Lit. Analysis #1: Atonement

1. In Part One, the story starts out with the introduction to the Tallis family on one particular day. It focuses on Briony, a yound thirteen-year old girl with a writer's wild imagination. Cecilia is her older sister who is in love with Robbie Turner, the boy they grew up around. When Briony finds out of Cecilia and Robbie's fondness for one another, she plans a way to keep them apart as long as they live. That night at dinner, the two young boys, also their cousins, run away for they do not like staying at the Tallis house, and everyone goes in search of the boys. While out searching, Robbie by himself as well as Briony, Briony sees a man raping Lola, her other cousin. She automatically suspects Robbie and hatches a plan to destroy Robbie right then. She then tells everyone Robbie was the man who raped Lola and he is soon convicted and sent to jail. Part Two opens with Robbie fighting in the war pre-1942 after having spent 3 years in jail for his "crime". He experiences the horrors of war first hand. Cecilia is now a nurse. Robbie and Cecilia reunite and hed towards London. In Part Three we see eighteen-year old Briony taking up nursing as well thinking if she did good it would make up for her terrible sin. She attends the wedding of Paul(who she finally finds out is actually Lola's rapist) and Lola but doesn't stop the wedding. Briony visits her sister and Robbie in London and finally clears all charges against Robbie.

2. The theme of Atonement is the extemely obvious factor of guilt. When Briony hatches her plan to get rid of Robbie by blaming him for raping Lola and sending him to jail for 3 years, she has to live with the immense guilt on her shoulders for her whole life. As young as she was, she didn't fully comprehend Robbie and Cecilia's deep love for each other. Briony only thought Robbie was hurting Cecilia by them being together. As she grows from a young child to an adult, she realizes that she nearly destroyed any sort of happiness for her sister and Robbie. For the rest of her life she has to deal with the guilt that rips her from the core of what she did when she was only a child.

3. In the beginning of the novel the author's, Briony, tone is very adolesent and naive. She wants to become a write and has a very descriptive and wild imagination which makes her that much more childish. In the beginning of the novel before they have dinner, Briony watches Cecilia get naked and jump into the lake. She soon runs off with this wild story as her imaginations takes her into a completely different world of her own. Also, when Briony gets angry with her cousins when they don't participate in her play like she wants them to. This shows a child being a normal child. Not getting their way when they want to. As the story developes and she grows as a character, the tone changes to the more guilty and sofisticated side to Briony. When she's eighteen we learn that she is trying to become a nurse. She disinctively says that she wants to be a nurse because if she did good then maybe it would make up for her sins.

4.
     1) Briony's diction certainly makes her tone come out even more. It resembles her childlike behavior and imagination. Her stories that she writes are full of childish words and meanings. While watching her sister dive into the water naked to go after the broken vase, Briony makes up this huge story about what she think would happen. Her diction clearly resembles her childishness.    
    2) The time spand plays a very interesting part in the story. The whole horrific thing that happened in the book that created all the chaos was written in a matter of one day. While the whole story is in a time spand of about 5 or more years. It shows that it's not actually focusing on what happened but how the characters responded to the event. Five years later, Briony is explaining how she still has to live with her guilt of what she did so long ago as a child.
    3) Characterization is very significant to the tone in this book. While Cecilia and Robbie are older and finding this new found love for one another, Briony is extrememly naive, childish, and imaginative. Briony's tone is completely different from that of Cecilia because she is young and immature. When she writes her stories, her tone is always wild with imagination and very naive you could tell right off the bat it was from a young child.
    4) Conflict is the whole issue in this story. The conflict sets the theme up perfectly. When Briony tells everyone it was Robbie who was the rapist(conflict), it changed the lives of all the characters, especially Briony who had to live with the guilt of her crime(theme).
    5) Dramatic Irony also plays a big part in the conflict. When Robbie realizes he gave Briony the wrong letter to send to Cecilia, Briony reads it but neither Cecilia nor Robbie know she has read it. That's the huge deal breaker for Briony that makes her hatch her plan to rid of Robbie.

Vocabulary #6

1. beatitude: supreme blessedness; exalted happiness
"The monk had a certain beatitude about him that glowed from deep inside him."

2. bete noire: a person or thing especially disliked or dreaded
"The Grinch is an example of a bete noire for everyone dislikes him."

3. bode: to be an omen of; predict
"The weatherman bode the weather because they can't see the future and tell the exact weather."

4. dank: unpleasantly moist or humid
"The swampy place was very dank and unpleasant."

5. ecumenical: general; universal
"Christianity is an ecumenical religion."

6. fervid: burning; glowing; intensely hot
"The fervid coal was beautiful yet very dangerous to touch."

