1. Venice
Where is it and what was it like in the 16th centry?
Venice is in Veneto Italy and in the 16th centry Venice became one of the most important musical centers of Europe. It was marked by a characteristic style of composition (the Venetian school) and the development of the Venetian polychoral style.
After the Italian turrmoil of the early 16th century, Venice entered a long and gradual period of decline. Losings its political will, Venice found the new role which it enjoyed ever since- as a place of pleasure and delight, Europe's most sparkling tourist attraction. The city has the world's first opera house, which opened in 1637
What was its economic status at that time?
The landscape of Venice is as much a product of its economic activities, past and present, as of its physical environment. The enduring foundation of Venetian wealth was maritime commerce, initially in local products such as fish and salt from the lagoon, but rapidly expanding to include rich stores of merchandise as Venice became the entrepôt between Europe and the Middle East and Asia.
Venice became the first and the biggest trading power in the world. That is, the world before the great expeditions during the fifteenth and the sixteenth century. Through trade the Venetians prospered and Venice rapidly accumulated wealth. Venetians merchants established monopolies and used the Crusades as a tool to increase their trading power. At the beginning of the sixteenth century, the Portuguese arrived in the Indies and the Venetians had to face the loss of their monopoly of spices. At the same time that Venice had to face the end of its trading status, it reached its artistic pinnacle, both in architecture and painting.
What was the Venetians relationship with the Turks?
They were at war. Crete and Cyprus were important Venetian possessions, that Venice needed for trade and commerce.
One of the biggest confrontations between the Turks and Venice was the battle of Lepanto, 1571, when she defeated the Turks with the help of ships from Spain and (I think) the Pope.
Sometimes this is seen as a crucial event in the decline of the Ottoman Turkish empire, but the Turkish response was very quick and decisive. The Turks were able to rebuild the fleet in record speed, and soon took the island of Cyprus off Venice; an event that serves as the backdrop to Shakespeare's play, Othello. The loss of Cyprus proved, in the long run, far more important than the naval defeat.
2. Cyprus
Where is it?
It is a Eurasian island country in the Eastern Mediterranean, south of Turkey and west of Syria and Lebanon.
What was its importance in the 16th century?
At the time of the 16th century, the Ottoman Empire would have been at its height. Cyprus was eventually part of this Empire in the 16th century. So the politics of this area was a Muslim Sultanate. In terms of importance, it would have been shipping. A lot ships passed in this area.
•Turkish – Venetian War (1570 – 1573)
◦Cyprus was initially under the rule of the Republic of Venice
■Venice annexed it in 1498
◦Turks had been raiding Cyprus’s coast on and off
◦July 2, 1570 - first real fight occurred: Turks sent 60,000 troops to Lissamol
◦Nicosia was the first major city in Cyrus to fall (Domino Effect)
■Nicosia’s fall = Cyprus Massacre
■Kyrenia fell next (no shots fired because of Massacre)
■Followed by Famagusta (all key cities of Cyprus)
◦The Fall of Famagusta marked the beginning of Turkish Rule in Cyprus
◦Cyprus remained under Ottoman rule for three centuries after defeat
•Cyprus Massacre (Ottoman rise to power) - (Wikipedia)
◦Occurred on September 9, 1570 because of the Turkish – Venetian War
◦A massacre of an unknown amount (20,000) of Christians in Cyprus
◦Massacre allowed Turks to conquer Kyrenia easily
•Ottoman Rule in Cyprus - (Wikipedia/History)
◦1570, the Turks took over Cyprus
◦Lala Mustafa Pasha became the first Turk governor in Cyprus
◦Original Cyprus inhabitants looked to Europe for help to over thrown the Turks
◦Between 1572 and 1668, 28 uprisings to over thrown the Ottoman Empire occurred
■All failed
How far is it from Venice?
2,107.83 kilometres
What were the politics of the countries nearest it?
3. Moors
Who are they?
Where did they come from?
