Monsters and Criminals
Letter to the Reader
Dear Reader,
As I read the stories of Beowulf and The Canterbury Tales, I noticed one recurring theme: Monsters and Criminals. The theme was common and made the stories what they are. Without these characters, these stories would not be interesting in the slightest. When it came to choosing a multigenre project theme, I could not think of a better idea than monsters and criminals. I found developing this theme very easy for me because I could identify and explain the characters easily. I incorporated wealth into my theme because many of the characters were driven by wealth to commit the criminalistic acts.
While reading these tales, I learned that basic characters have many aspects that help you further understand their actions as you begin to analyze them. I believe that my drawing is a great depiction of Grendel’s mother. It shows that she was not only disliked by Beowulf, but the entire community as their was a reward for her death. While writing my ballad/rap, I found it very difficult to continue the ballad pattern and rhyming while telling the story. The song is hard to piece together and flow while painting a picture of the situation. In the future, I would like to continue the project by creating a video or short film of Beowulf and depicting the tale in more modern terms. I believe that this would be a better way to explain the story to readers who did not quite understand the story in it’s current form.
Sincerely,
Lane Bonderer
Wanted Poster from Beowulf Description
Beowulf Ballad/Rap
Will the Real Beowulf please Stand up?
May I have your attention please?
I'm not afraid (I'm not afraid)
To kill Grendel (to kill Grendel)
Everybody (everybody)
Come take my life (come take my arm)
We'll walk through Denmark, all together, through the storm
Whatever weather, cold or warm
Just lettin Grendel, know he’s warned
Look, Beowulf’s only got one shot, or one opportunity, to sieze everything he’s ever wanted in one moment, is he gonna let it slip? Year 1300!
got mead in his belly, shoulders rough, palms are sweaty
There's food the table already, mead is heavy
‘Wulfs nervous, but on the surface he looks calm and ready to slay beasts,
Grendel keeps on just shredding all these little towns,
The whole castle goes so loud
He pulls out his sword but it won’t work out,
But wait, Grendel chokin now, the Geats are jokin now,
the clock’s run out, shoulder’s OUT
Snap back to actuality, Dragon watch your chest cavity,
Oh there goes Wulf, he won
He’s so glad, but he won’t give up now
No, he hasn’t won it, he knows he gonna go have cope
With Grendel’s Momma, Wolf’s dope
When he goes back to his soldier’s home, that’s when it’s
Back to show no grin, no
This whole dang fight will give thick skin
He better go win the next fight and hope it decapitate him
He better go capture his moment
And I am, a great monster
If I wasn't, then why would I say I am?
In the paper, the news everyday I am
Radio won't even play my jam
'Cause I am, a great monster
If I wasn't, then why would I say I am?
In the paper, the news everyday I am
I don't know it's just the way I am
You better slay me and my momma too
You own it, you better never let it go for you
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance
This opportunity comes and goes in a glance
You better slay me and my momma too
You own it, you better never let it go
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to kill me yo
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime fo sho
So lets go back
Follow Grendel's Trail
Journey through Denmark
This ain’t a Folktale
Well, gotta go, I'm almost at the marsh now
And when I'm gone, just turn and leave, don't mourn
Rejoice every time you hear the sound of my scorn
Just know that I'm looking down on you celebrating
And I didn't feel a thing, So baby don't feel no pain
Just stay and refrain
And when he's gone, just turn and leave,
Rejoice every time you hear the sound of his sleeve
Just know that he's looking down on you cryingBallad/Rap Description
The project is a rap song written by Wagner and I about Beowulf. The theme is criminals have their own thoughts and actions just as everyone else, but they have a different mindset. We use Grendel and his mother’s point of view to describe Beowulf and retell the story. The rap uses many symbols and rhymes to express the details of the story and leave the rest open to the reader's imagination as they comprehend the song. Raps and ballads are extremely similar in how they rhyme and flow. Raps are just to a different tempo of music. Ballads are softer and more gentle while raps are faster paced and more articulated.
Diary Entries from The Canterbury Tales
Dear Diary,
Today, my brothers and I have started on a great adventure. Our objective is to find the privy thief that they call death and slay him so that he may no longer terrorize this area. We were midway into our journey and we crossed paths with an poor old man. After some discussion, he notified us that he had left death under an oak tree. My brothers and I continued towards the oak tree searching for death. Under the tree, we found a plentiful treasure of gold coins. Enough to make us all rich for the rest of our lives. The oldest brother devised the plan to transport the gold at night so it could not be taken. We drew straws to figure out who was to gather supplies in the nearby town for tonight. The youngest brother drew the shortest straw and went to town. While he was gone, the eldest brother created the devious plan for us to kill the youngest brother and split his fortune. After much argument, I agreed. I was to pretend to wrestle him when he arrived and the eldest was to slip behind him and slay him with his dagger. Now I sit under the oak tree unsure of what to think of the plan, while waiting for the younger brother to return.
Until Next Time,
Middle Brother
Dear Diary,
Today my brothers and I found gold under an oak tree while searching for death. We were led to the gold by a poor old man who said he had left death under a tree for us. I was quite confused when I found the gold, but was extremely excited to have it. After drawing straws, I was forced to go into the nearby town to gather bread and wine to last us until the night was over. I gathered the bread and wine quickly. On my errand I began to have greedy thoughts, I thought about how much money I could have for myself with just a little poison in their drink. I went to the apothecary and bought poison for killing rats. I mixed the poison in with my other two brothers’ bottles of wine. I am nervous for how this will play out but excited to have vast wealth for the rest of my life. I am currently heading back to meet them with my two older brothers.
Sincerely a nervous wreck,
Youngest Brother