Portfolio Deadline Looming; Epic of Gilgamesh Activities

By -
During period 1, please work on your portfolios. Print out and secure work that you have finished. Write your reflection. Workshop and revise any pieces you would like feedback on. Complete or compose last minute drafts.

During period 2, please select a chapter and sketch a mind-map of Gilgamesh's journey for that chapter. Be prepared to summarize key events in the chapter with the class. You will be working in groups for this assignment. Help each other help our class.

Consider the 4 functions of myth. How does the Epic of Gilgamesh rate? Let's discuss.

Then, let's hold the epic up to Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey. We'll read about the hero's journey and examine how the epic rate with those ideas as well.

With time remaining (unlikely, but possible) we'll discuss the literary elements of epics.

Characteristics of Epics
  • Great length (obviously longer than a dithyramb (choral song), ode, lyric, narrative, or dramatic poem) 
  • Dignified tone & elevated style (the tone is often formal; the diction often metaphoric or figurative)
  • Deal with a single person; a certain, specific people; or the history of a race in a period of crisis
  • Supernatural events and characters (often Gods and Goddesses and/or monsters)
  • The epic often includes a contradiction between society values and the individual
  • There is often a flashback to past problems that also foreshadow events to come
  • The deeds of the hero in an epic affirm both the individuality of the hero and the collective consciousness of the society.
  • Primary epics were originally composed to be sung and later written down (i.e, Homer, Beowulf, etc.)
  • Secondary epics were originally written to be read (i.e, Milton’s Paradise Lost)
  • Mock epics poke fun at the form (i.e., The Rape of the Lock)
HOMEWORK: Portfolios are due Tuesday, Nov. 1.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Namesake Analysis/Discussion Chp. 1 & 2; How It Feels To Be Colored Me

By -
Image
Let's go back to examining  The Namesake , Chapter 1 this morning to continue examining the writing style going on here. Take a closer look at these passages: Pg. 3 (1st full paragraph) to 4 (end of 1st full paragraph): How is Ashima's character compared/contrasted with the American women in the hospital? What do you notice about the sentence structure of this paragraph? What does the use of dialogue in this paragraph provide for the reader? What literary devices do you notice? Can you find figurative language/metaphor/alliteration or other elements of imagery? How are the sentences similar to a contraction (the action in the scene)? Pg. 10-12: how is Ashoke's character presented? How does his story parallel or contrast with his wife's? How is Ashoke different from the other American men in the waiting room? What details do we learn about him?  Pg. 13-14: Nickolai Gogol and the short story "The Overcoat" is alluded to here. Just notice it for now. This al
Read more

Clash of the Titans (Conclusion); Creation Myths

By -
Clash of the Titans (conclusion) Clash of the Titans   (1981)--produced and designed by  Ray Harryhausen . Directed by  Desmond Davis . Starring:  Laurence Olivier  as Zeus,  Maggie Smith  as Thetis,  Harry Hamlin  as Perseus, and  Burgess Meredith  as Ammon. Clash of the Titans (2010) & Clash of the Titans (2010) Medusa Scene Wrath of the Titans (2012) Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief (2010) Percy Jackson Sea of Monsters (2013) Percy Jackson Titan's Curse (2017) Use mythic criticism to review (in writing or as a podcast or vlog post)  Clash of the Titans . Take notes during the film to help you prepare your review. Myth Criticism  asks: 1. How does the story resemble other stories in plot, character, setting or use of symbols? 2. Are archetypes presented, such as quests, initiations, scapegoats, descending, or withdrawals and returns? [Use your handout/notes to help!] 3. Does the protagonist undergo any kind of transformation (such as movement from innoc
Read more

Wilderness Tips - Examination & Analysis

By -
Image
Use period one to continue the story draft you started last class. Use your time to develop your ideas, theme, work on plot, character development, setting, and other aspects of your fiction writing. Remember, your story should include the following: Write a draft that includes a flashback . Consider an urban setting, but at some point in your story, move to a more natural setting. The setting should reflect the inner conflicts of your protagonist if possible. Avoid character cliches: surprise your reader (and possibly yourself or even your character) Include a secondary character who should act as a foil to the protagonist. Write in present tense ; (flashbacks can be written in past tense); Use 3rd person POV (limited, omniscient, objective). See the previous post for more details. Period 2: Let's discuss what we've read so far in the collection. Wilderness Tips is   Margaret Atwood’s second volume of short stories ( Bluebeard’s Egg and Other Stories (198
Read more