Chesterton, Alfred, and The Ballad

G. K. Chesterton, by Ernest Herbert Mills, 1909.

Today we are beginning our study of a different poem, a poem which is written many years later than Beowulf but one that concerns the life Anglo-Saxon culture just as Beowulf does. This new poem concerns the life of what might be the greatest king England has ever seen. But half way through his life this would not be evident, for he was a much battle-weary and much defeated king in his early reign. But he was a stout-hearted and learned king, whose strength lay in the fact that he was a stout-hearted and learned Christian. This is in part why G. K. Chesterton chooses him as the hero of his poem, The Ballad of White Horse, which celebrates the victory over the viking raiders of the 9th century. "Alfred," as Chesterton tells us, "defended the Christian civilization against the heathen nihilism." That is why we remember him. In this poem, Chesterton does not merely recount the nature of an important battle; he illustrates the antithesis between light and darkness and elucidates the stark difference between pagan nihilism and Christian wisdom.   

Agenda:

1. Pray
2. Read "Genius With a Message" by Deb Elkink
3. King Alfred Unit:
1. Who is G. K. Chesterton?
2. Who is Alfred? 
3. What is a ballad?
4. Read and discuss "Prefatory Note" by Chesterton
1. What hath legend to do with history?
5. Review HW: 
1. Be good.

The Ballad of the White Horse

King Alfred at Winchester.

Yesterday we looked at the author of The Ballad of the White Horse. Today let us focus the main character of this poem. Our objective is to understand the both the significance of this great man, what it meant he means to England, and what we as Christians can learn about how we can preserve the culture.
 
Agenda:

1. Pray
2. Read the "Dedication" of The Ballad
3. Lecture on Setting and Characters (take notes):
1. What is the setting of the poem?
2. What is the White Horse all about?
3. Who is Alfred/characters in poem, and what is the battle of Ethandune? 
4. Read The Ballad together.
1. Love it and discuss it.
5. Review HW: 
1. Study notes.
2. Be good.

Beowulf Exam - Part II

Northern Antiquities,
English translation of the Prose Edda, 1847.
Painted by Oluf Olufsen Bagge.

Today we do battle. We slay monstrous questions and dragonish queries with the sword of truth. Be on your guard, and work quickly and completely. 

Agenda:

1. Pray
2. Weekly Latin Proverb: Ab una disce omnes.  
1. "From one, learn all." From Virgil's Aeneid (Book II, 65), this phrase reminds us that conformity unavoidable and that learning by example happens for good or ill. This relates to education is the sense that in spite of our "learning differences" we still need a standard to which we can look and model. Is not the inevitable effect of education? Even if you "differentiate instruction," the child still conforms to something, but the question is to what is he conforming?  
3. Finish Beowulf Exam
4. Begin Unit on King Alfred and The Ballad of the White Horse.
5. Review HW:
1. Be wise; be perfect.

Beowulf Exam - Part I

ALTDORFER, Albrecht. St George. 1511
Woodcut, 197 x 152 mm
Graphische Sammlung Albertina, Vienna

Today we do battle. We slay monstrous questions and dragonish queries with the sword of truth. Be on your guard, and work quickly and completely. 

Agenda:

1. Pray
2. Beowulf Exam
3. Review HW:
1. Be wise; be perfect.

Beowulf Study Sessions - Part IV

Norse Cosmology. Illustrated by

We have been studying Norse culture and history, which is a series of violent actions and reactions of a brave and strong and cold people. Our objective today is to see the universe and its cosmology the way the medievals themselves saw it, both pagan and Christian. Here we have an illustration of the Norse cosmology.

Agenda:

1. Pray
2. Read the "Worldview" section of Beowulf in the Omnibus Reader (p. 4).
3. Study Packet: review, discuss, and take notes on the major sections of Beowulf:
1. Session XIIII
2. Session XIV
3. Session XV
4. Review HW:
1. Beowulf Exam Friday (11/15). Study your Notes on Anglo-Saxon England and your RJs on Beowulf.  
2. Binder Check Friday (11/15). 
3. Finish reading Beowulf. If you haven't already.Take notes as you read.
4. Be wise; be perfect.