Lynn Hodnett
Ms. Peifer
10IB English Hour 5
April 15, 2009
Tu Fu's "Night Thoughts Afloat" starts out with a calm, but lonely mood in the first two stanzas. This is shown when he says "By bent grasses/ in a gentle wind/ Under straight mast/ I'm alone tonight" (lines 1-4 Tu Fu). The use of the word 'gentle' and the image of grass creates a soothing and relaxed feeling. However, the mood changes in the third stanza and gives off a distinct air of being indignant. This is presented when the words "'Retired for ill health'" (line 12 Tu Fu) are in quotation marks and shows how annoyed the poet really is about his situation. In the fourth and last stanza, the mood changes again, only this time it rings with a calm loneliness edged with despair. The usage of the word 'drifting' carries a detached connotation and so that shows the author feels that he is disconnected from the rest of the world. This tone is reinforced with the image of the "single gull/ between sky and earth" (lines 15-16 Tu Fu). By using grass and a gull for the images, it creates clear, simplistic images that are easy to interpret.
Tu Fu's "Jade Flower Palace" has an overall mood of wistful remembrance and melancholy. This is shown when he says, "the pathos of/ It overcomes me" (lines 17-18 Tu Fu). It is also shown when he says, "The wind moans in/ The pines" (lines 1-2 Tu Fu). The entire poem consists of all these images that paint a picture of a once beautiful and bright palace that has fallen into disrepair and ruin. The image that echoes that especially is this: "His dancing girls are yellow dust/ Their painted cheeks have crumbled/ Away" (lines 11-13 Tu Fu). The use of the words 'dust' and 'crumbled' leave a vivid impression of age.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Journal LRJ #3
Lynn Hodnett
Ms. Peifer
10IB English Hour 5
April 14, 2009
Our society today definitely has similar values to Confucianism rather than to Taoism. One reason that proves this is true is the use of prison as a punishment for crimes. If someone does something wrong, they are usually punished for it. A Taoist society would just let the criminal receive no repercussions for what they did. This is almost unthinkable in the world today for someone to not be punished for a crime that they committed. Also, today's social environment focuses on always doing the morally right thing. Taoism doesn't stress on its followers to do the morally correct actions, but instead doesn't mention it at all. Nature doesn't have a conscious, only mysteries. Another reason is that people (mostly scientists and the such) are constantly curious and want to know why things do what they do and why events happen. Taoists just accept that something happened and would never even wonder why it occurred in the first place. It happens because that is the way of Nature and so that is the only way it should or can be.
Ms. Peifer
10IB English Hour 5
April 14, 2009
Our society today definitely has similar values to Confucianism rather than to Taoism. One reason that proves this is true is the use of prison as a punishment for crimes. If someone does something wrong, they are usually punished for it. A Taoist society would just let the criminal receive no repercussions for what they did. This is almost unthinkable in the world today for someone to not be punished for a crime that they committed. Also, today's social environment focuses on always doing the morally right thing. Taoism doesn't stress on its followers to do the morally correct actions, but instead doesn't mention it at all. Nature doesn't have a conscious, only mysteries. Another reason is that people (mostly scientists and the such) are constantly curious and want to know why things do what they do and why events happen. Taoists just accept that something happened and would never even wonder why it occurred in the first place. It happens because that is the way of Nature and so that is the only way it should or can be.
Tao Te Ching LRJ #2
Lynn Hodnett
Ms. Peifer
10IB English Hour 5
April 13, 2009
The first excerpt of the Tao Te Ching talks about Nature herself and how humans should listen to her. It states, "Hence always rid yourself of desires in order to observe its secrets" (line 7 Tzu). The Tao Te Ching also tells the reader that humans, no matter how hard they try, will never ever discover all of the secrets that Nature has: "Mystery upon mystery- The gateway of the manifold secrets" (lines 12-13 Tzu).
The next excerpt says that if one does not value any material goods, then it will never be missed by the owner or stolen by another person: "not to value goods which are hard to come by will keep them from theft" (lines 11-12 Tzu). It also encourages people to not pursue an education for oneself and take no action whatsoever. By doing this, people will stay out of Nature's way and circumstances will fall how they are supposed to.
