After reading the assigned readings for tomorrow I chose two poems from each passage that I found to be quite interesting. The first one being on page 147 of the Trobairitz. This poem that I selected is from lines 9-17. The poems theme is about moving on from rejection and loss of interest. The pour guy here just lost the love of his life and does not know how to handle the situation. He seems to be sick of her showing no interest in him and is just in distraught. I ind this part of the readings to be interesting because girls always assume that the guy is the bad one in the relationship and that everything that went wrong in the relationship is the guys fault. In most situations that is the case, but this poem made me see the other side and it was really the girl who was doing all the heart ache. The second poem I chose to discuss from Troubadours was on page 85 numeral two. The theme in this poem is again coping with heartache. I felt that I could personally relate to this poem. I really feel like most men in this world have no respect for women. Maybe it has to do with the selection of men at this University, but none of them can be trusted. They're all just looking for one thing and will do anything to get it even if it means hurting a girl you really like. They say they care about you and that they want this relationship to evolve and in the end it is all just talk and they screw you over some way some how. Just like in the poem she was so in love with this guy and what does he do? He cheats on her because one girl just isn't enough for him. I don't understand guys. Why do they have to cheat? Cant they just simply end things with the girlfriend and then meet someone new. It has to do with confidence and security. Guys cheat mostly because they obviously don't have feelings for the person anymore or they just want the best of both worlds, but I realized something else this weekend. I realized that guys cheat because they are extremely insecure with there own feelings. They automatically assume that the girl must be talking to a bunch of guys so they feel in order to gain the control back I'm going to cheat on her before she even gets the chance to do it to me. Its like the guy would rather hurt her before he evers allows her to hurt him.
These two poems relate because they both have to do with one person hurting the other person. When it comes to be a gender thing, I think that the guy does get most of the blame for things because they are truly the ones who are messing up the relationship most of the time, but I also think girls should take responsibility for there own actions as well. I've realized that through some rocky relationships because I'm for sure not perfect and I have done things that hurt the one I loved. I think being in love is a great thing but when its abused it can turn into a nightmare. The worst feeling I have ever felt is getting over someone you love. Its so hard too because you care about that person so much and you really like them, but they just don't treat you right. It's hard to just let it go.
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Arabic Poetry
1) While reading The Dove's Necklace I picked up on two themes that interested me. The first one being passion and the second theme I found in the readings was anger. I think in any relationship involving two people there is always lots of passion. When I say passion I mean an extreme love for that other person. Passion is that feeling when you cant even be away from your significant other for more then a minute. Passion can also relate to physical love too. Usually when passion occurs between a couple both people involved have it for one another, but in some cases such as the one in the readings only he had passion for her and she was not reciprocating the feelings. She kept her options open and was still looking for Mr. Right. I found anger to be a big theme in the readings because the man could not win her love. He stated that he would basically do anything to be next to her and if he couldn't be then he thought about death. I can understand why he felt angry and would do something so dramatic. People these days feel the same way when they have feelings for someone, but the other person does not. They might not threaten death, but they will sure try anything to just be with that person.
2) I thought the themes that I found in the readings carried over in the poetry. For example the poem on page 40. The poem talks highly about passion between two people or in this case just one person. In the poem he expresses his feelings to her. What I interpreted from it was that he was expressing his love to her and she basically just turned him down. When she turned him down he became jealous, which brought out his anger and aggravation because he just wants to be with her and she is just looking for Mr. Right. The other poem that I found is on page 41. The man tries so hard to make her fall in love with him that he would do anything to just be next to her. His anger brought him to the idea of even killing himself if he could not be with her. He also seems to be quite obsessed with her, which is very creepy. I can now understand why she is not interested in him. Women always want what they cant have and I think its the same for men. He's obsessing over her because shes not jumping right into his arms.
