GQ #1: Under what conditions would you consider revenge as acceptable?
Two wrongs don't make a right. that famous phrase sums up revenge. But who wouldn't take it if it was so severe.
GQ #2: If you were being sent off to a distant land to fight a war, how would you react?
Would react the same way I had been trained, to fight.
Do you think that the days of Odysseus as a hero are over or will they continue on in Ithaca?
Odysseus is a static character and his static will remain the same.
Writers style is mostly third person, uses Harry Potter.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
response for Dan B.
Guiding Question: If you were stuck in a situation were you trying to identify a stranger, would you be as cautious and cunning as Penelope? What would you do if the stranger knew your most personal secrets?
For the former I would likely be more blunt, as for the latter I would likely do nothing.
Guiding Question: Throughout the Odyssey, histories have been the main source of description of objects and people. Is that the same in today's society? Is it possible to understand anything past or present with out knowing its history? It's impossible for you to understand something without knowing the past. The past shows why we act the way we do.
Guiding Question: Do you believe the use of Penelope's suspiciousness is a reflection on human behavior? Can you have blind trust in human society, or must you have a background?
In order that society and order be obtained sometimes the people must have blind faith in their leaders.
Author misspelled some words, with some grammar errors, talked about a guy I had never heard of.
For the former I would likely be more blunt, as for the latter I would likely do nothing.
Guiding Question: Throughout the Odyssey, histories have been the main source of description of objects and people. Is that the same in today's society? Is it possible to understand anything past or present with out knowing its history? It's impossible for you to understand something without knowing the past. The past shows why we act the way we do.
Guiding Question: Do you believe the use of Penelope's suspiciousness is a reflection on human behavior? Can you have blind trust in human society, or must you have a background?
In order that society and order be obtained sometimes the people must have blind faith in their leaders.
Author misspelled some words, with some grammar errors, talked about a guy I had never heard of.
Monday, December 13, 2010
June H. response
Do you think Odysseus is too cocky with his talks and brawn strength?
No, he has shown throughout the book his ability to lead, sometimes to give men hope you need to puff yourself up
Has Telemachus matured enough to take over his father place as king?
yes, in facing the suitors and in doing so facing his fears he has broken his chains of doubt and is ready to lead.
Do you think most people stand up for yourself/ beliefs or just go with the flow with the crowd their with?
Much of a person's descions come through peer pressure. Often everyone goes with what the group feels is right, even those who say they play by their own rules often go with the flow.
Writers style is differnt, uses several question marks, has several grammer errors and seems to be writen a 44 in the morning, a rough time for anyone to think clearly.
No, he has shown throughout the book his ability to lead, sometimes to give men hope you need to puff yourself up
Has Telemachus matured enough to take over his father place as king?
yes, in facing the suitors and in doing so facing his fears he has broken his chains of doubt and is ready to lead.
Do you think most people stand up for yourself/ beliefs or just go with the flow with the crowd their with?
Much of a person's descions come through peer pressure. Often everyone goes with what the group feels is right, even those who say they play by their own rules often go with the flow.
Writers style is differnt, uses several question marks, has several grammer errors and seems to be writen a 44 in the morning, a rough time for anyone to think clearly.
Jordan F response
Guiding Question 1: The title of this book is stranger at the gates. Do you feel that this is fitting for this chapter? Does Odysseus come home as just a stranger because of his physical appearance or has his journey home made him into a different person?
Appearance has changed. The fact that Penelope does not recognize him tells us that has changed his appearance vastly, however, since we do not know how he was when he left we cannot compare the two.
Guiding Question 2: Put yourself in Odysseus shoes. After being aware from your wife for more than twenty years could you have waited like Odysseus did, taking insults from all the suitors, and not have told your wife you had returned?
With so much time past, I would likely be used to waiting, butt wouldn't wait, would show myself and tell her I had returned.
Guiding Question 3: If resources were unlimited would there be no more war?
This is a hippie question, of course, greed will always be present, we will never all have the same views, from that stems greed, greed stems hate.
