Anglo-Saxon Ideals and Beliefs in Literature
Anglo-Saxon Ideals
Fate: The Anglo-Saxon belief in God and fate influenced their culture, outlook on life, and their own independent life paths. It is possible these sometimes contradictory ideals Pagans held so sacred are symbols of human beings’ timeless desire to separate their own behavior and the events of their lives. Fate is a disinclined method of rationalizing why things happen as they do, and a means of blaming occurrences on an unknown supremacy.
Kinship and Loyalty
Loyalty formed the backbone
Read MoreEarly Christianity: Key Events, Councils, and Figures
Edict of Milan
In Milan, Emperors Licinius and Constantine decreed that everyone should have the freedom to follow the religion they chose for their spirit.
Edict of Thessalonica
This edict declared that only Christians, specifically Catholics, were subject to this act, and all others were considered heretics.
Christianity’s New Position in Society
Protected by emperors with economic and legal aid, Christianity became integrated into society:
- Christian calendar: Sunday became the official day off, and
Caravaggio’s Madonnas: Realism and Controversy
Caravaggio’s Madonnas: A Study in Realism
His arms to Heaven, the celestial vault, take us out of the composition. It is a burial of resurrection, not death. The colors and light, ever present. The face of the Virgin is the face of an elderly, mature woman, not the typical Virgin image of the idealized Renaissance. One might ask, “The Virgin?”.
The hands that hold hearts: no difference in skin color (we can make a comparison, though distant, with Michelangelo’s *Pietà *). The arm of Christ, falling,
Read MoreGilgamesh, Ruth, Psalms, and More: Ancient Texts
Gilgamesh’s Quest for Immortality
Gilgamesh’s quest for immortality begins when his friend Enkidu dies. Gilgamesh is deeply affected by Enkidu’s death, and he realizes his own mortality. He embarks on his quest not only to escape death but also to regain the strength that the gods had given him and were now punishing him for his behavior.
Why Did Aruru Create Enkidu?
Aruru creates Enkidu to contend with King Gilgamesh and absorb some of his energy. The people had complained about Gilgamesh’s arrogance
Read MoreThemes in ‘The House of Bernarda Alba’: Social Class, Women, Power
Main Themes of the Work
Social Classes: Lorca presents a town with clearly differentiated social classes. Everyone knows their place and is expected to accept it. The relationship between Poncia and Bernarda, for example, shows that despite having grown up together, a patron and a servant cannot be true friends. They occupy different social strata and cannot be treated as equals. Bernarda most clearly conveys the importance of social class, speaking with contempt of those she considers beneath her,
Read MoreFra Angelico’s Annunciation: Symbolism and Meaning
The Annunciation
Artist: Beato Angelico
Date: 1445
Museum: Museo del Prado
Dimensions: 194 cm
Medium: Tempera on panel
This delicate panel at the Prado Museum depicts the Annunciation of the Archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary. The main subject is complemented by smaller scenes in the predella (the lower section of the altarpiece). These scenes, in reading order, are:
- The Birth of Mary
- Her Betrothal to Joseph
- The Visitation to St. Anne
- The Epiphany of Jesus
- The Transit and Purification of Mary’s Soul after