...considered one of the best Greek tragedies, Oedipus Rex, by Sophocles tells of the misfortune of a great man who tried to fight a terrible fate, ultimately bringing down misfortune and sorrow upon them. King Oedipus, ruler of Thebes, the protagonist and tragic hero of the play, hears of a terrible prophecy condemning him to slay his own father and bed his mother, leading him to run far away from the place he considered his home. However, as many Greek playwrights, Sophocles underscored the impossibility of fighting a fate set by the cunning, often cruel, gods, making Oedipus fulfill the prophecy, which ultimately leads to his downfall. A story brimming with irony, foreshadowing and paradox, Oedipus Rex weaves the tale of a man who was his own destruction, acting as his own antagonist in the play, sending the audience a clear moral: fate is immutable. In the beginning of the play, Oedipus possesses many child-like characteristics, perhaps a way to foreshadow his true relationship with Jocasta, his wife, and Creon, his brother-in-law, both of whom are significantly older than him. His irrationality, quick temper and inability to keep emotions separate from his decision-making, lead to him alienate Creon, a useful guide and father figure to Oedipus. As Creon states, “Attitudes like yours [Oedipus’s] always hurt the person who has them.” (Sophocles, Act II, scene i, page 7) His response of outrage towards Tiresias, who at first withheld the truth to help Oedipus, distanced him from the...
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...COMMEMORATING SAM AND FRODO'S JOURNEY 4 RUNNING HEADER: COMMEMORATING SAM AND FRODO'S JOURNEY 1 A Commemoration for the Journey Completed by Samwise Gamgee and Frodo Baggins Maresa Klinger University of Houston – Clear Lake Abstract In the LOTR, the Hobbits' Sam and Frodo take on a difficult journey that consisted of obstacles, a ring whose relationship to the two plays as an antagonist, and how the two's relationship is tested through of all it but overcomes in spite of the odds. The obstacles consist of being chased by Sauron's evil minions known as the Orcs, following a delirious used-to-be Hobbit named Gollum who takes them up mountain cliffs and through dangerous forests, one of which has the giant spider Shelob...
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...motivated the psychological turmoil in his story. When Poe was very young he was put up for adoption and unfortunately this caused him to lose who he truly was, he lacked self-identity. When his foster mother grew seriously ill Poe was forced to switch from school to school where he was often bullied for his inability to fit in. “But he was not accepted as an equal; he was taunted about being the son of actors and about his unconventional position in the Allan household” (“Edgar Allan Poe” Concise 3 ). Despite the fact that school is a place for learning rather than inappropriate and cruel...
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...from a man that had no worries, no problems (either economically, spiritually, or relationally); it did not come from a man who had thoughts of rainbows and unicorns nor even cute and cuddly bunnies. No, this writing style, which made Edgar Allan Poe so famous, had come from a man that had struggled throughout his life to find happiness, who struggled to barely make ends meet, who wanted most to be loved by those who were the closest to him. As a young child Poe’s mother died of tuberculosis and his father had abandoned him. Later he struggled with the death of his young wife and foster mother. These events had presented...
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...Title: The Problem of Faith in 'Young Goodman Brown' Author(s): Leo B. Levy Publication Details: JEGP: Journal of English and Germanic Philology 74.3 (July 1975): p375-387. Source: Nineteenth-Century Literature Criticism. Ed. Juliet Byington. Vol. 95. Detroit: Gale Group, 2001. p375-387. From Literature Resource Center. Document Type: Critical essay Full Text: COPYRIGHT 2001 Gale Group, COPYRIGHT 2007 Gale, Cengage Learning [In the following essay, Levy examines Faith as a character, an allegorical figure, and a symbol.] Few of Hawthorne's tales have elicited a wider range of interpretations than “Young Goodman Brown.” The critics have been victimized by the notorious ambiguity of a tale composed of a mixture of allegory and the psychological analysis of consciousness. Many of them find the key to its meaning in a neurotic predisposition to evil; one goes so far as to compare Goodman Brown to Henry James's governess in The Turn of the Screw [Darrel Abel, in “Black Glove and Pink Ribbon: Hawthorne's Metonymic Symbols,” in NEQ 42, 1969]. The psychological aspect is undeniably important, since we cannot be certain whether “Young Goodman Brown” is a dream-allegory that takes place in the mind and imagination of the protagonist, an allegory with fixed referents in the external world, or a combination of these that eludes our ordinary understanding of the genre itself. The story is all three: a dream vision, a conventional allegory, and finally an inquiry into the problem of faith...
