Sir Gawain and The Green Knight Essay - 1342 Words

Sir Gawain and The Green Knight In literature, insights into characters, places, and events are often communicated to the reader through the use of imagery within the text. Thus is the case with Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. The Pearl Poets use of imagery runs rampant within the work culminating to set forth the theme of mysticism and/or the supernatural. In this Medieval romance, the types of imagery used are that of the season or climate, the colors and textures of fabrics and jewelry, and that of the introduction of the Green Knight himself. The seasons play a major role in the development of the plot, allowing action to skip several months at a time by simply mentioning the turning of the leaves. The thematic imagery†¦show more content†¦The fog near the Green Knights demolished chapel can also be described as a change in atmosphere which leads to some mystical or magical emotions. The attires of the characters do not match up to these atmospheric conditions when it comes down the supernatural. If anything they can be said to have an unrealistic or inflated view of medieval life. The narrative opens with a holiday feast in King Arthurs court. The richness of this setting is represented by the decorations surrounding Queen Guenevere described in lines 76-80. With costly silk curtains, a canopy over, / Of Toulouse and Turkestan tapestries rich / All broidered and bordered with the best gems / Ever brought into Britain, with bright pennies / to pay. These lines also symbolize the queens role in the poem of a stately symbol of chivalric Camelot and as a female ideal. In this setting women are all around, but Guenevere is positioned above them and is surrounded by expensive, beautiful things. She is clearly made superior. Gawain, Arthurs knight who takes the Green Knights challenge, is portrayed in different lights as the story progresses. Descriptions of fabric and clothing are integral to this portrayal. When he is departing Camelot to find the Green Knight, Gawain is depic ted as a virtuous, chivalrous knight bravely facing his fate. His clothing, therefore, is red, symbolizing courage, and bears a gold pentangle, a symbol ofShow MoreRelatedSir Gawain And The Green Knight1359 Words   |  6 PagesIn the poem â€Å"Sir Gawain and The Green Knight,† a protagonist emerges depicting an Arthurian knight named Sir Gawain. Sir Gawain, King Arthur’s nephew, takes initiative by accepting the challenge requested by the Green Knight in place of his uncle. He undergoes a perilous adventure, seeking for the Green Knight to receive the final blow. Although Sir Gawain is not viewed as a hero for his military accomplishments, he is, however, viewed as a heroic figure by the Knights at the Round Table for hisRead MoreSir Gawain And The Green Knight862 Words   |  4 PagesIn Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, by an unknown author referred to as the â€Å"Pearl Poet,† we are introduced to Sir Gawain. Gawain is a knight of the Round Table and he is also the nephew of King Arthur. As a knight, Gawain is expected to possess and abide by many chivalrous facets. Throughout the poem he portrays many of the qualities a knight should possess, such as bravery, courtesy, and honor among others. Because of his ability to possess these virtues even when tempted to stray away from themRead MoreSir Gawain and the Green Knight1100 Words   |  5 PagesThe poem of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight compares a super natural creature to nature. The mystery of the poem is ironic to the anonymous author. The story dates back into the fourteenth century, but no one knows who originally wrote the poem. This unknown author explains in the poem of Sir Gawain not knowing of the location of the Green Chapel and or who the Green Knight really is. This keeps the reader entertained with the suspicion of not knowing. The author then does not give his name orRead MoreSir Gawain And The Green Knight Essay1687 Words   |  7 PagesSir Gawain and the Green Knight contains ambiguity and irony that make it interesting to read and teach. Gawain’s conflict arose when he accepted the girdle that could protect him and when he lied to his host, severing fellowship with the lord for courtesy with the lady. By utilizing a social reconstructionist philosophy of teaching that emphasizes personal beliefs and ethics, a teacher will help the students establish their identities and learn to appreciate classic literature. Sir Gawain and theRead MoreSir Gawain And The Green Knight1514 Words   |  7 PagesSir Gawain and the Green Knight is an epic poem written in the mid to late fourteenth century by an unknown author. Throughout the tale, Sir Gawain, a Knight at the Round Table in Camelot, is presented with many hardships, the first being a challenge on Christmas by a man in which, â€Å"Everything about him was an elegant green† (161). This â€Å"Green Knight† challenged someone in Camelot to accept his game which they will cho p off his head with his axe and the Green Knight will do the same to the playerRead MoreSir Gawain And The Green Knight1335 Words   |  6 PagesSir Gawain: The Ironic Knight Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a tale of the utmost irony in which Sir Gawain, the most loyal and courteous of all of King Arthur’s knights, fails utterly to be loyal and courteous to his king, his host, his vows, and his God. In each case, Sir Gawain not only fails to perform well, but performs particularly poorly, especially in the case of his relationship with God. Ultimately, Sir Gawain chooses magic over faith, and by doing so, shows his ironic nature as aRead MoreSir Gawain And The Green Knight906 Words   |  4 Pagesusually the latter. