Final Blog Post

http://tylerabbott21.blogspot.com/2011/09/yahweh-flood.html I like this post because I think I did a good job comparing, and contrasting multiple stories in a coherrent manner. I think I tie in both personal opinion, along with factual information, giving my reader room to make their own assumptions based on my ideas.

http://tylerabbott21.blogspot.com/2011/09/flood-story-revisited.html I like the Flood Story post because I believe I did an good job yet again, comparing, and contrasting multiple literary pieces we read in class. I like reading my older posts, and still get the same meaning, and opinions out of them. Some of my posts I can go back and analyze, and I find myself disagreeing with myself, HA, and wishing I could rewrite a few of them. This one however, does not fit that genre. I still agree with every word I wrote here.

http://tylerabbott21.blogspot.com/2011/11/comitatas.html I suppose I just liked this one so much, because I was a huge fan of Beowulf, and the idea of comitatas really intrigues my imagination. I enjoyed writing this post, and I think my writing style reflects my enjoyment of the subject matter. I find that when I enjoy what i am writing about, a whole different side of me comes out on paper, or in this case online.

Like I've stated above, I'm particularly fond of these posts for many reasons. I feel I do an excellent job answering questions I had about our reading assignments, while also exploring other ideas, and themes at he same time. I also think that when one is truly interested in a subject, it is painfully obvious the difference between what is good writing, and what is just speculation, and rambling. Often times I found myself coming up with a central idea or theme to write about, but after doing more research the theme in which I was writing about, sort of lost it's power. These posts I think were resilient enough to escape my opinionated hand, and address the idea at hand with utter clarity. Often times personal opinion can cloud my writer's vision, and over shadow the idea, or theme at hand. It some cases I am absolutly disgusted with some of my over opinionated bullshit, and in other cases I see no evidence of such over wordy bullshit. These posts in particular, stood out in my mind as personal highlights of mental clarity. I am proud of them, and stand behind what I said in them with pride, and dignity.

I would have to say that my ideas about literature have drastically changed this semester, and I'd like to say for the better. I came into your class as always, with an open mind, and an open heart. However, often times my past, and personal experiences can influence my thoughts so much so, that I end up screwing myself out of a good piece of writing. The most valuable lesson I think you have taught me about literature this semester Scott, is to leave my personal opinion aside, and just look at the text by itself, as a whole. You've taught me to simply analyze the piece of literature at hand, nothing more, and nothing less. It sounds unbelievably simple, but for me it was anything but simple to come to this conclusion myself. I had to separate what was fact, and what was personal opinion. I loved learning about the idea of Analyze vs. Interpret. It forced me to step out of my literary comfort zone, and explore the ideas of others, leaving my own personal baggage at the door. Often times we as students feel it makes us better writers, and readers to form as many opinions about the literature at hand, in order to have a better understanding of it. However, I've learned that the text itself holds all the answers to the questions that arise in one's head, and perhaps it's not up to me to try and figure out what the authors state of mind was when they composed said piece. Perhaps the text just is what it is, nothing more, and nothing less. I'm not saying my opinion doesn't matter at all, but sometimes I think it's best to shut up, and just continue reading. Often times the answers to questions we may have about a text, are hidden in the text somewhere, I just have to be a good enough student to identify them, and understand them.

So far as my performance is concerned academically speaking, I'll be the first to say that I am in no way a prime example of a model student. I am tardy, I do not have perfect attendance, and I'm absolutely guilty of missing assignments. However, this is not synonymous to your class, I have always been a scatter brained individual, and I am sure everyone of my professors, in every class I am taking would agree with that. However, I am not failing any of my classes, and I do the mass majority of my work on time. Trying to find a balance, or having to choose what class is more important then another, is about the most difficult thing for me as your student to do. When it's a debate over studying for a Geology exam, over finnishing a reading assingment you've given us, often times I've had to read the material in my car in the parking lot right before class, because I was studying all night for a Geology test I barely passed anyway. It sucks the way college works like that, but I am not complaining. I have done about 85% of the work assigned in your class with pride, and diligence. Whatever I lacked, I can not make an excuse for, so I will just take my loss of points as a reminder of my short comings. I am proud to have passed all my classes, and at this point in my life, I cant ask for much more of myself right now. Present circumstances often times throw my mind into a whole other world, and I have to fight to keep my feet on the ground, and from losing myself inside my head. However, in recent months I think I've done an extraordinary job of holding my academic life together, despite the evils, and temptations that surround me on a daily basis. I suppose no one is perfect, and by God I am no where even near perfect. Perhaps someday I'll be able to boast about and A+ in a literary class, but for now I have to just be satisfied in passing.