Writer’s style is unique, incorporates previous English books, has few questions.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Book 15 captian's blog
Part 1
Athena travels to Sparta where she appears to Telemachus in his dream to go back to Ithaca to destroy the suitors.Telemachus follows her advice goes back Odysseus wishes to stay in Eumaeus hut for awhile longer, bringing up the question of just how many and would you let a stranger into your house.Odysseus tries to make him work for the suitor but he shoots it down. Odysseus and Telemachus' confrontation foreshadow an imminent confrontation and climax.
TELEMACHUS’ COMING OF AGE: What are the signs that Telemachus has matured since the last time we encountered him (in Books 1-4)? Consider his behavior toward Menelaus, Pisistratus, Theoclymenus, and his crew Telemachus was fearful of the devious suitors now, years later he has matured, faced some of his own demons and follows Athena's plea to head back to Ithaca to protect his mother.
Guiding Question:
In what ways do Odysseus and Telemachus develop during the course of the book? Do they develop at all?
Odysseus has stayed mostly static, expecting that his crew follow, when they fail he takes part of the blame upon himself, celebrates victories etc. Telemachus is dynamic, has a coming of age, grows up in the pages, becomes confident in himself.
Guiding Question 2:
Why does Homer keep bringing up hospitality?
To show how the character's respond when greeted with denial/acceptance.
Part 2
One Literary device would be the foreshadowing of the confrontation of Telemachus and Odysseus, it appears father will meet his son for the first time and something huge will happen. Another Illumination is the epic machinery in the form of Homer's time line. The line often keeps jumping around from book to book keeping the reader on his toes. Lastly Homer's description of the gods from the introduction helps to fill our minds with our own ideas of how to view these many and powerful gods, negative or positive.
Guiding Question 3:
Why does Homer choose to imclude so many gods or characters,
Homer chooses to do this to make it seem epic, the definition of Odyssey, having so many gods curious about his future creates a sense of awe in the reader.
Part 3
Does muscle beat brawn? Odysseus defeats the mighty cyclops with his outstanding cunning, but also hast to use many men, in doing so indeed uses brawn; however the majority is cunning. The quest for glory is also a recurring theme. Odysseus makes his name known throughout the lands, he halfway taunts the cyclops telling him that was himself that defeated the powerful cyclops. When Odysseus is visiting a distant land they wish that he to would partake in the Olympic games, he declines, after all that he has gone through no desire to gain any more, if you consider fighting and slaughtering your enemies honor but that is another entirely different question. In the 1986 movie, Platoon, Charlie Sheen plays a young college kid who drops out in order that he fight in Vietnam. Upon arrival he sees that the glory that he imagined is not so clear cut, fighting a pathetic opponent, showing brutal tactics in one scene with the villagers, not quite the glory that he was imagining. Last year in the college basketball end of the year tournament Butler, a mostly unheraled team made it into the final vs powerhouse Duke. Duke ended up winning but Butler had two opportunity at taking a shot to win the game, the last heave, a mid court shot, just barely missed.
Guiding question 4
Is Telemachus that David, if so are the suitors the Goliath? if not, how is?
Telemachus is definitely David, the underdog, his coming of age shows him becoming stronger, the suitors however are not a worthy opponent.
Athena travels to Sparta where she appears to Telemachus in his dream to go back to Ithaca to destroy the suitors.Telemachus follows her advice goes back Odysseus wishes to stay in Eumaeus hut for awhile longer, bringing up the question of just how many and would you let a stranger into your house.Odysseus tries to make him work for the suitor but he shoots it down. Odysseus and Telemachus' confrontation foreshadow an imminent confrontation and climax.
TELEMACHUS’ COMING OF AGE: What are the signs that Telemachus has matured since the last time we encountered him (in Books 1-4)? Consider his behavior toward Menelaus, Pisistratus, Theoclymenus, and his crew Telemachus was fearful of the devious suitors now, years later he has matured, faced some of his own demons and follows Athena's plea to head back to Ithaca to protect his mother.
Guiding Question:
In what ways do Odysseus and Telemachus develop during the course of the book? Do they develop at all?
Odysseus has stayed mostly static, expecting that his crew follow, when they fail he takes part of the blame upon himself, celebrates victories etc. Telemachus is dynamic, has a coming of age, grows up in the pages, becomes confident in himself.
