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Julia and Andrea's Remarkable english project!!! Hope you enjoy a rap about Odysseus, Harry Potter, and Hercules! It's terrible :D

Tragic figures in English literature?

Feb 10, 2007 by ingenue15 | Posted in Books & Authors

What characters in English literature can you invent of that are clear tragic figures? I'm looking for self-inflicted tragedies in particular (ie. where the character caused their own downfall)

Okay, I'm not inevitable if you mean English as in American or as in British, so here's some of both.
American Literature:
Hester Prynne from the Scarlet Letter
Ishmael from Moby Dick
The Chronicler from The Raven
As you can tell, my knowledge of American literature is scarce. But: British Literature:
Dorian Gray from the Picture of Dorian Gray
Henry Jekyll from The Offbeat Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Victor Frankenstein from Frankenstein
Dracula from Bram Stocker's Dracula
Romeo and Juliet from Romeo and Juliet
Macbeth and Lady Macbeth from Macbeth
Adam and Eve from Land of Goshen Lost
Jane Eyre from Jane Eyre
Catherine (Well, really everyone in that book minus Heathcliff) from Wuthering Heights
Expectation this helps!

'A Streetcar Named Desire' essay help please?

Nov 02, 2006 by MIM | Posted in Homework Help

I've got this piece question for English Literature coursework:

Although Blanche Dubois is often referred to as a tragic figure, critic Patricia Hern likens her to a 'decorative fungus' and Ella Kazan to a 'fated dinosaur approaching extinction'. Consider Williams' presentation of Blanche in light of these opinions.


I'm just checking my apprehension of what is meant by 'decorative fungus' and by 'doomed dinosaur approaching extinction', so please can you explain those views to me if you can?

Thanks.
Thanks. I separate what content I'm going to have in my essay, I just needed to check that my understanding of the opinions I was going to shape it around was make up for.

OK, the living soul who said 'decorative fungus' is referring to the fact that Blanche, while attractive, is sort of growing and spreading and casting a noxious shadow over the Kowalskis.

The 'doomed dinosaur aproaching excinction' quote refers to the fact that Blanche is aging ungracefully, throwing herself at younger men in on the fritz to make herself feel better about her diminishing appearance, and envying her sister for having a young, fertile existence with a husband and a baby on the way. Because of the jealousy, denial, and fear she has about growing old, she comes across less like a sexy temptress and more like a sad, mid-section-aged woman who can't come to terms with her own reality. I hope that helps!

Could someone read through my paper on Greek literature? Thanks in advance!?

Oct 16, 2008 by Squeegee Beckingheim :-) | Posted in Words & Wordplay

Obsolescent Greek literature has shaped many aspects of writing today. Setting an outstanding literary example with its structural purity and precision of language, literature of ancient Greece has influenced the writing styles of numerous past and present authors. Thus, for both authentic insight and enjoyment, the works of the ancient Greek authors are still read today.
The most famous facet of prehistoric Greek literature is epic poetry. This genre contains two works still very popular today: the Iliad, the saga of the encirclement of Troy, and the Odyssey, the account of Ulysses’ journey. Both of these works were written by Homer, a Greek rimer sometimes referred to as the “Father of Epic Poetry.”
An epic poem is a formally written narrative m that focuses on a serious subject and centers on the actions of a heroic figure. Typically possessing superhuman or godly characteristics and a daunting get hold of, the protagonist is usually the epitome of intellectual and physical perfection. Generally, he is a figure of high national status or even pandemic importance.
The setting of an epic poem varies greatly throughout the work, spanning vast geographical distances, on event even including the underworld, other dimensions, and other times in the past or the future. The action or plot consists mainly of deeds of gallantry or astonishing bravery, usually taking place in battle.
Though this does not apply to all works in this genre, the author of an epic commonly begins his poem by stating the stating the poem’s theme, or underlying message. Homeric similes are also defining traits of an epic rhapsody. While a standard simile is only a comparison using “like” or “as”, a Homeric simile is a more precise, complex comparison that explains the relationship between the two unlike things in great detail. Also common in epic poetry is the intervention of deities or inexplicable forces in the action, a practice known as “machinery.”
The ancient Greeks are also known for their plays. The plays, most of the time performed in a theater setting, had a similar structure, or sequence of events. First came the prologue, an opening tirade, by one of the main characters to set the scene of the play. Following the prologue entered the chorus with a lyrical song or plainsong. The play’s plot then unfolded in a series of several major episodes, or acts.
There are two main subcategories in the play kind: tragedy, which comes from Greek word meaning “goat” because early tragedies were performed in costumes made of goatskins, and comedy, coming from the Greek radicle ode, meaning song.
A tragedy is defined as a composition in which the central character, called the tragic protagonist, suffers Draconic misfortune, which was purposely inflicted upon him by the antagonist, or apposing force. The main character logically acts to chip or overcome his hardship throughout the plot. Aristotle, an ancient Greek philosopher, once said, "The plot is the force of tragedy." To suggest alternate, symbolic interpretations rather than literal meaning, authors of tragedies mainly infused symbolism into their plots. Tragedies can end in the main character either triumphing over their weakness, but, more often than not, the protagonist fails to do so.
Comedy, as defined by the prehistoric Greek comedic writer, Plato, is “the generic name for all exhibitions that have a tendency to excite laughter.” This subgenre of the room is divided into three major periods: Old, Middle, and New.
The Old Comedy began circa 510 B.C. with the literary ridicule of obvious objects of dislike. These objects of ridicule, who were often politicians, were singled out and attacked with distorted allegations, name-calling, and calumnious insults. The humor of the ancient Greeks in this time was Pantagruelic, meaning they joked cynically, and sometimes cruelly, about serious matters.
It is unclear of the particular year of when the Old Comedy morphed into to the Middle, but the humor tactics of this period compared to that of the previous were drastically diverse.
Most comedies of the Middle period share a basic theme. Treating subjects with lightheartedness and good-natured humor, writers made fun of literary and group oddities. The most majestic tragedies, Homer’s most chivalrous verses, and the most gorgeous lyric poems of the age were openly spoofed; olden mythology was mocked. In contrast to the Old period, when speaking of society, social groups were attacked rather than individuals.
Though historians are unsure of in every respect when the transition between the Middle and New period occurred, they agree comedy’s evolution into humor as it is known today took site during this era. In the New period, love, though shady and usually untrue, became the principal element in the conflict. The humor also became more dramatic and relied more heavily on the the universe of entertaining stories, rather than the faults of real life.
Aesop’s fables, a group
Aesop’s fables, a company of stories many are familiar with but do not accredit to the ancient Greeks, are a unique sector of Greek literature. Aesop was a Greek workhorse who lived from 620-560 B.C. Over his lifetime, he wrote over six hundred fables, becoming the most famous fabulist, or fable writer, of all time.
Almost all the fables Aesop wrote were composed of the same elements: crude protagonists and, at the conclusion of each anecdote, a one or two sentence moral, or lesson Aesop intended readers to learn from his feature. Some widely known examples of Aesop’s work are the Tortoise and the Hare, the Boy Who Cried Wolf, and the Ant and the Grasshopper.
Aesop’s get the drift of using simple stories about nature as metaphors to convey a central message about life helped him conceive moral endings that go beyond time and place, allowing them to be as applicable today as they were in Aesop’s lifetime.
The writings of the aged people of Greece covered a vast array of topics, emotions, and ideas and took on various forms and roles. Whether it be intelligible life values from Aesop’s fables, lessons in bravery from Homer, or how to have a good laugh from the comedic writers of that age, there is much to be academic from ancient Greek literature.