What were they doing in Europe in the 16th century?
Are there religious or cultural practices associated with them?
4. Turks.
What was the Elizabethan attitude to foreigners in general and non-Christians such as Turks in particular?
5. Epilepsy.
What are the symptoms of epilepsy? How was it treated and regarded in the Renaissance? Now?
Are there conditions which render an epileptic vulnerable to a seizure?
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
VORONEZH - For Osip Mandelshtam
In her poem, "Voronezh", Akhmatova focuses heavily on the weather. How does this assist in evoking a sense of atmosphere and emotion for the reader?
In the poem, 'Voronezh', Anna Akhmatova focuses heavily on the weather and it evokes a sense of atmosphere and emotions to be felt for the reader so that they can imagine and feel the place and put them selves in the enviornment she describes. The location this is written would be in a city called St Petersburg where she loved, and was written for her poet friend, Osip Mandelshtam who had been exiled to Voronezh for writing a poem critical of Stalin. The first few lines in her poem described the landscape and the weather, "the town is frozen solid...trees, walls, snow, beneath the glass. Over crystal, on slippery tracks of ice..." which sets the reader to place themselve in the image of the cold winter type of weather. When she has mentioned the field of Kulikovo, she has included the feeling of the atmosphere again describing the sight, "battlegroud caught. Frozen poplars...clash now..." This helps to evoke the sense of the emotion, with the knowledge about the battle, how the feelings would be depressing, sad and isolating. The atmosphere is sensed more to the end of the poem, when the poet describes the happiness at the wedding, but completely flips to a miserable emotion when she mentions the execusion of Mandelshtam, "But Fear and the Muse take turns to guard the room where the exiled poet it banised". These lines from the poem explains how she had written another poem for Mandelshtam which is named 'Fear and the Muse' who had been executed because he had written what the government didnt want to read, therefore was banised for his poem. In result, instead of him writing what he wanted to do, she wrote poems for him. This adds to the atmosphere created throughout the poem for the reader to understand the meaning of the poem which is for her friend, and sense the coldness of the environment around her when the poem was written.
In the poem, 'Voronezh', Anna Akhmatova focuses heavily on the weather and it evokes a sense of atmosphere and emotions to be felt for the reader so that they can imagine and feel the place and put them selves in the enviornment she describes. The location this is written would be in a city called St Petersburg where she loved, and was written for her poet friend, Osip Mandelshtam who had been exiled to Voronezh for writing a poem critical of Stalin. The first few lines in her poem described the landscape and the weather, "the town is frozen solid...trees, walls, snow, beneath the glass. Over crystal, on slippery tracks of ice..." which sets the reader to place themselve in the image of the cold winter type of weather. When she has mentioned the field of Kulikovo, she has included the feeling of the atmosphere again describing the sight, "battlegroud caught. Frozen poplars...clash now..." This helps to evoke the sense of the emotion, with the knowledge about the battle, how the feelings would be depressing, sad and isolating. The atmosphere is sensed more to the end of the poem, when the poet describes the happiness at the wedding, but completely flips to a miserable emotion when she mentions the execusion of Mandelshtam, "But Fear and the Muse take turns to guard the room where the exiled poet it banised". These lines from the poem explains how she had written another poem for Mandelshtam which is named 'Fear and the Muse' who had been executed because he had written what the government didnt want to read, therefore was banised for his poem. In result, instead of him writing what he wanted to do, she wrote poems for him. This adds to the atmosphere created throughout the poem for the reader to understand the meaning of the poem which is for her friend, and sense the coldness of the environment around her when the poem was written.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Minase Sangin
a)
The poet has written this poem for his/her own comparison to the seasons and the different times of the day. It may be written for his/her lover as a means of relationships developing everysingle day at different times, as well as moving forward from spring to autum. As it says in the poem, 'At twylight on a spring day... the autumn is drawing to its close', describes the change from a season to season. This could relate to his/her reason to why this is being written, for example if it has only been written for his/her own interest in the difference of seasons and the morning and afternoon, or if he/her is using them as a metaphor of love.