Guiding Question 2:
Why does Homer keep bringing up hospitality?
To show how the character's respond when greeted with denial/acceptance.
Part 2
One Literary device would be the foreshadowing of the confrontation of Telemachus and Odysseus, it appears father will meet his son for the first time and something huge will happen. Another Illumination is the epic machinery in the form of Homer's time line. The line often keeps jumping around from book to book keeping the reader on his toes. Lastly Homer's description of the gods from the introduction helps to fill our minds with our own ideas of how to view these many and powerful gods, negative or positive.
Guiding Question 3:
Why does Homer choose to imclude so many gods or characters,
Homer chooses to do this to make it seem epic, the definition of Odyssey, having so many gods curious about his future creates a sense of awe in the reader.
Part 3
Does muscle beat brawn? Odysseus defeats the mighty cyclops with his outstanding cunning, but also hast to use many men, in doing so indeed uses brawn; however the majority is cunning. The quest for glory is also a recurring theme. Odysseus makes his name known throughout the lands, he halfway taunts the cyclops telling him that was himself that defeated the powerful cyclops. When Odysseus is visiting a distant land they wish that he to would partake in the Olympic games, he declines, after all that he has gone through no desire to gain any more, if you consider fighting and slaughtering your enemies honor but that is another entirely different question. In the 1986 movie, Platoon, Charlie Sheen plays a young college kid who drops out in order that he fight in Vietnam. Upon arrival he sees that the glory that he imagined is not so clear cut, fighting a pathetic opponent, showing brutal tactics in one scene with the villagers, not quite the glory that he was imagining. Last year in the college basketball end of the year tournament Butler, a mostly unheraled team made it into the final vs powerhouse Duke. Duke ended up winning but Butler had two opportunity at taking a shot to win the game, the last heave, a mid court shot, just barely missed.
Guiding question 4
Is Telemachus that David, if so are the suitors the Goliath? if not, how is?
Telemachus is definitely David, the underdog, his coming of age shows him becoming stronger, the suitors however are not a worthy opponent.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Response for Jessica T.
Why do you think Odysseus takes the blame along with his crew for wasting the gift of the wind? How do you think we should view Odysseus?
Odysseus knows that to keep moral up he must take part of the blame, to entirely tell the crew would led them to anger, our view of Odysseus should be positive.
How do foreshadowing and imagery add to the story and how, if they do, add to the understanding of the story?
Why do you think temptation is an important theme for book 10 or if you don't feel that way why not?
Odysseus knows that to keep moral up he must take part of the blame, to entirely tell the crew would led them to anger, our view of Odysseus should be positive.
How do foreshadowing and imagery add to the story and how, if they do, add to the understanding of the story?
Foreshadowing and imagery do not add to the story, they take away from it by perplexing the reader into never knowing whats going on.
Shows that how much the men truly want to get home, or if they want temptation to be their new home.
Captains post includes a connection to a song, and uses first person a lot.
Response for Maddy S.
To what extent is Odysseus to blame for the trouble he and his crew find themselves in? Does he redeem himself at all by being the one to help them eventually escape?
Obviously Odysseus is not entirely to blame, his crew members could have stepped up etc. He makes up for this unusual occurrence by making the best decision and carries it out flawlessly.
Why is it easier to attribute Odysseus’ troubles at sea to one single cause—Poseidon avenging his son—than to acknowledge that it might just be a series of unrelated events (bad weather, inept navigation, etc.)? Is it possible that our own modern religions serve a similar purpose in our lives?
I don't think this makes a case for atheism at all personally, but casting blame on one singular item is quicker and easier. Odysseus is truly a war hero and tough nut, he could have made up for small incidents.
If you had witnessed someone kill people that were close to you, like what the Cyclops had done, would you seek revenge? How would you react? Would you be hotheaded like Odysseus or respond calmly and sail away without a word?
I would seek revenge, it's easy to say you would be calm under pressure but if someone killed a person you cared a lot for everyone would show anger.
Do you think what the Cyclops said will come true? Do you believe that if Odysseus never revealed his name to the Cyclops, none of this would have ever happened? Why or why not?
