Big I, Eye, Aye.

Okay, driving for 10 hours is fun. Not so fun when 3 of those are just stuck in traffic in Toronto. Oh joy. But look! We made it, and here’s my lesson plan. On time!

Warning: My outlines make little sense. Sorry.

Thesis - Michael Ondaatje uses silence in In The Skin of a Lion to signify some struggle/misfitting. (immigrants on different levels)

Para – Patrick (immigrant to human relationships)
                        – very quiet character, throughout book
                        - never really belongs anywhere
                        – later resorts to exploding things
                        - singing in the silence of the attack on Caravaggio
Quotes to consider using: “Patrick pulls a double-ocarina from his pocket. Outside he will not waken his father, the noise will simply drift up into the arms of soft maple. Perhaps he can haunt these cfreatures. PErhaps they are not mute at all, it is just a lack of range in his hearing. (When he was nine his father discovered him lying on the ground, his ear against the hard shell of cow shit inside which he could several bugs flapping and knocking.) He knows the robust calls from the smal bodies of cicadas, but he wants conversation – the language of damsel flies who need something to translate their breath the way he uses the ocarina to give himself a voice, something to leap over the wall of this place.” (p10)

” Patrick sat on a bench and watched the tides of movement, felt the reverberations of trade. He spoke out his name and it struggled up in a hollow echo and was lost in the high air of Union Station. No one turned.” (p 54)

“The men enter and Patrick in the cell opposite on the next level up watched them and all language dries up. As they raise their hands over Caravaggio, Patrick breaks into a square-dance call – “Allemande left your corners all” – screaming it absurdly as warning up into the stone darkness. The three men turn to the sudden noise and Caravaggio is on his feet struggling out of his nightmare.” (p184)

Para – Alice Gull (immigrant to lifestyle)
                  – nun who fell off bridge, made no sound as fell, not afterwards either.
                  – adopted name of Parrot, became actress.
Quotes to consider using: “She leaned forward earnestly and looked at him, searching out his face now. Words just on the far side of her skin, about to fall out.” (38) “The zinc was an edge of another country. She put her ear against the grey ocean of it. ITs memory of a day’s glasses. The spill and the wiping cloth. Confessional. Tabula Rasa.
   At the table she positioned the man comfortably, so she would not fall on his arm. What is your name? she whispered. ” (38)

“Scream, please, Lady, he whispered, the pain terrible. He asked her to hold him by the shoulders, to take the weight off his one good arm. A sway in the wind. She could not speak though her eyes glared at him bright, just staring at him. Scream, please. But she could not.” (32)

Para – Macedonian people (immigrant to country/culture)

Quotes to consider: ”As with sight, because Nicholas does not listen to most conversations around him, he assumes no one hears him.
                     For Nicholas language is much more difficult than what he does in space. He loves his new language, the terrible barriers of it. “‘ ‘Does she love me? – Absolutely! Do I love her? – Positively!’ ” Nicholas sings out to the forty-foot pipe he ferries across the air towards the traveller.” (43)

“A plot grew. Laughing like a fool he was brought before the authorities, unable to speak their language. He stood there assaulted by insults. His face was frozen. The others began to pummel him but not a word emerged – just a damaged gaze in the context of those flailing arms. He fell to the floor pleading with gestures. The scene was endless. [...] The audience around him was silent. The only sounds on stage were grunts of authority. They were all waiting for the large puppet to speak, but it could say nothing.  [...] It stamped a foot to try and bring out a language. The other puppets shifted like bamboo to the side of the stage. The figure knelt, one hand banging down on the wooden floor as if pleading for help – a terrible loudness entering the silent performance. 
          The audience began to clap in unison with the banging hand, the high hall of waterworks echoing. Patrick was unable to move, his eyes locked upon the crouched figure, the manic hand. [...] He wanted the hall to be quiet, the figure’s terror stopped.” (117)
                   
[conclusion here]

English Lesson Plan

Students will be able to:

- recognize a scapegoat in literature

- identify mimesis in literature

- recognize mimesis/scapegoat-ing in our presentation

- projector/computer

- outfits for Michaela/Ilayda

- bristol board for Mary?

