World Literature!

This is the final blog about taking the World Literature course. I found some of the pieces very interesting and I feel more cultured from all the stories we read. I enjoyed reading about ancient literature because I had very little knowledge of pieces like that, minus the Bible. It taught me about what people at that time thought about. Learning about Chinese stories brought a whole new aspect of the things that matter to that culture and it was quite interesting to hear. Now, I didn't really enjoy ancient Roman and Greek literature because they had gross and depressing concepts that were not enjoyable, but again still interesting to hear. Dante's Inferno was pretty cool but I kind of wish we learned about the other two parts to the book series to get the whole story. And finally, Hamlet was very depressing and frustrating because the whole time I just wanted to tell Hamlet what he should do to make things okay with little problems. Overall, this course taught me much about the different types of people and what people ponder on, whether it be the same or different. I feel like a more cultured human after taking this class. Hoped you liked my blog!

Image from http://www.tower.com/longman-anthology-world-literature-compact-edition-april-alliston-paperback/wapi/102040438

More Adventures from Gulliver

I found out that this is the 2nd to last blog so I have one more week to get done with the book. Though, I found out this yesterday so I got really far in reading. Last we left Gulliver he was in Brobdingnag and was having a little of a hard time at being so small in a country so big. He wishes that he can one day return to England. And he does! Yay! Sum of Brobdingnag: People thought of him as simple and he was seen a entertainment in my perspective.

He leaves again because he gets an offer from a captain that he can't refuse. So he goes and they get capture by pirates and they leave Gulliver on an island. He then gets picked up by a floating island and starts new adventures. The place is call Laputa and they are proficient in magnetism which is how the island floats. They are all into math and music but nothing else. So, there country isn't great and he wants to leave. He goes to a few other places around the area and sees spirits and immortal people. But thankfully he returns home.

After 5 months at home he starts his new career as a captain! Oh goodness I just wished he stayed at home! And his wife probably has given up on this point that he won't live a calm life. Well, he goes off and what do you know, his ship goes into mutiny to become pirates and he gets kicked off on an island. What a surprise! This place is call Houyhnhnms and is ruled by horses. Humans, or Yahoos, as they call them, are very uncivil here and are seen as cattle. That is where I stopped reading.

Image from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horse

So, this book was ok at first, but it seems as the story goes on it gets weirder and weirder. I'm interested to see how he'll be taken by the horses and visa versa. Stay tune for the last blog!!

The Inferno/ Continuing Gulliver's Travels

We have started to learn about Dante's Inferno; this is a slide Mrs. Olson put together over Dante. After reading the slide we learned that Dante created the Inferno to get back at the people who banished him rom Florence. In the Inferno there are 9 circle of hell. Our next project as a class was to created a slide showing the 9 circles. Click here to see it. (I created circles 3 and 4 slides). Hope you find it interesting!

Image from http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/2009/01/books-1.html

Back to Gulliver's Travels

This is our second to last blog over our book and I'm a little more than halfway done. So, this blog will be short so that I can started reading the rest. He has yet to go to the last 2 places. 

He is now and Brobdingnag were he is very small compare to the rest of the population. He is also seen as simple just like how Gulliver viewed the Lilliputians. He goes on a few adventures but nothing too significant.

To me, the size of the people relate to the knowledge they know and how they're seen. Where the Lilliputians fought over dumb things the people of Brobdingnag never fight at all. It's quite interesting so I need to read now. The rest of the book is to come in my next blog. 

Criteria of an Epic ~Does the Iliad and Aeneid have these Characteristics?

"Man, the Iliad and Aeneid are totally epic!" Exclaims one student. A smart alec replies, "and it follows the basic criteria of an epic too!"

Image from http://www.misswit.net/smartalec

An epic is defined as a long poem, derived from ancient oral tradition, telling the adventures of heroic/ legendary figures of the history of a nation. The two epics we read in class were the Iliad and the Aeneid. To put them in this category of a epic, a piece must have certain traits. It must start in the middle, be vast in its setting, have a hero who is usually seen as much greater than the average person, include gods or other supernatural elements, and written in a very formal language. So, this blog will be analyzing these two pieces and recognizing their epic characteristics. 

