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How Beowulf Can Save America

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This is the world of 9th Century England, where a society facing the constant threat of decimation finds guidance in the great English epic Beowulf. The poem understands how rage, taking the form of monstrous resentment, vengeful grieving, and venomous greed, can tear a society apart.

The monsters in Beowulf are no less present in America today, taking up habitation in the extreme right, their enablers in the political class, and the cynical and self-absorbed 1%. By examining the poem's namesake, and his monster-fighting tactics, literature professor Robin Bates shows how the poem provides a blueprint for combating the great challenges facing America today and for reclaiming the promise of a society that insures justice, equality, and the promise of a good life for all.

130 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

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Robin R. Bates

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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
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3 reviews24 followers
January 25, 2013
I have read this book and followed the making of this book. I have also read Beowulf by Burton Raffel at the same time.

These 2 books teach you all of this... and more

You learn where UN-seen compassion between two people come to light, and you learn from the day this compassion started people to talk false truths. One must achieve a goal or two, to be able to stop anger, a respect sort of speak, besides empathy. Miracles come when miracles please, (with a little help with a secret ease) and parents should never forget this grace. Breathe in patience, and bathe away pride and resentment. Today upon reading page 80, the poem talks about when Beowulf spoke of the eldest son comes to the court he will find a host of good friends among thee. Well good to say this, because coincidentally today I have found that my oldest son is watching Poetry Train and has added to a wiki page on his own about //////, this makes me beyond happy, and tells me the path is good, and wider it becomes for those behind the train. Called ////////...

These ///// are here because I need no static from Goodreads...


You learn to fight anger within, and with those who have it, in two forms, the speaking and the plotting. You learn to expose vulnerabilities, only in a way for friendship and compassion. When reacting to anger with anger, no one wins but anger... Learn to deal with resentment, and those with resentment, furthermore you learn not to be naive, that everyone will not get along. You learn you can't negotiate with anger since such anger is closed to reason, so you scope your reasons if you want a solution. You learn to identify. Tools, love and resolve, respect and conviction. A dis-spirited person eats away at our- we can do spirit. And depression is a severe problem, and it's all around. Like Beowulf we have stumbled. No matter how much grief is striking at our hearts, feelings as loss we must stand strong to save ourselves and America, furthermore to rediscover hope. America's founding principles, "Liberty & Justice for all" ultimately prove more powerful than grief and resentment. Fighting the good fight is always rewarding no matter who sticks there with you or not. The reward is the gift from hope you had faith and strength in.

In the last six months, and actually 4 1/2 years. I have noticed people become monster like from their economic life that has come under attack, and I have in a way but not really. I have felt more hurt and betrayed more then anything. These people that I know have closed their eyes to love and humanity. (I'd rather not know, it's best if I was just a robot.) I personal will not give up on love & life, and personally I believe love & life is a gift from the great creator. Or shall I never give up on innovation, poetry, poets, the railroad, and humanity. Self discipline everyday in wisdom and love I say. I shall not walk away from the good fight, being alone or not, period. Squeeze them pennies and keep thou word. Onward, says Charlie, and the Bates, furthermore many of all ranks here and there that know me... The Poetry E Trains' //////// (as the Wiglafs to Beowulf) shall come. As I have written in my poem "Time Storm." Truths are the greatest logs that surface and re-surface and float through time, it's just a matter of getting down to the muddy rivers of time/times, and camping and living upon the shores and witnessing their being, touching them to learn from, furthermore them swords will reveal themselves, it all depends in how keen you be, patience and endurance... Love & faith can bend holes in this world so miracles do come. Lol, oh ya.... The battle for Love and America is very well worth it.


Luck is Confidence. period.


Empathy vs. Anger

Empathy is the ability to communicate and lead by understanding others’ thoughts, perspectives, and feelings.

Benefits of being of being able to empathize with others include higher self-esteem, more self-confidence, stronger personal relationships, and improved working conditions.

We usually empathize most easily with people we know and care about.

Empathy is built through and understanding of ones self, or self-awareness. The more individuals can understand their own thoughts, feelings, and emotions, the more they can understand someone else’s.

Empathy is a learned behavior. Like all skills, empathy can be taught, practiced and enhanced.

To be human implies the ability to communicate, understand and get along with other human beings. The failure to read another persons’ feelings can be a major problem in the human experience. With empathy, humans can possess a higher degree of sensitivity towards others.

The absence of empathy is directly related to criminal behaviors and problems in managing anger and stress.

The roots of empathy sprout at a very your age (1 to 2 years old). Research has shown that, while infants possess a capacity to learn how to be empathic, they must be shown how to use and develop and already existing abilities. Infants learn empathy from caregivers. In turn, infants learn how to understand others feelings. A lack of empathy in the parenting process results in a lack of empathy when children become adults.

Acceptance is the ability to recognize that family, friends, classmates and co-workers have a right to their feelings.

Improve your communication skills. This will lead to better understanding and increased empathy. Some basic tips to improve communication:

Learn to listen with your heart. Pay close attention to nonverbal messages. Nonverbal messages are so powerful because:

1) They tend to be more trusted.

2) They seem more emotionally charged.

3) They express universal feeling.

4) They are a more natural form of communication.



As they say there are three sides to every story, yours, mine and the truth... so


You can't alter the facts to fit the view or alter the view to fit the facts because the facts alter your view.___ quote The Poetry E Trains' Electric Owl...



Thank you Robin Bates, very very much...
17 reviews1 follower
September 8, 2022
Interesting idea but absolutely fails as a political or literary metaphor.
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