7. fetid: stinking; having an offensive odor
"His fetid body odor was absolutely disgusting."

8. gargantuan: gigantic; enormous; colossal
"The gargantuan roller-coaster was enormously terrifying."

9. heyday: a stage or period of greatest vigor, strength, or success
"The army's victory was a great heyday for all of America."

10. incubus: imaginary sexually appealing demon-like woman who decends upon sleeping men or people
"Unfortunately, incubi have been reported before by people, mostly men, that haunt and terrorize them in their sleep."

11. infrastucture: the basic framework of an organization
"Our infrastucture of this organization is to spread peace and make the world a better place for everyone."

12. inveigle: to entice, lure, or ensnare by flattery or artful talk
"His inveigle talk really helped him get women into his bed."

13. kudos: honor; glory; acclaim
"Kudos to the young man who saved this woman's life!"

14. lagniappe: a small gift given with a purchase to a customer by way of compliment or good measure; bonus
"My lagniappe for completely the assignment was a gold star."

15. prolix: extended to a great, unnecessary, or tedious length
"His prolixed speech seemed like it would never end!"

16. protege: a person under the patronage, protection, or care of someone interested in his/her career
"The president's bodyguard is one of the most important proteges out there."

17. prototype: the original or model on which something is based or formed
"The prototype model helped the architect build the skyscraper to scale."

18. sycophant: self-seeking, servile flatterer
"He is such a sycophant! Always kissing up to the teacher."

19. tautology: needless repitition of an idea without additional force or clearness
"The woman used useless tautology throughout her speech."

20. truckle: to submit or yield obsequiously or tamely
"The man truckled behind the woman in case she were to fall for he could catch her and save her life."

Textbook Notes

Notes:

    Epics- epics are tales of ancient role model that can be taught about the times in which they were popular

   Gilgamesh- 4000 years old

   Iliad- 3000 years old

Prologue to Gilgamesh:

Gil built home for main gods, high ranking person

Anu & Ishtar, father of gods and goddess of love

takes place in Uruk

Gil is son of Lugalbanda and Lady Wildcow Ninsun

Gil is vangard and rear guard of army

2/3 god, 1/3 man. not sure how that math works

From the Iliad:

goddess Athene (as Trojan warrior) leads Hektor to Achilleus

she said to fight ruthlessly to see if they or Achilleus would die

H swore brutal battle and bargained to bring back dead to home country

Ach said no oaths between enemies.

shows honesty and knows he wouldn't honor his word

Ach fighting to avenge his countrymen H killed

H wants fair fight face to face

H threw spear and Athenes had abandoned him. knew death was fate

H wanted swift death, got speared in the neck. mercy from Ach

Ach actually avenging his partner Patroklos who H killed

Ach wants to let him sit out and be eaten

H begs to be taken hime for burning and promises treasure

Ach shows no more mercy and refuses offer. wants true revenge

H's last words were cursing but Ach didn't believe him. knew gods would take him in stride

History of English Church and People*The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle

Bede (673-735) Rome had protected and supported Britain but when it withdrew, England was left isolated and prone to invasion

Monks and monasteries kept written word alive and preached it

Bede most learned scholar

father of English history

A History of the English Church and People

describes conquest of Britain by Anglo-Saxons after Romans left

wrote in Latin so all could read his work done at Jarrow

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle written by King Alfred's group of monks

sent out and minks added to chronicle

from A History of the English Church and People

Belgic Gaul id south of English island

tells of prosperous and promising Emglish land

even shore is bountiful

Latin common medium for scriptures

Britons-original inhabitants

then Scythians came to north Isish coast (W of Britain) and found Scots

Pictish settlers rejected from settling in Ireland

sent to go to Britain, promised help to fight if they resisted

settles in north, Britons in south

king comes from lady's side as part of agreement to marry into Pictish families, if needed

Ireland more pleasant with no reptiles or snakes, immune to poison

Scots originally from Ireland, migrated to Britain

from The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle

Vikings broke up and went to Briatin

King Alfred created long ships to beat Viking raids

Danes beached at Isle of Wight

English took ships and killed their men, ruthless

tide saved Danes

Beowulf and Godsylla Translation

Meanehwæl, baccat meaddehæle, monstær lurccen;
Fulle few too many drincce, hie luccen for fyht.
Ðen Hreorfneorhtðhwr, son of Hrwærowþheororthwl,
Æsccen æwful jeork to steop outsyd. Þhud! Bashe! Crasch! Beoom! Ðe bigge gye
Eallum his bon brak, byt his nose offe;
Wicced Godsylla wæld on his asse.
Monstær moppe fleor wyþ eallum men in hælle.
Beowulf in bacceroome fonecall bamaccen wæs;
Hearen sond of ruccus sæd, "Hwæt ðe helle?"
Graben sheold strang ond swich-blæd scharp
Stond feorth to fyht ðe grimlic foe. "Me," Godsylla sæd, "mac ðe minsemete."
Heoro cwyc geten heold wiþ fæmed half-nelson
Ond flyng him lic frisbe bac to fen
Beowulf belly up to meaddehæle bar,
Sæd, "Ne foe beaten mie færsom cung-fu."
Eorderen cocca-cohla yce-coeld, ðe reol þyng.