First off, let me give you a sum of the epics. The Iliad was about the Trojan battle over Helen. It starts with the meeting of Hektor and Andromache before Hektor went off to battle. They show their love for one another and you get the impression that Hektor is a very good guy. During the battle, Hektor kills Achilleus's nephew, because he thought he was Achilleus. Achilleus confronts Hektor and demands to fight (Achilleus is fuming mad). FYI, Hektor is the great warrior for Troy and Achilleus is the best warrior from Greece. After unsuccessful talking from Hektor, they're about to fight but Hektor starts running away. The gods are watching this and they each cheer for a side. Any-who, Hektor gets trick to fight and so they battle. He loses :(.  Andromache is crushed and she sees his corpse being dragged around. (They eventually get his body back, and he's given a proper funeral.)

Image from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iliad

The Aeneid was about a Trojan warrior, Aeneas, who meets the Queen of Carthage, Dido (a widow). She is struck by cupid's arrow and falls deeply in love with him. She is consumed in her love and she's not getting anywhere as queen. So, the god, Juno, marries them and they are happy. Until Aeneas is reminded he needs to go found Rome. (Gods are all involved in these reminders and such.) So he makes a plan to sneak away but she catches him and begs him not to go. He refuses to stay no matter what so Dido is left to her sorrow. She then kills herself. Yeah, I know, tragic stuff. Though, there is other little bits that I'll mention later, but I'm just giving you the sum now.

Image from http://watchingtheworldwakeup.blogspot.com/2009/02/darwin-aeneid-and-days-of-our-lives.html

Those are the two epics, and now it's time to find their traits! Do both of these start in the middle? Yes! The Iliad starts in the middle of the war over Helen between the meeting of the couple. The Aeneid starts with the meeting of Dido and Aeneid, who retells how he came to Carthage. Next question, are their settings all over the world? No and Yes! The Iliad just takes place in Troy, so it's an exception! The Aeneid is because he has traveled from Troy to Carthage, and later to Rome. That was a lot of traveling back then! Do they have heros who are greater than the average person? Yes! The Iliad has Hektor and Achilleus who were both great heros, depending on which side you were for, who were seen as god-like. Achilleus was even said to have been dip in god-liquid and that's why he was so great! The Aeneid had Hektor who once carried is father on his back to safety. Another heroic trait people saw of him was that he went to start Rome instead of accomplishing his own needs with Dido. Do the epics include gods or super natural elements? Oh my goodness, yes!! Gods were interfering so much in the lives of the characters! Athene was the goddess who trick Hektor to stop running and fight Achilleus, I believe she knew he would die. In the Aeneid, the god, Juno married the two; later another god came to Aeneas and reminded him to found Rome. And are the pieces written in a formal language? Yes! They are both poems that are written lavishly. Here are examples from each:  Iliad- "But what pleasure is this to me, since my dear companion has perished."Aeneid- "Sorrow too deep to tell, your majesty/ You order me to feel and tell once more."

In conclusion, the Iliad and the Aeneid are epics because of the traits listed above. I found these epics to be depressing and everything I didn't want happen, happened. If you would like to know more about the Aeneid, there is a RWLD on this website. My reflection on the RWLD will be in the next paragraph.

I felt the Virgil was a very good writer and he influence people a lot. This surprised me a little that it happened in the artwork because I didn't think the two connected at first. I found it interesting that my mom knew him from inspiring works of art. I found the paintings and sculptures to be really pretty and they definitely captured the feeling. Though, the pieces seem to display it in a better/ more beautiful light, and not in the sad and depressing manner. There was only one art piece I can remember seeing that was of Dido crying. Anyway, the RWLD was interesting and I enjoyed the chapter even if I didn't like the pieces.

Finishing this Adventure: Chapters 6, 7, and 8.