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...sequences: a biker gang called The Capsules, led by Kaneda, going against The Clowns and a little boy and a man running from the police in another. The man is gunned down by the police and the boy appears to have telekinetic powers he runs away. Even after most of the Capsules ended their pursuit of the Clowns, Capsule member Tetsuo continues on, only to later crash into the same little boy and suffer a change that grants him similar powers and rage to gain control like never seen before. Spirited Away on the surface is way different from the previous two, telling the tale of Chihiro, a little girl who, while moving to a new town, discovers a small village with her parents and is sucked into a spirit world. In the spirit world, her parents are literally turned into pigs upon consuming the food there, she becomes forced to work in a bathhouse in order to leave and she is slowly...
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...Killings Analysis Style and Technique “Killings,” one of Dubus’s best-known and most respected stories, was the basis for the film In the Bedroom (2001). Although the story revolves around passion and violence, Dubus tells the tale in a flat, calm way. The first two acts of violence are dropped into the story unexpectedly and without emotion. The story opens with Frank’s funeral, then moves on to the conversation between Willis and Matt about how Matt wishes he could kill the man who murdered his son, but the reader does not know who killed Frank, how, or why. Next, in a long descriptive paragraph, Richard is introduced. He is first connected to Frank by the flat opening line of the next paragraph: “One night he beat Frank.” Only then does the reader learn about Mary Ann, and Matt’s and Ruth’s differing feelings about her. In a lovely, lyrical scene, Mary Ann joins the Fowlers for a barbeque after a day at the beach. Matt’s love for his son is mixed with a wistful attraction to Mary Ann. She is beautiful, but Matt sees in her eyes a sadness and pain that he and his family have been spared, and he wishes he could help and comfort her. The next paragraph starts with, “Richard Strout shot Frank in front of the children.” Such jarring shifts of mood are used to emphasize how quickly life can turn from sunny to violent and how swiftly the good things in life can be taken away. The story’s point of view is that of the limited omniscient narrator. The reader sees the events through...
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...misfortune; but great minds rise above them.” Washington Irving, a well-known short story author in the nineteenth century, spoke these words of wisdom. Washington Irving became famous in America for his fine works from The Specter Bridegroom to Rip Van Winkle to The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. These satirical sketches are all based on the local areas in New York where Irving resided. His adventures through life spread the word of his writings and he became one of the first renowned short story writers in Europe. Washington Irving was born in New York, New York on April 3, 1783. His mother, Sarah, and father, William Irving, Sr., had eleven children including Washington. He was named after the United States first president, George Washington who was sought to be the greatest hero of all time to his parents. “… He attended the first presidential inauguration of his namesake in 1789” (Biography Channel). Irving was privately schooled and later went to study law in New York after his return from travelling Europe. In 1804 he travelled to France and Italy, while writing journals and letters. When he returned in 1805, Irving continued law school but did poorly for he barely passed the bar exam. (Biography Channel). After Irving finished his studies, he went on to write humorous essay with his older brother William Irving, Jr., and James Kirke Paulding. The Salamagundi papers published the essays in 1807 to 1808. Irving would often use pseudonyms or aliases such as Geoffry Crayon...