- goat costume?

1. Picture (0:30)

2. Mary – Rene Girard Bio (0:30 – 5:30)

Contributions (5:30-15:30)

3. Michaela/Ilayda – History, Plato, Aristotle, language (15:30-25:30)

Mimetic crit/high/low mimetic (25:30-35:30)

Examples (35:30-40:30)

4. Stephanie – History (40:30-45:00)

Psychology (45:00-55:00)

Literary roles (55:00-60:00)

5. Mary – Asking if class recognized mimesis and scapegoat (60:00-70:00)

Find the mimesis and scapegoat in our presentation.

I finished reading my first ISU choice, In the Skin of a Lion last night. As my last post revealed, I really enjoyed it. I think I may have to read the ending again, but I definitely enjoyed that last bit as well. No annoying ending in this book!

I came up with a thesis I’m happy with today. Roughly, it’s the importance of silence and sound in the novel, and how it relates to the main character (Patrick Lewis) and the what was occurring (socially? not sure if that’s the right word) in Toronto at that time.

One of my fave quotes that ties into the theme of sound/silence is one of the times Patrick talks about his moths/insects.

“Patrick pulls a double-ocarina from his pocket. Outside he will not waken his father, the noise will simply drift up into the arms of soft maple. Perhaps he can haunt these creatures. Perhaps they are not mute at all, it is just a lack of range in his hearing. [...] He knows the robust calls from the small bodies of cicadas, but he wants conversation – the language of damsel flies who need something to translate their breath the way he uses the ocarina to give himself a voice, something to leap with over the wall of this place. “

INFORMATION OVERLOAD outline

Thesis: the

- psychological effect of techniques of writing (information overload, nonlinear cut-up, abbreviations) surrealism

Brunner writes in a strange way where he offers a giant page of random information (headlines, stories, data, snippets of conversation, etc.). This cut-up technique does some strange psychological things to a reader.

- information overload. Very in piece with the book, as it’s the information age, Shalmenesar… But studies say that people actually retain less information during an information overload, which is in piece with how out of touch with reality some people are in this world

- non-linear. “Generally, nonlinear problems are difficult (if possible) to solve and are much less understandable than linear problems. Even if not exactly solvable, the outcome of a linear problem is rather predictable, while the outcome of a nonlinear is inherently not.”  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-linear 
Makes the reader feel off kilter, confused, and the outcome of the book (or the Obami country problem -Beninia?) is unexpected.

- immense amount of slang/abbreviations.

- John Brunner’s novel is about overpopulation. The techniques he utilizes becomes part of his message, as they mirror the chaotic, non-linear, overwhelmed behaviour of a world brimming over with people. These affect the reader psychologically. Usually, techniques are used to move along a story, but his style of writing becomes part of his message. His message becomes his writing.

Alternative: Shalmanesar.

(Cleaning up tomorrow)

I need to talk to Mr. Murray about my book to get a better grasp on it.

Okay, I want to go into how it’s almost a revolution, but fails.

Or, into the slang and how it shows the problems of the culture/world.

For the revolution one:
- say what a revolution needs, describe some famous ones
- show how it almost fits
- show where it fails

For the slang:
- describe slang, theories behind it and go about into linguistics/language
- Say how slang is used in the book to show the detoriation of reason?? How when language isn’t straightforward.. er..
- Subcultures, how that breaks world into mini sections, divided we fall. Something like that.

I need a normal night’s sleep and it’ll make sense tomorrow, I’m sure.

I’ve re-realized why I abhor outlines. They muddle my brain and I end up more confused about my essay than when I started. Eventually, of course, I’ll read this outline again, have a fantastic Eureka! moment, and all will be well.
Eventually…
Here is the outline: There are lots of  long quotes and rambly sentences for now, because I’ll pick through it as I flesh it out. Oy yoy yoy. Bare (bear?) with me here.