b)
The landscape from the poem is described in the second line, 'The gentle slopes of the mountains' and 'the river descends far and distant'. This helps to give the audience some idea and image of where this poem may be written and the feeling of being there. Even the smell of the place can be sensed, 'Plum-fragrance filling the village'. Also the sense of noise can ge achieved from the line, '... every push of the oar is audible from a passing boat'. This helps to further visualise the landscape and the noise and the l around the place which then creates the audience to feel as if they are exactly where the poet was.
c)
I believe the poet was a woman because i know some history of japanese poem etc, was always written by a woman. A long time ago, all women did was to sit with few kimonos on, and write poems expressing feelings and often about their love for someone through many different metaphors. Therefore i already have the impression and an idea that the poet is a women who is writing about where she is and what the different seasons are like, but maybe the poet is also trying to express her love for someone though the metaphors used, eg-seasons and times of a day.
The poet has written this poem for his/her own comparison to the seasons and the different times of the day. It may be written for his/her lover as a means of relationships developing everysingle day at different times, as well as moving forward from spring to autum. As it says in the poem, 'At twylight on a spring day... the autumn is drawing to its close', describes the change from a season to season. This could relate to his/her reason to why this is being written, for example if it has only been written for his/her own interest in the difference of seasons and the morning and afternoon, or if he/her is using them as a metaphor of love.
b)
The landscape from the poem is described in the second line, 'The gentle slopes of the mountains' and 'the river descends far and distant'. This helps to give the audience some idea and image of where this poem may be written and the feeling of being there. Even the smell of the place can be sensed, 'Plum-fragrance filling the village'. Also the sense of noise can ge achieved from the line, '... every push of the oar is audible from a passing boat'. This helps to further visualise the landscape and the noise and the l around the place which then creates the audience to feel as if they are exactly where the poet was.
c)
I believe the poet was a woman because i know some history of japanese poem etc, was always written by a woman. A long time ago, all women did was to sit with few kimonos on, and write poems expressing feelings and often about their love for someone through many different metaphors. Therefore i already have the impression and an idea that the poet is a women who is writing about where she is and what the different seasons are like, but maybe the poet is also trying to express her love for someone though the metaphors used, eg-seasons and times of a day.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Things Fall Apart - Positioning
- Narrative voice – what judgements does the narrator make about the event
- Implied audience – what role is assigned to the reader (insider/outsider)
- Whose voices/thoughts/opinions/culture are privileged
- Whose voices/thoughts/opinions/culture are silenced
- Binary oppositions or contrasts – do they work to represent some things as good, making the opposite bad? Or do they increase the level of sophistication or complexity of the representation? (see next point)
- Level of complexity of the representation – the more complex and ambiguous, the less the reader is positioned to completely accept or reject a point of view or character
- Consequences of actions – how are the consequences represented (deserved? Tragic? Triumphant?)
These are just some possible positioning techniques, common to many texts. There are some very specific techniques used in Things Fall Apart, which we will discuss.
Consider each of these events:
Chpt 2
• The argument with Mbaino P10
• Okonkwo’s treatment of his own son and relationship with his father p12
In both sections from this chapter, Okonkwo is represented as a strong leader, by the narrative which position us to understand that Okonwko is a nice man, "Perhaps down in his heart Okonkwo was not a cruel man" (p. 12). Also he leads the people around him, "Okonkwo rules his household with a heavy hand" (p.12).The 3rd person narrative gives the effect of a non-bias and multiple perspectives. This then helps to have some knowledge of Okonkwo as a man who leads, however is a kind person. Also, there’s a strong cultural assumption which underpins the idea of male who are higher than the women and it connects with a binary opposition of female and males. This is clearly shown when Okonkwo brought Ikemefuna to his house and called the wife to look after him, the wife was silenced for her questioned as he says, "Do what you are told, woman,' Okonkwo thundered, and stammered." (p.14) The audience is positioned to regard his behaviour of his over ruling the household and especially women, he is expecting them to do whatever he says to do, just like his slaves. Additionally, the elements of Ibo culture are revealed because of Okonkwo's ruling in his household, meaning, the man owns the house and the wives should do whatever he says because he is higher than them. Another binary opposition in this chapter is the difference between Okonkwo and his father. It betrays Okonkwo as a better and powerful man, where his father was a gentle and weak man, "Okonkwo was ruled by one mission- to hate everything that his father Unoka had loved. One of those things was gentleness and another was idleness" (p.13). It is privileging Okonkwo therefore the audience is then positioned to regard the Ibo culture where strong man leads the household.
