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

Pío Baroja: Life and Career

Pío Baroja, born in San Sebastián, studied medicine but had a minor in Cestona. Back in Madrid, his contacts with other writers led him to fully devote himself to literary pursuits. After a series of contributions in newspapers and magazines, he published his first book in 1900. His production includes The Tree of Knowledge (written in 1911) and over 17 important novels.

In 1935, he entered the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE), and he died in 1956. He was a lonely and bitter man, considering himself among those who possess more than the necessary sensitivity. His shyness, spirit of independence, and misogyny led him to reject marriage, while he simultaneously condemned prostitution. He was able to feel tenderness for... Continue reading "Pío Baroja: Literary Legacy and Philosophical Insights" »

Character Profiles

• Frankenstein: A young, tall, thin, and intelligent man. A character very willing to learn new things.
• Elizabeth: A tall and quite beautiful woman. Her character: she worries a lot about Frankenstein and she loved Victor very much.
• Henry: Victor's friend since childhood. When Victor left, he envied him. An eager and intelligent man.
• The Monster: It was very ugly, very tall, and big. He longed to be friendly with everybody, but he couldn't. A bit aggressive.
• Father: A man with clear ideas. He wanted the best for his son. Intelligent.
• William: A naive child. He needs more experience.

Key Plot Points

1. A thunderstorm night, with lightning in the electricity.
2. That his brother died.
3. He studied chemistry and medicine.
4. That Victor marry Elizabeth.

T.S. Eliot's Influence on Literary Criticism

T.S. Eliot was an influential figure in literature. While the literary canon naturally changes with society, Eliot managed single-handedly to modify the canon of English literature through his criticism.

Revitalizing and Reshaping the Canon

He revitalized whole periods of English literature that were almost forgotten, including:

• The Jacobean drama
• Metaphysical poets
• John Dryden
• The poetry of Dante
• Symbolist poetry

However, he also criticized Romantic poetry, managing to impose a dislike for it because he felt it descended into sentimentalism.

Eliot's Critical Concepts

He introduced a series of critical concepts that have exerted an enormous influence on how criticism was conducted in the 20th century. For Eliot,... Continue reading "T.S. Eliot's Critical Theories and Literary Impact" »

Tirant lo Blanch stands as one of the most significant books written in Valencian. Penned by Joanot Martorell in the 15th century, this remarkable work is an unusual chivalric novel, distinguished by its naturalistic and satirical character. It also appears to contain a strong autobiographical component, offering a unique glimpse into its author's world.

The Adventures of Knight Tirant lo Blanc

The novel recounts the feats and adventures of Knight Tirant lo Blanc from Brittany. Intriguingly, the narrative often parallels the life and exploits of Roger de Flor, the prominent leader of the mercenary Company of Almogàvers. This historical company fought extensively in Asia Minor and Greece, both for and against the Emperor of Byzantium.

Historical

ADDITION

Moreover, beside, furthermore, in addition (además), and also (y también), likewise (asimismo), as well as (como también), not only...but also (no solo...sino que también), further (mas aun), another (otro), still another (aun otro), last but not least (ultimo pero no menos importante).

RESULT

so (asi que, entonces), therefore (por lo tanto), hence (de ahí que), thus (asi), consequently, as a consequence (como consecuencia), for this reason (por esta razón), as a result (como resultado), so that (de manera que), that’s why (por eso es que), accordingly (por consiguiente), so...that (tan...que), such (a)...tan (tan...que), nevertheless (no obstante).

PURPOSE

in order to (con el fin de), in order that (con el fin de que), for the... Continue reading "Connecting Words and Phrases in Spanish - A Comprehensive Guide" »

Vocabulary Definitions

• Annular - (adj) ring-shaped
• Apiary - (n) a place where bees are kept and tended
• Apocalyptic - (adj) relating to a revelation
• Apostasy - (n) abandonment of faith or dedication to basic beliefs
• Append - (v) to attach, add
• Auspices - (n) patronage, sponsorship
• Brusque - (adj) abrupt, rough in speech or manner
• Bucolic - (adj) of the countryside
• Cabal - (n) a group of people engaged in intrigue
• Cache - (n) a secret place for hiding supplies, food, etc.
• Cairn - (n) a heap of stones marking a special site
• Codicil - (n) a supplementary statement, especially as in a will
• Dissimulate - (v) to mask or confuse by false appearance
• Dissipate - (v) to cause to disappear; to scatter
• Eclectic - (adj) chosen or selected from various sources
• Ecumenical

Expand your lexicon with this curated list of 40 key terms, covering nouns, verbs, adjectives, and expressions. Each entry includes the part of speech and a clear definition, ensuring accuracy and clarity.

Words 1–10: Nature and Confinement

1. Twig (n.): A small branch or stem of a tree or plant.
2. Crumpled (adj.): Crushed or wrinkled.
3. Mound (n.): A small hill, especially one that has been made.
4. Clump (n.): A group of trees or plants growing very close together.
5. Ordeal (n.): A prolonged, painful, or horrifying experience.
6. Dense (adj.): Crowded, closely packed together.
7. Ape (n.): A large, tailless primate of a group.
8. Snare (n.): A trap for catching animals.
9. Captive (adj.): Imprisoned, having no freedom.
10. Smuggle (v.): To move goods illegally into or out of

Theory of Criticism

He believes that criticism should be descriptive (tries to describe), interpretative (tries to give the meaning), and objective. A criticism that engages the text directly without personal or historical influences, trying not to add anything of your own personality.

If I form the subject, it will be subjective. So it has to form itself. The critic has not to form the judgment, but it can’t form itself. So knowing that the critic, at the end, is the one able to form the judgment, he has to do it objectively, giving the appearance that it was formed itself.

The critic should “communicate first knowledge and let his own judgment pass along with it”. He assumes it is impossible that your judgment is not yours, but don’t... Continue reading "Objective Literary Criticism: Theory, History, and Race" »

The Distinctive Title of Tristram Shandy

A Parody of Traditional Novel Titling

The title of Tristram Shandy parodies the tradition of titling novels like ‘Of Lives and Adventures’. The novel’s title, in which a romance given name is undercut by a commonplace, even comic or satirical, surname, had other kinds of precedent in recent fiction.

The Oxymoronic Nature of the Title

The title itself is an oxymoron: a rough summary, in its satirical incongruity, of the mode of writing known as anti-romance or comic romance.

Sterne's Experimental Prose and Comic Romance

Instability of 18th-Century Narrative Terminology

The instability of terminology for long fictions during Sterne’s lifetime was one symptom of the experimentalism of prose narrative during... Continue reading "Laurence Sterne's Tristram Shandy: Satire and Narrative Form" »

Troy was a city situated in the far northwest of the region known as Asia Minor, now known as Anatolia in modern Turkey, near the southwest mouth of the Dardanelles Strait and northwest of Mount Ida. There were up to 20 cities around Troy. The present-day location is known as Hissarlik. It was the setting of the Trojan War described in the Greek Epic Cycle, in particular in The Iliad, one of the two epic poems attributed to Homer. Homer is a master of narrative. He is the greatest author that has ever lived. His work is classical, but he had some things that are incredibly modern.

The Troy of Homer is Troy 7. It came to a violent end around 1270 BC; houses were burnt, and the city was sacked. The king of Troy was Priam (non-Greek). He was the... Continue reading "The Historical Significance of Troy in Greek Mythology" »