Aimee Morrison on blogging

My first initial impression of the article was it was a lot to take in, at first it was a little bit confusing but after reading the article twice it became a lot clearer and things begin to fall into place. After reading the article I can honestly say you get a better understanding of blogging. The article was very informative and after reading the article, blogging becomes better understood. It is clear Aimee Morrison knows a lot about blogging as she describes exactly what they are and how they have changed in popularity over the years. Throughout the article we can see how blogs have become more popular among people, especially after the 2004 American elections. Blogs appear to be getting more popular year after year, as nearly 54 million blogs were published as late as 2006.

This article is very informative throughout and Aimee Morrison use of simple English helps you get a better understanding about blogging. However the article is extremely long and at times it can be a little all over the place, as there is so much and that can be distracting from the main points being issued. She uses a lot of statistics that make no sense unless you know about blogging, however they support her argument that blogs have become more popular and the way people use them has changed a lot over the years. Over all it was a good read and very informative on the topic of blogging.

Link to the Aimee Morrison article.....

http://www.digitalhumanities.org/companion/view?docId=blackwell/9781405148641/9781405148641.xml&chunk.id=ss1-6-1&toc.depth=1&toc.id=ss1-6-1&brand=9781405148641_brand

Robin Hood

Over the years the tale of Robin Hood has been depicted in many different ways, however there is one strong aspect that has never been changed throughout time. Throughout the centuries Robin Hood has constantly been described as a heroic figure. From ancient plays like A guest of Robyn Hode, a 16^th century play that depicts Robin Hood as a heroic figure.  To modern day interpretations like Robin Hood prince of thieves, and the 2010 film of Robin Hood. All of these interpretations of the tale depict Robin Hood in very similar ways.

Throughout time it is clear the tale of Robin Hood has not changed. He is still described as a strong noble heroic figure. The 1991 movie Robin Hood prince of thieves describes Robin Hood as Robin of Locksley, an English noble man who escaped foreign imprisonment.  The movie depicts Robin as a brave man with noble birth. The movie shows how the tale of Robin Hood has not been altered throughout time. In the movie prince of thieves King Richard is away and the callous sheriff of nothing ham is in control, Robin of Locksley is seen as a heroic figure as he helps the outlaws in the forest. He evidently becomes their leader, not by force but by the will of the people. We can see not much has changed since the 16^th century play, A guest of Robyn Hode  were a similar situation occurs when Robin is chosen to be the leader of the outlaws.

Similarly this aspect of Robin Hood can be seen in the 2010 film of the heroic figure. The movie is set in 1199 and Robin has a different name, he is Robin Long stride a common archer in Richard the lion hearts army. There at war with Philip II of France and once again Robin is portrayed as the heroic figure of the story. Although both movies described are similar they deal with a different aspect of the hero in comparison to Robin Hood and the monk.

Robin Hood and the monk takes a different aspect of the tale of Robin Hood, in both the story and how it portrays him as the heroic figure. Robin receives a letter instructing him to go before the king, with regards to the losses the monk has suffered. In this version of Robin Hood little John plays a big part in his role as a hero figure. It is surprisingly little John who saves Robin and helps him escape from prison. This aspect is not often portrayed but it shows how different people have interpreted the tale of Robin Hood over the centuries. “The legend is frequently re-worked and re-visited, yet it retains certain core concepts and features that make it instantly recognisable, and that an audience be it late medieval or early 21^st century will come to expect” In Robin Hood and the monk this aspect is portrayed throughout as it is little John who saves Robin, yet it is Robin Hood himself that is portrayed as the heroic figure in the text. It is clear that no matter which tale you read or movie you see, strong aspects of the character have remained the same throughout time and they are the key issues people relate to when discussing the heroic figure of Robin Hood.    

