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!!!
