The Unusual Protagonist of Grettirs Saga :: Grettir Saga Essays

The Unusual Protagonist of Grettir's Saga  Ã‚   The decision to make Grettir the protagonist for Grettir's Saga is an interesting if not unusual choice on the part of the author(s). Examination of this atypical choice speaks volumes about the Icelandic society in the 13th century, when it is believed the saga was written down, as well as Icelandic society during the 10th century, when the majority of the action in the saga occurs. Before we begin an analysis and examination of Grettir, however, it is important to understand what a saga is and the purpose it serves. The author of Grettir's Saga is unknown. In fact, there is actually more than one author. Sagas were not written down until the 13th century at the earliest, yet they cover events that occurred even before the founding of Iceland between 830-950 (Hastrup 150-51). The reason for this discrepancy is that sagas began as oral stories. The sagas were passed down from generation to generation orally until they were written down in the 13th century. This is why there are actually multiple authors to the saga. Each time the saga was told, it was not told exactly the same. As the storytellers changed, so to did some of the events of the saga. While the changes made to the saga by the storytellers were not significant to change it's overall meaning, they do have the ability to enhance certain feats by Grettir, attacking the credibility of the story if dwelled upon. However, while certain events may not be completely true, the message that Grettir portrays and the issues that he represents are true and accurate. It is important to remember that the saga was considered a history, but was not to be used as a primary source for information. It served better when considered a vehicle for transporting traditional wisdom based on historical knowledge (Hastrup 143). Grettir was an unusual choice as a protagonist because he was an outlaw. He did not possess many heroic qualities and was not the typical protagonist that was liked by many of the characters in the novel or saga. Grettir was actually disliked by many and constantly in trouble with the law. Grettir's exploits were humane at times and bordered on heroic but his misdeeds weighed heavily against him. The author(s) of the saga took a chance by using Grettir as their protagonist.

Critical Review of Cook,  V. (1999). Going Beyond the Native Speaker in Language Teaching

Critical Review #1 Review: Cook,  V. (1999). Going beyond the native speaker in language teaching. TESOL Quarterly, 33(2), 185. In his article, Cook argues that the emphasis or dependence of native speaker model(NSM) in language teaching is not necessary. It is time to adopt non-native models both for language learning and teaching, and he provides some possible teaching methods. Firstly, Cook defines the native speaker and L2 users.Then he discusses the slight but salient differences between monolingual native speakers and multilingual native speakers in terms of â€Å"multicompetence† so that there is no stable NSM. He also argues NSM is implicit and L2 users are actually using L2 differently instead of deficiently from monolingual bias perspective, which means native-speaker level is not a must, even impractical, to most of L2 users because they do not need to proclaim their identity through the L2 and only few L2 users have achieved native-speaker proficiency.After this series of arguments, Cook proposes some practical suggestions of successful L2 user as models and applying L1 for teaching methods. Cook concludes that more emphasis should be added on the skillful L2 users and on using L1, and teaching language is not to imitate native speakers but to help learners so that L2 learners are successful in terms of multicompetent. In general this article is refreshing, especially 14 years ago. I absolutely agree with Cook that successful L2 learners are â€Å"successful multicompetent speakers, not failed native speakers† (p. 04). In non-English-speaking countries like China where English is neither an official language nor a lingua franca, a simple English native speaker, without teaching experiences or educational professional background, can be admired as a language specialist or an English authority only because he speaks so-called â€Å"pure English†. It is the time, 14 years later after this article has been published, to establish a positive image of nonnative-speaker teachers for the sake of both themselves and their students and for the fanatics of NSM to wake up.While in other places where English is adopted as a lingua franca, the reduction of NSM is more meaningful in the way of being equal, due to the speakers’ various lingual preferences and cultural backgrounds. Actually, nine years before this article, Rampton (1990) had called on the professionals to label native speakers as language experts in order to shift â€Å"the emphasis from ‘who you are’ to ‘what you know’† (p. 99). So in this sense, Cook affords L2 users agency on learning to use L2 instead of to transform their identity into native speakers. However, uncertainties still remain.First, although the author offers the definition of L2 users and even distinguished it from L2 learners, he does not make it specific what kind of languages one uses can be considered L2s in his statement. For example, languag es learned at what age or for what reason can be one’s L2? Or can one who learns L2 as an adult in order to stay alive in English-speaking countries be the same as one who simply uses L2 to serve foreigners in his own country? Second, the author observes that â€Å"students may feel overwhelmed by native-speaker teachers who have achieved a perfection that is out of the students’ reach. † (p. 00) I think the author slightly overstates the students’ fear of native speakers. The author himself admits that some L2 users could pass for native speakers, so why should all L2 learners be taken as not extraordinary in the first place? Also, the NS teachers do not only symbolize fluent target-language speakers, but also a bridge that connects two different cultures, which is cherished by students as well. Furthermore, according to Derrida (1998), language itself is essentially â€Å"oppressive†, thus both native speaker and L2 users are oppressed by languag e and nonnative-speaker teachers could also be overwhelming to the students.Third, since research supports the idea that teachers tend to teach the way they learn (Stitt-Gohdes, 2001), the nonnative-speaker teachers can be a distinguished example of successful L2 user, because such teachers are not only â€Å"fallible† as Cook states or â€Å"presents a more achievable model† (p. 200) but also they can share or deliver their knowledge, experience and strategies of becoming a successful L2 user. Fourth, the author mentions â€Å"successful L2 users† several times but does not give a definition or standard of it.Thus it makes me confused because is a successful L2 user one who is infinitely close to the native speakers? 733 words Reference Derrida, J. (1998). Monolingualism of the other: or, the prosthesis of origins. Standford, CA: Stanford University Press. Rampton,  M. (1990). Displacing the â€Å"native speaker†: Expertise, affiliation, and inheritanc e. ELT Journal, 44(2), 97-101. Stitt-Gohdes,  W. (2001). Business education students' preferred learning styles and their teachers' preferred instructional styles: Do they match? Delta Pi Epsilon Journal, 43(3), 137-151.

