week 12 lab

I did some research on Odysseus trip into the underworld. There he met Tiresius and Achilles. My next storybook addition will include Odysseus's encounter with Achilles. The reason why this ties in well with nostos is because Achilles, unlike Odysseus, chose Kleos as his theme. The thought to be forever remembered in the books, despite losing his life, was his virtue. However, upon meeting Odysseus, all Achilles could say was basically if he could do it all over again, he would have chosen a regular life and lived instead of only being remembered and dead. The theme relates very well with Nostos as Achilles is the antithesis of this. Unlike Odysseus who will eventually have his reunion, Achilles will never experience that again.

Achilles

Bibliography:
The Odyssey Robert Fagles

Reading Notes: Part B Beowulf

This week I reread some of Beowulf! I am continually amazed to think that these stories did not have an original author that we know about. I specifically focused on the way that they portrayed evil in the world this time. It is pretty amazing how the town hall that everyone goes to for drinking and community is also the only place of civilization in the world of Beowulf. Pretty much everything outside is darkness and in some sense, Beowulf's choosing to fight Grendel, Grendel's mom, and the dragon are telling in a way that we need someone or possibly God to keep the evils away from civilization.



Bibliography: The Story of Beowulf by Strafford Riggs with illustrations by Henry Pitz (1933).