2) I thought the themes that I found in the readings carried over in the poetry. For example the poem on page 40. The poem talks highly about passion between two people or in this case just one person. In the poem he expresses his feelings to her. What I interpreted from it was that he was expressing his love to her and she basically just turned him down. When she turned him down he became jealous, which brought out his anger and aggravation because he just wants to be with her and she is just looking for Mr. Right. The other poem that I found is on page 41. The man tries so hard to make her fall in love with him that he would do anything to just be next to her. His anger brought him to the idea of even killing himself if he could not be with her. He also seems to be quite obsessed with her, which is very creepy. I can now understand why she is not interested in him. Women always want what they cant have and I think its the same for men. He's obsessing over her because shes not jumping right into his arms.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Ovid's books 4 and 6
The two myths that I chose to discuss are the Minydes and Arachne. The myth of Minydes is an interesting one. It is the tale of three sisters who decided to go against the norm and not worship the Dionysus. All of the women are ordered to stop what ever they are doing to worship Dionysus when it is the appropriate time to do so. When it was time to do so the three sisters just went about there everyday normal activities including work. Dionysus did not like this and he punished them by turning them into bats. He then proceeded to invite them to his ritual ceremony but they declined the offer. The god got even more mad at them and he himself decided to metamorphose himself into three different animals. A bull, a lion, and a panther. This drove the three sisters to a state of madness and they were soon eager to honor the god. In the myth about Arachne I see similar concepts. Arachne as well did not like what the goddess of wisdom had to say to her so and did not acknowledge her. The goddess got mad and challenge Arachne and another weaver to compete. The mortal ends up making a better tapestry and Arachne is furious because the person was only a mortal. She rips up the tapestry and destroyed the girls face. The goddess was then turned into a spider. There is common theme between these two myths. The theme that is common in both would be disobeying the gods and going against the norm. I feel like in both myths the women were determined to be something different from what the gods wanted them to be. They did not care about rebelling and not honoring the gods. They lived there life the way they wanted to, until they finally got punished for being I guess a rebel. They were punished both by being turned into an animal thats what I found to be most common between the two. Punishing them this way I feel like made sense because they misbehaved when they were there human selves so now that they are these animals either they continue to behave poorly or change. Another though I had especially relating to the myth of Arachne is that I found it ironic that she was turned into a spider because she weaves and spiders weave webs.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Ovid's Metamorphoses book one and three
1. After reading the text I would interpret the opening as something that is believable. What I got from it is that the gods did not create the earth or none of those bible stories are true. Evolution created the world. I agree that it is chaos because in a way there is no rules. You cant control the things that happen naturally, but then eventually god stepped in and put his touches on things. I think the major themes, ideas and concepts that Ovid presents here in book one is love and the creation of just life. Throughout the book Ovid worked with god to create the world basically. Each section of the book was a different part of the world like the winds, and the oceans. Also he created these different ages like the iron age where families would fight and even the gold age where we saw trust and rightfully moral things. All of book one is an example of life. People everyday go through things like this where they are fighting with there families or they show complete loyalty to them. Also book one shows what it's like to have a job, which is just like the real world. Many people need to obtain jobs in order to survive and provide. Another theme that I found present in the book was love. Like falling in love and having to pursue that person you have fallen for. In the book Apollo's pursuit for Daphne did not quite work out successfully.
2. The initial myths of this text raised similar issues to those we found in Genesis. I found the stories to be quite similar actually. Both texts talked about the creation of the world, like how Adam and eve came to be and the garden. Also in the book of Genesis the people had to endure a lot of test. Test about loyalty and family. They did not care if they killed a brother or two. I feel that is how the book of Ovid is. The way he explain the creation of the world is similar but not exactly the same, but the people in the stories are definitely faced with test to prove family bonds. I think the most original thing that Ovid presents in his myths is that when he explains the creation of the world he has broken it up into different sections. Like first came this and then that and he said that god was not completely responsible for the creation. Also when he explains the different ages like, iron, gold, and silver. I found that to be unique and more realistic to what real life is like.
3. As simple as this question would be to answer I found it not to be that simple. When you think of someone falling in love you think its between two people, but in book 3 that was not quite the case. At first he attempted to fall in love with another human being but got turned away. Narcissus's mentor told him that before he could fall in love with someone else he needed to fall in love with himself. He fell in love with his reflection when he looked into the pool of water. I really like the meaning of this because it is true. You can't fall in love and give your 100 percent attention on someone else without knowing your own true self and being comfortable with who you are. Those are the building blocks to being in a relationship. Imagine if you had insecurities going into a relationship or could never trust someone due to past relationships. Your current relationship would be a disaster. I could also understand why this might be bad thing loving yourself over someone else. In a way you become selfish and to into yourself. There might not even be enough room for you to love someone else because your so self involved with your own life.
