American lliterature. Questions and answers - Essay Example

American literature Discuss Haemon's arguments with Creon opposing Creon's decision not to bury Polyneices with the proper burial rites. Even though Haemon always respected, and followed the orders of his father Creon, when it came to the burial of Polynices he disagreed with his decision. Haemon tried to convince his father to give Polynices a proper burial as required by God’s law. Creon did not want to give Polynices a proper burial, he also vowed to punish anyone that would take the responsibility of a proper burial. Haemon tried to argue with his father informing him that the laws of the land permitted the burial of any individual and he should therefore give Polynices a proper burial. Do some online research and discuss the beliefs of the Ancient Greeks regarding the underworld, Hades, the river Styx and Charon and Cerberus and the Elysian Fields. According to ancient Greeks, the underworld was a place where deceased people went. The spirits of the dead people were believed to live in the underworld. Hades was believed to be the god of the dead. He was the ruler of the kingdom of death. The kingdom was believed to accommodate souls of people who earned neither punishment nor reward after their death. According to ancient Greek river, Styx was a passage for souls to their eternal home. To cross the river a Charon that is a boatman carried the souls across the river. This required payment therefore, when the Greek people buried the dead they placed coins in the mouth of the dead to be used as payment for Charon. Cerberus was believed to be a three headed dog with a dragon tail and was accountable for safeguarding the underworld. Cerberus allowed spirits to enter the underworld but none was allowed to leave. The righteous were taken to Elysian Fields. The field was believed to be heaven like and only the gods and the great people were believed to dwell in the fields of Elysian where everything was delightful and pleasant. In trying to reassure Oedipus, what is your opinion as to whether Jocasta knew or didn't know she has been married to her son for those many years? I think Jocasta had known Oedipus was her son for a number of years. She was scared that Oedipus would discover that she had given him up many years ago. She ended up killing herself because she was filled with shame as a result of incest and was afraid of public humiliation if they discover that she was married to her son. Discuss at least three instances of irony, at least one example should focus on Oedipus himself. Irony plays a significant part in Oedipus the king. The story rotates around differing attempts to alter the course of fate. The first irony is that Jocasta kills her son at birth, but later she finds him restored to life and she marries him. Oedipus leaves Corinth, later he finds out his actual parents fulfilling oracle’s words. Oedipus and Jocasta condemn the failure of the oracle only to discover that the oracles were right. Additionally, the manner in which Jocasta and Oedipus convey their distrust in oracles is ironic. In a bid to encourage, Oedipus Jocasta tells him oracles are ineffective, yet at the start of every scene Jocasta is seen praying to the same gods, she has just ridiculed. On the other hand, Oedipus is happy about Polybus’s death and takes it as a sign that oracles have failed, but he is afraid to return to Corinth because he was afraid that oracle’s statements about Merope could occur. As the spiritual import of the tragedy emerges, discuss the conclusions and understanding of the ideas in the final Chorus that ends the tragedy. The final chorus was used to end the story that would end in a tragedy. The chorus was used to ensure comprehension of the storyline and how the tragedy ending took place. Discuss the three quatrain set up (seasons of the year, times of day, passages through life) in this sonnet of Shakespeare and how the images mirror the passage of time. (Sonnet: “That Time of Year Thou Mayest in me Behold),” This sonnet scrutinizes the doubts, and concern that engulfs growing old and dying. Shakespeare uses metaphors to show decay and passing are intriguing therefore setting a somber tone all through. He applies the season of fall, the coming of the night and the burning out of flame as metaphors to represent old age and death. Moreover, he uses the final two lines to recommend that we should love and treasure life as much as we can. Although written in 1940, is the essence of the poem still valid in our times, and if so, why? (W. H. Auden's THE UNKNOWN CITIZEN) The essence of the poem is still valid in our times. This is because, technological developments have made people to become fewer humans and more of a statistic. This shows how we are losing personal recognition and autonomy. Currently we are living in a world where people are labeled with numbers instead of individual names. Love, hate, indifference, regret, nostalgia... What is the tone of the voice in My Papa's Waltz?  Use "evidence" found in the poem itself to support your ideas. (Theodore Roethke "Pap At the beginning of the poem, the little boy begins with a frightening tone in his voice. The boy mentions the presence of the odor of alcohol on the breadth of his partner who is this case is the father. He claims that his father clung to him like death. This shows some negativity in the relationship between a father and son. Nevertheless, in the second stanza the boy’s tone changes to that of an amused person. he assesses the dance in a happy tone. Write an essay discussing the relationship between Creon and Haemon. The relationship between Creon and Haemon at the beginning is a normal relationship between a father and a son. Haemon respects his father and follows his orders to the core. Nonetheless, when it came to the issue of giving burial rites to Polynices the relationship between the two became sour. When Haemon disagreed with the decisions of his father with regard to the subject of burial rites, this was taken as the height of disrespect of a son towards his father. He further, disagreed with his father with his decision of condemning Antigone to be guilty or even the decision to put her in a tomb to die. Creon expected his son to support his decisions, instead to his utter disbelief his own son turned against him. Filled with pride and power, Creon failed to recognize that he was the only person that felt it was correct to punish Antigone for performing an appropriate burial rites. When Creon decides to punish Antigone he is looking for respect rather than popularity. This is because, he had ordered Antigone not to perform any proper burial rites to his dead brother, but Antigone had disrespected him and went ahead with the burial arrangements according to God’s laws. Haemon’s indirect opinion is that a government should be ruled on democracy, public outlook and laws developed for the betterment of the city rather than fulfilling personal pride an ego. Haemon recommends that, if Creon is a fair king who heartily represents and protects his people as he perceives himself to be, then he should listen to what his people are saying and make decisions based on public opinion. If the public objects to the punishment of Antigone then the king should respect public opinion and put his pride aside. When Haemon attempted to give a valid explanation why Antigone should not be killed, Creon saw it as a defense mechanism for his woman and ridiculed him. Haemon was trying to find a way to save Antigone, but his father Creon was filled with self-importance and he believed his decision was just and right. Creon arrogance led to him losing his son and wife through suicide. Work cited Cain, William E. American Literature. New York: Penguin Academics, 2010. Print. Read More