The third excerpt of the Tao Te Ching speaks about how humans should accept the fact that objects in life don't stay the same, but change and fade away: "the sharpness cannot be presered forever" (line 30 Tzu). This section also tell the reader to stop trying earn wealth because it will only cause stress, distaster, and unhappiness: "To be overbearing when one has wealth and position Is to bring calamity upon oneself" (lines 33-34 Tzu).
The last excerpt of the Tao Te Ching teaches the reader that to be calm and meek will assist with problems that they encounter on the hard road of life: "The most submissive thing in the world can ride roughshod over the hardest in the world" (lines 1-2 Tzu). This section also talks about how that to do nothing is constantly the correct action to take and that to gain true knowledge is to recieve it through Nature, not through the words of another person: "The teaching that uses no words, the benefit of resorting to no action, these are beyond the understanding of all but a very few in the world" (lines 6-8 Tzu).
Confucian teachings are distince from Taoist teachings in the way that they have different opinions about what kind of order the world present to humans. Confucianism believes that the world order is choatic and can be improved by having individuals better themselves so they can better the world around them. This is shown in a section of The Analects: "Govern them by moral force, keep order among them by ritual, and they will keep their self-respect and come to you of their own accord" (stanza 10 Confucious). Taoists, on the other hand, think that the world is just how it should be and to try to mess with the way of Nature is folly. This is seen in an excerpt from the Tao Te Ching: "That is why I know the benefit of resorting to no action. The teaching that uses no words, the benefit of resorting to no action, these are beyond the understanding of all but a very few in the world" (lines 5-8 Tzu).
Ms. Peifer
10IB English Hour 5
April 13, 2009
The first excerpt of the Tao Te Ching talks about Nature herself and how humans should listen to her. It states, "Hence always rid yourself of desires in order to observe its secrets" (line 7 Tzu). The Tao Te Ching also tells the reader that humans, no matter how hard they try, will never ever discover all of the secrets that Nature has: "Mystery upon mystery- The gateway of the manifold secrets" (lines 12-13 Tzu).
The next excerpt says that if one does not value any material goods, then it will never be missed by the owner or stolen by another person: "not to value goods which are hard to come by will keep them from theft" (lines 11-12 Tzu). It also encourages people to not pursue an education for oneself and take no action whatsoever. By doing this, people will stay out of Nature's way and circumstances will fall how they are supposed to.
The third excerpt of the Tao Te Ching speaks about how humans should accept the fact that objects in life don't stay the same, but change and fade away: "the sharpness cannot be presered forever" (line 30 Tzu). This section also tell the reader to stop trying earn wealth because it will only cause stress, distaster, and unhappiness: "To be overbearing when one has wealth and position Is to bring calamity upon oneself" (lines 33-34 Tzu).
The last excerpt of the Tao Te Ching teaches the reader that to be calm and meek will assist with problems that they encounter on the hard road of life: "The most submissive thing in the world can ride roughshod over the hardest in the world" (lines 1-2 Tzu). This section also talks about how that to do nothing is constantly the correct action to take and that to gain true knowledge is to recieve it through Nature, not through the words of another person: "The teaching that uses no words, the benefit of resorting to no action, these are beyond the understanding of all but a very few in the world" (lines 6-8 Tzu).
Confucian teachings are distince from Taoist teachings in the way that they have different opinions about what kind of order the world present to humans. Confucianism believes that the world order is choatic and can be improved by having individuals better themselves so they can better the world around them. This is shown in a section of The Analects: "Govern them by moral force, keep order among them by ritual, and they will keep their self-respect and come to you of their own accord" (stanza 10 Confucious). Taoists, on the other hand, think that the world is just how it should be and to try to mess with the way of Nature is folly. This is seen in an excerpt from the Tao Te Ching: "That is why I know the benefit of resorting to no action. The teaching that uses no words, the benefit of resorting to no action, these are beyond the understanding of all but a very few in the world" (lines 5-8 Tzu).
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Why I Hate That Movie With A Passion (You Might Know It As '300')
OK, this movie is one of the stupidest in existence. Even though I have not personally seen that movie, I have perfectly rational reasons for despising it.
The first is this: I generally don't like movies that Hollywood makes that are based on real events or stories. The people who make the movie screw up the storyline and add stuff that didn't actually happen in the said event or story. This really, really irritates me. A LOT.