Chpt 3:
• The oracle to Unoka, and Unoka’s deathp 16
• Okonkwo’s struggles for wealth p.19
In this chapter Okonkwo is represented as a man with a great past, who has been through many tough times. His life started a bit different to others because of his father, "With a father like Unoka, Okonkwo did not have the start in life which many young men had... in spite of these disadvantages, he had begun even in his father's lifetime to lay the foundations of a prosperous future. It was slow and painful... and indeed he was possessed by the fear of his father's contemptible life and shameful death. (p.17). Unoka went to consult Agbala, and said sadly about his fail in his land but was turned by the oracle; by Chika who was full of the power, "You, Unoka, are known in all the clan for the weakness of your matchet and your hoe...Go home and work like a man" (p.16). This gives a cultural assumption that man should have a success in its land and know how to control the yams. Also that man should never be weak; they should work like a strong man. The audience is then positioned to regard his behaviour through his past, the cultural assumption made. Okonkwo's struggle in wealth affected his life and his success in his yams. After asking for some yam seeds from Nwakibie, every attempt he has made has failed, wasting 1600 yam seeds in total. However Okonkwo learns from his mistakes of failure, "He knew he was a fierce fighter, but that year had been enough to break the heart of a lion... he did not sink under the load of despair.(p.22) The Ibo culture are revealed through the 2 parts in this chapter, one being - the importance to stay strong as a man and the second is to have success in its yams. The audience is positioned to regard this culture by the cultural assumptions which are clearly identified.
Chpt 4:
• Okonkwo’s treatment of others, and the arrival of Ikemefuna P23
• Okonkwo’s mistreatment of his wife in the week of peace. P26
Okonkwo is still being represented as a tough but a kind man in this chapter. Again, the same cultural assumption is made here, as man should be strong and never show signs of weakness, "To show affection was a sign of weakness; the only thing worth demonstrating was strength. (p.25). Also another cultural assumption is shown where man rules the house, and the woman should be organising food for the children and the husband. Okonkwo mistreats his first wife in the week of peace and beats her up terribly as he was frustrated by her commitment to make food. "When she returned he beat her very heavily. In his anger he had forgotten that it was the Week of Peace." (p.26) This helps to give a binary opposition of male and female, where male dominates female. The audience is positioned to regard his behaviour by understanding his leadership and power he has in his household, but at the same time stays strong. Some elements of Ibo cultures are revealed, where the priest (of the earth goddess) comes to Okonkwo's obi to tell him the consequence of his mistreatment of his wife during the peace week. He says that the 'evil' has come to him, "The evil you have done can ruin the whole clan. The earth goddess whom you have insulted may refuse to give us her increase, and we shall all perish" (p.27). Therefore after this, Okonkwo's consequence was to bring many things to the shine of Ani. This then helps to position the audience regarding to the culture in Ibo with the use of strong cultural assumption, and it shows that a mistake done in the week of Peace damages everyone else and the consequence is to recover that. Also the people in the tribe all believes in goddess and sprits whom they follow with and make certain decisions regarding them.
Use quotes from your assigned section to answer:
• How is Okonkwo represented?
• How is the audience positioned to regard his behaviour? What techniques are being used to achieve this?
