Medea Journal 1

The role of the chorus is very important in both Medea and Sophocles' Oedipus. Not only does the chorus give general information that helps the reader/audience better understand the story, but they also ask questions that everyone would be asking. One example of this is when Medea is talking about leaving the palace and the chorus asks, "Whom will you turn to? Where will you turn? What country, what stranger, what home for a haven? Who will receive you?" (p. 44 Lines 359-361). Theses are questions that match what the reader/audience is thinking exactly. By trying to work out these uncertainties through asking questions and using metaphors as well as other literary techniques, this helps the reader/audience better understand what is going on. With the use of literary techniques to try to illustrate what is happening helps the reader/audience relate to the situation as well as the characters themselves. The chorus is different from Oedipus to Medea because when Oedipus refers to the chorus it is more general, like he is talking to the crowd/people of the town whereas Medea refers to the chorus as her friends during some of the hardest times that she goes through. The chorus and Medea seem to have a closer, less casual relationship than Oedipus does.

Sophocles Journal 5

Sophocles uses many things to evoke pity and fear. He uses literary devices such as images, characterization, metaphors, similes, etc. One example is seen through the actions and personalities of the characters such as Oedipus. Now because the reader/audience already knows what happens in the story, a good poet, such as Sophocles, will play off of those expectations and try to create something new. Knowing what happens starts the reader/audience off with the feelings of fear and pity for the characters. Then it is the poet's job to build up those characters like Sophocles does with the Chorus and other characters in building up Oedipus. By doing this and then that character having the tragedy happen to them provokes even more pity because they knew what would happen and yet they had to sit by and watch it take place. This fear is also evoked by motifs of things such as death and that people's fates are predetermined and there's nothing they can do to change it. This also creates a sadness/pity, once again, for the characters. There are many literary techniques and basic writing material that is used to evoke pity and fear throughout tragedies.

Sophocles Journal 4

There are many images withing Sophocles' writing. This image is seen very early in Sophocles' writing in the quote, "I'll bring it all to light myself!" (pl 167, line 150). This is said when Oedipus is trying to maintain his focus on the task at hand: finding the murderer. Within this quote is the phrase "bring it all to light". This phrase is repeated a few times within the play, such as when the Messenger is talking to the Chorus, trying to figure out how this mess is going to be handled/taken care of; "it soon will bring to light" (p. 235, line 1358). This recurrent phrase keeps the audience/reader focused and it gives them hope because it promises that the truth will come out; nothing will be unseen with the light/the truth. The use of the image of light and the truth being known also evokes pity within the audience/reader because everyone knows the story prior to seeing the play and so everyone knows the truth already and that it will ultimately cause pain and sadness. This evocation of pity and some sadness is what makes Sophocles' plays tragedies.

Sopochles Journal 3

The gods play a major role in the lives of the people and is a recurrent theme throughout the book. Different people speak to different gods, each for a different situation, while one god that most of the main characters turn to is Apollo. Laius and Jocasta turn to him for guidance and protection after they decide what to do with their son. Then Oedipus turns to him when he is trying to figure out who his real parents are. Many of the characters turn to this particular god for help. This connection between the people and the gods, particularly with the god Apollo, suggests that Apollo is a very well-known and sought after god. He must be very well trusted because so many people go to him in time of trouble. Sophocles uses themes as well as other literary terms such as metaphors and symbols. With the use of metaphors the audience/reader can better understand what is going on or how someone is feeling and be able to either visualize or feel it. The use of symbols, especially ones that come up again and again, keeps the audience/reader focused and once again better able to visualize things. Overall, the role of the gods in society is very important to the people. They rely on them to get them through any and everything. The gods give them hope in that there is a better plan or fate out there for them. The fact that they have to give offerings helps them feel like they have some control over their destiny because they feel like they can get on the "good side" of one of the gods and as long as they are faithful, that god will make them prosper.

Sopochles Journal 2

Oedipus demonstrates the qualities of a proficient leader in that he is trying his best to find out how to help his people, while he also demonstrates qualities of a deficient leader in the way that he talks to people. He is driven by anger almost all the time, which makes the reader wonder whether he is worried about his people or maybe about his own reputation... He also displays signs of disrespect, for example when Tiresias comes to town and says that he can't tell them anything, out of frustration, Oedipus reprimands this well-respected man: " You, you scum of the earth, you'd enrage a heart of stone!" (380-381). This shows Oedipus' impatience and lack of faith in the gods and in that everything will be alright, while Tiresias displays wisdom and calmness as he tries to make Oedipus see his mistakes. Then there is Creon who is smooth with words and is not afraid to speak her mind, while she still seems to possess more wisdom than even Oedipus has.