The Cyclops would have realized the man was Odysseus but it would have been too late. Odysseus would have left the island.
Do you think Odysseus’ pride will continue to be a problem? Will his fate continue to stay the same or will he be able to return home safely?
Odysseus will return home, it wouldn't be a good story otherwise.
Captains perspective is different offers several movie and book i do not agree at all with her view of the patriot movie.
Obviously Odysseus is not entirely to blame, his crew members could have stepped up etc. He makes up for this unusual occurrence by making the best decision and carries it out flawlessly.
Why is it easier to attribute Odysseus’ troubles at sea to one single cause—Poseidon avenging his son—than to acknowledge that it might just be a series of unrelated events (bad weather, inept navigation, etc.)? Is it possible that our own modern religions serve a similar purpose in our lives?
I don't think this makes a case for atheism at all personally, but casting blame on one singular item is quicker and easier. Odysseus is truly a war hero and tough nut, he could have made up for small incidents.
If you had witnessed someone kill people that were close to you, like what the Cyclops had done, would you seek revenge? How would you react? Would you be hotheaded like Odysseus or respond calmly and sail away without a word?
I would seek revenge, it's easy to say you would be calm under pressure but if someone killed a person you cared a lot for everyone would show anger.
Do you think what the Cyclops said will come true? Do you believe that if Odysseus never revealed his name to the Cyclops, none of this would have ever happened? Why or why not?
The Cyclops would have realized the man was Odysseus but it would have been too late. Odysseus would have left the island.
Do you think Odysseus’ pride will continue to be a problem? Will his fate continue to stay the same or will he be able to return home safely?
Odysseus will return home, it wouldn't be a good story otherwise.
Captains perspective is different offers several movie and book i do not agree at all with her view of the patriot movie.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Trent S response
What is the "moral" of the story that Demodocus sings about Ares and Aphrodite? Why might Homer choose to include this story? How might this story be related to the larger theme(s) of The Odyssey?
Homer wishes to add more to the legendary gods and how they deal with human's every day lives.
Why do you think Alcinous wanted Odysseus to watch them dance so much? What does this say about the society they live in?
When Alcinous saw Odysseus destroy all the youths at the games he wished to restore honor back to his people. The society is very proud and is desperate to impress
Why did Laodamas urge Odysseus to participate in the games so much?
Once again Laodamas' people are very proud. Laodamas saw that Odysseus was very athletic and wished to best him to gain honor.
Why did Odysseus ask for the bard to play the song about Troy? What does this say about Odysseus?
Odysseus asked for the song because the battle still rages in his mind. He cannot run away from Troy, yet he cannot come and face it. He ends up crying as a direct result of this. Writer seemed on point, strangely he decided to make three posts instead of one big one.
Homer wishes to add more to the legendary gods and how they deal with human's every day lives.
Why do you think Alcinous wanted Odysseus to watch them dance so much? What does this say about the society they live in?
When Alcinous saw Odysseus destroy all the youths at the games he wished to restore honor back to his people. The society is very proud and is desperate to impress
Why did Laodamas urge Odysseus to participate in the games so much?
Once again Laodamas' people are very proud. Laodamas saw that Odysseus was very athletic and wished to best him to gain honor.
Why did Odysseus ask for the bard to play the song about Troy? What does this say about Odysseus?
Odysseus asked for the song because the battle still rages in his mind. He cannot run away from Troy, yet he cannot come and face it. He ends up crying as a direct result of this. Writer seemed on point, strangely he decided to make three posts instead of one big one.
Jarret S. response for part 2,3
Why do you believe Homer puts such a strong emphasis on how beautiful Phaeacia and King Alcinous's palace is?
Homer wishes to have the reader been drawn back with the awe of the mystic, wonderful palace. This description helps add to the creative writing and interacts with the reader.
Do you think that the King and Queen would still have given Odysseus safe passage home if the story he told them didn't have so many hardships in it?
Good question, raises equality issues, would we feed a homeless man that was hungry or would we feed someone we know. Sometimes certain people exaggerate what feats they have or haven't done, but body language never lies. I believe the King and Queen would not have given Odysseus safe passage if he did not tell his whole story.