The !3th warrior

The 13^th warrior depicts the hero as a man from another world, it is extremely similar to the depiction of the hero in Beowulf although both texts are relatively the same, and the way in which the story of the hero is told is extremely different. From Beowulf with Grendel and the dragon to the 13^th warrior with the Wendol, both versions deal with the hero as a savier from across the sea. The 13^th warrior depicts the hero as an outsider from another land. This aspect of the depiction of the hero can be seen in both Beowulf and the Lord of the Rings. Ibn Fadlan comes across the rusiyyah and he initially sees the Northmen as savages. Their behaviour shocks Ibn Fadlan as it is not the behaviour he appears to be accustomed to. The 13^th warrior is another depiction of the tale of Beowulf although it is told in a different way.

Idn Fadlan goes with the North men to help other North men who are in trouble. The North men come from across the sea to fight the wendol like Beowulf comes across the sea to fight Grendel in other versions of the epic tale. The hero in both texts comes from across the sea, the sea almost has this magical effect as it brings with it heroes who help the king fight the evil. The 13^th warrior and Beowulf both deal with the evil lurking within the far depths, of the murky cave. The Wendol are perceived as savages by the North men. They are thought of as inhuman and cannibals, eaters of the dead. They are the unknown that the people fear and the hero does not. The North men have an enemy different in terms of structure and code of their society. This aspect is similar to that of Beowulf where Grendel attacks the people at night in the great hall. Similarly the Wendol attach when it is dark and foggy in the 13^th warrior. The hero however in both texts is not afraid of the creatures that lurk in the night, they are brave and ready to fight to the death if needs be.

Both texts deal with similar issues. The symbolism of dying is important in both texts especially in the 13^th warrior. The dying king at the beginning of the 13^th warrior has great significance. The king is of great importance and Ibn Fadlan describes this importance in his text. When the king dies all of his belongings such as his sword and jewels are put next to him so he will have them in the afterlife. The king slave girl is killed so she can accompany the king on his journey. Ibn Fadlan describes the brutality of the slave girls sacrifice in his text. “Six men entered the pavilion and all had intercourse with the slave girl. They laid her down besides her master and two of them took hold of her feet, two her hands. The crone called the angel of death placed a rope around her neck...and handed it to two to pull it. She advanced with a broad bladed dagger and began to trust it in and out between her ribs” Here we see the savagery of the North men as seen and described by Ibn Fadlan. Here we see the for a female to be a hero she must be sacrificed with a man, women as it would appear are not seen as heroic for their actions unless it involves a man. Women are second class when it comes to their men.  The hero is depicted as something only for the men.  There is a huge importance of men in the North men society as there is in Beowulf. Women in both the 13^th warrior and Beowulf are a huge feature in both societies however women are never depicted as the hero of the day and they are seen as the peace makers, caregivers  and only the Queen is seen as an advisor.

Caedmans Hymn

Caedmon’s Hymn is a religious hymn about an angel appearing to Caedmon completely out of nowhere. Caedmon is surprised by the visit the hymn uses a lot of accumulative phrases for god. Caedmon’s hymn enforces the idea of God by using many different phrases for the same thing EG: Keeper of heaven, Father of glory, Almighty Lord. These different terms all represent a Catholic God, here the idea of God is being enforced. Caedmon believes the person appearing to him is an angel, a servant of God. Caedmon in the beginning sang the poem as he lived in a time when a lot of the population were illiterate. Although Caedmon could not sing before the angel appeared after his vision Caedmon was able to sing. With Caedmon fitting the different words into a riming scheme it would make the poem easier to remember. Oral pagan culture is being captured by Catholic literate culture. Caedmon doesn’t write down the poem in English but in Latin.

 

     Caedmon’s hymn has great significance as it was the beginning of English poetry. The story is not an origin myth of English poetry but rather a miracle story about Abbess Hild. Caedmon had great significance as he was able to harness native poetic tradition to handle Christian themes. Caedmon’s hymn is thought to be the first oral poetry thought worth recording in writing. The poem deals with religious terms about god and about angels. Caedmon is filled with a lot of praise for God, it is like seeing the angel made him a lot more appreciative of God. The poem describes how god made man and middle earth for them to stay, with heaven as there roof. The poem describes god as the keeper of mankind and heaven as the eternal afterlife