21st Century Internet Traps Essay - 1071 Words

21st Century Internet Traps In 21st century, the Internet has become very popular around the world. Since technology has improved, many people can use the Internet at home. From the Internet, people can write or receive emails, get information from around the world, or chat with friends or other people in different countries in instant messages with clear voices and images that shorten the distance from person to person. Also, there is no time limit. One can use the Internet whenever one wants. In addition, it is very inexpensive, so it is a very convenient type of media. However, some companies or people set up a lot of traps through websites, emails, or instant messaging to advertise their†¦show more content†¦From her pictures, I saw that she was very lovely, and at that time, I had a crush on her. Therefore, I provided her with my email address as quickly as possible on the website, and then went to see a NBA match. The match was very exciting. However, after the match, there were more exciting events that happened in my email box. I got 1267 new mails. They were erotic advertising emails, for example something entitled control my body, make you have very happy nights, and cute girl buffet for hungry man. At that time, I thought, Oh my god! I want to make friends with cute girls but not cute bitches. Because of the 1267 mails, my email box failed because it couldnt send and receive emails anymore. Therefore, I had to change to another email account. Those 1267 emails brought me a lot of trouble. I lost my girlfriends love letter in my email, which made her angry with me for several weeks. I had to tell my other friends and my parents that I had changed my email account again. Also, I lost contact with some of my pen pals. Actually, my case was better than my friends. The erotic companies disturb not only the one who sends them contact methods but also the ones whose information is on the websites. My friend put his personal information in a website. He provided not only his email but also his account numbers and some instantShow MoreRelatedEssay What I Would Get Rid of to Improve Life in the 21st Century670 Words   |  3 PagesOur lives are changing, the outstanding growth of our knowledge is increasing every day, yet our changing lives present increasingly complicated problems in an ageing society. Today’s 21st century has much to sort out that may help the upcoming society. The excruciating examination process in which thousands of pressured students who are not fully ready to take an exam, must prove what they have ‘learned’ to aggressive and rapacious examiners, only a minority being selected in the vast marine ofRead MoreThe, The Message Pt. 21424 Words   |  6 Pagesthrough hashtags and protest, many are upset that the American art people have come to rely on, to tell the stories and narrate the experiences of being poor and black, only exist to valorize the crime, money, drugs and sex that come from being poor. Trap Music is a sub-genre of southern rap born in the South. Music heavily laden with dramatic synths, 808s and explicit lyrics that, more often than not, glorify drugs, murder, and sex. In David Fosters Essay Signifying Rappers, he talks about the relevanceRead MoreAfter the September 11th terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre by the Islamic radical group1300 Words   |  6 Pagesissue search warrants that are valid in the judge’s district as well as outside the judge’s jurisdiction. Before the Patriot Act, if an agent wanted to search a suspect’s email, he or she had to get a separate warrant in each district the subject’s Internet Service Provider (ISP) appeared in in order to search the suspect’s email. As the FBI Director continued in his speech to congress â€Å"this frustrating and time-consuming process can be averted without reducing judicial oversight.