The next reason is that there is a freshman in my Ancient Civilizations class that gets almost all of his ancient civilization information from movies such as that movie and he talks about it every. Single. Day. Every time he says the name a tiny part of my soul that cares about movies dies.
The last reason is short, but definitely not sweet in any way, shape or form. Ms. Fairchild actually recommends that we see that movie. I have nothing more to say on this subject, mainly because I am too enraged to type anything else.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Beowulf LRJ #3
Lynn Hodnett
Ms. Peifer
10IB Hr. 5
December 9, 2008
"Yet the prince of the rings was too proud/ to line up with a large army/ against the sky-plague." (Heaney 2345). These lines show the characteristic that men are expected to prove that they are the strongest and don't need any assistance from anyone else. Another value shown in Beowulf is that the king was expected to protect his people from any dangers, even if it means that he has to sacrifice himself to do so. Obviously, the Dane culture impresses that the leader does what is best for his people rather than for himself. Also, the value of loyalty is shown when the young man Wiglaf sees Beowulf in danger and comes to his rescue. "When he saw his lord/ tormented by the heat of the scalding helmet,/ he remembered the bountiful gifts bestowed on him,/... He could not hold back" (2604). Well, there is another interpretation of the value shown in these lines. Other than loyalty, Wiglaf was also keeping his promise. He remembered that Beowulf gave him great gifts and so, in turn, he must give something back to Beowulf.
The last section of Beowulf is phrased quite differently than from the previous sections. It diminishes the height of Beowulf's hero pedestal. Instead of being constantly characterized as this great, invincible, perfect hero, Beowulf is shown as more of a normal man (even if he's a king) with no super powers. One example is that Beowulf is more human than half-god is that he fears God, like any other Christian: "the wise man thought he must have thwarted/ ancient ordinance of the eternal Lord,/ broken his commandment." (2329). This quote gives the very human flaw of having fear. In the other sections, Beowulf doesn't show any emotion at all, including when his men are being eaten by Grendel or when he has to face Grendel and Grendel's mother. "to have to give ground like that and go/ unwillingly to inhabit another home/ in a place beyond; so every man must yield/ the leasehold of his days." (2587). The talk of Beowulf dying also has the same effect in humanizing him, making him seem less like the hero and more of a has-been celebrity.
Beowulf's death would be considered honorable in his time because the Dane men prized themselves on being terrific warriors. The best way to die is to die fighting for one's people and one's king, and this is how they could attain 'invincibility'. To be remembered for one's strength, bravery, and triumph in battle through stories and songs was the only way to become everlasting in everybody's memories. Beowulf obviously achieved this because people still read this story and remember his tale of bravery and victory over the evil Grendel and Grendel's mother.
Ms. Peifer
10IB Hr. 5
December 9, 2008
"Yet the prince of the rings was too proud/ to line up with a large army/ against the sky-plague." (Heaney 2345). These lines show the characteristic that men are expected to prove that they are the strongest and don't need any assistance from anyone else. Another value shown in Beowulf is that the king was expected to protect his people from any dangers, even if it means that he has to sacrifice himself to do so. Obviously, the Dane culture impresses that the leader does what is best for his people rather than for himself. Also, the value of loyalty is shown when the young man Wiglaf sees Beowulf in danger and comes to his rescue. "When he saw his lord/ tormented by the heat of the scalding helmet,/ he remembered the bountiful gifts bestowed on him,/... He could not hold back" (2604). Well, there is another interpretation of the value shown in these lines. Other than loyalty, Wiglaf was also keeping his promise. He remembered that Beowulf gave him great gifts and so, in turn, he must give something back to Beowulf.
The last section of Beowulf is phrased quite differently than from the previous sections. It diminishes the height of Beowulf's hero pedestal. Instead of being constantly characterized as this great, invincible, perfect hero, Beowulf is shown as more of a normal man (even if he's a king) with no super powers. One example is that Beowulf is more human than half-god is that he fears God, like any other Christian: "the wise man thought he must have thwarted/ ancient ordinance of the eternal Lord,/ broken his commandment." (2329). This quote gives the very human flaw of having fear. In the other sections, Beowulf doesn't show any emotion at all, including when his men are being eaten by Grendel or when he has to face Grendel and Grendel's mother. "to have to give ground like that and go/ unwillingly to inhabit another home/ in a place beyond; so every man must yield/ the leasehold of his days." (2587). The talk of Beowulf dying also has the same effect in humanizing him, making him seem less like the hero and more of a has-been celebrity.
