The norms of a society and the way it functions can be reflected in its legal system. This notion

“[Grendel’s] mother had sallied forth on a savage journey,/ grief-racked and ravenous, desperate for revenge” (Beowulf, 1276-1278). Her desire to avenge her son is carried out, but it ultimately leads to her death. Beowulf’s desire to garner fame and respect overpowers all of the raw emotion and anger felt by Grendel’s mother. She serves the purpose of showing the purest form of revenge, and how its blindness can lead to one’s demise.

The rigid and confined society of the Danes also shaped the way its people think and act, but also influenced greatly on the writings. Given the fact that metaphors and kennings are common in Old English literature; the representation of “evil” is also something not to be taken on a literal level. “Edgetho had begun a bitter feud / Killing Hathlaf, a Wulfing warrior” (459-460), inter-tribal feuds, therefore, are also a destroyer of peace. Grendel takes on a form that is left uncertain; its real meaning hidden behind the metaphorical mask of a monster, is the never-ending battles between tribal armies (namely, the Danes, Geats, Frisians, and the Swedes) that had disturbed the tranquility people had longed for. It is almost a barrier of peacekeeping, hider of hope. Hence, it is represented by Grendel, a great evil hated by many, whom

A norm is a behavior or unspoken rule that society has deemed as normal or acceptable. Those who do not follow the norms of a group may be shunned or looked at as different. The norm I will be violating for my project is asking people that I am unfamiliar with to do something simple for me. It is not common for a stranger to ask another stranger to do something that they are seemingly able to do. This norm acts as a mechanism of social control by keeping people from talking to those who are unfamiliar. It also puts forward the idea that we should be able to do all simple tasks ourselves. To break this norm, I am going to wear tennis shoes with one of the laces untied and ask strangers passing by to tie my shoe for me.

Heardred’s mistake in offering hospitality to the sons of Ohthere results in him being “mortally rewarded with wounds from a sword” (2386). Onela’s treatment of Heardred’s hospitality as treachery results in a cruel parody of hospitable exchange: a fatal sequence of assault and revenge. The fate of Heardred also serves to reaffirm that hospitality in this poem can never wholly seal itself from treachery and peril. Later on, in his report to King Hygelac after returning to Geatland, Beowulf speaks of how Hrothgar attempts to make peace between the Danes and Heathobards by marrying his daughter Freawaru to Ingel. In spite of the feud between the two sides, the Heathobards are obliged to host and entertain the Danes since a Danish princess is marrying the Heathobard king. But as Beowulf mentions, “the spear / is prompt to retaliate when a prince is killed” (2029-30). Paradoxically, the system of reciprocity here becomes a source of both Heathobards’ hospitality (as host) as much as their desire to retaliate against the Danes. Ultimately, the force of grievances outweighs the bond established through the offering of the bride as a gift: a guest who wears the heirloom snatched from the host’s father has betrayed hospitality, which invites retaliation from the host. This suggests the limitations of hospitality as a principle of socio-economic

Once again, Hrafnkel, reiterated the importance of an oral agreement and stated that “warning wards off blame.” Since Einar did indeed ride Freyfaxi, he was inevitably responsible for his own death. Even more so, Einar decided to ride Freyfaxi despite having several other horses to choose from; even though the other horses ran away he did not put any effort into mounting onto another horse. Einar’s murder was simply the ultimate punishment for his wrongdoing and breaking the law between Hrafnkel and him.

"The state is an organization of violence, a monopoly in what it is pleased to call legitimate violence (Gardner, 119)." This excerpt from John Gardner's Grendel shows one of the many issues he deals with in his satire of man, and that is the issue of the use of violence in society. Gardner shows this throughout the book, but most prominently in chapter eight, in which we learn of the arrival of Hrothulf, Hrothgar's nephew, at Herot.

