Blog Assignment #3

I have been intrigued by the role of earthly wealth in the world that Gregory writes about. Professor Glenn is always asking "but why did Beowulf do this?" "what was beowulf's reward?" etc, etc, always looking for the answer of treasure. Material wealth obviously plays an important role in the logic of this world. But isn't that contradictory with what we know of the early Christian religious tenets? In Book One of the Histories, chapter 13, Gregory describes King Solomon and his relationship with material wealth and God..."He [Solomon] scorned earthly riches and asked for wisdom instead...It was Solomon who, in the name of the Lord, built the Temple with wonderful workmanship, using much gold and silver...no comparable building had ever been constructed in the world." This paragraph is interesting because it seems to imply that Solomon's reward for scorning earthly riches was more earthly riches than anyone else on earth. Through other passages in Gregory and our reading of Beowulf we can see that treasure was a central part of culture. But how did these cultures, the Roman and the Anglo-Saxon as understood by Gregory of Tours, reconcile this cultural facet with their clear knowledge of Christian religious pillars?

Blog Assignment #3

For this weeks blog, take a short passage from Gregory of Tours that you find interesting. Post it on the blog (just the citation) along with a paragraph explaining why its stands out to you and what we can learn from it as historians. Make sure that you read everyone else's passages and come prepared on Friday to discuss them along with your own.

*Just a reminder, the blog is due Thursday by 8:00pm. Late posts do not count!

Readings for this week

For Wednesday: Gregory of Tours through Book 3
For Friday: Gregory of Tour through Book 4 and "Laws of the Salian Franks" in the course reader

Future Readings and Assignments

I have been sick for the past couple of days, so I was wondering if anyone could tell me the readings and/or assignments due on Wednesday and Friday. Thanks a lot.

-Adam

Beowulf's arrival to slay Grendel is celebrated by Hrothgar's court because of the heroic character. He is also known through the promise made by his father to repay the Danes for their help in settling a terrible feud. Beowulf is famed throughout for his great strength and power. Yet he does not boast of his power or take advantage of it. He uses his power to do good and protect society. When Beowulf departs he is known for his slaying of the horrible creature Grendel and his vengeful mother. This heroism sheds a new light on his character. He is seen as a valiant warrrior, and is given a high rank among his own people. Thus, his fame shows his character and strength.

In Beowulf, fame is the ultimate achievement. In the Seafarer, the author says that "for every nobleman the best of reputations is glory". He goes on to map out a path to reach glory through actions against enemies and brave deeds against the devil. The theme of fame being attain through warrior like actions continues in the Wanderer. On page 107, the author of that story describes the deaths of warriors in battle as "their glorious destiny." So fame appears to be tied to being a warrior. Whether you are victorious or not, being willing to sacrifice yourself for a just cause is worthy of fame.

blog assignment 2

In Beowulf’s world, fame was often achieved through great deeds on the battlefield or through a leader’s noble wisdom. This would mean that, unless a person was a king or a well-known warrior, he would be relatively unknown. Therefore, people would often borrow the fame of family members, usually a son borrowing his father’s, by declaring themselves as son of [a warrior’s name]. By doing this, one could achieve some renown and make connections with other people. In fact, this borrowing had become so common place that everyone was introduced relative to their father no matter their social standings. However, people, namely Beowulf, eventually performed great deeds, and their fame skyrocketed mainly because kings would reward them and poems or songs would be sung. Interestingly, saints such as Martin and Anthony became famous in similar ways; they performed miracles, word spread, and people flocked to them. Despite this similarity, fame in Beowulf’s world came from a person’s own deeds and thus was something to be proud of, while the saints’ fame was not to be celebrated because it came from God’s borrowed power.