Earth, Wind, & The Shire- Too Funny Not To Use As A Title!

I can't even begin to explain how happy and excited about having Lord of The Rings and Harry Potter as some of the required readings for this course. The Lord of The Rings movies are among some of my favorite. I think it is interesting viewing the central ideas of Harry Potter and the central ideas in Lord of The Rings- because believe it or not they're not terribly different because they contain a lot of similar elements. I also thought it was awesome to see how schooling or the topic of being in school takes an effect or role in Harry Potter because the book was initially created as a children's book and so therefore the idea of school certainly makes it a lot more relatable. It also allows for a place in a story where kids can be with other kids and certainly away from their parents and it provides them an opportunity to figure out who they are and where there are going in their lives. As Harry Potter develops from a shy and quiet boy, you see a growth towards a confident and certainly courageous young man. Or better known as a bildungsroman, as Dr. Mitchell-Buck stated, it is definitely a coming of age story- a story as to where you see someone develop and grow up through age. Being at a school implies that it has a lot of structure as well- they have a school, ministry, sports, hospitals, etc. Further on, I thought it was definitely interesting to see why there was an importance of having a clear cut separation- as far as having a muggle world and a magic or wizard world. The world is just viewed as amazing and spectacular because the muggle world is just so plain, bland, and ordinary. As to where the muggle world also has that element of surprise and mystery and you can always expect something unique, extraordinary, and new happen.

Medeival Musings: Merlin's Magic

I probably got something a little different out of the Prose Merlin then anyone else in class. Primarily because I have read it before, so it was not so much me seeing a new side to Merlin as it was revisiting some of the crazier shenanigans that I had forgotten about. Not so much like a behind the scenes exclusive as it was just re-watching a movie I had not seen in a while.

 

Seriously? How could I have forgotten that Merlin built Stonehenge?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3004/2994518762_fa084b7dc0.jpg

However, I think that this story helps to back up a point that I made before. For much of the Middle Ages magic was not that big of a thing, it was more important how one used it. We have seen this with court astrologers and other supposed magic users who entertained and provided council to the nobles of western Europe. Likewise, Merlin was not condemned for his prophesies, or other magical actions in this story. The only challenge Merlin regularly experiences in this story is not people condemning his magic, but accusing him of being a fraud.

 

"I don't believe you, miraculous talking baby! How could you possibly have magical powers, and thus know the village priest is my father?"

http://ak0.picdn.net/shutterstock/videos/967627/preview/stock-footage-man-shouting-into-a-megaphone-isolated-on-a-white-background.jpg

 

 

Furthermore, no one even tries to persecute Merlin for being fathered by a demon. As we have seen in many later texts, like the Malleus Maleficarum (I'm sorry I keep bringing it up, but gosh darn it, I read about 100 pages of that book and I am going to use it!) there was concern that witches would allow demons to sire children, that the witchs would then use to offer to Satan as sacrifices or future servants. Yet even this, being sired by demons, was not enough to label Merlin as a servant of evil, because God had intervened, thus giving Merlin the ability to choose his fate and thus free will. The only person who actually seemed to scorn Merlin for his demon lineage was Niviane, and I really think that had more to do with the fact that Merlin (an old man) was hitting on Niviane (a 15 year old girl) (page 362).

 

Just saying, that when you're a 15 year old girl you're probably not going to be very keen to get that kind of attention from this guy.

http://www.funfolly.com/g/c/cwiz3tsd.gif

 

 

So, again, I think this text is a good example that in the earlier Medieval period (as in pre-1350s or so) magic itself did not come with the cultural scorn that it would later acquire. In this earlier time, it was to what end one used magic that was important.