Sophocles Journal 1

p. 159
Oedipus demonstrates his strength and willingness to help as he asks the Priest why he is not trying to help his congregation.

p. 160
The Priest is trying to explain to Oedipus what exactly is going on and that he needs to open his eyes because the cause of their despair is right in front of him.

p. 161
The Priest continues to pray to Oedipus, reminding him of the time he raised them up before in trying to encourage him saying that he can do it again.

p. 162
Oedipus is defending himself in saying that his eyes have already been opened and that he's been trying to find a way to help them, for example, by sending his brother-in-law to Delphi to try to get some answers.

p. 163
Oedipus tells Creon once he arrives to announce the god's words to everyone.

p. 164
Creon relays the message from Apollo to find the one who killed the peoples' previous leader, Laius in order to cleanse the town.

p. 165
Creon explains to Oedipus the incident of where Laius was killed along with other men, but for one that they were traveling with, who can only reveal one clue as to who the murderer is.

p.166
Creon again explains to Oedipus the reason why the town decided to let the death of their king go so quickly, which was because Sphinx told them to.

p. 167
Oedipus vows to find whoever killed the king and the town prepares.

p. 168
The Chorus sings and prays to the gods trying to persuade them to help them out one more time, as they have done before.

p. 169
The Chorus observes the turmoil of the people within the town on Thebes and they see how much they truly need the gods so they urge and implore them to help them.

p.170
The Chorus again cries out to the gods to use each of their individual powers to help the town.

Dystopian Final Draft Chat!

Hey guys, so here is the revised intro/thesis, along with the first paragraph in our paper written by Brittany!

Intro:

I Don’t Want to Be Smarter Than a Fifth Grader

As humans, we are constantly striving to know more about our world and our surroundings. However, is there such a thing as knowing too much? In the novel, The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood uses the symbolism of scrabble, literature, and Offred’s ability to escape to illustrate her fear of gaining knowledge, showing that when oppressed, people will naturally associate security with ignorance, where they feel too much knowledge can put their lives at risk.

Britt's Paragraph:

To play Scrabble, a game that has been banned for obvious reasons, takes a considerable amount of knowledge. When the Commander asks Offred to play a game of Scrabble, she feels reluctant. "Now of course it's something dangerous. Now it's forbidden, for us. Now it's dangerous. [...] Now it's desirable" (Atwood 138). Scrabble symbolizes knowledge in the novel. Atwood uses it to express the reluctance in Offred, where she wants to gain knowledge but knows its dangerous power. Knowledge has become desirable because it is forbidden to them, a temptation that is refrained because of the amount of fear the society has created. The oppression of the society comes from this avoidance. The government just has to create fear, and the rest falls into place. Offred’s decision to play helps her overcome this fear, though she finds it hard to piece together the words. "It was like trying to walk without crutches" (Atwood 156). Offred fears her new society so much that she has completely blocked away any prior knowledge that she had before, making it harder for her to play the game. She knows her capability of spelling the words correctly, but because she has not used the words in so long, she cannot remember. Atwood compares this to a broken leg, where a person knows how to walk, but needs aid in relearning the skill. This simile shows how much the fear of the society has oppressed any prior knowledge, where knowledge is broken apart so much that it needs to be mended and relearned.

*The bold sentences are ones with "is" in them, or at least the ones that I was having a hard time rewording. Please post any suggestions!

*Another reminder is to stay away from past tense. I know I need to too!

Talk to you guys later and I will e-mail you guys the finished product ASAP. If you guys could just try to post before 10pm or so, that would be great! If not, I will be up until about 12am tonight babysitting, so by then at the very latest would work too! Thanks for everything guys!

PS I will post my paragraph hopefully by 9 or 10 so please keep an eye out for it and make any revisions you can! Thanks

Dystopian-Journal #3

Topic C:

Margaret Atwood's vision for what the future could be like is very powerful. It is slightly extreme, but she makes very interesting connections to things such as color and the social classes, etc. She depicts the world as being very gloomy and unpleasurable, especially for women, in the future. She sheds light on the dark relationship between sex and politics. Basically she is saying that the government and or society can have so much power that they can make something as natural as sex into a robotic, emotionless routine and requirement for all males and their Handmaids. The sole purpose set on the society is to pro-create, which was set by the government, making this their biggest goal/ priority. Not only does the society take the basic pleasure out of sex, they also create inner turmoil within the souls of everyone. While trying to make some sense out of her life, Offred realizes how much the pressures of society can weigh on something such as a person's inner workings and or their self-confidence. "That's one of the things they do. They force you to kill, within yourself" (Atwood 250). This thought of Offred's is very depressing, and yet realistic for the time period, when basically for a Handmaid, all of their free will is taken away, thus leaving the people feeling empty and like robots just living life to simply do their duty; to have babies!!! Atwood gives us somewhat of an alternative. This being, that instead of losing yourself and completely giving in to the pressure around you to conform, hold onto your ideals and morals. Otherwise you will never find who you really are or find true happiness.

Word Count: 280

Groupies!

Hey guys,
So I'll post my paragraph after I've read some more, but you guys can post whenever!

Then also, I have posted two possible options for our introduction. The first one is from the blog convo last night that Alex Hill started and Britt ended with the new thesis, and then there is the one Alex busted out in class today. Please comment on which one you like better or if you have a brilliant idea of how to morph the two somehow or whatever you think might sound better.

The other thing is that, we have a different thesis in each one, mostly because none of us could remember the thesis today in class... ;) so please also comment on which of those you like or if you think maybe one thesis might go well in the conclusion since we have to restate it there; or just totally come up with a new thesis that maybe incorporates both! Give me your thoughts and I'll put it on the rough draft! Thanks so much guys!

PS Remember to try to post before 9pm so that I can e-mail all you guys before 10! Thanks!