It is said that up to thirty thousand men may have died at the battle of Hastings, a conflict that occurred almost one thousand years ago. World War II, which lasted less than seven years, has been estimated to be responsible for up to forty million deaths. Thus, many people often ask the question why? Why does such conflict occur? Who or what is responsible? The culprit does not hide nor has it escaped scrutiny and blame. It comes in many shapes and sizes, faces and places. It is called violence and the potential for it resides in every single person on this earth. Whose violence conquers all? It is hard to measure the significance of violence, especially when it can cause so much destruction and death as well as stimulation. However, violence cannot simply be explained as male testosterone since women have and continue to demonstrate the ability to be violent as well. It also cannot be explained as a by-product of rage, jealousy, greed, or stupidity. No. Violence is an innate human quality and one may even go so far as to call it a necessary human function. Violence is a building block of society. A tool even; it helps shape and evolve society. For example, the Napoleonic Wars are described on the Canadian Encyclopedia website as having “greatly stimulated the export economy of the Canadas (Upper and Lower) and the Maritimes…” and that the result (of the wars) was responsible for the “development of the Canadian forest industry...” Violence (conflict) is necessary to producing social change and an improved society. The theme of violence in Beowulf is portrayed by the character Beowulf’s presence, usefulness and hero status in the poem with the understanding that violence is a necessary function of society. Violence also extends ...
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... seems fitting that Beowulf’s worth to society is parallel to his capacity for violence. Because violence is an essential tool used to produce social change and improve society men like Beowulf will always be needed. Whose violence conquers all? Beowulf’s violence conquers Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragons’ violence in the poem Beowulf. Revenge is proven to be a tool used to facilitate the cyclical nature of violence and conflict through these three monsters and in each instance a change occurs. Society is changed and improved through these conflicts and these conflicts are solved through violence.
Works Cited
Kendall, Diana, Linden, Rick and Murray, L. Jane. Sociology In Our Times: 5th Canadian Edition. United States: Thomson Wadsworth.
“Beowulf.” Norton Athology: English Literature. Ed. Seamus Heaney. New York: Norton & Company Inc. 2006. 29-100.
Heaney, Seamus. Beowulf: A New Verse Translation. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2000. Print.
Nisell R. (1985) Mechanics of the knee: A study of joint and muscle load with clinical applications. Acta Orthop Scand 216; 1-42.
Frank, Roberta. “The Beowulf Poet’s Sense of History.” In Beowulf – Modern Critical Interpretations, edited by Harold Bloom. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1987.
Curtis, J. E., Tepperman, L., & Albanese, P. (2012). Sociology: A Canadian perspective(3rd ed.). Don Mills, Ont: Oxford University Press.
The Taiga Biome is a large, naturally occurring community of flora and fauna occupying a major part of both Siberia and North America. It is usually found at high elevations at more temperate latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere. It is the largest terrestrial biome on earth, covering around 50 million acres of land (NP, UC Santa Barbara). It is known for its subarctic climate that ranges between -51 to -1 °C in the winter and -21 to 7 °C in the summer. The two main season found in the taiga are summer and winter as autumn and spring are usually very short and barely noticeable. Winter makes up around six months of the year, with only around 50-100 frost-free days during the summer. Summer is also the season during which the taiga receives the most precipitation in form of rain. The remainder is made up of snow and dew, which adds up to around 30-85cm of precipitation yearly (NP, S.L. Woodward).
The brawl experienced by the epics central character Beowulf test his ethics his aptitude to prevail over sinister forces. All the way through its authoritative use of metaphors and illustration, Beowulf sketches a transparent difference between good and evil. Moreover good always prevails over evil. The ...
Anderson, D. I., & Sidaway, B. (2013) Kicking biomechanics: Importance of balance. Lower Extremity Review Magazine.
In any classic story about heroes and villains, the monsters involved are often characterized as the evil ones and, consequently, receive no justice under the law. Throughout the epic story Beowulf, the hero of the story encounters three monsters that are threats to society: Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon. The monsters in Beowulf are quickly targeted and destroyed because of the harm they cause to society. However, upon further examination of the monsters and the motives for their actions, the reader can view the monsters not as the cutthroat villains they may initially appear to be, but perhaps as victims of society. In today’s society, murderers and robbers are also portrayed as “monsters” because of the atrocious crimes they commit. While it is undeniably wrong to commit any kind of crime and I do not wish to condone murder or theft in any way, there may also be an ulterior explanation for why these modern “monsters” cause harm to society. In comparing and contrasting the monsters of Germanic epic with criminals of today, perhaps we can gain some insight into the motivation of both.
Wright, David. “The Digressions in Beowulf.” In Readings on Beowulf, edited by Stephen P. Thompson. San Diego: Greenhaven Press,1998.
Warfare is a prominent theme in Beowulf . The reasons and conduct for and during warfare are mentioned and displayed throughout the poem. The reason for warfare is usually for retribution. As an act of revenge, battles are fought. The conduct is also very standard and prevalent. All warfare fought by honorable men had to be fought fair. If the opposing side bore no weapons, then the other side also used no weapons. The author of this poem depicts himself/herself to be an advocate of warfare. By idolizing Beowulf because of his heroic deeds during warfare, the poet makes armed conflict courageous and noble.
Tatchell, Peter. "The Long Fight Against Animal Testing." Guardian.com. N.P. July 2009. Web. 21 Nov. 2011.
...ust be special, be a staple of an important era of culture. Beowulf is a true testament, of art that has stood the test of time, and lots of it. To add to the intriguing piece of literature by itself it’s almost sad to know that the credit for the phenomenal epic poem cannot be given to any one author, especially since the story has had many involvements with western culture from movies to playwrights. Through the thorough examination by both scholars and critics alike, the portrayals of good vs. evil, masculinity, and mortality have caused many areas of further research into the mind of Beowulf in this 6th century Scandinavian culture. Furthermore we learn the true characteristics and actions a man must do to die with honor from those around him. Maybe not so much the brutal massacres and demons and monsters, but the loyalty and the wisdom is a good place to start.
Murray, Jane Lothian, Linden, Rick and Kendall, Diane. (2011). SOCIOLOGY IN OUR TIMES, Fifth Canadian Edition by Nelson Education Limited, Published by Thomson Wadsworth, USA.
What is Biomechanics? It is the study of forces and their effects on the living system (McGinnis, 2013). In this essay, I will be looking at the biomechanics of running. Running, as well as any other sport requires skills for which advancement is due to consistent deliberate practice and effective development. However, runners should establish a training system that actively builds their original running pattern instead of basing it on what works well for others. Understanding the biomechanics of running gives a better knowledge of their running techniques and points out areas of concerns that require improvement. Despite the fact that running is dependent on the interaction of the whole body, breaking down the running pace into single components allows us to further understand how minor changes can increase improve performance and decrease injury risk.
The purpose of the squat is to train the muscles around the knees and hip joints, as well as to develop strength in the lower back, for execution of basic skills required in many sporting events and activities of daily living. Because a strong and stable knee is extremely important to an athlete or patient’s success, an understanding of knee biomechanics while performing the squat is helpful to therapists, trainers, and athletes alike (11). Because most activities of daily living require the coordinated contraction of several muscle groups at once, and squatting (a multi-joint movement) is one of the few strength training exercises that is able to effectively recruit multiple muscle groups in a single movement, squats are considered one of the most functional and efficient weight-bearing exercises whether an individual’s goals are sport specific or are for an increased quality of life