Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Latin

Neoclassicism: Reason and Didacticism in 18th Century Spain

Neoclassicism was a prominent artistic movement of the eighteenth century, deeply influenced by the Enlightenment. In this era, reason predominated over the senses, and literature adopted a strong didactic purpose, with the critical essay gaining significant prominence. The prevailing style was simple, valuing good taste and clarity.

Lyric Poetry in Neoclassicism

Neoclassical lyric poetry was characterized by being neither original nor overtly emotional. Instead, it valued didactic and utilitarian poetry. Juan Meléndez Valdés stands out as the poet who best summarized the neoclassical Anacreon, also addressing social issues in his works.

Prose: Modern Language and Social Critique

The... Continue reading "Spanish Literary Movements: Neoclassicism and Romanticism" »

Starlight's Promise: Finding Strength Together

The stars look down

Through Darkness and Despair

Through the dark, and through the hunger,
Through the night and through the fear.
Through the fight and years of hardship,
Through the storms and through the tears.

Unwavering Spirit, United We Stand

And although your feet are weary,
And although your soul is worn,
And although they'll try to break you,
And although you'll feel alone.

We will always stand together, in the dark, right through the storm,
We will stand shoulder to shoulder, to keep us warm.

Stars Witness Our Journey, Guide Our Future

And the stars look down on the mean and hungry,
And the stars look down and show the way.
And the stars look down and will stand together,
To see a day when... Continue reading "Starlight's Promise: Finding Strength Together" »

The Rise of the English Novel

The English novel became a mature and predominant form in the mid-eighteenth century. Writers such as Samuel Richardson and Henry Fielding wrote for the money they earned. The earlier prose fiction was Daniel Defoe’s Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, first published in 1719.

Realism and Veracity in Early Novels

The change in opinion has been attributed to the growing presence of realism in novels. It was also the last step in the novel’s rising acceptability. This realism became the novel’s defining formal characteristic (Ian Watt). Early eighteenth-century readers of travel narratives were apt to criticize authors for making up tales rather than recording actual experiences. Realism in the novel was synonymous... Continue reading "Rise of the English Novel: Realism, Individuality, and Locke" »

The title of this book is a play on words. *Dead* means mort, and *Lock* means resclusa. What does “deadlock” mean? A complete failure to reach an agreement or solve an argument.

Key Events and Characters in Deadlock

Here are the key questions and answers:

1. Who was Boom Boom?

   Boom Boom was an injured hockey player working for the Eudora Grain Company; he was found dead.

2. How did he die?

   A ship was tied up at the wharf, and Boom Boom went under as she pulled away. His body was badly chewed up (p. 2).

3. Who tells the story, and what relation does she have with Boom Boom?

   Vic tells the story; she’s Boom Boom’s cousin and friend.

4. What’s Vic’s job?

   She is a detective.

5. Why did Vic want to find out more about Boom Boom’s death?

   Because she didn’t

Part IV: A Voyage to the Country of the Houyhnhnms

1. Arrival and First Encounters

After being abandoned by pirates, Gulliver encounters a race of hideous, deformed, and savage humanoid creatures called Yahoos, towards whom he feels a strong aversion. Soon after, he meets the Houyhnhnms, a race of intelligent horses who rule over the Yahoos.

2. The Nature of Houyhnhnms

Gulliver learns that "Houyhnhnm" translates to both "horse" and "perfection of nature" in their language. He explains human society to the Master Horse, who is unfamiliar with concepts like deception, power, greed, lust, or envy.

3. Human Nature and War

The Master Horse inquires about the causes of war among humans. Gulliver explains three main reasons: ambition for conquest, government... Continue reading "Gulliver's Travels Among the Houyhnhnms" »

T.S. Eliot's Concept of Literary Tradition

This concept forms a crucial point of union between Eliot, Pound, Arnold, and the New Critics. While 'traditional' often implies outdated, for Eliot, it held a unique meaning. Eliot's perspective on history sometimes appears contradictory. He sometimes viewed the poet's role as simply expressing their epoch, and at other times, as actively disagreeing with their contemporary period. Eliot leaned towards the former, believing a poet should passively represent their era's ideas without disagreement. This is why he praised Elizabethan poets for their wonderful capacity to 'poetize' their period.

Great universal classic art, in his view, lacks a critical historical capacity; it doesn't question events but... Continue reading "T.S. Eliot's Poetics: Tradition, Language, and the Poet's Role" »

Caedmon: The First Known English Poet

Caedmon is considered the first English poet. While no original manuscripts of his work survive, we know of him through the writings of Bede, a historian who lived a century later. In his historical accounts, Bede included a monk named Caedmon and introduced a fragment of one of his poems, known as "Caedmon's Hymn" in Old English.

Caedmon lived in a monastery and was illiterate. According to Bede, he had a dream in which a man instructed him to sing. Though initially hesitant, Caedmon began composing poems based on what he heard in his dreams. He was also believed to possess prophetic abilities.

Caedmon used poetry to spread Christianity and was imitated by other monks. His work shared formal characteristics... Continue reading "Early English Literature and Romanticism: Key Figures and Concepts" »

Thomas Hardy: Realism, Fate, and the Wessex Novels

Thomas Hardy's novels are primarily set in his native province of Dorchester, often referred to as 'Casterbridge' in his works. His narratives are characterized by a deep knowledge of architecture and a profound exploration of human destiny.

The Mayor of Casterbridge: A Tragic Yet Hopeful Narrative

The Mayor of Casterbridge (1886) stands as a significant tragedy, echoing the traditions of Greek tragedies and Shakespeare's King Lear. Despite its tragic arc, the novel remarkably concludes with a glimmer of hope for humanity. Its underlying philosophy is rooted in the malevolence of fate, which Hardy portrays as a primary source of suffering.

In this novel, Hardy masterfully applies the concept of... Continue reading "Thomas Hardy & Jane Austen: Literary Legacies" »