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight we see Sir Bertilak go off to hunt three very specific animals as a game with Sir Gawain. They agree that â€Å"what ever [Bertilak catches] in the wood shall become [Sir Gawain’s], and what ever mishap comes [Sir Gawain’s] way will be given to [Bertilak] in exchange.† (Sir Gawain†¦, ln 1105-1007). In this deal we slowly see Gawain loose his honor as paralleled with Sir B ertilak’s hunt. The first animal that is hunted by the knight is a deer, while thisRead MoreSir Gawain And The Green Knight Essay1521 Words   |  7 PagesFall 16 Donnelly Many years ago, knights were expected to form a certain type of relationship with their king, this relationship was otherwise known as fealty. Fealty is a knight’s sworn loyalty to their king (in other words a loyal relationship should be formed between the two). The use of this relationship is shown in the poem called â€Å"Sir Gawain and the Green Knight† ( the author is unknown). This poem has a classic quest type of formula, with a knight receiving a challenge and then going outRead MoreSir Gawain And The Green Knight1455 Words   |  6 PagesHowever, for Gawain in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight temptation existed around every corner while he was playing the game of the Green Knight. Temptation existed every day and each day it existed in a new way. Gawain never knew what was coming his way throughout the grand scheme of the game, but one thing was for certain he was being tested. Without his reliance religious faith and dedication to his reputation, Gawain wo uld not have been able to make it through the game of the Green Knight alive andRead MoreSir Gawain And The Green Knight Essay1020 Words   |  5 PagesBoth Sir Gawain, from â€Å"Sir Gawain and the Green Knight† translated by Marie Borroff, and Beowulf, from Beowulf translated by Burton Raffel, serve as heroes in different times of Medieval English Literature. Many of the basic principles that describe heroes in Medieval Literature are seen in both of these characters even though they were written in different times. There are distinct similarities, differences, and also a progression of what the hero was in English literature, between Sir Gawain and

Class Conflict - 1431 Words

Introduction: This essay aims to examine the extent to which class conflict affects education and life opportunities. The following paragraphs seek to illustrate how factors such as class position and parental attitudes affect education and life opportunities among different social classes and the conflict that lies between them. In order to understand the content of this essay it is first necessary to understand all of the possible variables involved. Throughout this essay I will examine the definitions of class, conflict, education and opportunity. The main body of the essay seeks to highlight the reason as to why people are members of certain classes and the effects this has on their chances for education and life opportunities, using†¦show more content†¦Dating back to Victorian times, lower, middle and upper classes existed. The lower classes would have been made up of the landless labourers. Middle classes would have included the tradesmen i.e. people with a professional skill/qual ification such as a blacksmith. Finally the upper classes would have consisted of the large farmers and business owners. The upper classes would traditionally employed people from the lower classes to run their farms or businesses. Although we have moved on since Victorian times, this social divide hasn’t changed much. There still remains today a prominent divide between the lower middle and upper class people. This can be seen now within the third level education in present days. Due to the economic crisis we are currently experiencing, less and less people are able to afford the luxury of a third level education. Sadly this is hitting the lower and working classes the hardest. Due to government cutbacks grants are being chopped leaving the less fortunate members of our society starved for further education. How does the conflict between different social classes effect education and life opportunities? As mentioned in the introduction class position and parental attitudes play a vital role in the effect that class conflict has on education and life opportunities. It has been proven that class position has a huge effect on parental attitudes in getting involved with their children’sShow MoreRelatedClass Conflict And Class Conflicts1522 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"Class warfare, also referred to as class conflict or class struggle, is a form of social tension caused by conflicting and competing socioeconomic interests between people of different classes† (Zinn, 19). According to Karl Marx and several scholars, this struggle provides the lever for radical social change and development. Class conflict comes in many forms: direct and indirect violence such as wars, starvation, illness and poor working conditions; ideological, such as the production of articlesRead MoreSocial Conflict Theory : Class Conflict Essay1299 Words   |  6 Pagesindividual’s lives outweigh that service. Karl Marx constructed a social conflict theory called class conflict, this theory states that people have one of two basic relationships to the means of production they either own productive property or they labor to others. These different productive roles directly stem from different social classes. When there is severe social stratification, more social conflict arises. Marx predicted that because of this, the working majority would come togetherRead MoreMarx and