2. The initial myths of this text raised similar issues to those we found in Genesis. I found the stories to be quite similar actually. Both texts talked about the creation of the world, like how Adam and eve came to be and the garden. Also in the book of Genesis the people had to endure a lot of test. Test about loyalty and family. They did not care if they killed a brother or two. I feel that is how the book of Ovid is. The way he explain the creation of the world is similar but not exactly the same, but the people in the stories are definitely faced with test to prove family bonds. I think the most original thing that Ovid presents in his myths is that when he explains the creation of the world he has broken it up into different sections. Like first came this and then that and he said that god was not completely responsible for the creation. Also when he explains the different ages like, iron, gold, and silver. I found that to be unique and more realistic to what real life is like.
3. As simple as this question would be to answer I found it not to be that simple. When you think of someone falling in love you think its between two people, but in book 3 that was not quite the case. At first he attempted to fall in love with another human being but got turned away. Narcissus's mentor told him that before he could fall in love with someone else he needed to fall in love with himself. He fell in love with his reflection when he looked into the pool of water. I really like the meaning of this because it is true. You can't fall in love and give your 100 percent attention on someone else without knowing your own true self and being comfortable with who you are. Those are the building blocks to being in a relationship. Imagine if you had insecurities going into a relationship or could never trust someone due to past relationships. Your current relationship would be a disaster. I could also understand why this might be bad thing loving yourself over someone else. In a way you become selfish and to into yourself. There might not even be enough room for you to love someone else because your so self involved with your own life.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Books 16-20 Books 21-24
Topic 4
The character Arnaeus nicknames Irus was introduced in book 18. He himself is a beggar and he works with the suitors who have taken over Odysseus kingdom. When Irus was wondering around in Ithaca he came across Odysseus, but he was disguised as a beggar. Irus had no idea it was Odysseus he thought is was just another beggar walking in his territory. He didn't like that so he started to insult the him aggressively. As they continued to verbally abuse one another one of the suitors who was watching this says they should just fight it out and the winner will be given food. So they begin to fight and of course Odysseus being much stronger he took Irus out and threatened him if he was mean to Beggars again that he would kill him next. To me Irus seems like a person who would do anything just to get by. I also think he would do anything to feel accepted amongst the suitors. In a way I sort of feel bad for him because he's living an unfortunate life and he comes off to people as not such a nice person.
Topic 5
The texts treatment of Penelope is not so great. She is not made out to be this bright, pretty, faithful wife. The closer Odysseus is to returning home I guess the more and more people are getting infuriated with the suitors. Athena projects this idea to Penelope that she should give herself to the suitors and make them want her. This is part of Athena's plan to make Odysseus even more angry with the suitors so he would want to kill them. I think the texts makes Penelope look like she is easily manipulated by Athena. Like if she is told to do something she most likely will do it, but also in a way it is helping her and Odysseus get back there kingdom. When Penelope is questioning Odysseus about whether it is her husband or not she talks about this dream she had. When I was reading it, it seemed so bizarre and I thought she was talking nonsense, but the dream actually came true. So it turns out that the texts was making her out to be a little out of the box, but really she wasn't.
Topic 1
There is symbolism of Odysseus bow that is mentioned in book 21. As stated before, Penelope will marry the first suitor who can shoot an arrow through the holes of six axes. She takes Odysseus bow and brings it to the suitors to see if they can string it and then shoot the arrow. There is no surprise that none of them can do it. Odysseus still disguised as someone else takes the bow, strings it, and then shoots the arrow through all six axes. Now Penelope has to keep to her word and marry him/reunite with Odysseus. I think this was a smart move for Odysseus in order to persuade Penelope back into his life. It shows how willing he is to do anything to get his love back.
Topic 3
There is a huge symbolism of the bed that is mentioned in book 23. After the fight had broken out between the suitors and Odysseus many of them were killed. Eurycleia goes to tell Penelope what has just happened and she does not believe it. She thinks that the gods are playing some sort of trick on her. I would believe that too because I think she was becoming accustomed to the way she has been living while Odysseus has been gone and now all of a sudden the suitors are all dead. It probably surprised her. She insists on having her bed moved, but she then hears a mans voice saying it can not be moved because it is made from an olive tree, which the whole house has been constructed around. She immediately knows its Odysseus talking to her because he would be the only to know about these facts. Penelope is happy to finally be reunited with her husband.
