Leaving World Lit. for the Real World

Final blog day for us, and it's been a long, interesting semester. We started with ancient cultures and ended near the renaissance period, all the way exploring the different writing styles and philosophies of the world's best known writers. Honestly, I'm not quite sure where to begin!

I came into this world lit. course already equipped with a high reading comprehensive level, and even some knowledge of ancient civilizations such as Egypt and Rome. What I hoped to learn was about more precise styles of writing/reading, and what inspired these authors to do what they did. In all, I'd say I met those expectations quite nicely.

I found it interesting (and yet also a bit irritating) in the beginning, as we studied the Epic of Gilgamesh vs the Bible. There were very many similarities. In fact, they were very nearly the same, with major differences being the existence of multiple deities versus just one, and motive behind the great flood. Being a Christian myself, I suppose the reason I found it irritating was because I saw the whole Epic Flood as a cheap knock-off of the real deal. The flood in the hebrew Bible. Again though, that was my personal opinion, and I do still appreciate the author's work.

Studying Chinese literature was also very intriguing. I never really understood before the difference between Taoism and Buddhism and Confucianism. It had all been a part of the same blur to me before. Our world lit class has helped me discern these separate beliefs apart, and become more the wiser. The poetry was also very beautiful. I'm envious in fact of these ancient poets. Not only did they have great skill, but they got to write about such pure and meaningful topics in a time that could really appreciate it. Today, people seem more captivated by crude rap and drivel.

Through ancient Persian literature, we  learned about metaphors and irony. Also a very useful lesson. Those themes continued on into ancient Greek literature, with the Iliad and Oedipus the King. Close behind we studied Roman literature, and then Italian, with The Inferno. I enjoyed reading it and comparing it to what I already knew. Dante's imagery was very captivating and powerful. I can only imagine that in the era it was written, it certainly struck fear and the desire for redemption into people's hearts.

My favorite piece of literature, although we only studied it for 4 days, was Shakespeare's Hamlet. I LOVE Shakespeare's language, and understand it well enough on my own to follow the story and his flourishes of elaborate speak ( I too also go on speaking to myself sometimes. Not nearly as elaborate as Hamlet's soliloquies, but something like it). I wanted to keep my book and study it more ^.^ The video we watched was also very powerful. it truly brought the play to life.

Overall, my time in world lit. has been exceptionally enjoyable, and I think I will continue to pursue some of the other works of writers we studied. Perhaps by doing so (and I'm sure it will be the case) I will become more adept in my own writing.

Thank you to the members of my class for your thoughts and discussions. I found them interesting, and thank you Mrs. Olson for making a class I once thought would be dull and tedious into something enriching and fun :) Congratulations senior class 2012. We're outta here!!!

The Inferno

Hello again (sorry its been a while since you've heard from me :P). But I have returned with our class's newest topic of discussion, Dante's, The Inferno. By following the link provided here, you can also learn a little more about this classic piece with the powerpoint my classmates and I put together (I did rings 7 and 9 ^.^).

I was excited to start this unit, because not too long ago, my friend Kaitlyn and I both watched and played the movie and video game installments of Dante's Inferno. I especially loved the movie (though gory) because of how they chose to produce it. Each ring of hell almost was done by a different animator in their own definitive style. It was interesting to see how people thought or envisioned hell as. As well as reading the original text, I would recommend (to those not so faint of heart) that you watch it.

The Inferno

Oedipus's Tragedy

In class all this week, we read the greek tragedy, Oedipus the King. This story was full of dramatic ironies and double meanings on Oedipus's part. Something that we discussed about, was fate, or destiny. For centuries, it has been a struggle for mankind to figure out just how much of our lives is controlled by fate, and what we can decide for ourselves. The greek god Apollo had put a curse upon Laius, that his own son would kill his father and marry his mother. To prevent this, Laius sent the child to die in the wilderness, and thus prevent the prophecy from ever coming true. Yet fate's hands were at work, and the child managed to survive, taken in by Polybus, king of Corinth. Many years later, when the child, Oedipus, heard for himself the same prophecy, he chose to take matters into his own hands. He fled the city of his own volition so that he would not kill his father and wed his mother (even though he did not know that he was adopted). But this choice made by Oedipus still brought a part of the prophecy to pass. While traveling, running away from Corinth to protect his family, he is confronted by a small escort on the road, one of who's members are none other than King Laius, Oedipus's true father. When they are cruel to   Oedipus, he becomes completely enraged, and kills them all. So in fleeing his fate, he ultimately met it.
And the story continued on, and Oedipus did indeed marry his mother, because not only was there no king left to rule Thebes, but he'd also solved the Sphinx's riddle. After many years of peaceful ruling, past deeds begin to beckon Oedipus, and the city is struck by a terrible plague. The murder of Laius has gone unpunished, and until then, the city will never be at peace. Oedipus again, tries to do what is noble and right, to save his city. But his pursuit of this knowledge with ultimately bring about his downfall. So it stands to question, " Was any of this avoidable?" and " Are people really doomed to meet tragic ends, based on their own tragic flaws?" Predestination is also a touchy topic today. If the Creator (or whatever deity one follows) already knows what our futures hold for us, or what choices we make, or what will become of us, then are we already trapped and bound for one certain outcome? Is there no way to defy fate? Whether or not we ourselves know it has decreed for us?

"There is no Escaping Fate"

The Sun Is Rising!!!

Hello again. While I'm still looking for my new independent reading book, Sunrise: Chapter Two (Part One), is now posted. Take a look and enjoy! ^.^

Silver Pen and Pad

Is It Human Nature?

