tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785065039608350318.post7775635133072200139..comments2023-09-07T04:49:10.648-07:00Comments on Literature and the Contemporary: Journal of a Warrior—RevisedAdamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16302919444091859459noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785065039608350318.post-27116544113863829452011-02-27T20:03:54.277-08:002011-02-27T20:03:54.277-08:00I like all of the changes in this revision. There...I like all of the changes in this revision. There are too many to respond to all of them, of course, but I liked the development of Wiglaf's relationship with his son (although that's an example of a place where I could have done with still more details, and I like the development of Young Wiglaf's relationship with his father. While I don't think the revised parts showed much of a development in your *style*, I do like the style of the new sections better than that of the old ones.<br /><br />I did like this version, in other words. My critique is that you missed opportunities, I think, to respond more to the *substance* of the poem. For instance, you are coming very close to making Wiglaf perform a kind of critique (but one from inside the system, not from our viewpoint) of the concepts of kinship, state, etc. within this culture.<br /><br />Simiarly, there is an opportunity at the beginning to really challenge what Wiglaf probably sees as the role of women within his world. Should you have expanded on that? Maybe, maybe not. What I'm trying to argue is that you come very close to making Wiglaf into a kind of proto-intellectual, who values Beowulf not only for who he is, but what he represents - that's the element of the poem that could have used some further development. One way to do it would have been to expand your story beyond where the poem ends - trying to portray what Wiglaf does as a leader (or the leader) of his people after Beowulf's death. It seems a little odd that you never expanded into that interesting territory.Adamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16302919444091859459noreply@blogger.com