• Explain what elements of Ibo culture are revealed
• How is the audience positioned to regard the culture
Chpt 25
Okonkwo was driven him to think theeres noting left to him, colonialists - are seen to be deteramental to the ibo tribe and the culture. Okonkwo's suicide is tragic = the colonialists are seen to be 'bad'**
Thursday, May 27, 2010
ThingsFallApart
Chapter 7.
1. How does the author position you to view the Ibo tribe? (Consider social structure, culture, values, attitudes, beliefs, etc).
The tribe; the men should not and should never be seen as weak. Ikemefuna was tricked into thinking that he was going to be returned home, while he was actually going to get killed. The decision was made by Umuofia and Okonkwo was told not to get involved, as his relationship with Ikemefuna was close, ‘That boy calls you father. Do not bear a hand in his death’ (p. 50). However as the tribe sees killing people meaning strong- and weak is seen when you cant kill someone for a reason, Ikemefuna was finally killed by Okonkwo. ‘Okonkwo drew his matchet and cut him down. He was afraid of being thought weak’. (p. 54)
2. How does the author position you to view the individual characters? (Focus only on those characters who are essential to the plot).
Okonkwo: he cannot be seen weak, and never should be. He has a self pride and his strong leadership leads the tribe. He kills Ikemefuna without showing his true weakness, even though after he does, he really didn’t want to kill his own ‘half’ son who he has been looking after for 3 years and even Okonkwo’s eldest son, Nwoye looks up to Ikemefuna.
Nwoye: Okonkwo’s oldest son, he is starting to leave and move on from being a mum’s boy and become very tough and strong. He has a good relationship with Ikemefuna, but hears and understands that he will be killed by his dad.
Ikemefuna: He lived with Okonkwo for 3 yrs. He saw Okonkwo as his dad, ‘He could hardly imagine that Okonkwo was not his real father’ (p. 52). He thought he was going to go home, and see his family and where he belongs, but he somehow knew what wouldn’t be right.
3. How does the author position you to view men?
Men are tough, should be strong and be able to support and lead the family and the tribe. Nwoye was slowly beginning to become a man, talking about women, and becoming a strong man, ‘Nwoye knew that his father wanted him to be a man’ (p. 41). Men were never seen as weak, if they were, it was a big deal to be seen as opposite of weak.
4. How does the author position you to view women?
Women had no opinion and were silenced for any violence that happened around the tribe. They were not told of the decision of the killing of Ikemefuna in this chapter, the men was in charge of it all, and it seemed like women was only there to feed the man and children.
Chapter 19.
1. How does the author position you to view the Ibo tribe? (Consider social structure, culture, values, attitudes, beliefs, etc).
When a leader is leaving a place, they have a big feast to thank everyone and appreciate the gratefulness of the people. As Okonkwo says, ‘I must thank my mother’s kinsmen before I go’ (p.144).
Also he says, ‘My mother’s people have been good to me and I must how my gratitude’ (p. 145).
The oldest members of the umunna rose to thank Okonkwo:, ‘Thank you…a man who calls his kinsmen to a feast does not do so to save them from starving. ….An abominable religion has settles among you.’ (p.147)
The umunna tribe warns Okonkwo and his family for the Europeans. The tribes support and thank each other for any ceremonies.
2. How does the author position you to view the individual characters? (Focus only on those characters who are essential to the plot)
Okonkwo: He shows a great appreciation to the kinsmen and the umunna members in Mbanta. He thanks them with a great feast, which they did not expect, ‘We all know him, and we expected a big feast. But it turned out to be even bigger than we expected.’ (p.147)
3. How does the author position you to view men?
The men lead any tribes and are always supporting one another. They are in charge of the meat in feasts and give thankful and warning messages to each other.