Class Conflict948 Words   |  4 Pagesthe engine of change in this structure. His was no equilibrium or consensus theory. Conflict was not deviational within society s structure, nor were classes functional elements maintaining the system. The structure itself was a derivative of and ingredient in the struggle of classes. His was a conflict view of modem (nineteenth century) society. The key to understanding Marx is his class definition.1 A class is defined by the ownership of property. Such ownership vests a person with the powerRead MoreEthnic and Class Conflicts in Turkestan Essay1642 Words   |  7 Pagespolitical framework to completely destroy any signs of development. From the reasoning laid above, it becomes clear that the Kazakh-Kyrgyzs were confounded. On the basis of economic and political exploitation of the natives the framework for the social conflicts was created. Kuropatkin in the diary wrote that natives seem to accumulate the inner aversion and detestation towards both the Russian Government and the Russian setters themselves. Brower (1996) emphasises that â€Å"the key factor in the uprisings†Read MoreThe Conflict And Functionalist Theories Behind Social Class1496 Words   |  6 Pagesmaterializes the upper class, vulgarizes our middle class, brutalizes our lower class. In Australia, social class is a widely recognised concept, however some individuals, particularly the wealthy people, will argue that social class in non existent, that with hard work anyone can achieve, what they set their mind onto. The social stratification system, is based on objective criteria, including wealth, power, and prestige. The Australian notion of equal opportunity, insinuates that social class does not affectRead MoreKarl Marx s Class Conflict Theory1710 Words   |  7 PagesKarl Marx’s Class Conflict Theory Introduction Karl Marx believed that struggle or conflict among classes was an inevitable feature of capitalism based on the argument that various groups in a society or social classes perpetually fight and compete for resources and power, hence the groups remains polarized against each other. The Karl Marx’s conflict theory views behavior from the perspective of conflict or tension among two or more groups. The conflict does not necessarily translate to violenceRead MoreSocial Class : The Great Gatsby, Conflicts And Relationships1176 Words   |  5 Pages Social Class is Everything In today’s society, social class plays a large role in who is with who. Celebrity couples and weddings are very commonplace, but the rich and famous rarely marry those who are of the middle, or lower class. If it does happen though, it is usually a rich, older man marrying a young, beautiful woman. This would usually not happen unless the older man was rich, and these relationships do not usually last very long. Along with this, some people in foreign countries still practiceRead MoreMarx s Theory On Class Conflict And Society Essay1453 Words   |  6 Pagestheory mostly emphasis on class conflict and the society from economic aspects. This essay will first analyze Marx’s theory in detail. Then I will explain how economy and social conflict related to Marx’s theory along with the role of these factors in the capitalist society. Marx defined social class as the class which sets the scene and moves things forward. He sometimes talked about there are only two classes: Bourgeoisie and proletariat, the class-in-itself and the class-for-itself, sometimes talkedRead MoreThe Class Conflict Theory Proposed By Karl Marx1571 Words   |  7 PagesThe Class Conflict Theory proposed by Karl Marx explains that society changes due to the need for human beings to have a higher level of social class. This is essentially a framework developed by Marx that he aimed to use to explain the mode of social stratification happening during his time, its root causes, and its main effects. Marx had a unique view on the nature of different social classes. He believed that there are only two social classes where people can belong (Marx McLellan, Karl MarxRead More An Analysis of Class and Gender Conflict in Pygmalion Essay1476 Words   |  6 PagesPygmalion is a serious analysis of class and gender conflict. Bernard Shaws play, entitled Pygmalion, transcends the nature of drama as a medium to be utilized for sheer entertainment value. Shaws play powerfully comments on the capacity for the individual to overcome the boundaries established by systems of class and gender. Dominant assumptions and expectations may essentially prevent an individual from becoming socially mobile within a seemingly rigid hierarchical social structure. However

Essay on the Japan The Modern Girl as Militant Discussing free essay sample

In Japan, the images of women have undergone rather remarkable transitional changes. In her article The Modern Girl as Militant, Miriam Silverberry focuses on the category of Modern Girl (mega, or modal gaur), a topic of debate in Japanese society during the sass and early sass. She argues that the Modern Girl was a media creation designed to portray women as promiscuous and apolitical. It was a way of displacing the militancy expressed in their political activity, her labor in new arenas and their adoption of new fashions.Therefore, when examine the history of Japanese women during that era, the Astoria should not be trapped in viewing her as just an epitome of moral decadence, but rather should become conscious of her militant nature. This paper begins by focusing on some of Silverwares strong arguments, which defends her position on the Image of Modern Girl as militant . I would then proceed to highlight some ambiguities and questions with regards to her arguments. Silverberry begins her paper