Also, does the rough thing of going

existentialism

transition

nihilism

work? Or should I have 2 existentialisms/1 nihilism or 1 existentialism/2 nihilism? Feedback please on this monstrous outline.

Introduction: Briefly explain the concepts behind existentialism and nihilism. Thesis: Kafka’s The Trial is anchored first in existentialism and gradually converts to nihilism.
Reason 1: The Trial can be considered existentialist in the beginning because of K’s aim to articulate and reason, and because of the chaos he is attempting to fight. Example: The seeming irrelevance and chaos of the court system and building exemplify the world existentialism paints – one of meaningless and emptiness. Josef K recognizes this as the book begins.“When we abandon illusions, life is revealed as nothing; and for the existentialists, nothingness is the source of not only absolute freedom but also existential horror and emotional anguish. Nothingness reveals each individual as an isolated being “thrown” into an alien and unresponsive universe, barred forever from knowing why yet required to invent meaning. It’s a situation that’s nothing short of absurd.” (http://www.iep.utm.edu/n/nihilism.htm)
“K. turned to the stairs to find the room for the inquiry, but then paused as he saw three different staircases in the courtyard in addition to the first one; moreover, a small passage at the other end of the courtyard seemed to lead to a second courtyard. He was annoyed that they hadn’t described the location of the room more precisely; he was certainly being treated with strange carelessness or indifference, a point he intended to make loudly and clearly.” (39)
“And at last he leaned across the bed and opened the door. [...] he looked through the open door and drew his foot back. “What’s that?” he asked the painter. [...] Those are law court offices. Didn’t you know there were law court offices there? There are law court offices in practically every attic” (164)
Example: Josef K., in the beginning, is striving to figure out what the trial is about. He sets boundaries for the irrelevance, doesn’t accept it all, and cuts his own swath in the sea of defendants. He is ‘articulating his being’, not just going with the flow and accepting the chaos and meaninglessness. “You may object that these aren’t proceedings at all, and you’re certainly right there, they are only proceedings if I recognize them as such.” (45)
“”What sense?” K. cried out, more startled than annoyed. “Who do you think you are? You ask what sense it makes, while you stage the most senseless performance imaginable? Wouldn’t it break a heart of stone? First these gentlemen assault me, and now they sit around or stand about and put me through my paces before you.” (15)

Reason 2: The difference between existentialism and nihilism is that while both say that humans struggle against the thought of nothingness, that the world has no true meaning, existentialists believe that humans can survive it. Nihilists, do not, and believe that ‘death’ is inevitable. In the middle, both -isms are present, and hence the feeling of turmoil and slow defeat. Example: K.’s attempt to fashion his own petition… it didn’t succeed but the attempt to ’swim’ instead of just ’sink’ was apparent. “To accomplish this K. would obviously have to do more than simply sit in the hall with the others and place his hat beneath the bench. He, or the women, or some other messengers, would have to besiege the officials day after day and force them to sit down at their desks and study K.’s petition, instead of staring through the grille into the hall. [...] He recalled how one morning…he had suddenly shoved everything aside and taken out his notepad to have to try at drafting the general outlines of such a petition and perhaps making it available to his slow-witted lawyer” (126)

Example: A turning point of the book is when K. refuses to cease the flogging, and his sense of morality seems to slip. (84-87)

Reason 3: Josef K’s failure to be original and find meaning signalled the end of existentialism and entrance of nihilism. Wiki: “In existentialist views, personal articulation of being is the only way to rise above humanity’s absurd condition of much suffering and inevitable death.” Josef K. ceases to be original, commits the only sin known to existentialism and inevitably dies. The latter portion of the book (especially the pages entitled ‘Fragments’… but I’m not sure if that’s considered part of The Trial) exemplifies some nihilistic principles. Example: Josef K’s renouncement of God. “Not wishing to remain entirely dependent on the priest, K. asked him: “Are we near the main entrance now?” “No,” said the priest, “we’re a long way from it. Do you want to leave already?” Although K. hadn’t been thinking of that at the moment, he said at once: “Of course, I have to go.”" (223-224)“