Now that there is peace between Blefuscu and Lilliput, things are pretty quiet. That is until Gulliver seems to anger some of the people of Lilliput. One of these being Skyresh Bolgolam. Gulliver,  in my opinion, didn't really do anything, the people are just trying to find a reason to hate him. So, the Lilliputians plan to call treason to Gulliver. The consequences being, either blind him, or kill him with poison or fire. A faithful friend of Gulliver tells him this so he goes away to Blefuscu. He finds safety there and favor with the people. One day, he finds a boat and plans to leave to go back home. When the time is ready he leaves and the Blefuscians are kind of relieved (he's been eating lots of food). He travels out and is picks up by a larger ship which returns him home.

Image from http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/ndsu/news/magazine/vol04_issue01/coming_home.shtml

Finally Gulliver is home. I believe it was hard for him to get home without favor from the people so he could acquire food. Though, he was building a lot of this and I believe he could have made a boat in the many months he was there. He was eating there food so rapidly that I wonder how they weren't getting mad at him for that. 

Overall view of "small countries (Lilliput & Blefuscu): Hospitable but little bit leery, simple, silly. 

The simplicity is shown by their smallness.  

Chapter 3, 4, & 5: Apart of Lilliput

Gulliver has been a good captive for the Lilliputians and has gotten favor from most of the people. They put on a show for him, which was like tightrope walking. There had been some fatal accidents from their participation in this activity, but Gulliver fixed by using his handkerchief as a net for them.

Image from http://www.entkent.com/Cawthorne-Cooksey.html.

By being such a easy-going captive they decide to give him his freedom as long as he signs the Lilliputians agreement. The agreement pretty much states that he shouldn't kill Lilliputians or destroy their things. He must also be on their side in the the war against Blefuscu. He agrees to this but doesn't think he should be involved in a foreign war which started over what side to crack and egg. No joke! Thats what these two peoples are fighting over. But since he has agreed he must fight against them. So, he takes the Blefuscusians ships that were about to attack Lilliput and bring them to the Emperor of Lilliput. Which pretty much seems to end the war between them. Gulliver finds that the Blefuscusians aren't really that bed as the Lilliputians say, which isn't any surprise. 

Chapter 1 & 2: Arriving in Lilliput

Lemuel Gulliver makes his living through traveling, but during one voyage he becomes shipwrecked and is washed to an island where he falls asleep. He awakes to tiny people all around him, speaking a language he does not know. He tries to get up but is tied down and shot at with tiny arrows that sting. He is brought to the tiny people's Emperor who is kind to him by giving as much food and water they can allow. Though, he still isn't let go.

He is then taken closer to the small village/city and is given his own space, still tied up. People are assigned to him to teach him their language, make him clothes, and check his pockets. He's making quite a spectacle for his large size compared to the normal citizen of Lilliput.

Images from http://www.bookdrum.com/books/gullivers-travels/9780141439495/bookmarks.html

Thoughts of Starting Gulliver's Travels

I have heard much about Gulliver's Travels in that there is a big man in a small world, but I'm sure that's not all the the book, and I'm interested in seeing what this whole things about. I think he goes to a few other worlds in which he is very small, very wise and very ignorant. After looking up a little of the book I found that each place represents something and shows significance to government. This book is also found as a satire. Here is a website I look at to get a basic understanding of what I'm about to read. I think this will be a great book to read and a little challenging since it was published in 1726.

Image from http://northshorekid.com/event/gullivers-travels-1939

This is what most imagine when they hear Gulliver's Travels.

Final Look at Brave New World

So, I figured out that I'm totally done with the last book, Brave New World, so this will be the last thing I say about it.

The ending was sad with John's death, but with so many disappointments throughout the book I was indifferent. Also, this way it was more realistic. Brave New World was about achieving happiness through ignorance and pleasure, it kind of reminded me of Substance, a figure in a piece of Chinese literature we read in class last week. Substance believed that since we will die we should, "drink wine" when we have it. Which is sort of like the BNW's theory that when you want someone you can have he/she, no huge waiting involved. Well, patience is a virtue.

I would probably recommend this book to people who want an interesting concept to think about and has an opened mind. I didn't find it difficult to read either, so if you're up for a book, consider Brave New World.

