Literary Facts Sophomore 200-level English students still don't get right on their papers on Beowulf and "The Wife of Bath's Tale," even though they have three weeks, and the primary texts to refer back to:
1. Grendel is NOT a dragon.
2. Gentile is not the adjective form of gentility, no matter how Chaucer spelled the word.
3. Beowulf did NOT become king of the Danes after Hrothgar died.
4. The old crone that told the knight "what women want" WAS the very same woman who turned into a young maiden when he "gave her what she wanted."
5. Hrothgar did NOT summon Beowulf to help him. The glory-hungry Geat came of his own volition, TO WIN MORE GLORY.
6. The knight did NOT rape Guinevere.
7. Wiglaf was NOT Beowulf's son, and he did not reign the Geats, or the Danes, in ever-after happiness after Beowulf died.

Their mid-term is next week, and I feel sorry for them. I don't even have the energy to tell you how they dealt with King Lear today. Too tired, going mad, must run onto the stormy moors.

Follow your bliss,
CL