Beowulf's death would be considered honorable in his time because the Dane men prized themselves on being terrific warriors. The best way to die is to die fighting for one's people and one's king, and this is how they could attain 'invincibility'. To be remembered for one's strength, bravery, and triumph in battle through stories and songs was the only way to become everlasting in everybody's memories. Beowulf obviously achieved this because people still read this story and remember his tale of bravery and victory over the evil Grendel and Grendel's mother.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Beowulf LRJ #2
Lynn Hodnett
Ms. Peifer
10IB Hr. 5
December 4, 2008
One of the values featured in Beowulf is pride in ones' own achievments, as shown in this quote: "the hero displayed/ high up near the roof: the whole of Grendel's/ shoulder and arm" (Heaney 833). It's a sick kind of trophy that shows off how much stronger and more powerful Beowulf is compared to Grendel. The Danes obviously impressed the characteristic of strength in their men: "Endure your troubles to-day. Bear up/ and be the man I expect you to be." (1395). Beowulf's very existence exaggerates this quality. However, strength isn't really encouraged in women because of Grendel's mother: "But now his mother/ had sallied forth on a savage journey,/ grief-racked and ravenous, desperate for revenge." (1276). This part of the story also casts revenge in a bad light, implying that if one goes out to seek revenge, the plan will backfire. Since Beowulf is a hero and has quite a few super-human qualities, there is bound to be at least a couple unrealistic actions taking place. One of these actions is when Beowulf rips off Grendel's arm: "Clear proof of this/ could be seen in the hand the hero displayed/ high up near the roof: the whole of Grendel's/ shoulder and arm, his awesome grasp." (832) Nobody is ever going to rip someone else's arm and shoulder off with thier bare hands. Even if they did, they would most likely be sent to jail and instantly put into therapy for anger management problems. Another extodinary task Beowulf performed was when he went down to Grendel's lair: "he dived into the heaving/ depths of the lake. It was the best part of a day/ before he could see the solid bottom." (1494). It is generally known that humans cannot breathe underwater without help from diving equipment and so can't be underwater for 'the best part of a day' without drowning. Beowulf contains several wonderfully decriptive lines. However, most of them refer to battle, fighting or some kind of weapon. One of the best ones is this: "But he soon found/ his battle-torch extinguished: the shining blade/ refused to bite." (1522). Not entirely sure what a battle-torch is, but the personification of Beowulf's sword really gives a good image of how the weapon was useless against Grendel's mother. Another quote that was chosen as a favorite also describes a sword: "sharp-honed, wave-sheened wonder blade" (1490). These descriptive words just make the sword almost as magical and super as Beowulf himself. "Meanwhile; the sword/ began to wilt into glory icicles/ to slather and thaw." (1605). This last line has terrific diction because it uses 'slather'. That word just makes one hear the blood seeping down the steel blade of the sword and see it stained deep red with Grendel's mothers' blood. It's sickening, but great imagery.
Ms. Peifer
10IB Hr. 5
December 4, 2008
One of the values featured in Beowulf is pride in ones' own achievments, as shown in this quote: "the hero displayed/ high up near the roof: the whole of Grendel's/ shoulder and arm" (Heaney 833). It's a sick kind of trophy that shows off how much stronger and more powerful Beowulf is compared to Grendel. The Danes obviously impressed the characteristic of strength in their men: "Endure your troubles to-day. Bear up/ and be the man I expect you to be." (1395). Beowulf's very existence exaggerates this quality. However, strength isn't really encouraged in women because of Grendel's mother: "But now his mother/ had sallied forth on a savage journey,/ grief-racked and ravenous, desperate for revenge." (1276). This part of the story also casts revenge in a bad light, implying that if one goes out to seek revenge, the plan will backfire. Since Beowulf is a hero and has quite a few super-human qualities, there is bound to be at least a couple unrealistic actions taking place. One of these actions is when Beowulf rips off Grendel's arm: "Clear proof of this/ could be seen in the hand the hero displayed/ high up near the roof: the whole of Grendel's/ shoulder and arm, his awesome grasp." (832) Nobody is ever going to rip someone else's arm and shoulder off with thier bare hands. Even if they did, they would most likely be sent to jail and instantly put into therapy for anger management problems. Another extodinary task Beowulf performed was when he went down to Grendel's lair: "he dived