Gregory and Frik share a lot in common as Armenian poets. However, Gregory and Frik opinion on the man or fate is quite different. Gregory’s personal opinion on the relationship between man and fate is that the non-ordinary Christian conflict between the believer’s longings to respect the savor’s command and the human acceptance that faultlessness is not possible in this life is imperfect. The imperfection is evident between the realization of God’s grace and a profound sense of one’s worthiness to receive the grace. The author displays the concept of unworthiness in his literary works. Surprisingly, the scholar does not flounder in self-pity as expected and the entire work is not morose. The conflict is resolved when the poet realizes that nothing can be done to atone the sins of his nature.
Frik’s philosophy on the association between man and God is that an individual will reform within a certain context and this will improve the early existence in general and expose the person to eternal life. In addition, the author is optimistic particularly in religious poems and strive for a thriving future. Frik focused on stressing on the transitory condition of earthly experience. The author in the narrative says “he is an optimistic, as particularly in his religious poems ” The author hopes to instill a discipline of hope in the future to assist them to elude the series of misfortunes ahead of them (Hacikyan 528).
Differences between Frik and St. Gregory of Nareg
One of the main distinctions evident between Gregory and Frik of Nareg was the themes in their literary works. For instance, in the Frik’s poems, the main theme were the horrors of the Mongol-Tatar regime that were based on secular and religious subjects. The authors says “no offshore exists, the offshore is unseen” (Adalian,526). On the other hand, Gregory’s theme strives to lament the evils of that era and of the community and pays tribute to purity of the spirit and beauty of lofty sentiments. St. Gregory prayers tend to target everyone who opts to approach God humbly with acceptance. The books strives to pave way for humility and up surging love for God. The book of Lamentation sends a message to the audience that irrespective of the status of an individual, God is always available with his infinite, Compassion and Mercy to welcome us. Moreover, God is willing to nurture us and heal us from the wounds of pain. Book of Lamentations is typically a prayer book of unceasing repentance and forgiveness from God (Castellanos 279).
Another difference is the source of inspiration to write the poems. For example, on the Gregory side, the driving factor to write the Book of Lamentations was the prevalent Christian conflict between the desire to obey the savor’s injunction and impossible human perfection. On the contrast, Frik has a driving force to write Against Fate, Song of luck and zodiac, You Wish to remain the Noble and God just and true. For instance in his poem, Teaching in the Book of Frik he asserts that increased sufferings of the Armenians forced him to begin writing the poem. Frik is anxious to get awareness for the increased injustices around the globe.
Gregory gains religious teachings from an atmosphere of religious and intellectual fellows (Hacikyan et al. 275). For instance, he grew under the guidance of two ecclesiastical writers, father and monastic superiors. In the narrative, he is seen to submit himself to the austere rules governing the monastic life. He attended the Monastery school and after sometimes he was designated the master of Theology in the institution. Frik, another author, is viewed to have grown up with a religious background as well. The author lived the last days of his life in a monastery school, although less is known about whether he took monastic vows (Adalian 404).
Similarities between the Frik and St. Gregory of Nareg
One of the similarities that St. Gregory and Frik of Nareg shared was that these individuals were considered great Armenian prophets in their eras in the medieval Christendom. St. Gregory laid a landmark on the Armenian literary works because of his scholarly work, The Books of Lamentations. The book featured devotion and spiritual consolation. The name ‘lamentations’ defines as expression of grief over a situation. The book as well strives to express despair and teach God’s persons that disrespect to the Lord triggers immense suffering and distress. Contrarily, Frik is memorable for his rebellious characters and sound social unrests (Greene 83).
Gregory and Frik shared roots of Armenian heritage. St. Gregory is perceived to be born between 945 and 955 in an unrecognized village of Lake Van. His mother died while Gregory was still an infant and his daddy devoted his life to religion. Also, Frik is believed that his birthplace was Western Armenia because his Armenian is similar to the literary language of Cilician characteristic of Western Armenia (Hacikyan et al. 525).
Both the authors use the literary styles and devices in their poems. Gregory is recognized as the first professionals to use assonance and alliteration that gave the lines between a unique sonority. Evidently, the sonority min his song is clear to the extent that it is cumbersome to render them in translation. For instance, in the poem he says “I proffer unto thee, whom seeth all the secrets” (Castellanos 279). Frik applies literary devices as well in his poems. Frik uses well-selected metaphors, analogies and comparisons that display the poem as a lively and a colorful one. These literary poems add a vivid imagery within a line which in some instances are unpolished and difficult to comprehend.
Work Cited
Adalian, Rouben Paul. Historical dictionary of Armenia. Scarecrow Press, 2010.
Castellanos, Rosario. "Words Unto God from the Depth of My Heart." Books of Lamentations. Penguin: Penguin Classics, 1998. 400. Print.
Greene, Roland. The Princeton encyclopedia of poetry and poetics. Eds. Stephen Cushman, et al. Princeton University Press, 2012.
Hacikyan, Agop Jack, et al., eds. The Heritage of Armenian Literature: From the sixth to the eighteenth century. Vol. 2. Wayne State University Press, 2002.