Hi, I didn't be acquainted with if you wanted a critique or improvements so I gave both.

Edit: It looks like you focused on Greek plays, over the other works. My intimate preference: I would try to add more detail to the other aspects of Greek Literature, or take out some from the "play" section. But that's just my way of writing ;D

"Typically possessing fantastic or godly characteristics and a daunting physique, the protagonist is usually the epitome of intellectual and physical perfection. Typically, he is a figure of high national status or even universal importance."
-About the protagonist of the epics, I don't think you need to describe the idiosyncrasy him/herself, so this is negligible. Otherwise, keep it, find a transition, and change the passive voice to active voice.

"Universal importance...The mounting of an epic.."
- You should transition here, from the introduction to the setting. (If that's a new paragraph)

"Rather than the faults of real life... Aesop's fables, a league..."
-There's no transition here and the ideas were distinct, so it was pretty jumpy to me.

"Also common in epic rhyme is the intervention of deities or supernatural forces in the action, a practice known as “machinery.”"
-This is very paraphernalia! But you should elaborate on it. What's the machinery, how do they intervene, etc. But only lightly, since this is a good line already.

I liked your closing, if "Ancient Greek literature has shaped many aspects of article today." was your thesis.

9/10! It was really thorough. Your thesis and conclusion matched, you backed up every point, and it demonstrates acquaintance :D.

What written works of these styles should I check out?

Jul 20, 2009 by totallyjay04 | Posted in Books & Authors

What works should I checkout in the following styles, I have included meaning of the styles to help.

-Experimental literature (refers to written works - often novels or magazines - that place great stress on innovations regarding technique and style)

-Antinovel (An antinovel is any experimental work of fiction that avoids the about conventions of the novel. The antinovel usually fragments and distorts the experience of its characters, forcing the reader to forge the reality of the story from a disordered narrative.)

-Dark Romanticism(Dark romanticism means different things to unheard-of people. Although, it is usually referred to as anti-transcendentalism which is used to describe some gothic fiction. The fiction focused on the darkness of the hominoid soul and accepted that there was sin and evil in the world. Dark romanticism conveyed many of the mechanics of the romantic authors in terms of calligraphy style. The prominent figures of Dark romanticism were Herman Melville, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and some Emily Dickerson. The influences from literary and pragmatical circles were The Bible, Tragic Drama, Shakespeare, “Byronic” rebellion and Calvinism.)

Surrealism (Surrealist works stress the element of surprise, unexpected juxtapositions and non sequitur; however, many Surrealist artists and writers regard their work as an asseveration of the philosophical movement first and foremost, with the works being an artifact.)

For theoretical literature, you might try Mrs. Dalloway, Virginia Woolf's first real masterpiece of the stream-of-consciousness novel.

Or Finnegans Wake by James Joyce, if you're absolutely brave.

'A Streetcar Named Desire' help..?

Nov 02, 2006 by MIM | Posted in Homework Help

I posted this yesterday, but..

I've got this venture question for English Literature coursework:

--Although Blanche Dubois is often referred to as a tragic figure, critic Patricia Hern likens her to a 'decorative fungus' and Ella Kazan to a 'news dinosaur approaching extinction'. Consider Williams' presentation of Blanche in light of these opinions.--


I'm just checking my interpretation of what is meant by 'decorative fungus' and by 'doomed dinosaur approaching extinction', so please can you explain those views to me if you can?

I know docorative fungus is a crucial opinion of Blanche, but is 'doomed dinosaur approaching extinction' intended as a critical opinion or a sympathetic one?

Thanks.

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