I think I have many strengths, and many weaknesses both as a writer, and as a reader. I think my biggest strength as a writer, and a reader is my attention to detail, and my acute ability to put myself in characters shoes, and see things from their point of view. As a reader, I feel I am far too opinionated, and am activily working to remedy this personal problem. As a thinker...I dont even know where the hell to begin. Most of the things I think, and see in my minds eye are in no way fit for anyone to hear about, or think about. So as a thinker, I dont know what to tell you. I analyze, interpret, and think about things all day, everyday, but those thoughts shall always remain locked, deep within the back of my mind. No one needs to hear them but me. So we will leave it at that for the thinking talk. Sometimes I wish I could turn of my ability to think, and just exist sometimes...but i suppose thats what they make beer for.

If I had to give myself a grade in your class, it'd be a C+. Nothing more, nothing less. I dont deserve anymore then that, because I didnt put out any more than 75-80%. It's that simple. I did what I had to do to pass, and meet the expected requirments. When I had the time, and the ability, I put out more effort then normal, but certainly not as often as I should have, could have, and would have if I had the chance.

Your a great teacher, and I aspire to be lie you someday. For now however, I got a long ass road ahead of me. It's been a great semester. You really have taught me more then you'll ever know.

Dante's Inferno Today?

I think after reading both of these pieces, the decision as to what book I was going to choose as more applicable to modern day society became painfully obvious. Beowulf despite demonstrating wonderful character traits of courage, bravery, friendship, loyalty; and heroism, is not something I feel applies to our everyday lives as much as the lessons in Dante's Inferno. I say this because although the inferno doesn't reference karma directly, it reflects the principal of karma almost perfectly. It is the belief that for every action, there will be an equal, and opposing reaction. However karma doesn't just stop there it takes the idea one step further, by adding the fact that for every bad deed we commit in this life, we will pay for it in the next life.

This idea of being accountable for our actions presently, so as not to suffer the repercussions in the after life is a very old Principal indeed. We see modern examples of karma in society, in a much more severe degree in countries that have adopted an eye for an eye justice system, such as Saudi Arabia, or Singapore. Such as if a man steals, whatever hand he stole said item with gets cut off as a form of justice. This is a stretch of an example, but not without merit.

Consequently, countries that have such harsh laws record a dramatically lower crime rate, than other thriving economies worldwide. Why do these countries boast lower crime rates you ask? Well it's quite simple, and goes right back to this age old idea of karma, being held responsible for your actions whether they be noble endeavors, or evil acts of violence. Despite the overwhelming examples of the same principals in Dante's Inferno being reflected worldwide, I believe there is more to this story then simple parallels between crime, and punishment.

I believe justice systems around the world try and come up with some form of crime vs. punishment system, where the punishment fits the crime/crime fits the punisment..In my final essay I want to examine the circles of hell, which sort of people are each section of hell, and why theyre there. I then would like to compare, and analyze modern days figures such as Saddam Huessein, Adolf Hitler, Lee harvey Oswald, Richard Nixon, Frank Lucas, and compare them to characters in Dantes Inferno. I think would like to classify them to a specific circle of hell represented in Dantes Inferno. This is a simple version of my idea, but I think it would be a very intresting one to explore, and expand upon in my final essay.

Death and Karma

The idea of karma and death has always perplexed me. How in this life our actions, and thoughts can follow us into the next. The Hindu texts we've been assigned reflect this idea the most I believe, and directly explains what happens to those who live an immoral life. You can be punished for years, decades, even centuries, stuck in the wheels of karma. I believe the idea of karma was probably some type of scare tactic, encouraging the common man to do good or else...

Now this idea of being punished in the after life isn't an original one, we see it in many of the texts we've been assingned. But karma to me, is something we hear spoken about more today, then hell itself. To me, being able to apply such an age old idea to our modern lives speaks volumes about its popularity, and how applicable it still is today.

Karma can either make an individual absolutely fear death, or it can have quite the opposite effect on a person. If you know in your heart you've lived a just, and moral life, than you can rest assured that when you die, karma will do right by your soul. The same idea is reflected in Christian texts aswell, Dante's inferno, upAnishads, and many more. Also the idea of purgatory comes to mind, the idea of being stuck in between heaven, and hell. How does one go about fixing their wrong doings, if their already stuck in a limbo game of heaven, and hell? What do you Gus think?