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...Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” a story that we all know and even if you haven’t read the book it is famous amongst everyone. This tale is so famous that it’s been produced into movies, plays and it has forced its way into literature making references that always recount back to Robert’s story. Now Joseph had written a story to that goes by the name of “Heart of Darkness.” I am going to be honest; before we had read this novel in class I had never heard or seen it. But after we finished the book it was a great tale (a bit confusing though) about a man recanting his journey to his crew on his ship of how he came to be captain and how he acquired this boat. Both these novels introduce this dark theme that evolves into this mystery and each dwell on the same problems of mostly lying, deceit and greed. I believe that both these stories correlate greatly because of the way the mood of the story changes from this surreal place of peace and tranquility to this dark and gothic area that has overcome the protagonist and changed them from good to evil. Let’s begin as always from the start. We will analyze Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” and discuss details from the good Doctor’s early quarrels with his inner demons to what leads to his transformation to Mr. Hyde. The story takes place in London with Gabriel John Utterson a friend of the good doctor who is on a walk with his friend (also relative) Mr....
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...The Love Story of the Ages We all love a good romance, guys included. They might not ever admit it, but it is a part of who we are as a functioning human beings. A desire to love and to be loved is deeply rooted in the core of our existence. It is the treasure we seek in all aspects of our lives; the one thing we know can complete us if we simply find the right kind. Yet, where did this inner desire for love come from? Are we even close to finding what true love really looks like? Who came up with love and why is it such a difficult thing to grasp and hold onto? Let me share with you the most beautiful love story ever to be heard. It is a story full of action, danger, hope, discouragement, victory, and so much more. It is a story in which every character has an important decision to make and role to play. No one is left out; no one is overlooked. Let us start as all good love stories begin. Once upon a time there was only one existence: God. He alone hovered over the waters in darkness, waiting for that perfect moment when He would create the first of the many He calls His beloved. Now, before this moment came, He busily created a place for His precious ones to live and abide, for His glory and His loved one’s enjoyment. When all was in place and the moment arrived, God created man. Man was made in the Father’s image; perfectly spotless and without any blemish, spot, or stain of any kind. God walked with His creation in perfect union; intimately close and completely satisfied...
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...Name Professor Course Date Film project contrast paper Introduction Captain Phillips movie, examines the 2009 hijacking of a U.S container ship, by the name Maerks Alabama. The movie stars Tom Hanks as Richard Phillip (IMDb). It is a hard pounding thriller that exhibits the creativity of its director Paul Green Grass. According to Ryan McNeil (2013) the movie reflects on the primary effects of globalization, by showing the relationship between the ship's commanding officer and the Somali captain who forcefully held him (McNeil). Richard Phillips meets with Muse; the Somali captain, when Phillips ship goes on a wrong course (IMDb). Both captains find themselves at the mercy of forces, which are beyond their control. The movie is recommended for audience above the age of thirteen years. It contains an intense sequence of menace, and violence associated with bloody images (IMDb). The script The script of the movie was primarily based on a book called A Captains Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy Seals and Dangerous Days at Sea, which was written by Richard Phillips (IMDb). The script narrates a very compelling story, which keeps the audience on the seat's edge. It moves the audience in the world of the ship’s crew, leaving the audience with a close experience of the dangers associated with cargo ships (McNeil). Acting Tom Hanks is considered as the highest box office star currently (Whitfield). According to IMDb, he was “outstanding as always” in this movie. However critics have argued...
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...Scott Hicks is the epitome of ingenious when it comes to channelling his creativity into his wonderful creations. Some attributes of Hicks directorial style demonstrated in my chosen visual text Shine include camera work, music, and the terrifyingly subtle use of lighting to develop the atmosphere and create apprehension in the audience. On the contrary, Stephen Chow’s ostentatious special effects, camera work, lighting and sound in Kung Fu Hustle in no way waned to present the same ideas and rivet the audience on to the end of their seats to witness the anticipated metamorphosis of antagonist to protagonist. In Shine, Hicks’ concoction of multiple cinematic techniques effectively portray the idea of the change and the transition from the suppression of the individual to the strength of the individual. Hicks’ use of specific techniques helps the audience learn more about Peters Authoritarian mindset and further develops the oppression felt by David’s character whilst portraying the idea of change. This enables the audience to understand the more complex underlying themes in the film and makes the audience more aware to the specific role of each character in the film and how they are all intertwined with each other at a deeper level. Consequently, it successfully challenges us, the audience, to consider how we might have felt in David’s situation and helps us draw conclusions about the nature of relationships and family dynamics. A scene, in Shine, that Hicks uses cinematic...