 

1 of 5

Superstitions: Then and Now

Well, since everyone else seems to be talking about Thomas Aquinas, I figured I’d go back to our discussion about superstition and magic. In Magic in the Middle Ages, it mentions medieval superstitions such as:

“Those who found halfpennies or needles could congratulate themselves on their good luck, unless they were so foolish as to dispose of these discovered objects, in which case the luck would turn against them. It was lucky to find a horseshoe or an iron nail, or to meet a hare as it was escaping the hounds. To encounter a raven or an ass was unlucky. Some people believed it could be bad luck to meet a monk or a priest unless one made the sign of the cross.”(88)

While we don’t have many of these superstitions today, there are several that still persist in modern society like crossing your fingers, knocking on wood, walking under a ladder, and opening an umbrella indoors. But where did these superstitions come from? A quick Google search reveals a large number of websites with information on the subject. One that I found particularly useful is an article on the Reader’s Digest website which gives possible histories of modern superstitions as well as some others dating as far back as the Egyptians.

The practice of crossing one’s fingers or legs for luck might be traced back as far as the time of Jesus, and it is suggested that the motion is related to the crucifixion. Knocking on wood is sometimes related to the same thing, but the practice could also be traced back to the belief that spirits lived in trees. By knocking or touching the wood, the person would be invoking these spirits. The Reader’s Digest article relates the superstition of walking under a ladder to the ladder criminals would have to climb before they were hanged; however, another article traces it all the way back to the ancient Egyptians. This article on Livescience.com says that the Egyptians believed triangles to be sacred and a sign of the gods. As such, walking through the triangle formed by a leaning ladder was considered hugely disrespectful to the gods. Similarly, the Chinese viewed the opening of an umbrella indoors to be an insult to the Sun, who they considered a god. This slight could bring bad luck or even death.

There is a lot more information on the subject out there, even on these websites. If this interests you, I would encourage that you check out these two articles.

http://www.readersdigest.com.au/superstitions?page=1

http://www.livescience.com/33507-origins-of-superstitions.html

One Man's Musings on Magic in this Medieval Poem: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

This probably my fourth or fifth time reading this passage of Gawain and the Green Knight and I always get a kick out of it. 

There were a few moments that really captured my attention. For example, the Green Knight was surprised that no one took up his challenge (on lines 301-315). A giant green man on a giant green horse burst into the great hall with no warning, issued his challenge (which involves taking turns being hit with a huge sharp ax), and he was surprised that the crowd hesitated? I would not be surprised if a few knights suspected something.

<http://cdn.instanttrap.com/trap.jpg>

 At least from my perspective, if some guy bursts into my dining area and asks casually if I want to do something that should kill him, and then afterwards he will get to do that thing to me, I’m going to think some shenanigans are involved.

Although, I don't know.... This guy looks trustworthy.

<http://api.ning.com/files/YT1pzXfaiucsJdwdca-ZO5Qv8ISow1CjJD2vT8pnUCDPXtRnl86QUgEehhbpEVP8hCQ0CLuNueI*KnuRabEfGpwdu-aNwxZq/knightimage.jpg>

On an even odder note, after Gawain decapitates the Green Knight, and the Knight rides off carrying his own still speaking head, King Arthur and Gawain just start laughing. On lines 462-464 it reads "What thenne? / The Kyng and Gawen thare / at that grene thay laghe and grene" or, in the translated version, it reads "and then? / Well with the green man gone / they laughed and grinned again." This part of the story just fascinates me. A giant green man came out of nowhere, survived being beheaded thus spelling doom for Sir Gawain, and everyone including Gawain just shrugs it off. Granted Arthur was a little surprised, but that's it. According to the translation "Arthur was awestruck at heart" (line 467). He is not worried or concerned for Gawain, Arthur was just surprised. This must be the ultimate testament to the weird stuff that the Knights of the Round Table deal with on a regular basis, because everyone’s repose to this whole situation was essentially "Well... that just happened. On with the feast!"

The Green Knight probably seemed pretty strait forward when compared to this anyway.

