Jackson's fantastic channel on Old Norse myth and literature:@JacksonCrawford His books: jacksonwcrawford.com/books/ His Patreon: / norsebysw ________ This channel's Patreon (thank you to anybody who donates): / simonroper
You referred to the "I hate hearing joy" as something a mustache-twirling villain would feel, as if it were an unrealistic motivation, but there are lots of people in this world who hate the happiness, hope, or success of others, and who will do or say anything to bring them down.
I only recall one permanent miseryguts. An office cleaner. We soon learned never to ask "how are you?" which is a normal add on to hello. But I can't recall ever knowing anyone who actively tried to stop someone else's joy.
Simon, I was wondering if you've ever heard of "Natural Language Aquisition"? It's a method of language teaching/learning that focuses on teaching a second language throught natural aquisition, essentially the same way that small children learn language from their parents. It seems to have extremely good results, better even than "traditional" language teaching methods. Many non-native english speakers learned english this way (through movies, TV, video games, cartoons and anime), and in my experience often speak and write english with complete fluency (albeit with an accent, though still usually a mild one). Anyways, I was thinking that this could be a very good way for people to learn Old English if done right. I've noticed that even you and Dr. Crawford often seem to lack fluency in speech when speaking these old languages, and I figure if you can't speak "conversationally", probably noone can. Maybe you and your friends could start a second channel, only for that purpose? I think I can speak for many of your current viewers when I say I would certainly be interested 😂
From the point of view of the tall-tale teller, the theft of Grendel's arm by his mother is a necessary element. The arm itself bears witness to the fearsomeness (quiet google, it is so a word) and flesh-and-blood being of the fiend, Grendel. Showing all of Hrothgar's folk that the threat they have been under is a true one. "But where then has this gruesome trophy gone? Why was it not kept? Why were not the bones preserved?" the listeners want to know. The tale-teller solves this riddle by having the trophy stolen back by another fiend. And then having Beowulf kill this fiend in a trackless bog or mire, returning with the hilt of an ancient sword as proof of the deed.