Homer wishes to have the reader been drawn back with the awe of the mystic, wonderful palace. This description helps add to the creative writing and interacts with the reader.
Do you think that the King and Queen would still have given Odysseus safe passage home if the story he told them didn't have so many hardships in it?
Good question, raises equality issues, would we feed a homeless man that was hungry or would we feed someone we know. Sometimes certain people exaggerate what feats they have or haven't done, but body language never lies. I believe the King and Queen would not have given Odysseus safe passage if he did not tell his whole story.
Book 7 response
Everything seems to go so smoothly for Odysseus when he reaches the Kingdom, do you think if he had not ran into nausicaa and had her tell him what to do he would have still easily been given refuge and safe passage home by king alcinous?
If Odysseus played his cards right I believe the king would have believed his stranger a god and would have given him safe passage home. Though i'm not sure if the gods put it in the kings mind that he was entertaining a god. Captians perspective has grammer errors but is also short and brief.
If Odysseus played his cards right I believe the king would have believed his stranger a god and would have given him safe passage home. Though i'm not sure if the gods put it in the kings mind that he was entertaining a god. Captians perspective has grammer errors but is also short and brief.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Christmas tree and toys
Richard Le Gallienne once said, "Be it whim or emergency, the modern laboratory is equally at the service of romance, equally ready to gratify mankind with a torpedo or a toy." the short story, "A Dolls House" is a perfect example of this. Nora is a toy, no different than a Christmas tree, just a possession, nothing more. Nora's own husband calls her "it" never giving her proper respect.
A Christmas tree, festive, fun to look at, something no one takes seriously. As with Nora both are just treated as toys never taken seriously. Never being taken seriously takes it's toll on Nora who amasses a great amount of debt. It seem silly to compare a human being with a Christmas tree but it's true their the same, just a toy nothing more nothing less in her husband's eyes. .
A Christmas tree, festive, fun to look at, something no one takes seriously. As with Nora both are just treated as toys never taken seriously. Never being taken seriously takes it's toll on Nora who amasses a great amount of debt. It seem silly to compare a human being with a Christmas tree but it's true their the same, just a toy nothing more nothing less in her husband's eyes. .
Honesty vs Integrity
Spencer Johnson once said, “Integrity is telling myself the truth. And honesty is telling the truth to other people." In the short story, "A Doll's House," Nora the main character at first has neither. However throughout the piece she changes her thought process and at the end faces her fears.
Even now hundreds of years after "A Doll's House" was written Nora's troubles have never been more alive. Legends such as John Wooden swear by this advice. Often we tell ourselves that we are giving our best when in reality we have a little bit more in the tank that we could give. At the end of the story Nora 'cowboys up' and has enough Integrity to confront her fears by confronting her husband and gains honesty, perhaps the most important virtue.
Light
Martin Luther King Jr. once said that, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.” In the short story, “A Doll’s House,” this has never been truer. A big symbol in the short story is the candle which reflects the light symbolizing truth. But in the stage directions the outdoors are completely dark just the candle lets Nora go about her daily chores.
Many times today people try to ‘fight fire with fire’ desperately trying to pound something into another’s head, school being a perfect example. Nora simply attempts to ignore the bleeding issue at hand, her debt. If she tells her husband, she may be divorced, or maybe just maybe by trying walk on a different path she may save her marriage and her sanity.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Finance
“To be a star, you must shine your own light, follow your own path, and don't worry about the darkness, for that is when the stars shine brightest” unknown author. Ask practically any relevant billionaire nowadays how they got his money; the outstanding majority will all say one thing: the determination to do and go places where others wouldn’t. In, “A Doll’s House”, by Henrik Ibsen Nora ends up with a broken marriage because she was too afraid to persevere.
As one of the greatest American inventors Thomas Alva Edison once said, “Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration.” These words were never truer than with Nora and her big-time husband, Torvald. Nora is so terrified of what Torvald might whisper that it cripples her and causes her to live in fear, and eventually that fear causes divorce. Today the number one reason for divorce is finance and it is clear that if everyone just had to guts to tell their spouses about money there would be a lot less divorces.
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