into the heaving/ depths of the lake. It was the best part of a day/ before he could see the solid bottom." (1494). It is generally known that humans cannot breathe underwater without help from diving equipment and so can't be underwater for 'the best part of a day' without drowning. Beowulf contains several wonderfully decriptive lines. However, most of them refer to battle, fighting or some kind of weapon. One of the best ones is this: "But he soon found/ his battle-torch extinguished: the shining blade/ refused to bite." (1522). Not entirely sure what a battle-torch is, but the personification of Beowulf's sword really gives a good image of how the weapon was useless against Grendel's mother. Another quote that was chosen as a favorite also describes a sword: "sharp-honed, wave-sheened wonder blade" (1490). These descriptive words just make the sword almost as magical and super as Beowulf himself. "Meanwhile; the sword/ began to wilt into glory icicles/ to slather and thaw." (1605). This last line has terrific diction because it uses 'slather'. That word just makes one hear the blood seeping down the steel blade of the sword and see it stained deep red with Grendel's mothers' blood. It's sickening, but great imagery.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Antigone Paper
Lynn Hodnett
Ms. Peifer
10IB Period 5
November 26, 2008
Ms. Peifer
10IB Period 5
November 26, 2008
Ismene: Guilty As Charged
It is known to every person in the land that the man Polyneices was cast out of Thebes after losing the crown to his brother Eteocles. Instead of leaving permanently, Polyneices returned with an army to defeat Thebes and his brother. Both perished on the other's sword and left behind two grieving sisters and their uncle who became king in Eteocles' place: Creon. The new king announced that Eteocles be buried with distinction and honor, but Polyneices would not because of his actions against Thebes. Antigone, sister to Polyneices, evidently did not agree with this proclamation and completely ignored the law. She proceeded to give her disgraced sibling a burial. Previous to her crime, Antigone informed her sister that she planned on going through with this plot. Ismene did not tell a single soul of what Antigone told her and following the discovery of Antigone's crime, Ismene confessed to being an accomplice. These two pieces of evidence are plenty to prove that Ismene should be prosecuted along with her treacherous sister Antigone.
The very first thought that crossed Ismene's mind when she heard Antigone's plan should have been this: notify King Creon at once. However, Ismene did no such thing. Instead of doing her civic duty and informing Creon, she said this to Antigone: "But no one must hear of this, you must tell no one! I will keep it a secret, I promise!" (Fitts 817). This quote shows that Ismene willfully kept silent on this matter even when Antigone herself told her to speak of her plans to someone. A person who is aware that a crime will be done in the future, stands idly by, and allows it to pass is guilty as well as the doer of the crime. Ismene did this, thus making her an accomplice to Antigone's crime.
A confession to an offense is, of course, sends a very clear message: "I am guilty and I know it." This is what Ismene said directly: "Yes, if she will let me say so. I am guilty." (825). She continued to say, "We are equally guilty." (825). Since Ismene already knows that there were eye-witnesses to prove that Antigone did break the law, she cannot possibly be trying to save Antigone from her fate. Ismene knows that if she confesses her participation in these traitorous actions, she will be severely punished. So why would she confess to a crime that she did not take part in? The answer to that question is this: Ismene would not. She is not a brave soul: "We were born women, as who should not strive with men; next, that we are ruled of the stronger, so that we must obey in these things." (Jebb par. 5). It takes a brave person to confess to a crime that they had nothing to do with and Ismene is not one of those people.
Ismene, sister of betrayer Polyneices and sneaky Antigone, is an accomplice to Antigone's crime of breaking King Creon's law. As such, she needs to be punished for her deeds. Ismene is clearly deserving of suitable discipline because she did not inform King Creon of Antigone's planned actions and she confessed to being a part of Antigone's law breaking. This, certainly, is enough evidence to prove that Ismene is guilty as charged.
Bibliography
Sophocles. "Antigone." The Internet Classics Archive. Trans. R.C. Jebb. 04 Oct 2000 . Classics.mit.edu. 23 Nov 2008 http://classics.mit.edu/Sophocles/antigone.html
Sophocles. "Antigone." Literature Timeless Voices, Timeless Themes: World Literature. Trans. Dudley Fitts and Robert Fitzgerald. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 2001. 814-826.
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