The character Arnaeus nicknames Irus was introduced in book 18. He himself is a beggar and he works with the suitors who have taken over Odysseus kingdom. When Irus was wondering around in Ithaca he came across Odysseus, but he was disguised as a beggar. Irus had no idea it was Odysseus he thought is was just another beggar walking in his territory. He didn't like that so he started to insult the him aggressively. As they continued to verbally abuse one another one of the suitors who was watching this says they should just fight it out and the winner will be given food. So they begin to fight and of course Odysseus being much stronger he took Irus out and threatened him if he was mean to Beggars again that he would kill him next. To me Irus seems like a person who would do anything just to get by. I also think he would do anything to feel accepted amongst the suitors. In a way I sort of feel bad for him because he's living an unfortunate life and he comes off to people as not such a nice person.
Topic 5
The texts treatment of Penelope is not so great. She is not made out to be this bright, pretty, faithful wife. The closer Odysseus is to returning home I guess the more and more people are getting infuriated with the suitors. Athena projects this idea to Penelope that she should give herself to the suitors and make them want her. This is part of Athena's plan to make Odysseus even more angry with the suitors so he would want to kill them. I think the texts makes Penelope look like she is easily manipulated by Athena. Like if she is told to do something she most likely will do it, but also in a way it is helping her and Odysseus get back there kingdom. When Penelope is questioning Odysseus about whether it is her husband or not she talks about this dream she had. When I was reading it, it seemed so bizarre and I thought she was talking nonsense, but the dream actually came true. So it turns out that the texts was making her out to be a little out of the box, but really she wasn't.
Topic 1
There is symbolism of Odysseus bow that is mentioned in book 21. As stated before, Penelope will marry the first suitor who can shoot an arrow through the holes of six axes. She takes Odysseus bow and brings it to the suitors to see if they can string it and then shoot the arrow. There is no surprise that none of them can do it. Odysseus still disguised as someone else takes the bow, strings it, and then shoots the arrow through all six axes. Now Penelope has to keep to her word and marry him/reunite with Odysseus. I think this was a smart move for Odysseus in order to persuade Penelope back into his life. It shows how willing he is to do anything to get his love back.
Topic 3
There is a huge symbolism of the bed that is mentioned in book 23. After the fight had broken out between the suitors and Odysseus many of them were killed. Eurycleia goes to tell Penelope what has just happened and she does not believe it. She thinks that the gods are playing some sort of trick on her. I would believe that too because I think she was becoming accustomed to the way she has been living while Odysseus has been gone and now all of a sudden the suitors are all dead. It probably surprised her. She insists on having her bed moved, but she then hears a mans voice saying it can not be moved because it is made from an olive tree, which the whole house has been constructed around. She immediately knows its Odysseus talking to her because he would be the only to know about these facts. Penelope is happy to finally be reunited with her husband.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
books 11-15
Question one
In book 11 Odysseus's descents into hades. I interpreted this descent metaphorically as a real descent into Odysseus's past as well in a way a descent into after life. I say this because as he travels into hades he is forced to make sacrifices which will then force him to speak to the spirits of the dead. These people are crewman, gods, and even family members of Odysseus. These spirits tell him there stories of how they passed and they also ask about there own family members who are still living. For example Odysseus's mother returns to tell Odysseus about his kingdom and why she passed away. She said she could not stay alive anymore because of her illness and wait for him to return to the land. Odysseus is overwhelmed by all this contact with the dead. I think it makes him relive some things that he does not want to remember like the war in Troy. When Odysseus arrives at Hades he speaks to his mother. He speaks to her because she wants to know what has happened to her kingdom. She is curious to know who has taken it over since Odysseus has left. She also wants to find out more about his wife and son. I also think they spoke because he felt some sort of incompleteness. He missed her.
Question 4
Eumaeus in a way represents Odysseus's friend. I say this because as soon as Odysseus arrrives he is greeted with hospitatlity. Meaning he is offered food and a nice warm place to stay. Eumaeus asks Odysseus questions that would distinguish a friendship, but Odysseus refuses to tell the truth and lies about who he actually is. He is pretending to be someone else and tells Eumaeus that he has already ventured back home. It doesn't make sense to me why he wouldn't tell the truth. Maybe because he didn't want Eumaeus to make a big deal about it or maybe just didn't want the attention on him. The reason for the move from the seashore to the hut was because that was where the pigs were. He was protecting them. After reading book 14 the transition represents excepting his past and moving forward. Although Odysseus did not reveal himself of who he really was he was able to see how much of a good friend Eumaeus was. I think that brought ease and comfort to Odysseus. I feel like as the text continues to build and build Odysseus starts to except his past.