by asserting that the Modern Girl was a highly commodities cultural construct crafted by Journalist during the decade of cultural and social change.She then proceed to discuss some of the contemporaries such as Swastika Chichi, Mini Atari, Kiddush, Kate Tiepin etc. , who tried to define the characteristics of the Modern Girl. Despite the fact the contemporaries writing about the Modern Girl struggle to find an absolute definition, the essence of who the Modern Girl remains clear to society. The Modern Girl stood for everything modern and non-Japanese. It stood for all the materialism and decadence in Japanese society at that period, and all modern ideals and lifestyle that threatened the traditional social order of Japan.It was a conservative construct, a symbol of what women should to be, and a reflection of the negative social phenomena In Japans modernization process. However, Silverberry argues against that the true reality of the Modern Girl was In fact militant. She claimed that there was an increased in plasticization of Japanese women during the sass to sass. For example, there was an emergence of militant feminist organizations such as the New Womans Association (1919) and the Red Wave Society (1921) .Silverberry also highlights that women were active in the labor movement, with the setting up of many unions and professional organizations that dealt with the robbers in some of the female-dominated occupations. Women also took part in strikes, such as the Toy Muslin strike and Florida Dance Hall strike, with some strikes I OFF threatening emergence of the Modern Girl coincided with a debate on the possible revision of the Meijer Civil Code. According to Silverberry, the media and the government therefore sought to downplay the militancy of Japanese women by defining her image as apolitical and promiscuous.In this way, they are made to be less of a threat and easier to manage. By portraying them as decadent women who lacked any social consciousness, they an be easily discredited with the use of moral rhetoric and their increasing political demands can be denied . While Silverwares article presents the reader with an alternative view of the image of Modern Girl during that era, the article only reaffirms a problematic discourse with regards to the history and identity of Japanese women as they are constantly being defined and redefined by either the historian, or by the government in its policies.Who should we rely to better comprehend this modern Japanese women? It further becomes more complicated when we recognized that women can take on multiply densities. She can be political, as well as fashionable. By limiting the definition of the Modern Girl as either militant or apolitical, we might inevitably begin to talk about them as though they formed a monolithic group with fixed characteristics. Even within one historical period, there are countless roles within Japanese women, such as the upper-class woman, the merchant woman, the farmer, the student etc. Which would give rise to countless behaviors, thoughts and experiences. One could therefore argue that most Modern Girls were probably Just simple wage-earners irking in the cities, rather than living the lifestyle of the modal gaur the media depicted, or even the active political activists that Silverberry portrayed them to be. The article might become problematic if the reader senses an absolute position on the image of the Modern Girl, which can never hold true. Another problem in Silverwares argument is that she has failed to define what militant is. Does militant necessarily mean illegal or violent?Does it mean acts of social and political bellicosity? Some historian define militant as tactics that are sufficiently combative and widely regarded as shocking. The definition of militant is crucial as it would set the bo undaries of how we would view and consider the modern Japanese women, as described by Silverberry. Moreover, this militant attitude might not be truly representative of majority of the female population who living in this modernization period. Silverberry had highlighted that by the end of 1928; almost 12,010 women had Joined the labor movement.Statistics shows that the total female labor force was about 933,000 during the early sass. That means that approximately only 1. 2% of the women took part in any labor movement. These figures constitute that the militant women was a minority rather than a majority. In addition, it is important to note that majority of the strikes where women participated occurred after 1930, the period of the Great the strikes were sudden in nature, and due to the harsh economic conditions in Japan, rather than seen as a prevailing aggressive attitude that has dominated a section of the Japanese women from the sass to the sass?In conclusion, despite the many questions raised over Silverwares article, it still remains an important academic research as it p resents to us the multivalent symbol f the Modern Girl. Depending on the perceiver, the Modern Girl presents to us many models. On one hand, it can come to portray all the paradoxical values that were pulling Japanese society part, an emblem for threats to tradition. On the other hand, the Modern Girl could be seen as a negative cultural construct by the media to hide the real identity of the Modern Girl in Japan, which defined by Silverberry, was militant in character. In both cases, the description of the Modern Girl becomes a creation of either the media or the historian. As gender is a socially constructed and laterally transmitted organizer of our inner and outer worlds, this definition of the Modern Girl will continue to be an ongoing, dynamic and even problematic process.

