Monthly Archives: December 2015

My Parzival Essay

This is my Parzival essay. We read a book called Parzival. It was about a knight named Parzival. I am really proud of my Parzival essay because it took a while to find all the information I needed, but after I found it all I put it all together and I am really proud of it. I learned that writing essays is a really repetitive process that takes a while, but after it’s done it’s really satisfying. A way I can continue to do my best work in the future is working really hard to find really good evidence.

 

One of many jobs parents have is to teach their child about life. Their job is to teach their child to be honest, but not rude. Their job is to teach their child about religion, if the family believes in one. In the the book Parzival by Katherine Paterson, the main character’s mom doesn’t teach the main character, Parzival anything. Parzival’s upbringing hindered him in life because he had to waste time learning things he could’ve already known, he could’ve gotten punished for not knowing about religion, and he was too honest to the point where he was rude.

Parzival’s upbringing clearly hindered him in life because he had to waste time learning things he could’ve already known. Parzival had to go learn from prince Gurnemanz because his mother didn’t teach him anything.  On page three the book reads “In the ancient days, when Arthur was king of Britain, there lived a boy who had never heard of the great son knights. The only home the boy had ever known was a cottage in the wilderness of Soltane, and the only parent he had ever known was his mother.” On page 32 it says “Prince Gurnemanz also taught him proper manners. He urged him to be humble and discreet among nobility and to be compassionate toward the poor and needy-to hold ladies in high esteem and to temper daring with mercy.” This proves that Parzival’s mom didn’t teach him anything. Since Parzival’s mom didn’t teach him anything, he had to go to Prince Gurnemanz to learn about chivalry. If his mom had taught him he could’ve been doing other things in the time he was learning from prince Gurnemanz. That is one of the reasons why Parzival’s upbringing hindered him.

Parzival’s upbringing hindered him in life because Parzival could’ve gotten punished for not knowing about religion. In Parzival’s time religion was one of the most important things in life. If you didn’t know about religion you could be punished. Parzival is really lucky that he didn’t get punished, but he definitely could’ve because his mom didn’t teach him. On page 8 the books says “‘Fool!’ they cried. ‘Do you want to be killed?’ But the boy was not offended. ‘Tell me,’ he said. ‘Are you the one called God?’” Parzival was almost killed because he thought a few knights were God. If his mom had taught him about religion that wouldn’t have happened. On page 97 the book reads “The old man greeted him in return, but with a rebuke. ‘I see, sir, that you are a knight. Why is it then that you do not observe this holy season? Why in God’s Holy Name, do you ride armed, when you should, indeed be walking barefoot?’” Parzival didn’t know enough about religion. The people he encountered were really nice to him about it, but if a lot of people found out he could get in trouble. Parzival’s upbringing definitely hindered him because of this.

Parzival not knowing anything hindered him in life because Parzival was honest to the point where he was rude. When Parzival went away from home he encountered many people. In the beginning of his journey, before he knew anything, he was very honest. Almost too honest. He was really rude to people. He even stole things. If Parzival’s mother taught him, he wouldn’t be rude. On pages 13 and 14 the book reads“‘And to take a ring from a good lady if the occasion arose.’ The duchess was so frightened she hardly knew how to reply. She begged the stranger to go away and leave her alone. But he took her ring and helped himself to the brooch he found on her gown. Then he began to complain of hunger.” On page 15 the book says “‘This is the knight I loved more than life itself,’ the poor maid said. ‘And now he is mortally wounded.’ ‘He looks mortally dead to me,’ said Parzival.” Parzival was so rude to those two ladies. He misunderstood what his mom told him because she didn’t explain what she was saying, she only told him what to say. Since his mom didn’t explain what she was saying, he stole a ring and a brooch from an innocent lady. Then there was a maid who was depressed because her husband had been really hurt, and Parzival said something really rude to her. If his mom had taught him, he wouldn’t have said something really rude. That is another reason why Parzival’s upbringing hindered him.

Parzival’s upbringing hindered him in life is because he had to waste time learning things he could’ve already known, he could’ve gotten punished for not knowing about religion, and he was too honest to the point where he was rude. If Parzival’s mother taught him about life when he was young, then Parzival wouldn’t have had to spend a lot of his life learning. Parzival also would’ve known not to be too honest. Also there would be no chance of Parzival getting in trouble or hurt for not knowing about religion. It is clear that Parzival’s upbringing hindered him in life.