†(FOOTNOTE 1) The timeRead MoreThe Sexualisation And Popularization Of Femin ism Within The 21st Century1296 Words   |  6 Pages The sexualisation and popularization of Feminism within the 21ST century Introduction Feminism as an idea has been actively intersected and integrated within the western mainstream pop culture progressively since the beginning of the 21st century. Some of the largest players in the current mainstream music scene not only identify as feminist but also encourage their millions of fans to do the same. While this could potentially be a positive influence on a movement that has struggled to gain largerRead MoreEssay On Why Government Should Not Spy On Innocent Citizens825 Words   |  4 Pagesany â€Å"Tom, Dick, or Harry† on the internet. Edward Snowden’s input is as follows: â€Å"I think the NSA almost certainly saw who the intruders were. Why wouldn’t they? But I am also convinced that they saw a lot of other attackers on there, too,† (Andrew Blake - The Washington Times). If this is true than maybe this was an inside job, a trap, or even bait for other hackers to use the stolen program then their I.P. address will be flagged and monitored. The 21st century brings new technology and challengesRead MoreMeasuring Crime1070 Words   |  5 Pagespunishment required for the offender. Myth versus Reality Crime Rates Crime rates for the last quarter century have held a plateau due to the economic relief and the boom of internet entrepreneurs. The relation to property crime and serious crime rate is not directly related to the population but more closely related to the economy. The recession of the twenty second century created a rise in street crime and property crimes. Most of the population relates to the deviance of society inRead MoreHuman Activity Is Responsible For Our Current Warming Trend1471 Words   |  6 PagesJonathon Schuldt (2014:219), around 99.7% of climatologists agree that man-made climate change is a reality, while only 40% of Americans believe that humans are the main driver. This is because we live in societies in which, thanks largely to the internet, everyone is free to express an opinion. On the issue of climate change, we have tons of sites saying one thing, as well as tons of sites saying something the complete opposite. The problem is that the whole debate, clearly scientific based, hasRead MoreHuman Trafficking is Trading People without their Consent1134 Words   |  4 Pagesthat no matter the circumstances it is undoubtedly illegal all o ver the globe and yet it occurs everywhere, everyday, every second and even here in Britain. Ironically, America the country that practically birthed slavery back in the 17th and 18th century and made it the norm had it abolished by the US Constitution in 1865, December 6th thus freeing all the African slaves and announcing them to be free at last. Yet, it was reported by the CNN on June 17th 2011 that between 14,500-17,500 people areRead MoreHuman Activity Is Responsible For Our Current Warming Trend1598 Words   |  7 PagesJonathon Schuldt (2014:219), around 99.7% of climatologists agree that man-made climate change is a reality, while only 40% of Americans believe that humans are the main driver. This is because we live in societies in which, thanks largely to the internet, everyone is free to express an opinion. On the issue of climate change, we have tons of sites saying one thing, as well as tons of sites saying something the complete opposite. According to Schuldt (2014:224 ), politicians, the media, and the publicRead MoreBitcoin: A Digital Currency Created by Satoshi Nakamoto Essay1077 Words   |  5 PagesPPCoin etc., are based on BTC with slight modifications and follow similar analysis. As the novelty of the BTCs is not underestimated, so should not be the capability of the core people who have put their faith in it. The 21st century has seen many examples of aggressive internet activism leading to a revolution in real life. The rapid growth of bitcoins should be attributed to this phenomenon also apart from the obvious utilities of BTCs which are in itself innovative and robust simultaneously. It