In book 11 Odysseus's descents into hades. I interpreted this descent metaphorically as a real descent into Odysseus's past as well in a way a descent into after life. I say this because as he travels into hades he is forced to make sacrifices which will then force him to speak to the spirits of the dead. These people are crewman, gods, and even family members of Odysseus. These spirits tell him there stories of how they passed and they also ask about there own family members who are still living. For example Odysseus's mother returns to tell Odysseus about his kingdom and why she passed away. She said she could not stay alive anymore because of her illness and wait for him to return to the land. Odysseus is overwhelmed by all this contact with the dead. I think it makes him relive some things that he does not want to remember like the war in Troy. When Odysseus arrives at Hades he speaks to his mother. He speaks to her because she wants to know what has happened to her kingdom. She is curious to know who has taken it over since Odysseus has left. She also wants to find out more about his wife and son. I also think they spoke because he felt some sort of incompleteness. He missed her.
Question 4
Eumaeus in a way represents Odysseus's friend. I say this because as soon as Odysseus arrrives he is greeted with hospitatlity. Meaning he is offered food and a nice warm place to stay. Eumaeus asks Odysseus questions that would distinguish a friendship, but Odysseus refuses to tell the truth and lies about who he actually is. He is pretending to be someone else and tells Eumaeus that he has already ventured back home. It doesn't make sense to me why he wouldn't tell the truth. Maybe because he didn't want Eumaeus to make a big deal about it or maybe just didn't want the attention on him. The reason for the move from the seashore to the hut was because that was where the pigs were. He was protecting them. After reading book 14 the transition represents excepting his past and moving forward. Although Odysseus did not reveal himself of who he really was he was able to see how much of a good friend Eumaeus was. I think that brought ease and comfort to Odysseus. I feel like as the text continues to build and build Odysseus starts to except his past.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Books 6-10
Question one
After reading the assigned readings, we are introduced to Calypso. She is one of the goddesses and holds Odysseus captive on her island for seven years. While he is there she is her immortal husband. They take part in things that a married couple would take part in. Specifically sleeping together. As this relationship continues Odysseus begins to feel bad about what he has been doing and wants to return home to be with his wife Penelope. Calypso is a very seductive goddess as well as being maybe like a hopeless romantic. Meaning that she has really persuaded Odysseus to have this fake relationship with her because one she wants it and also I think because she knows its forbidden. He island represents this home away from home. Odysseus misses his home with his wife and Calypso has made it her job to create the atmosphere that he has been longing for. In a way I feel like she is the other woman. He has his life at home and then this life with her on her island that no one knows about. It very secretive. I can understand why Calypso would be an ambiguous character because at times she seems like she really cares about Odysseus and other times it seems as if she is working with the other gods to like plot something. Possibly his death. Calypso portrays an anti-penelope because she is young and beautiful. She also is very sexual and maybe more attentive then her. Or another way of looking at is that she does not take Penelope and Odysseus's marriage seriously because if she had she would have never made moves on him.
Question three
Book eight introduces Demodocus, the blind singer. This book introduces the important theme of competition. I say this because whenever Odysseus stops at these island on his journey home he is always faced with some sort of task that will either set him free and be excepted by the gods, or end in death or permanent stay. For example the athletic games. I think there is also another theme in this section of the assigned readings. It is reliving your past. As Odysseus goes on this journey back home he faces a lot of challenges. In Book eight for example when Demodocus starts singing it is extremely painful for Odysseus to hear this because it reminds him of when he was fighting in Troy, but in a way these challenges are good because he is able to work through them and kind of gain a better understanding of things that he went through. Demodocus becomes a key player in Odysseus's journey home because he reminds him of his past years. I think in a way this whole journey is a growing experience for him and Demodocus is finally letting those triggers out that will in a way help Odysseus grow.
Question three
Book eight introduces Demodocus, the blind singer. This book introduces the important theme of competition. I say this because whenever Odysseus stops at these island on his journey home he is always faced with some sort of task that will either set him free and be excepted by the gods, or end in death or permanent stay. For example the athletic games. I think there is also another theme in this section of the assigned readings. It is reliving your past. As Odysseus goes on this journey back home he faces a lot of challenges. In Book eight for example when Demodocus starts singing it is extremely painful for Odysseus to hear this because it reminds him of when he was fighting in Troy, but in a way these challenges are good because he is able to work through them and kind of gain a better understanding of things that he went through. Demodocus becomes a key player in Odysseus's journey home because he reminds him of his past years. I think in a way this whole journey is a growing experience for him and Demodocus is finally letting those triggers out that will in a way help Odysseus grow.
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