Meanwhile, back at the mead-hall, the monster lurked
Full (of) few too many drinks, he was looking for a fight
Then (name), son of (name) asked the awful jerk to step outside
Thud, Bash, Crash, boom, the big guy
All of his bones broke, bit his nose off;
Wicked Godzilla wailed on his a ss
Moster mopped the floor with all the men in the hall
Beowulf in the backroom making a phone call (?)
Hearing sounds of ruckus said, "What the hell?"
Grabbed his strong shield and sharp switch blade
Stood forth to fight the grimlic foe
"Me," Godzilla said, "Make the mince-meat"
Hero ? quickly got (getting) held with the famed half-nelson
And flying him like a frisbee back and forth
Beowulf belly up to the mead-hall's bar,
said, "No foe has beaten my fearsome kung-fu."
He ordered coca-cola, ice cold, the real thing

Vocabulary #5

1. acumer: keen insight; shrewdness
"Had he possessed the financial acumen to go with his engineering brilliance, he would have made a fortune."

2. adjudicate: to pronounce or decree by judicial sentence
"Three distinguished members of the committee will adjudicate the claims for compensation."

3. anachronism: something or someone that is incorrectly placed in a historical or chronological time
"I went into the film having resolved not to allow my enjoyment to be spoiled by any historical anachronisms I happened to spot."

4. apocryphal: of doubtful authorship or authenticity
"This story probably apocryphal, but the principle is valid."

5. disparity: lack of similarity or equality; inequal
"Disparity between men and women in the past is almost shocking as well as disgustingly wrong."

6. dissimulate: to disguise or conceal under a false appearance
"It was very difficult for Sara to dissimulate the truth from her friend."

7. empirical: derive from or guided by experience or experiment
"The empirical investigations of scientific history are what make it possible for us to understand science."

8. flamboyant: strikingly bold or brilliant; conspiciously dashing and colorful
"That man is more flamboyant than most of those girls!"

9. fulsome: excessively offensive to good taste; disgusting; sickening
"The fulsome apology was so pathetic there was no way I was taking it seriously."

10. immolate: to sacrifice
"I immolate a lot of things to reach my goal and get exactly what I want for my future."

11. imperceptible: slight, gradual, or subtle
"The imperceptible movement of a root has pushed through the foundations of a wall.

12. lackey: a servile follower; manservant
"He has a lot of lackeys because he's a celebrity."

13. liaison: the contact or connection between units to ensure concerted action
"We were under the command of a royal navy captain who was in close liaison with our own captain."

14. monolithic: made of or containing only one piece
"A huge corporation is often said to be monolithic, especially if it is enormous and powerful and all its parts are dedicated to the same purpose."

15. mot juste: the exact, appropriate word
"Using cuss words to express rage are a rare case where these words are mot juste."

16. nihilism: rejection of establishment laws and institutions
"Teenagers often use nihilism to slash out at the hatred they feel towards the world."

17. patrician: a person of noble or high rank
"A king can be classified as a patrician."

18. propitiate: to make favorably inclined; appeased
"After Hillary Clinton was in the red from her campaign spending, she attempted to propitiate Barrak Obama to procure financial assistance."

19. sic: to attack
"Sic 'em!"

20. sublimate: to make nobler or purer
"The king sublimated the knight for his courageous act of heroism."

My Hero's Journey

I'd have to say my hero would be Simba from The Lion King. He goes through this intense journey as he tries to win back his land and bring his kingdom back to it's feet. Although many young children don't see it, The Lion King is an incredible and absolutely typical representation of Campbell's stages of drama.

1. The Ordinary World- Simba is introduces first as a mischevious young boy just waiting for trouble. But after the tragic death of his father, he is forced to flee from the one and only place he knows. He is therefore stranded causing the stress and saddness within him.

2. The Call to Adventure- After many years of living easy by the motto "Akuna Mattata", Nala, a friend form his past finds him and tells him of how life is at home. The terrible news shakes up the situation. Simba is now forced with a decision to either go back home and save his kingdom or ignore the problem because it's not his to deal with.