4. How does the author position you to view women?
The women were there in this chapter to collect and harvest some food. They cooked most of the food except meat for the feast. They didn’t have many opinions and were silenced for decisions made, for example, what kind of food should there be at the feast…
5. How does the author position you to view the Europeans? (If relevant to the chapter).
When the oldest members of the umunna warned Okonkwo about the Europeans, it was said that they were, ‘An abominable religion has settled among you… I fear for you; I fear for the clan’ (p. 147). Europeans are said to be an abominable in another words, horrible and dreadful religion/people has come to the Ibo tribe. It then gives an awful view and image of the Europeans.
COMPARISON BETWEEN CHAPTERS 7 and 19 with 25.
The chapters 7 and 19 provoke a strong sense of men's leadership and their strong influence on younger males. 'That man was one of the greatest men in Umuofia. You drove him to kill himself; and now he will be buried like a dog...' (p. 183)
Every single day, Okonkwo was looked up upon, however in chapter 25 when the commissioner says; 'The story of this man who had killed a messenger and hanged himself would make interesting reading. One could almost write a whole chapter on him.' (p.183) states that, even though the whole book was about him and his tribe, he is silencing Okonkwo's life.
Colonial discourse is shown with the relation of "superior" Europeans in chapter 25 compared to the "inferior" Ibo tribe. This is clearly seen by the way the colonialists talking to the Ibo people, 'Shut up!' shouted one of the messengers, quite unnecessarily." (p. 183).
This discourse is used to set up a binary opposition of the 'civilised' Europeans and 'primitive' Ibo people, with their
1. How does the author position you to view the Ibo tribe? (Consider social structure, culture, values, attitudes, beliefs, etc).
The tribe; the men should not and should never be seen as weak. Ikemefuna was tricked into thinking that he was going to be returned home, while he was actually going to get killed. The decision was made by Umuofia and Okonkwo was told not to get involved, as his relationship with Ikemefuna was close, ‘That boy calls you father. Do not bear a hand in his death’ (p. 50). However as the tribe sees killing people meaning strong- and weak is seen when you cant kill someone for a reason, Ikemefuna was finally killed by Okonkwo. ‘Okonkwo drew his matchet and cut him down. He was afraid of being thought weak’. (p. 54)
2. How does the author position you to view the individual characters? (Focus only on those characters who are essential to the plot).
Okonkwo: he cannot be seen weak, and never should be. He has a self pride and his strong leadership leads the tribe. He kills Ikemefuna without showing his true weakness, even though after he does, he really didn’t want to kill his own ‘half’ son who he has been looking after for 3 years and even Okonkwo’s eldest son, Nwoye looks up to Ikemefuna.
Nwoye: Okonkwo’s oldest son, he is starting to leave and move on from being a mum’s boy and become very tough and strong. He has a good relationship with Ikemefuna, but hears and understands that he will be killed by his dad.
Ikemefuna: He lived with Okonkwo for 3 yrs. He saw Okonkwo as his dad, ‘He could hardly imagine that Okonkwo was not his real father’ (p. 52). He thought he was going to go home, and see his family and where he belongs, but he somehow knew what wouldn’t be right.
3. How does the author position you to view men?
Men are tough, should be strong and be able to support and lead the family and the tribe. Nwoye was slowly beginning to become a man, talking about women, and becoming a strong man, ‘Nwoye knew that his father wanted him to be a man’ (p. 41). Men were never seen as weak, if they were, it was a big deal to be seen as opposite of weak.
4. How does the author position you to view women?
Women had no opinion and were silenced for any violence that happened around the tribe. They were not told of the decision of the killing of Ikemefuna in this chapter, the men was in charge of it all, and it seemed like women was only there to feed the man and children.
Chapter 19.
1. How does the author position you to view the Ibo tribe? (Consider social structure, culture, values, attitudes, beliefs, etc).
When a leader is leaving a place, they have a big feast to thank everyone and appreciate the gratefulness of the people. As Okonkwo says, ‘I must thank my mother’s kinsmen before I go’ (p.144).
Also he says, ‘My mother’s people have been good to me and I must how my gratitude’ (p. 145).