Response to Clinton's blog

I couldn't agree with Clinton more on the idea of those before Christ going to hell, simply because they weren't Saved. If god is so just, merciful, and all knowing, why should these people be condemned for shear ignorance? Clinton's absolutely right, where is the justice, mercy, and reason behind that? Dante's inferno talks about how these individuals were neither good, nor evil throughout their lives, they were pretty much neutral parties. They didn't pick a side if you will. Now if these people aren't infringing upon others natural born rights, what crime did they really commit, other then just not picking a side?

Why should these individuals be condemned to hell, even if it is just the first stages? I understand that supposedly it's bad in gods eyes not to be saved, but they technically didn't sin other wise. This is an interesting idea to say the least, and one I feel, which I assume Clinton does as well, is completely overlooked by most readers.

Often times questions arise that one must either analyze, or interpret, however in this instance with this simple yet profound idea, I can do neither. I'm left to guess just like everyone else, and I don't like assuming things I know very little about. I'm very curious what others think about this...

Small group discussion

I suppose I prepared for this group discussion very differently then for normal class discussions. I knew Beowulf inside, and out or so I thought. At first I just analyzed the questions that were to be discussed in class, and try to answer them to the best of my abilities without having to open my book. I then identified rather easily where my weaknesses were, and how best to address them. I went through the questions where I had the most difficulties, and I addressed them directly. I went throughout Beowulf, found the areas I lacked knowledge, or informed opinions, and I studied them vigorously. It was my goal to be able to give an almost perfect response to any question on our assignment sheet, without having to open my book even once, which I believe I was very successful at doing.

Note taking was key, I had over 4 pages front and back of notes, just for that one class period, and they were vital to my over all participation. I believe that the notes provided a base of discussion ideas for me, so when I was proposed with a question, I could answer it with ease, based on my own prior research on the particular subject. Having legible, coherent thoughts on paper allows me to freely express my own opinions, and ideas, with a factual reference at my side, whenever needed.

The three most dominant things I did differently to prepare for our group discussion was annotations throughout Beowulf, research on specific characters in Beowulf, and comprehensive research to find scholarly opinions on the subject matter of our book. I didn't feel my word was simply enough, so I read through hundreds of pages of other students pinions on Beowulf online, to help mold, and shape my own opinions into something all could understand, and appreciate. This discussion was far more useful than to my learning than my regular classes, because this style of discussion forces the students to become Experts on whatever subject is at hand. I loved this assignment.

Comitatas

When pondering the idea of Comitatas I find myself asking, " what would I have done, I presented with the same curcumstances, and decision?". At first I was utterly perplexed as to what the right decision may or may not have been, but upon further review of the exact definition of what exactly Comitatas is, and was in that time period, I feel beowulfs men had an epic failure.

Now I say this boldy because I believe that Beowulf could not have made it to his final climactic battle without his men's aid, and help throughout the story. If they started this epic journey, and battle together, they should Finnish it together as one single unit of courage and nobility. The simple fact and point I'm trying to make here is that no matter what your bold, and perhaps big headed leader may tell you, it is your job as a soldier, and a friend to help your leader out when he is facing almost certain death. Screw what he tells you, his decision making skills are probably flawed, and skewed already because of the horrors he is about to face. You are his loyal soldiers, and under Comitatas you owe your leader your loyalty, and life for that matter.

If it was me, I would have come to my homies aid immediately, without question. So what if he's big, tough, and slays monsters in his spare time, he's obviously still mortal despite what he's previous deeds may suggest about immortality. The point is, their leader Beowulf was in danger, they knew it, he knew it, and they chose to dip out on him. That's messed up. Even wiglaf agrees with me on that one, there was a clear breach of Comitatas, or the warrior leader contract if you will.

Screw politics, screw emotions, and screw curcumstances, Comitatas is till death do us part, and their leader died because of there lack of respect for the law of Comitatas. Beowulf could have ended on a way better note, but I also think Christian influence had a hell of a lot to do with the ending but ats a whole other subject, and blog post in itself.


Peace out see y'all in class

Beowulf: pre-blog

I neglected to Finnish reading Beowulf entirely until just now, I will Finnish a proper blog on the subject when I return home from class. However, after reading pages 1184 to 1233 I find myself asking many questions. The biggest topic weighing on my mind, is the symbolism in this story. We know by reading the information in the first part of the story that this was a tale, to inspire, and motivate good deeds, and nobility in men of that time period. I am very intrigued by what Army, people, or invaders the monster Grendal truly represented. It was obviously a thing that terrorized, and tormented the danish people for years, and I wonder what exactly this could have been. I am also curious about the giants, sea monsters, and dragons that are referenced as beowulfs prior noble deeds, and quests. Will post more after class discussion.