3. Refusal of the Call- Although Simba thinks this news is terrible, he decides right off the bat that he CAN NOT go back. He couldn't face his family or his home because of what he did to his father. Or what he thinks he did for that matter. His fear of what everyone will think of him overcomes his bravery and courage that he doesn't know still exists inside of him.

4. Meeting with the Mentor- A while later, that crazy monkey stops in his path. He gives him the reasons why he has to go back and why this would be the only way to really get his father back.

5. Crossing the Threshold- After getting hit in the head a few times by the crazy monkey, he finally gets some sense knocked into him and embarks on his quest to save his kingdom.

6. Test, Allies, and Enemies- When Simba gets back home, he realizes that all that Nalla has told him is true, yet he never thought it was as bad as what he sees. He sees his mother getting emotionally and physically attacked and this pains him to see this. He sees his fellow friends and allies getting tortured by the nasty hyenas. And eventually sees Scar which he has targetted as his main offense.

7. Approach- Simba finally gets his alone time with Scar, ready to finally end Scar and get his kingdom back to who and where it belongs. He's confronted with not only Scar himself, but the terrible memories of his past that come flooding back to him as he sees Scar's face.

8. The Ordeal- There's a moment where Scar has Simba by the hands while Simba is hanging off of a cliff, and Scar reveals that that's exactly how he killed Simba's father. Simba finally realizes that it was Scar who killed his father. This seems to be his biggest fear of coming back home, and having Scar reveal this truth springs a whole new life to Simba and makes him more powerful than ever.

9. The Reward- After Scar dies, Simba and the other lions and lioness rejoice now that their kingdom is restored.

10. The Road Back- Simba now realizes this is where he belongs and he can finally come home. The scene changes from dark to plentiful and green showing how hard the mission truly was.

11. The Ressurection- Simba now has to stand up to the plate and take his rightful place as king. This sort of symbolizes the purifying and rebirth of Simba, now as the king of the Prideland.

12. Return with the Elixir- Simba has officially returned home. He has a baby with Nalla and the last scene ends with their baby being help up by the monkey and showing all the kingdom the prince. It shows how Simba has transformed into the lion and the king he thought he would be when he was young.

Vocabulary #4

1. apostate: a person who foresakes his religion, cause, or party
"They consider all sinners apostates."

2. effusive: unduly demonstrative; overflowing
"The effusive lesson left the students without any knowledge of the content."

3. impasse: a position or situation in which there is no escape
"Attemps were made to overcome the impossible impasse."

4. euphoria: a state of intense happiness or self-confidence
"The girl was in a state of euphoria after she kissed her crush."

5. lugubrious: mournful, dismal, gloomy usually in an exaggerated manner
"The lugubrious man slumped around after he was just dumped by his girlfriend."

6. bravado: a pretentious swaggering display of courage
"The man's bravado attitude could either come off as proud or arrogant."

7. consensus: majority of opinion
"The consensus of the people voted to have open campus for the school."

8. dichotomy: division into two parts usually between two opposed parts or kinds
"Dichotomy becomes possible after the world has overcome all it's problems and found peace with another."

9. constrict: to draw or press in; shrink or stop from growing
"The boa constricted it's prey eventually killing it."

10. gothic: style of art developed in France during the 12th century showing great detail
"This gothic style of art is so detailed and fascinating!"

11. punctilio: a fine point, particular, or detail, as of conduct, ceremony, or procedure
"They will not part with the least punctilio in their opinions and practices."

12. metamorphosis: change from one state to another
"Butterflies go through metamorphorsis as they transform from a catepillar to a butterfly."

13. raconteur: a person who is skilled in relating stories and anecdotes interestingly
"He is a born raconteur, lover of life, and communicator."

14. sine qua non: an indispensable condition
"He buys his grapes for his sine qua non wine."

15. quixotic: extravagantly chivalrous or romantic
"Many readers are attracted to the quixotic stories rather than realistic romance."

16. vendetta: any prolonged and bitter feud, rivalry, or contention
"The two families have a certain vendetta towards each other which makes it hard for them to ever get along."

17. non sequitur: a statement containing an illogical conclusion
"The story had a non sequitur at the end which through off the whole idea of it."

18. mystique: a framework of doctrines, ideas, or beliefs
"He has retained a certain mystique that make him quite a catch for the girls."

19. quagmire: a situation from which extrication is very difficult
"The puzzle is quite a quagmire!"

20. parlous: dangerous; clever; shrewd
"The parlous state of the economy takes a toll on the lives of the people in the United States."