My hero has fallen. Beowulf stands no more. But I feel as if the time has come unexpectedly. Had the warriors acted how they should have, Beowulf's life would have been spared. He fought for their lives and protected our country with his life, and his very own people could not even offer their own protection.
I do not know what horrors lie ahead. I fear the future. Our country now lies in the hands of its invaders. I pray that we have the strength to survive. I cannot believe I allowed this to happen. If only I had helped Beowulf sooner.
Regrets are better left unspoken.
Although it was quite short, I felt like it had a type of poetic quality to it; did you mean to do that? The last line, "Regrets are better left unspoken", holds true in two senses. For Wiglaf, his regrets are definitely better left unspoken. As the new leader, showing too much regret or weakness could jeopardize his standing; he would need to be strong, at least superficially, at a time like this. Regrets in real life are also sometimes better left unspoken because of the nature of regrets themselves. They are the past, and while dwelling over the past can sometimes provide a learning experience it can also sometimes leave you stuck in the past; unable to continue on with your own life.
ReplyDeleteYeah, you kind of had a whole "Brevity is the soul of wit" thing going here. I think that this is made a lot more powerful because of it's short length, and I think that the last line ties that all together. Well done, a bit depressing, but well done.
ReplyDeleteI think that it made sense that the entry was so short because it matches Wiglaf's character. Though Wiglaf's thoughts may have been many, it seems as though his words would have been few and I feel that you did a good job demonstrating what Wiglaf would say. It does all sound a little nihilistic, though...
ReplyDeleteJeremy,
ReplyDeleteYour level of word choice is superb. It reads as though you were reading straight out of the poem. It was concise, but I love that because it was to the point and used great expressions to say what Wiglaf would have said. There is also such a dismal and depressing tone to it which I think is perfect for the character.
In this post your brevity is your strength. The fragmented nature of Wiglaf's thought really serves to highlight the jarring nature of Beowulf's death. The final line, "Regrets are better left unspoken" truly exemplifies the warrior virtues of the tribes. Talking about one's regrets would only call attention to weakness, and your writings definitely are in line with this cultural belief.
ReplyDeleteJeremy, you spoke well here. As everybody above me put it, your writing style fits perfectly with the despair and regret Wiglaf is feeling at the time. I especially like the evolution from placing blame on the other soldiers to placing blame on himself. Screw word count, this transcends simple writing--this is poetic wit and mastery. Well done Jeremy.
ReplyDeleteJeremy, although you do provide some great insight, I question the level of effort you put in to this perspective. I feel as though you need a little bit more "meat" in your point of view as it seems short. It's a good start Jeremy.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes, Z
Jeremy, although your rendition of Beowulf is very short, it is very good. It really captures the epic's writing style. I applaud your your use of syntax and punctuation, both of which mimic the original work. Keep up the good work Jeremy!
ReplyDeleteA positive set of comments from your readers, despite (even because of?) the brevity of the piece.
ReplyDelete