Image from http://www.american-buddha.com/brave.world.htm

Chapter 12-18: Actions and Causes of BNW

I kicked my butt into gear this past week and read seven chapters which pretty much ending the story portion of the book. The next is part is the revisiting of BNW.

There is a lot to sum up in the book so I'm going to put it in bullet/sentence form.

-John wouldn't come out of his room to meet some important people who had been nice to Bernard just so  they could see "Mr. Savage."
-This caused Bernard to be lowered back into his normal social ranking like he was before John.
-Lenina got it into her head that she was going to have John no matter what.
-But, when she try to do this John became very angry and started calling her a whore because she was causing him so temptation.
-He almost killed her.
-Quickly following, he got a call that his mother, Linda, was dying.
-He went to the hospital to see her where she died.
-John was so full of grief and misery that he tried to show the people of the BNW that they did not see the truth.
-He ended up throwing soma out the window which caused a lot of fighting.
-This is where Bernard and Helmholtz found him, Helmholtz then joined in the fight.
-The police came and drug them all with soma.
- The three man were taking to the Controller where they discussed the meaning of the BNW and consequences for their actions.
-Bernard will go to Iceland and Helmholtz will go to another island with lots of storms.
-These islands are meant for the people who can't adapt to BNW, so it's more like a gift than a punishment.
-John is not given this option because the Controller wants to see how he does here for awhile longer.
-After their long discussion of philosophy, God, and purpose; John leaves and goes to find a place where he can live alone with his sorrow.
-John has chosen the path of truth instead of happiness.
-He lives there for a time, punishing himself with a whip when he sings or thinks of Lenina.
-He is seen whipping himself by other people and that causes a lot of attention for him.
-One moment he is alone, the next, tons of people are around him saying "Whip! Whip! Whip!"
-He does and then he sees Lenina.
-He's so full of temptation and rage that he runs at her and whips her and then himself over and over.
-Everyone begins in this fighting charade and it turns into what John never wanted full of sex and soma.
-In the morning after everyone is gone and he wakes up he cries "Oh my God, my God!"
-I don't think John killed Lenina.
-But the final part is finding that he hung himself.

Image from http://stallsandwalls.com/

Anyway, that's the sum up of the book. I thought that maybe it would turn out all good in the end, but that was naive and this is ending is more realistic for a futuristic novel. I feel very little connection with this book and its characters but I enjoyed reading it anyways. I believe that the Controller keep him in the BNW world because he wanted to see the truth and what it does. And for that he did find out and it costed John's life.

More on what I think of this book and the revisiting of it in the next couple blogs.

Chapter 11: Reaction to the "Savage"

In the next chapter it deals with the Director quitting his job, which saves Bernard from moving to Iceland. Bernard is quickly surrounded with fame for bringing this "savage" (John) to the NW and he feels much more powerful for it. He is becoming very arrogant and his closes friend Helmholtz is finding him hard to be around.

Lenina is also receiving her fame, yet all she wants is to just be with John. They go to a Feely, which is a pretty much a movie that has scents and feelings for the audience. She hopes that after that she will "experience" John in the BNW way. Only, she is simply dropped off and left by herself and her soma.

Image from http://midlifebatmitzvah.wordpress.com/2011/03/26/best-rejection-ever/

(Though in BNW it's visa versa)

John does like Lenina but with the way he was raised in the "Savage Reservation" he finds it wrong to do the thing Lenina wants. He's giving the impression to Lenina that he doesn't like her and it's making her very depressed.

I find Bernard is a very annoying character who I was hoping would become a hero. As the book continues I don't think that will happen and I predict John will make the changes to the NW. I hope that Lenina will understand John's ways and except them, but that would be a very hard decision for her. We will find out. Also, John is being referred to as a savage but in all respects he's more like you or me.