The oldest members of the umunna rose to thank Okonkwo:, ‘Thank you…a man who calls his kinsmen to a feast does not do so to save them from starving. ….An abominable religion has settles among you.’ (p.147)
The umunna tribe warns Okonkwo and his family for the Europeans. The tribes support and thank each other for any ceremonies.
2. How does the author position you to view the individual characters? (Focus only on those characters who are essential to the plot)
Okonkwo: He shows a great appreciation to the kinsmen and the umunna members in Mbanta. He thanks them with a great feast, which they did not expect, ‘We all know him, and we expected a big feast. But it turned out to be even bigger than we expected.’ (p.147)
3. How does the author position you to view men?
The men lead any tribes and are always supporting one another. They are in charge of the meat in feasts and give thankful and warning messages to each other.
4. How does the author position you to view women?
The women were there in this chapter to collect and harvest some food. They cooked most of the food except meat for the feast. They didn’t have many opinions and were silenced for decisions made, for example, what kind of food should there be at the feast…
5. How does the author position you to view the Europeans? (If relevant to the chapter).
When the oldest members of the umunna warned Okonkwo about the Europeans, it was said that they were, ‘An abominable religion has settled among you… I fear for you; I fear for the clan’ (p. 147). Europeans are said to be an abominable in another words, horrible and dreadful religion/people has come to the Ibo tribe. It then gives an awful view and image of the Europeans.
COMPARISON BETWEEN CHAPTERS 7 and 19 with 25.
The chapters 7 and 19 provoke a strong sense of men's leadership and their strong influence on younger males. 'That man was one of the greatest men in Umuofia. You drove him to kill himself; and now he will be buried like a dog...' (p. 183)
Every single day, Okonkwo was looked up upon, however in chapter 25 when the commissioner says; 'The story of this man who had killed a messenger and hanged himself would make interesting reading. One could almost write a whole chapter on him.' (p.183) states that, even though the whole book was about him and his tribe, he is silencing Okonkwo's life.
Colonial discourse is shown with the relation of "superior" Europeans in chapter 25 compared to the "inferior" Ibo tribe. This is clearly seen by the way the colonialists talking to the Ibo people, 'Shut up!' shouted one of the messengers, quite unnecessarily." (p. 183).
This discourse is used to set up a binary opposition of the 'civilised' Europeans and 'primitive' Ibo people, with their
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Invited Reading
The invited reading for the story of The Three Little Pigs is that smartness will keep you alive. This is clearly demonstrated when the 3rd pig does not get captured by the wolf as it was smart enough to build a brick house, unlike a straw house or a furze house that the first 2 pigs built. The wolf was unsuccessful to blow down the brick house and he could not catch the pig for his last meal. After all the lies he had said, the pig catches the wolf while it tries to sneak in from the chimney, get cooked and eaten happily by the 3rd pig which then demonstrates that if you tell lies you will be punished.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Ideology Inquiry Sheet - identifying the invited reading
NARRATIVE:
The story is written with the perspective of 3rd person.
SETTING:
safe/happy/good places in the story is at the brick house which the last little pig builds by bricks.
unsafe/unhappy/bad locations in the story is at the house made out of straw and furze which the 1st and 2nd little pigs make. This is because it gets blown away by the wolf, then the pigs get eaten by it.
CHARACTERS:
Heroic: the 3rd/last little pig - because it kills the wolf in the end = happy ending
Villainous: the wolf - because he is evil, and plans to eat/kill 3 of the pigs.
POWER:
highest to lowest=
1. the 3rd Pig
2. the wolf
3. the 2nd pig
4. the 1st pig
it is naturalised by the 1st and 2nd pigs being killed by the wolf in the 1st half of the story, however in the end the wolf is killed by the 3rd pig. Therefore the 3rd pig has the most power.
CONSEQUENCES:
The 3rd pig is being rewarded with a big feast of dead wolf all for himself.