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...small town of Gutshot TN; possibly the actual definition of “The Middle of Nowhere”. The boys just hopped into Satan’s Hearse (the name given to Colin’s car because of its dated age and greying paint job). The original plan was just to drive and drive until Colin’s mind was finally distracted away from his break-up with Katherine XIX, then they would turn around and find their way back home. It didn’t end up happening that way, though. Hassan pointed out a sign on the highway advertising tours to see the grave of Archduke. Colin, being a child prodigy therefore loving new information to further enlighten his brain, gladly accepted. They branched off the exit and went to check it out, when they met Lindsey Lee Wells, a beautiful girl who worked for her mother Hollis at their convenience store, giving tours to the fake grave or Archduke to all of the non-existent tourists interested in history. (Gutshot was not exactly the most popular tourist attraction in the country.) After Hollis met the boys and instantly loved them, she felt they would be great candidates to help her with her “top secret project”, so she offered them board in her giant pink mansion for the rest of the summer in exchange for their assistance in her project. The story takes place in modern times which I inferred by their use of cellphones. A stereotype of this community may be either very unpopulated therefore all of its members are close (which is true) or that they live a redneck lifestyle just because...
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...the narrator when he lived on Miguel Street. The narrator tells the tales of the people he came into contact. The caharacters mentioned have proven to have large personalities and this is seen in the 17 short stories written in the play. One of the short stories focuses on a man named Popo, his story tells of the development of a person when faced with the various ups and downs that life has to offer and touches on how the narrator now views him. This leads to the question can the hand you are dealt in life change you so drastically that you end up in a downward spiral and you can no longer be the person you once were. In the story, The thing without a name the character Popo was a carpenter in which the narrator came in contact with, however Popo never finished a task in which he began. This can be seen in the very beginning: “The only thing that Popo, who called himself a carpenter, ever built was a little galvanized-iron workshop under the mango tree at the back of his yard. And even that he didn’t quite finish.” (15) Popo was a man that struggled with the need to be accepted by his peers, those on Miguel street did not like Popo the considered “a man-woman. Not a proper man.” (17). He was also very insecure and didn’t have confidence in his profession even though he was so proud of his sign, “ Popo liked standing up in front of the sign. But he had a little panic when people who didn’t know about him came to inquire.” (16) Though he wasn’t...
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...Independent Study Novel Sarah Driedger The Droughtlanders Part A 1. Carrie Mac is an award winning author who wrote the Droughtlanders series. Carrie is a writer, storyteller and an artist. She’s written countless books, many that are award winning her very first book ‘The Beckoners’ won the Arthur Ellis YA Award, is a CLA Honour book, and is being adapted for film. Carrie is able to hold the interest of many teenagers with her griping novels. 2) The novel ‘The Droughtlanders’ is set in a futuristic world where disease and death are kept outside city walls and is spread by the Droughtlanders- people who try to survive on the parched land between the keys. The characters in the novel want to destroy the keys so that all the Droughtlanders may have a chance at living without the fear of death. The main issues the characters face in this story are the erupt changes of lifestyle that they must undergo in order to survive. Also they seek approval from their family this proves to be an issue when nothing they do makes them happy so they push themselves to their limit and at the same time uncovering new traits about themselves. 3. Character | Physical Description | Psychological Description | Motivation | Static or Dynamic + Proof | Eli | He is the smaller twin of Seth but becomes more physically fit as he works in the circus with the Droughtlanders. Tan skin, darker hair then Seth. | He is very timid and shy. Very wimpy. But after escaping to the Droughtland, Eli...
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