There are many ways to decide what makes a man guilty. In an ethical sense, there is more to guilt than just committing the crime. In Charles Brockden Browns’ Wieland, the reader is presented with a moral dilemma: is Theodore Wieland guilty of murdering his wife and children, even though he claims that the command came from God, or is Carwin guilty because of his history of using persuasive voices, even though his role in the Wieland family’s murder is questionable? To answer these questions, one must consider what determines guilt, such as responsibility, motives, consequences, and the act itself. No matter which view is taken on what determines a man’s guilt, it can be concluded that

Does culture change the law, or does the law change culture? Many historians have tried to answer this question but none can agree on the answer. In response to this question I will be using historical evidence to support both questions because both can be right. In 1933 Adolf Hitler and his Nazi Party seized power in Germany. Soon afterward, the Nazi Party began to make laws against Jews. Slowly, laws and propaganda made people show resentment toward the Jewish people. This is an example of the law changing culture because laws and propaganda made people believe that Jews were evil. In a 1954 case titled, Brown vs. Board of education of Topeka, It was ruled that separate but equal education of blacks and white students was unconstitutional.

The failure to take revenge or to exact compensations was considered shameful.  Hence when Grendel attacks Heorot and slaughters thirty of Hrothgar's men, Hrothgar "sat stricken and helpless, humiliated by the loss of his guard, bewildered ... in deep distress," (L.130-133) not only for the loss of his man but also for the dishonour of his inability to kill Grendel or enforce the wergild.  For twelve years, Hrothgar suffers in shame because Grendel "would never parley or make peace with any Dane nor stop his death-dealing nor pay the death-price." (L. 154-156)

1) Explain the role /purpose of law in American society. The role of law in American Society is to “function as the main tool with which we organize ourselves as an advanced, democratic society and is a key tool which we use to regulate social behavior.” (Teitelbaum J.B., 2013) Laws governs the land and creates a distribution of power between state, federal and local branches, which establishes and recognizes the legal rights and responsibilities of citizens and creates institutions to enforce them. Each branch enforces various rules which provides a measure of control.

This saga entails two men, Thorir a poor and disliked man who honorably gain his riches by working in the trade of hens, although he became wealthy his position among other did not change no one wanted to associate themselves with him on the other hand Blund-Ketil a man said to be the richest and most righteous-hearted of all men of the old faith (G Jones, pg. 3). Winters were rough, summer crops supply was essential. One of the Laws mandated that if a neighbor had enough supply they were obligated to sell to the fellow citizen in need. During one summer the hay supply was low leaving a few of Ketil tenants without hay during the winter which lead Ketil and his tenants to Thorir how hay supply was abundant. Thorir refused to sell Ketil: Ketil was aware of the Law so he took the hay. Thorir accused Ketil of stealing his hay however, it was one of their Laws that if a neighbor had enough merchandise he was to sell it; Ketil paid him and took the hay. Thorir took offense accused Ketil of theft and filed lawsuit against him. During the assembly, Orn a skipper that was staying with Ketil shot an arrow killing an innocent man Thorir utilized this opportunity to sentence Ketil death burning

Hrafnkel’s Saga is a tale of dire choices that lead to extreme ends. The tale begins with Hrafnkel’s decision to sentence Einar, a poor shepherd boy, to death over the use of his prized horse. In turn, Sam charges Hrafnkel with the unjust killing of Einar. Consequently, Hrafnkel is found guilty of murder. A man’s honor in life and his good name after death were so extremely important that it made one hypersensitive to the opinion of the community.

Our interactions within the law and society may be described as acts of legal consciousness. The term 'legal consciousness' is used to describe an understanding of the law, society, and ones place within. This awareness is informed by, and informs our societal interaction at both a group and individual level. It is my strong belief, that through critical reflection of our legal consciousness, we are empowered with the ability to influence and analyze the role of law and its effectiveness within society. Legal consciousness is both a form of scrutiny and a device of law. It is the basis for the formation of opinions on some of the more difficult ethical or moral questions posed, such as; abortion and euthanasia.

In today's day and age contemporary society's are built upon the thought of citizen conformity to a prescribed set of values and norms to. This idea of complies to social standards makes one think as to how these norms of fact society as a whole and an individual. The main driving component which draws people too conformity are the desire to be excepted in certain status groups. People fear that if they do not conformity is norms that they will be breaking the social contract therefore been shunned by society at not being able to achieve their personal goals. Further analysis of these forces for conformity in contemporary society it will be shown that these forces produced negative ethical conduct and

in reforming the law, to ensure that it is up to date and efficiently meets the