Shinto Religious Practices Essay Example

Shinto Religious Practices Paper Shinto is a Japanese religious practice characterized by rites and based on the polytheistic idea of Kami. Jinja Shinto is the institutional form while the Jinja Honcho in Tokyo is the administering office for over eight thousand shrines in Japan. The Ise Jingu in Ise which is believed to enshrine the Sun Goddess, Amaterasu, is considered to be the most sacred of the Shinto shrines. The Emperor is considered the highest Shinto priest and the divine descendant of Amaterasu Omikami. It is widely practiced religion in Japan besides Buddhism and as a religion, Shinto concerns with prosperity and happiness in this world (Ozawa-de Silva, 2014). The grounds of Shinto shrines are most commonly marked by a grove of evergreen trees that surrounds a gateway, the torii. The main building enshrines the spirit of a particular kami. Most people will go to Shinto shrines on certain occasions especially on the New Year’s Day which is normally done to pray for Kami’s blessings. During the New Year, the home is thoroughly cleaned to make it very attractive to the spirits and the main gate is decorated with a kadomofsu. The family gathers to celebrate by eating a special soup called ozone which is believed to promote health. The tradition dictates that those performing the prayer first wash their mouth and hands at the fountain usually located at the gateway. They should then proceed to the front of the main building, cast some coins into the offertory box, ring the bells, bow twice, clap their hands twice, and then bow one more time (Bernstein, 2009). We will write a custom essay sample on Shinto Religious Practices specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Shinto Religious Practices specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Shinto Religious Practices specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer There are also several rites and a major festival that are held each year at each of the Shinto shrines. During the festival, the priest will solemnly offer prayers and food to the Kami as thanksgiving and as a way of seeking blessings. Dances and music are also performed for the Kami while the people enjoy together. The prime of the festival happens when portable shrines are energetically paraded through the parish. Also, a very special ritual known as jichinsai is always performed by the Shinto priests before commencing construction on a new building (Ozawa-de Silva, 2014). This is based on the belief that lack of such a ritual would lead to accidents because deities that dwell on that construction site become angry. Shinto marks some seasons with special practices such as planting and harvesting rice. Respect for nature is a key aspect of Shinto and is characterised by reverential objects placed in the midst of fields, forests, or mountains. Respect for spirits is practices by pouring water over gravestones and leaving offerings of flowers and food. Another notable practice involves the purification of water. There is also the climbing of the sacred mountain to gain favour and union with the spirit of the mountain (Bernstein, 2009). Climbing Mount Fuji is particularly one thing that most Japanese wish to accomplish during their lifetime. Other practices involve daily worship and the maintenance of a small shrine called kamidana done in the home. Shinto worships for beauty and its tradition on figurative art are also fundamental. The defining features of the Shinto art are openness, deliberate simplicity, and the use of natural elements. Shinto places little emphasis on ethical demands and doctrines (Bernstein, 2009). It focuses on beauty of ritual, an aspect that gives it an important affiliation with the arts. Shinto’s high regard for art is also believed to have inspired today’s Japanese art and architecture. References Bernstein, A. (2009).Shinto Beliefs and Traditions. Sage Publications, Inc. Ozawa-de Silva, C. (2014).HatsumÃ… de, the Visitation of Shinto Shrines: Religion and Culture in the Japanese Context. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199362202.003.0008