< https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/24/Rabbitattack.jpg>

            Overall I think this passage, and the entire text in general, tends to reflect the idea that in the late 14^th century magic was not yet viewed as inherently evil. When the knight first arrived, as unworldly as he appeared and armed with a huge ax, Arthur’s first reaction (on lines 250-255) was to offer him a kind greeting and hospitality. One does not usually respond this way to a person one suspects could be an agent of evil. Even after the knight was decapitated, thus demonstrating supernatural powers of some kind, no one shouts “sorcery!” and goes to burn him. Instead, everyone had a good laugh at this remarkable occurrence and got on with the feast. 

Magic in this story seemed to be treated as either a neutral force (neither inherently good nor evil), or at the very worst magic was viewed as mischievous in nature. I believe this because despite the fact that the Green Knight was clearly magical, he was not treated as a force of evil. The Green Knight was actually treated very well until he started to mock the honor of Arthur’s court. The Green Knight was extended hospitality, allowed to issue his unusual challenge, and then leave once the challenge was done without anyone trying to tie him to a stake and set him on fire.

The magical powers are one thing, but there is no excuse for poor table manners.

<http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Admin/BkFill/Default_image_group/2011/2/18/1298031677605/Tyndale-at-the-stake-007.jpg>

This is why I believe, based on the text that we read, in the 14th century magic was not yet viewed as inherently evil. On a closing note, I invite you to witness the disembodied taking head of the Green Knight, as played by Sean Connery in what seems to be a really cheesy film from the 1980’s.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BrwSroSCvE

This actually happened.

<http://image.toutlecine.com/photos/s/w/o/sword-of-the-valiant-1982-04-g.jpg>

Magic and the Medieval People

Sometimes when I hear the word magic I think of things like Merlin, the evil witches/queens from the Disney movies, fairy tales, and yes, especially ABC’s Once Upon a Time. Personally, I don’t automatically think of demons or devil worship when I think about magic, but it is definitely there. Any culture in the world would have some form of magic, whether it’s considered good or evil or even a mixture of both. When we read medieval literature, we can see a rich history of magic, sorcery and witchcraft. For the most part, I’ve noticed that medieval magic is usually good, especially the magic associated with the Catholic Church. However, there is magic that can be used for evil, selfish reasons or to cause harm to someone.

Looking back now, we can probably say that those in medieval times were coming up with pretty wacky stuff to do with magic. Richard Kieckhefer lists some examples of this in his book, Magic in the Middle Ages: “by anointing yourself with the blood of a lion you can keep yourself safe from all other beasts, and if you smear lion fat over your body you will be secure from snakebite.” (Kieckhefer 76). First off, I wonder how they get the lion’s blood and fat because I’m pretty sure that medieval Europe was not exactly crawling with lions. And secondly, I feel that this could set people up to become victims to charlatans who claim that they have real lion’s blood when it could really be the blood of a cat they found.

But I honestly give them props for creativity in their instructions for magic. And it is interesting to note the Christian influence that can be found in the spells or formulas for the magical procedures. Christianity can particularly be found in magic for protection; an example that Kieckhefer gives is that a “manuscript gives a series of names for God which, if borne on one’s person, will protect against fire, water, arms and poison.” (Kieckhefer 77).

To me magic seems like a comfort blanket to these people. This was not an age of science so they did not really understand a lot of things that were occurring around them. They could not really give a scientific explanation for how a thunderstorm could come on suddenly and destroy their crops or why there was a draught. Today, we could say that it was because of changes in the atmosphere or climate. So to them, it was logical to assume that some sort of magic was involved, whether it was the work of God as punishment or the work of an evil jerk who just wanted people to suffer for some reason. They were also dealing with plagues, poverty in some cases and death, and other things that to them, defied their "natural" explanation. To have something to explain both the good and evil in the world must have helped them keep on going through their lives.

Also, I mentioned the TV show Once Upon a Time above and if you are interested, check out some of the fan art from the show on fanpop. Some of them are really creative and I think are worth looking at. 

 

http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/once-upon-a-time/fanart 

Kieckhefer, Richard. Magic in the Middle Ages. New York: Cambridge University Press.1989. Print.