Chapter 8, 9, & 10: Outcast

The story continues with hearing the life of the son of Linda, the lady from BNW. (They split everyone into groups in BNW, Alpha, Beta, ect.) The son's name is John, and he's about as old as Bernard and Lenina. He explains his life and how he has been an outcast from the people of his village because of his color. He also is much different from his mother who has had all the NW's brainwashing soaked into her thoughts. He's alone. This is something Bernard can relate to and so he agrees to try and bring Linda and John to their society. This is to benefit all because Bernard also knows who John's father is. It's the Director, who was about to move Bernard to Iceland for his behavior in not conforming to the norm social life. With presenting Linda and John to the Director, Bernard might be able to save himself from Iceland.

Image from http://walkwitheu.blogspot.com/2010/12/different-outcast-normal.html

Chapter 5, 6, & 7: New Adventures

Bernard and Lenina are started a BNW relationship where everything seems to be just a fling. They don't quite understand each other but they get along. I find the Lenina is a sweet person but just can't understand possibilities of what would be abnormal. Bernard, on the other-hand, thinks very abnormally compared to the BNW society; most of the time he is very sad and prefers it that way. He constantly refuses soma pills, which is pretty much a pill that makes you happy.

Image from http://www.heritage.nf.ca/law/whipping_post.html

There relationship continues and they travel together to the Savage Reservation in southern North America.  The Savage Reservation is unlike the link I put on the previous blog; it's a village full of pueblos with in a square in the center, this is where sacrifices and other religious events are held. Lenina and Bernard witness one of these sacrifices where a young boy was chosen to be whip until he fell. The purpose of this was to get as much blood from the boy so that it would rain for the village's crops. They then found a women and her son who were suppose to be apart of the NW society.
I predict that these two will come back to the New World and the young man will cause havoc because he hasn't been brainwashed.

Chapter 3 & 4: Everyone Belongs to Everyone

The next chapters presents characters and explains the world's idea in that everyone belongs to everyone. This, to me, means everyone has a right to you in the physical aspect. Therefore it's easy to see why the people of the BNW are regularly involved in sexual activity with many different people. Being promiscuous is seen as the right thing and staying with only one person is seen as outrageous.

Image from http://www.theoutsourcingcompany.com/blog

There is one person who stands different from the rest, Bernard. He feels that this idea of belonging to everyone is not quite right and so therefore likes to be alone most of the time. Though, Lenina, a popular girl, is very curious about him, and she finds his short height and personality to be endearing, also a little strange too (remember every person in BNW is engineer, even their height). I believe soon they will form a relationship and possibly travel to the Savage Reservation. 

The more I read into this book the more I find it bazaar and fascinating. Also, I'm really glad I don't belong to anyone! 

Thanks for your comments on my previous post. 

Chapter 1 & 2: Decanting Humans

The definition of decanting is to gradually pour from one container to another, so as not to disturb the substance. This is how the people of the Brave New World are born. With a one embryo and one sperm can create tens of thousands of humans by putting the to together in a decanting process and then duplicating them over and over. But why would the people of this world want that? To create community, identity, and stability; the ultimate goal of their society.

                                                                                    

Image from http://www.buzzle.com/articles/human-cloning-facts.html .

This futuristic world tries to accomplish this by cloning and brainwashing. At a young age everyone in the community is made to think certain things are bad and other things are good. They are put into to groups and depending on their status it defines how everyone will eventually live their lives. 

The idea of a perfect world is interesting but the extremes that the New World goes to is unideal and very scary. So far, I have found this book to be complex in its writing but intriguing in it's plot. 

Expectations for Huxley

Image from http://jyotimi.blogspot.com 

After reviewing my options of books to blog about I chose Aldous Huxley's Brave New World. I chose this book with the expectations that it would be entertaining and unusual to read. 

The book is about a futuristic world where everything is made to be "perfect," but this idea seems to mean everything is controlled. It is consumer driven and there seems to be little emotion involved with the people in this society. I have no clue how this plot could develop because the book's main idea is so peculiar. If I would guess, which I will, I would say someone in this world will not be engineer to be like everyone else and they make everything a mess!

Aldous Huxley's idea of a manufacture world is an awesome idea and I have high expectations for this book. I must be entertain, and it must be thought provoking! It's definitely not like anything I normally read so I hope to find this book worthwhile!