Beowulf and J.R.R. Tolkiens Lord of the Rings Essay

Beowulf and J.R.R. Tolkiens Lord of the Rings - Essay Example However, a deeper study on the two texts also exposes further the similarities in the characters and central themes of the stories. For one, the stories do not just depict collective struggles between good and evil but also the more complicated battle within the self, the internal contradictions within an individual. This may even be the pattern that is the most common of both Beowulf and Lord of the Rings. Tolkien’s first book, evil is presented as an external force and it takes solid determination from the side of the hero to battle this through physical means. Frodo is presented as just an innocent Hobbit who does not have any innate tendency to do evil and who treats evil instead as an external enemy just like other characters in Middle Earth. For the reader, identifying good and evil has been made simple through such a presentation, one that formulates the concept that battling evil is easy because it is an enemy that can be seen and detached from the self. It became conv enient for one mark Gandalf as good and Sauron as evil in Lord of the Rings just Beowulf is and Grendel respectively in Beowulf. However, in the succeeding books in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, the Tolkien began to describe more the internal struggles within. The typical good hero is presented as not really safe from temptations or from the urge to do evil too. The same thing happened in Beowulf when the lead character also experienced the contradictions between good and evil from within. In Tolkien’s book, even the innocent Frodo undergoes the difficulties of dealing the evil side of him that emerged when a ring was in his hand. At this point, the effect of both literary works on the readers is essentially the same. The reader realizes that battling evil and standing up for good is not that simple because evil can also arise from within, from one person’s mind and heart. Apparently, there seems to be a common theme between Tolkien’s story and Beowulf. However , it could not be discerned if the latter’s author really had this in mind, considering that Lord of the Rings is a reflection of Tolkien’s interpretation of Beowulf. It could be said that Tolkien stole the central theme of Beowulf in order to enhance his own literary creation. However, one may question how he actually wrote about Gollum’s character quite close to that of Grendel in Beowulf. Grendel is Cain’s descendant and, therefore, originated from humans despite his powers and great evil. Even Beowulf, whose strength is also remarkable, comes from the human race and therefore shares a common lineage with Grendel. This is not much different from the case of Lord of the Rings antagonist, Gollum. Gollum actually comes from the Middle Earth, with a Hobbit bloodline, particularly those of the Stoors. Frodo Baggins share a similarity with Gollum in this respect because he is the typical Hobbit himself. These specific depictions of common bloodlines and orig ins of characters representing opposite sides in the battle between good and evil emphasize further the theme that the struggle is not always external but internal too; that no one is absolutely free from evil tendencies. In Tolkien’s story, Sauron may be the epitome of evil but it is Gollum who represents best the tendency of Frodo to commit evil. In order to win against the evil represented

Biology 206 U3IP Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Biology 206 U3IP - Research Paper Example The last codons, UAA, UAG, and UGA, signal the STOP, the conclusion of the translation (National Center for Biotechnology Information, 2000). What meaning do these mRNA codons have for protein synthesis? Explanation: Messenger RNA are the carriers of information. They form them into groups of 3 words, which identify specific amino acids that can then create a protein chain (Clancy & Brown , 2008). Did the two mutations result in a change in the final proteins? If so, describe the change. Response/ explanation: Yes, in the first mutation, eliminated the glycine and included an extra element of arginine. The second mutation was drastically different from the first. Glycine has returned, along with asparagines, but the other three positions have taken by three different sequences that are not reflective of the first sequence. In general, why might a change in amino acid sequence affect protein function? Explanation: Even a single change in amino acid sequences can affect the proteins ab ility to function. For example, the disease sickle cell anemia is caused by the change in only a single nucleotide in the DNA sequence can cause deformation in the red blood cells that can prevent it from carrying oxygen efficiently or successfully (Carter, 2004). Part II Punnett Square a. Chances (%) for healthy child, not a carrier b. Chances (%) for child that is carrier for cystic fibrosis trait c. Chances (%) for child with cystic fibrosis Fill out/adapt Punnett Square: __C____ __c___ ___C___ CC Cc ___c___ Cc cc a. Chances (%) for healthy child, not a carrier: 25% b. % for child that is carrier for cystic fibrosis trait: 50% c. % for child with cystic fibrosis: 25% Part III: Essay How do both meiosis and sexual reproduction (fertilization) produce offspring that differ genetically from the parents? Include steps in meiosis that increase variability Include the process of fertilization. Explanation: Meiosis, in a basic definition is the process of cell division that lessens the number of chromosomes in the reproductive cells from diploid to haploid, which allows for the production of gametes in animals and spores in plants. Meiosis involves 2 steps, Meiosis I and Meiosis II, which then breaks into a number of phases, including interphase, metaphase, and telephase. Meiosis provides three specific mechanisms allowing for the diversifying of the genomes of offspring. Crossing Over, which occurs during meiosis when two chromosomes will pair up and exchange segments, with non-sister, cells, of their genetic materials. This allows for greater diversity to exist. Next is Random Assortment, basically, this process occurs when the when the â€Å"orientation† of the maternal and paternal homologues, within the first portion of the meiosis I, is genuinely random. Traits can be traded at randomly. The possible result of random assortment in humans can, more than, 8,000,000, potential, combinations (Chowdhury, Bois, Feingold,, Sherman & Cheung, 2009). Fertilizat ion, with the reduction of chromosomes it allows for the â€Å"