In class, we are covering chinese literature, and yesterday we were talking specifically about Confucius. The view he holds for life is pretty simplistic. Do not be evil. Seek to better yourself with knowledge while remaining humble. Live to honor your family. Rule with kindness and moral order. Just simple things that one would think are common knowledge. The good ol' "do unto others as you would have done to you." I sat at my desk thinking, " Duh, this stuff is a no brainer, right?" But then then as conversation progressed, it seemed others thought differently. Some said that it was impossible to rule/govern that way. That punishment is the only way to get through to some people. As a whole, we discussed how America is constantly endorsing compettition. People are continuously striving to get another rung up on the social ladder, and people want to know who is the best. For example, the Daytona 500 or the Superbowl. Its always a race, a fight to be champion. Why is it all so important to us? Why do we have to step on people to feel a sense of self worth? Throw them under the bus just to get ahead? By the end, the conversation was clinched with, " Its just hard to be a good person. Its hard work."
Why? Why is it hard? Shouldn't goodness and wanting to do whats right just come naturally? Shouldn't we strive for a better world where everyone gets a shot and when they fall short we help pick them up? If not, goodness, then what? What is our preset? The preset of human nature? Is it really violence and rebellion? Is that why there's so much chaos going on in the world? Why there are delinquent kids not respecting their parents, why in some places it isn't even safe to come to a school without fearing for your self respect or even your physical soundness? Are we all just bad on the inside? Take away the politics, the wars, and social cliques, and what would happen? Left to start over again, how would we proceed? Would violent human nature and a passion for power and glory win out over an understanding of common good and camaraderie?

Pursuing Persian

Hello. Me again. To be honest, I haven't done much reading lately. In fact, not really any at all. I can't seem to get into Lolita like I thought I would, and there isn't anything else on the reading list that i want to read at the moment. But, while we were going through our last unit in World Lit, Persian Literature, I came across a summary for a piece called Scheherazade. Its a story about how a princess cleverly staves off her execution by spinning tales for a vicious king. I was excited and very interested in reading it, but when I turned the page, the story wasn't there. I was SO disappointed. So, I'm going to find it myself, and read it. ^.^ Aren't you proud Mrs.Olson?

Scheherazade tells her Stories

Sunrise's Debut on Blogger!

Just a  note, my work in progress novel, Sunrise, now has it's first part up in my blog. Take a look if you've got the time and you're interested! ^.^

A Senior's Salutations

 Hello there. Marina Scott here once again on a gloomy and doomy Friday. This past week I wasn't able to find much reading time, between church and scholarship entries, so I thought I would share a little bit about myself.

I am a senior attending Boone High School, anxiously waiting graduation. Sadly however, after twelve years (thirteen if you include kindergarden) I am doomed to endure another six years of intellectual torture. I am enrolled for the fall semester of DMACC, and after two years, I will be moving on to the Art Institute of Minnesota for another four. The later of the two won't be so bad I think, because I really do enjoy the arts and look forward to their animation course.

From my college selection, you can probably guess that I am very interested in the field of art. Particularly media arts and animation at the moment. I enjoy drawing with a wide variety of medias, sculpting, painting, and I've even tried my hand at writing. Manga (Japanese comic books) and novels alike. If you're at all interested in the kind of writer I am, you can visit my profile on writerscafe, an online writing community.

Other general information about me is.... well I don't know exactly. I'm just your average teenager. I like pizza and movies and video games. I don't always care for scary movies, Mountain Dew is the best thing ever created, I'm always up for hanging out with my friends, and I religiously avoid younger siblings like the plague -_-

Thanks for taking the time to read this (assuming you're still awake by this point), and I'll try to keep up on my reading from here on out.

Leery of Lolita

I'm here again, and I finally have my next book. Lolita by Vladimir Nobokov. I got it yesterday from the library, and plan to start reading today. Actually, I did begin reading the book, but it was the introduction. On top of an impending cold and it being nearly midnight when I began, I couldn't find it in me to keep focused on it. So, a new start today and I'll be on my way. I've heard things about the central theme of the book being a bit on the racy side, so I hope I'll like it.

This image is from oprah.com

Nothing To Be Had

Hello. Marina Scott here, and this is my second blog here on blogger.com. In my last blog, A Warren Like Watership Down, I explained how I'd already finished my independent reading book, and was ready to begin a new one. Sadly however, the library here at Boone High School does not have just about any of the books on the reading list that I am interested in. So, I suppose I'll be making a visit here soon to the Ericson Public Library so I can read them all.

This image is from clipartpal.com

A Warren Like Watership Down

This is my first blog for my world literature class,

and hopefully I'll be able to get the hang of it. But

for now, I'm going to write about my first

independent reading book, Watership Down, by

Richard Adams. Its a fictional tale of a group of 

rabbits who set out to find a new warren, after

the destruction of their original warren is foretold

by Fiver. A young rabbit possessing oracular

powers.  Led by Hazel, Fivers brother, the rabbits 

cross unknown territories to find their dream home.

Away from man and predators alike.  But there's 

plenty of adventure and danger to be had. Rival

warrens, mans' traps, weasels and foxes, and more.

In the end, the rabbits have fought hard to defend 

their promised land on Watership Down, and succeed

in forging a new and perfect society of their own

I checked out this book this past Friday. And finished

it  the very next day. It was an interesting read, that

I was completely captivated with. Previously, I had

watched the animated movie very closely based on the

book. I watched it once again after finishing the book

to compared how close the movie followed the actual

storyline. I was not disappointed in this. As well as the

movie, I'd also watched the animated children's show

for Watership Down. While still fun and entertaining,

it turned out to be a sugar coated  retelling of Adam's

work.  A majority of the same events from the book

were involved, along with other twists, characters, and

events made to suit children. Nonetheless, I enjoyed

it. All three versions of this writing are very intriguing,

and i recommend the book to anyone.

Rabbit In The Grass