Pardoners Tale/ Beowulf Essay

The comprehension of literary history gives us insight into the past, recognition of diachronic events and impairion written into the works of those who were present. By including societal behaviors, political tensions, and cat valium folklore, authors suck up indirectly provided the reader with a broader and deeper take ining of the books, as hygienic as the period in which it was written. Besides insight into society as a whole, literary history has provided future writers with models of poetic device, style and contentedness influencing literary works in todays present.Literary history is a fomite to understanding the past and plays a major role in its check on literature up to and including the present day. Knowledge of diachronic literature gives us insight into the traditions and societal conventions of the time in which the piece was written. whiz outstanding example comes from Anglo-Saxon times. Beowulf is a literary work which en up to(p)s a reader to glimpse non only the societal customs just into the savage and seemingly uncontrollable environment of the first century.In the passage of arms amid Grendel and Beowulf it appears as though Grendel is represented by the degraded machinate of human life striveing to gain power through violence, in his attempt to all(a) overthrow Hrothgar and take control of Heorot, he is fatally wounded by Beowulf. The Beowulf poet describes Grendel and Beowulf as Both .. enraged, fury filled, the two who meant to control the hall. (Beowulf 36). The fight over control of the hall, could be seen as a representation of the struggle between good and evil, or perhaps the control of the king, over uncontrollable people. fetching into account the explanation of Grendel, a reader may also indicate that the tartar symbolizes a panic from outside the human realm. One notes that the dragon is not given the humanistic qualities of Grendel, he has no kin and appears to have no mortal thoughts. Due to his lack of humanistic characteristics, the reader may believe that the dragon is less representative of a human threat such as a human-like enemy. One begins to understand a bantam from the Anglo-Saxon period as well as some of the hedonist values from denotation this piece of work by the Beowulf poet.Another, much subsequent example supporting historical representation in a literary work, in this case religious tension, is evident in Chaucers The forgivers Tale. The forgivers Tale was written in a time when the Age of Faith was passing into an age of skepticism and all authority was being called into question by the English public. The church was frustrate at a time when, if anything, it should have been protecting its followers.It was making no attempt to secure faith through true belief only if instead portraying salvation and redemption as an item to bought and sell by the church. In Chaucers description of the Pard integrityrs feelings nigh being the absolver of sins he writes Fo r myn entente is not but for to winne for my intent is not to but make money (Chaucer 67) . Chaucers use of satire and his description of the Pardoners morals is a deep reflection of the religious and corrupt tensions of this period in history.Literary history generates great interest in the modern world and it is also imperative that we understand it so that we ar aware of its vast influence all over the world. It engulfs whole historical periods and allows the audience a glimpse into the life and times of the author. Through the reading of Beowulf a reader is able to catch a glimpse of the heathen societal culture. In Chaucers poem The Pardoners Tale one abide see the shift in faith from the devout, to the skeptic.Through his satire, the audience is able to grasp the idea that the world was changing. Following the line of literary history, one observes the influences of one writing style over another and can understand that it plays an important role in understanding our presen t world. It explains major literary traditions, movements and authors of a country and region, it also allows the audience a porthole in which to experience the past and use it to influence future literary works.