightful and cosy atmosphere. The feasters congratulated Beowulf on his victorious killing of Grendel. It was nearly midnight; suddenly the ground was shook just like an earthquake. The Geats bounded out of their chairs and ran to get their sharp and shiny spears, daggers swords and hot flaming torches. They put on their armour and looked around to see what had made the ground shake. Grendels mother Sheba appeared, She was as tall as a giraffe and so ugly that a mirror could shatter into millions of pieces. She was hairy, dirty and smelt like manure. Sheba had paws as sharp as a lion's and the look of a tiger targeting its prey. She looked as furious as the flaming orange/red fire reflected in her eyes. She started attacking the Geats. The atmosphere suddenly changed, it
Two Different Heroes
Two Different Heroes: A contrast between the ideals in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and Beowulf A hero must always possess certain qualities such as bravery and honor, but the nature of heroism can vary greatly. Although superficially, some heroic figures may seem to be very different, these differences are accounted for because of the differences between the societies they lived in. The characters Beowulf, from Beowulf translated by Seamus Heaney, and Gawain, from Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, translated by Burton Raffel, the differences between Gawain's and Beowulf's heroism lie in the reasons for their bravery, the nature of their struggles, and their heroic codes, yet all of these differences can be explained in terms of their respective societies. In Beowulf, Beowulf makes a show of boasting his past deeds, as a form of self-advertisement. "...all knew of my awesome strength. / They had seen me bolstered in the blood of enemies / when I battled and bound five beasts, / raided a troll-nest in the night-sea / slaughtered sea-brutes" (Heaney, pg. 29). For Beowulf, heroic accomplishments are a way of proving himself in the eyes of others, and the reason for his bravery is the fame that he achieves. This is also seen when Unferth accuses Beowulf of vanity because of a competition with Breca, and then tells Beowulf that he will not succeed in his battle with Grendel.