Animal Symbology in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and...

In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and the Lais of Marie de France, the authors use animals as metaphors for human actions, and as characters. By analyzing the use of these animals, we are able to explore the meaning the authors were trying to communicate through specific scenes. The Book of Beasts, a translation by T.H. White (1984 ed.), provides a medieval standpoint when analyzing the use of animals in the Lais and in Gawain. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, there is specific use of three animals as metaphors for human actions. These animals are the deer, boar, and fox. When Gawain rests with the Lord and Lady on his way to battle with the Green Knight, we see three hunting scenes, which coincide with three seduction, or†¦show more content†¦A fox will feign death in order to snatch up carrion eaters for his food, which is similar, as the author claims, to the devil. The devil snatches up people who live in the flesh, or by the doings of the foxy body (pg 54). In this seduction scene, Gawain is tempted one last time by the Lady, who seems to live in the flesh. Her major role in Gawains visits has been as a temptress trying to make Gawain her lover. By Gawains reaction, it seems that her flirting may be working on him when he states: So faultless her features... / His heart swelled swiftly with surging joys / ...Each joyed in others sight (lines 1761-1767) Yet again, he is able to reject her temptation and the pleasures of the flesh. He states that he has no lover, and will not have one for quite some time. The Lady is disappointed but leaves stating that she must at least give him some token of affection. Gawain accepts the sash, for which he later feels guilty and confesses. In The Lais of Marie de France, there are several animals used as both metaphors and characters. Four lais that include the use of animals are Equitan, Bisclavert, Yonec and Laustic. Whites translation states that equi is the name for a horse in the medieval period, when Marie was writing. The title Equitan is also the name of the king of the story. The king has a great love of hunting and war. According to the Book of Beasts, this is a natural

The Cask Of Amontillado By Neil Gaiman - 925 Words

The past can tell a lot about someone s life and personality. In literature the use of flashback gives insight to both the characters as well as the plot of the story. Both Neil Gaiman’s â€Å"How to talk to Girls at Parties† and Edgar Allen Poe’s â€Å" The Cask of Amontillado† show examples of using this literary device and how it affects the story. Not only does the use of flashback give insight to the character’s background and motivation ,but also affects both stories in tone and characterization. Neil Gaiman’s short story takes place thirty years in the past. Gaiman uses flashback to create tone and suspense. The story begins with two young friends on the way to a party together. However, Gaiman causes the reader to question what will happen later on by interrupting the story saying, â€Å"I’ve not seen Vic for thirty years. I’m not sure that I would know what to say to him if I did† (228). Both Enn and Vic were gr eat friends; however, Enn stating in the future that him and Vic have not talked or seen each other in thirty years shows that something in the story has caused this riff between them. The application of flashback causes the reader to question what in the story has caused this and gives a sense of uncertainty. This example of flashback also acts as foreshadowing towards the plot. What will happen? How did it change their friendship? Gaiman uses words in past tense such as â€Å" in my memory† (230) and â€Å"back then†(233) . The use of these words and diction used gives the

A Day at the Races Essay Example For Students

A Day at the Races Essay My family and I were sitting in our car, on our way to the horse racing as we did every year. My mum was dressed up in her finest clothes for the event. We were listening to the radio and on nearly every channel there was something on to do with the races, looking outside my window all I could see was the shuffling of people on the busy streets, going this way and that way. We werent far away from the RDS only about twenty minutes with the traffic. My dad was getting impatient with how slow the traffic was moving, as he did every year. When we get to the RDS it was about half past twelve and the races were just starting. The entire arena was packed full of men, women and children, all of which were dressed in their best clothes, we were not an exception. My father and brother walked up to the window to place his bet, while my mother dragged me over to the stalls to look at boots, jewelry and hats. My dad soon came over to say that the races would be restarting. I always loved the races, from the hectic, colorful environment to the beautifully groomed horses. My father asked which horse I would like to place a small bet on. I picked a horse named Diamond. When my father showed me the horse I picked out, I saw the most beautiful horse Ive ever seen, prettier then every horse that was at this years race and every years before that. She was a dark brown color and her coat was so shiny, it was almost reflective. Her mane was an amazing platinum color and it was braided. My father bet 100/1 on that horse. Everybody was excited when the races started, my horse had a bad start but soon made a great recovery and was coming up to first place, she passed the first horse just as it was about to cross the finish line, and came in first. All of my family cheered for the horse and we went up to the stall to collect our reward, we won two hundred Euros and my mother and father said that we could get some food a one of the stalls. We went up to one of the food stalls and ordered some fish and chips and a can of coke each. When we were finished eating my brother and father took some of the winning to buy something for themselves, while me and my mother went over to the same stalls that she was looking at earlier and picked out a pretty necklace for herself and I picked out a blue bracelet for myself. My mother and i continued to shop picking out clothes, shoes and jewelry for awhile, but then went back to meet my father and my brother to see one last race before it was time to go home. After the race was over, me and the rest of my family left the arena and walked back to the car. When we got home we were all exhausted and ready to fall asleep on our beds, but we were still a little excited because of the event of the day.