MEN IN LITERARY TEXTS I STUDIED SO FAR

We are going to analyze the figure of the man during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance through some texts, following the scheme:

Characterization;

Narrator’s opinion about the character;

Effects of semantic choices;

Final recap.

Beowulf - The Hero

When he heard about Grendel, Hygelac's thanewas on home ground, over in Geatland.There was no one else like him alive.In his day, he was the mightiest man on earth,high-born and powerful. He ordered a boatthat would ply the waves. He announced his plan:to sail the swan's road and search out that king,the famous prince who needed defenders.Nobody tried to keep him from going,no elder denied him, dear as he was to them.Instead, they inspected omens and spurredhis ambition to go, whilst he moved aboutlike the leader he was, enlisting men,the best he could find; with fourteen othersthe warrior boarded the boat as captain,a canny pilot along coast and currents.

CHARACTERIZATION:Reputation;Personality;Deeds.

NARRATOR’S OPINION:He seems to ESTEEM his character DEEPLY and to SUPPORT him.

EFFECTS OF SEMANTIC CHOISES:The adjectives used to describe the hero make one feel LITTLE,POWERLESS and at the same time they elicit the hero’s ADMIRATION.

RECAP: The figure of the hero comes out: he is scared about death, but aware to sacrifice his life to save people.

The Wife of Usher’s Well – The sonThere lived a wife at Ushers Well,And a wealthy wife was she;She had three stout and stalwart sons,And sent them o'er the sea.

They hadna been a week from her,A week but barely ane,Whan word came to the carline wifeThat her three sons were gane.

They hadna been a week from her,A week but barely three,Whan word came to the carlin wifeThat her sons she'd never see.

"I wish the wind May never cease,Nor (fashes) in the flood,Till my three sons come home to me,In earthly flesh and blood,"

It fell about the Martinmass,When nights are lang and mirk,The carlin wife"s three sons came hame,And their hats were o' the birk.

It neither grew in syke nor ditch,Nor yet in ony sheugh;But at the gates o Paradise,That birk grew fair enough

"Blow up the fire, my maidens!Bring water from the well!For a' my house hall feast this night,Since my three sons are well."

And she has made to them a bed,She's made it large and wideAnd she's ta'en her mantle her about,Sat down at the bed-side.

Up then crew the red, red cock,And up and crew the gray;The eldest to the youngest said,"Tis time we were away."

The cock he hadna craw'd but once,And clapp'd his wings at a',When the youngest to the eldest said,"Brother, we must awa'.

"The cock doth craw, the day doth daw,The channerin' worlm doth chide;Gin we be mist out o' our place,A sair pain we maun bide.

"Fare ye weel, my mother dear!Fareweel to barn and byre!And fare ye weel, the bonny lassThat kindles my mother's fire

CHARACTERIZATION:Physical Features;Death;Reviving by the netherworld.

SINGER’S OPINION:He seems to be sad for the death of the sons, and for their mother’s sorrow.

EFFECTS OF SEMANTIC CHOISES:The words used in the ballad create a distressed and sad atmosphere.

RECAP: The sons’ deaths cause anguish to the mother.

Lord Randal - The Lord“O where ha you been, Lord Randal, my son?And where ha you been, my handsome young man?""I ha been at the greenwood; mother, mak my bed soon,For I'm wearied wi hunting, and fain wad lie down."

"An wha met ye there, Lord Randal, my son?And wha met ye there, my handsome young man?""O I met wi my true-love; mother, mak my bed soon,For I'm wearied wi huntin, and fain wad lie down."

“And what did she give you, Lord Randal, my son?And wha did she give you, my handsome young man?""Eels fried in a pan; mother, mak my bed soon,For I'm wearied wi huntin, and fein wad lie down."

"And what gat your leavins, Lord Randal my son?And wha gat your leavins, my handsome young man?""My hawks and my hounds; mother, mak my bed soon, For I'm wearied wi huntin, and fein wad lie down."

NEXT

"And what becam of them, Lord Randal, my son?And what becam of them, my handsome young man?""They stretched their legs out and died; mother mak my bed soon,For I'm wearied wi huntin, and fain wad lie down."

"O I fear you are poisoned, Lord Randal, my son!I fear you are poisoned, my handsome young man!""O yes, I am poisoned; mother, mak my bed soon,For I'm sick at the heart, and fain wad lie down."

"What d'ye leave to your mother, Lord Randal, my son?What d'ye leave to your mother, my handsome young man?""Four and twenty milk kye; mother, mak my bed soon,For I'm sick at the heart, and I fain wad lie down.“ "What d'ye leave to your sister, Lord Randal, my son?What d'ye leave to your sister, my handsome young man?""My gold and my silver; mother mak my bed soon,For I'm sick at the heart, an I fain wad lie down.“ "What d'ye leave to your brother, Lord Randal, my son?What d'ye leave to your brother, my handsome young man?""My houses and my lands; mother, mak my bed soon,For I'm sick at the heart, and I fain wad lie down.“ "What d'ye leave to your true-love, Lord Randal, my son?What d'ye leave to your true-love, my handsome young man?""I leave her hell and fire; mother mak my bed soon,For I'm sick at the heart, and I fain wad lie down."

CHARACTERIZATION:Physical appearance;Social status;Behavior.

SINGER’S OPINION:No textual clues in the text.

EFFECTS OF SEMANTIC CHOISES:The adjective “handsome” used by the mother refers to the Lord’s reputation: a person considerable and impressive.The singer emphasizes the loved girl’s TREASURE.The mother seems WORRIED for her future.

RECAP:The ballad underlines the fear and the obsession of deathin the Middle Ages: also the loved girl could kill a lord,thus one had to be careful.

Bonny George Campbell - The Knight

CHARACTERIZATION:His past actionsHis horseHis non coming home.

NARRATOR’S OPINION:He seems to be sorry for the man’s death thus underlining the wife’s pain.

EFFECTS OF SEMANTIC CHOISES:The choice not to tell facts directly (his death) makes the reader understand better what pain a knight may feel and leave deciding to die for his ideals.

RECAP:The theme of death comes back again.

The Sonneteers

Figure of man writing sonnets.

CHARACTERIZATION:

AristocraticLearned man Focused on cultureDid not worry about deathHis problem: unrequited loved woman

F. Petrarch

Middle Ages VS Renaissance

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MAN’S FEATURES

Fear of death

Focus on safety: he dedicateshimself to religious activities to survive

Christian code of values.

Freedom to dedicate himself to other activities such as arts and literature

Freedom to live without fears;

Classical code of values.

The Middle Ages

VS

The Christian Religion

It imposed the fear of death and God (seen as the centre of the

system)

on people

The human being is

repressed

The Renaissance

influences

Influenced by Classical Culture

The man is the centre of the

system

SUMMING UP

Giulia Bianchin

Silvia Regolin

MADE BY:

Class IV-A 1° Term (09.10.2008)