“Can’t you see two steps in front of you?” It was a cry of rage, but at the same time it was the cry of someone who, seeing a man falling, shouts out in shock, involuntarily, without thinking.” (214)

Example: The fact that his executioners are so blase about his death? That he is so blase about his death? Supports the ‘life has no meaing and there is no truth, morality’ clause? “Like a dog” – no morality, no… ethics?“There would be nothing heroic in resistance, in making trouble for these men, in trying to enjoy a final vestige of life by fighting back.” (227)
From Nietzsche (http://www.iep.utm.edu/n/nihilism.htm): “Nihilism is . . . not only the belief that everything deserves to perish; but one actually puts one’s shoulder to the plough; one destroys” (Will to Power).
From The Trial :“K. knew clearly now that it was his duty to seize the knife as it floated from hand to hand above him and plunge it into himself. But he didn’t do so;” (230)

Conclusion: Existentialism and nihilism are connected, similar except for the person’s mindset… optimism or pessimism, Trial shows this… ‘accept fate’, progression from e-ism to nihilism, etc. SUM UP with a bang.

My thesis statement for Kafka’s The Trial is:

The Trial progresses from existentialism to nihilism. While Josef K. is on trial, the novel reflects or is anchored in existentialism. This changes in the last portion of the book, where it is then anchored in nihilism.

Existentialism
I’ve found slightly different definitions of existentialism, which annoyed me.
From my go-to site (wikipedia):  
“Existentialism is a philosophical movement that posits that individuals create the meaning and essence of their lives, as opposed to deities or authorities creating it for them. It emerged as a movement in twentieth-century literature and philosophy, though it had forerunners in earlier centuries. Existentialism generally postulates that the absence of a transcendent force (such as God) means that the individual is entirely free, and, therefore, ultimately responsible. It is up to humans to create an ethos of personal responsibility outside any branded belief system. In existentialist views, personal articulation of being is the only way to rise above humanity’s absurd condition of much suffering and inevitable death.”
Whereas this site http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/lit/chap10.htm defines it as:
“A philosophical movement embracing the view that the suffering individual must create meaning in an unknowable, chaotic, and seemingly empty universe.”

Nihilism
From Merriam-Webster.com (which always reminded me of great-aunts, don’t you agree?):
“-a viewpoint that traditional values and beliefs are unfounded and that existence is senseless and useless
 -a doctrine that denies any objective ground of truth and especially of moral truths”
From wiki again:
“a philosophical position which argues that Being, especially past and current human existence, is without objective meaning, purpose, comprehensible truth, or essential value. Nihilists generally assert some or all of the following:

• there is no reasonable proof of the existence of a higher ruler or creator,
• a “true morality” does not exist, and
• objective secular ethics are impossible; therefore, life has, in a sense, no truth, and no action is objectively preferable to any other. “

I know, what a shinyhappy essay this is going to be!

The Trial was a strange book… I didn’t think much of it while I was reading it, but once I was finished I really enjoyed it. And I finally appreciated how depressing it was.

Mythopoeic Criticism

Objectives: Students will be able to
1. Recognize some general archetypes in relation to mythopoeic criticism
2. Apply their knowledge to characters/plots etc. in literature. (Be comfortable with criticizing)
3. Be able to analyse novels in relation to mythopoeic criticism.

Resources

Materials Needed
paper and pen
ISU novels

Equipment Needed
TV with VCR and DVD
Computer + projector
photocopier for handouts
maybe: overhead projector/overhead sheets

Introduction:
(will be put up at a later date)

Evaluation:
- Question and Answer period (they can ask questions to us)
- Put up a few scenarios, plots and characters and have students discuss what kind of archetypes each contain.
- Have students write one paragraph finding archetypes in their ISU novel.

Testable Concepts:
- What an archetype is
- A few forerunners in mythopoeia/archetypal criticism (?)
- Genres related to seasons
- apocolyptic vs. demonic (?)

Order
Ilayda (part 1) – general overview
Mary – origins, terms, influential people
Ilayda (part 2) – general archetypes, charts
Olivia – criticizing examples and exercises