The significance of Dirce's Stream is that it was named after a woman, whose two grandnephews killed by tying her to the horns of a bull. Dirce's stream runs near Thebes, and another family on family killing is occurring with Antigone's brothers, Eteocles and Polyneices.
I think "windy phrases" means phrases that somewhat "pumps up" or inspires maybe his soldiers? The use of them is confusing to whom Polyneices is rousing, but the fact that Choragos is speaking not the chorus makes me think it is not the townspeople to whom Polyneices is rousing, or exciting.
"His wings their shields of snow"- Metaphor
"Rose like a dragon behind him shouting war" -Simile
As I mentioned above I think "them" is Polyneices army. Polyneices is rousing them, exciting them for war. And the use of "their" for example, "His wings their shield of snow" shows that Polyneices is their leader, their commander like stated in line 92.
Personification
"Against our seven gates in yawning ring"
"The frown of his thunder blasted"
"His" refers to Polyneices because the Chorus is now speaking.
I think we are suppose to think that bray means bad. "God hates utterly the bray of our bragging tongues" I looked it up and it means a loud harsh cry of a donkey or mule. So i guess bray might suggest ignorance, or unimportant.
"His" is God. It is mentioned in line one and Charagos is speaking so it is not Polyneices. "Their first man from our walls" "Their" is Polynieces army once again.
In lines 119 to 122, I think what is occurring is the fighting of the armies ceased, and what was left was only the brothers fighting. "Mirrored death"- They killed each other.
I do not think line 124 can be personification because it states "chariots sing for joy" however people are what are in chariots therefore it is not personifying an object it is describing the people.
Thursday, January 28, 2016
Monday, January 25, 2016
Blog Post #26- Mentor Text #3 Read Along
Before reading the text, I would like to point out the layout. Double spaced, block quotes, bold and creative title. I notice these things because I of course will find myself writing my own critical lens essay here in a few weeks.
"For a novella teeming with a masterful use of literary elements, looking through a biographical or post colonial lens limits the reader's experience and understanding of Conrad's work." -I find this sentence intriguing because the author is somewhat explaining why a formalist lens is the best lens to view the Heart of Darkness with. I find that interesting, and I did not see that in any other mentor text we have read.
"Through a formalist lens, Heart of Darkness is no longer just a story of Marlow's journey through the Congo; it becomes a story about Marlow's affinity, even obsession, for truth and his frustration at language's limitations for conveying the truth" - I find this to be the authors claim. Again noticing it is written toward the end of the first paragraph much like the other mentor texts. I am not sure if "The most obvious structural element in the novella that develops this concern for the truth is the fact that the novella is written in frame narrative.", the next line, would be considered apart of the thesis, or even if that merely is the thesis disregarding the sentence before?
I notice that after the author claims the most important structural element used is frame narrative, he goes on to show were the frame narrative is set up early on in the story.
The author uses lots of quotes embedded in his paragraphs and explains why they are important directly after the quote.
The authors diction is above average id say!
The authors conclusion ties back into the intro, and is very simple and understandable. All of his points he chose to argue for mentioned in the conclusion were appointed in the body paragraphs thoroughly and shown through evidence in the text.
Works Cited
Overall a very useful mentor text.
"For a novella teeming with a masterful use of literary elements, looking through a biographical or post colonial lens limits the reader's experience and understanding of Conrad's work." -I find this sentence intriguing because the author is somewhat explaining why a formalist lens is the best lens to view the Heart of Darkness with. I find that interesting, and I did not see that in any other mentor text we have read.
"Through a formalist lens, Heart of Darkness is no longer just a story of Marlow's journey through the Congo; it becomes a story about Marlow's affinity, even obsession, for truth and his frustration at language's limitations for conveying the truth" - I find this to be the authors claim. Again noticing it is written toward the end of the first paragraph much like the other mentor texts. I am not sure if "The most obvious structural element in the novella that develops this concern for the truth is the fact that the novella is written in frame narrative.", the next line, would be considered apart of the thesis, or even if that merely is the thesis disregarding the sentence before?
I notice that after the author claims the most important structural element used is frame narrative, he goes on to show were the frame narrative is set up early on in the story.
The author uses lots of quotes embedded in his paragraphs and explains why they are important directly after the quote.
The authors diction is above average id say!
The authors conclusion ties back into the intro, and is very simple and understandable. All of his points he chose to argue for mentioned in the conclusion were appointed in the body paragraphs thoroughly and shown through evidence in the text.
Works Cited
Overall a very useful mentor text.
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
Blog #25: Poetry Response #5
Lily Sale
Sort Of A Song By: William Carlos Williams
The first stanza of Williams work is a comparison. He compares a snake waiting for prey, to writing. But Williams does not use the usual “like or as” or even really your basic metaphor to compare. He states, “Let the snake wait under his weed and the writing be of words, slow and quick, sharp to strike, quiet to wait sleepless.” He describes all the characteristics of a snake ready to prey, but says, “Let the snake wait under his weed.” He somewhat pushes the snake aside and gives all the snakes qualities to a piece of writing. The second stanza I had to read several times. It starts with a dash, and contains parenthesis within, a different complexity than the first stanza. This incomplete structure and strange punctuation helps me understand the title of the poem. It’s like notes in a song. All of the words in this poem sort of flow of the tongue pretty easily as well just like a song! The meaning of the second stanza I believe Williams is trying to portray is simply the connection between nature and the creative process of writing, this meaning was apparent in the first stanza as well. “-through the metaphor to reconcile the people and the stones. Compose.” this is very clear to the reader. Consider similarities between people and stones, and write about it! “(No ideas but in things) Invent!” Williams is pushing his audience to see and think more about nature and people. And Williams last line, my favorite line, “Saxifrage is my flower that splits the rocks.” Now I had to look up saxifrage, but it is a flower that only grows in rocky alpine areas and still looks delicate. But nothing grows through rocks without being strong. He compares a flower (nature) to himself (person), again his underlying theme. This theme of comparing nature to man, or even comparing nature to the process of writing seems quite clear to me now. And my mind goes a million directions with all the comparisons that could potentially be made. I think Williams wanted us to think that, again especially when he says, “(No ideas but in things) Invent!”
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