The wolf is being punished because he ate 2 pigs and tried to trick the 3rd pig and planned somehow to kill the 3rd one, however it was unsuccessful, therefore it was punished with death, and being eaten by the 3rd pig.
BINARY OPPOSITIONS:
Good/Evil
Good: will always win
Evil: will always loose no matter what (main message and idea throughout all folktales/disney stories
Smart/Not smart
Smart: will win
Not smart: will be eaten by the wolf
Therefore the better side of the 2 binary oppositions: Good and Smart is being privileged.
GAPS AND SILENCES:
-Where is the man when the pigs are getting eaten?
-Does the wolf have a pack? or by itself?
-Were the pigs brothers? female or male?
-Why were the 3rd pig smarter than the other 2?
MYSTIPIED/ ROMANTICISED:
There is an exaggeration to the wolf easily eating the first 2 pigs.
uncomfortable realities: can pigs actually eat wolves?
why does wolves try and eat pigs?
why are the pigs so easy to catch?
why are the pigs making their own houses?
why are the pigs all doing different things?
VALUES:
Smartness overrules: making a house out of bricks = no wolves can blow it and break the house.
IDEAS:
Main message of the story:
Being smart will keep you alive- will give you power to overrule the evil
(3rd pig makes its house by bricks - so it can never be blown by the wolve and be destroyed)
Take actions before it is too late
(3rd pig does everything that wolves tell it to do, eariler than the time wolve suggested, and in the end the wolve died because of its mistake to try and keep killing the 3rd pig)
The story is written with the perspective of 3rd person.
SETTING:
safe/happy/good places in the story is at the brick house which the last little pig builds by bricks.
unsafe/unhappy/bad locations in the story is at the house made out of straw and furze which the 1st and 2nd little pigs make. This is because it gets blown away by the wolf, then the pigs get eaten by it.
CHARACTERS:
Heroic: the 3rd/last little pig - because it kills the wolf in the end = happy ending
Villainous: the wolf - because he is evil, and plans to eat/kill 3 of the pigs.
POWER:
highest to lowest=
1. the 3rd Pig
2. the wolf
3. the 2nd pig
4. the 1st pig
it is naturalised by the 1st and 2nd pigs being killed by the wolf in the 1st half of the story, however in the end the wolf is killed by the 3rd pig. Therefore the 3rd pig has the most power.
CONSEQUENCES:
The 3rd pig is being rewarded with a big feast of dead wolf all for himself.
The wolf is being punished because he ate 2 pigs and tried to trick the 3rd pig and planned somehow to kill the 3rd one, however it was unsuccessful, therefore it was punished with death, and being eaten by the 3rd pig.
BINARY OPPOSITIONS:
Good/Evil
Good: will always win
Evil: will always loose no matter what (main message and idea throughout all folktales/disney stories
Smart/Not smart
Smart: will win
Not smart: will be eaten by the wolf
Therefore the better side of the 2 binary oppositions: Good and Smart is being privileged.
GAPS AND SILENCES:
-Where is the man when the pigs are getting eaten?
-Does the wolf have a pack? or by itself?
-Were the pigs brothers? female or male?
-Why were the 3rd pig smarter than the other 2?
MYSTIPIED/ ROMANTICISED:
There is an exaggeration to the wolf easily eating the first 2 pigs.
uncomfortable realities: can pigs actually eat wolves?
why does wolves try and eat pigs?
why are the pigs so easy to catch?
why are the pigs making their own houses?
why are the pigs all doing different things?
VALUES:
Smartness overrules: making a house out of bricks = no wolves can blow it and break the house.
IDEAS:
Main message of the story:
Being smart will keep you alive- will give you power to overrule the evil
(3rd pig makes its house by bricks - so it can never be blown by the wolve and be destroyed)
Take actions before it is too late
(3rd pig does everything that wolves tell it to do, eariler than the time wolve suggested, and in the end the wolve died because of its mistake to try and keep killing the 3rd pig)
