What I'd like you to do here is take a few moments to draw connections. These could be huge and obvious, or they could be small and curious. Stretch. Be peculiar.
Try to come up with one big idea that links several texts, and then come up with one small one. Add texts to what other people notice.
Here's the run down of our readings...
Life of Pi & Cat's Cradle
"Thinking as a Hobby"
"The Conversion of the Jews"
1984
The Gospel of Mark (excerpt)
The Bagavad Gita (excerpt)
And some poems...
"An Introduction to Poetry"
"The Voice You Hear When You Read Silently"
"Neither out Far nor in Deep"
"next to of course god america i"
"Stopping by the Woods..."
"The Space Heater"
"The Victims"
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17 comments:
An overarching similarity between many of the poems and books is the absence of a father figure for the main character. In the Victims, the father was an alcoholic and possibly abusive and eventually was "kicked out", Ozzie doesnt' have a father either. In 1984, Winston grows up without a father as well. Overall, the absence of a father has demonstrated the lack of a role model in the lives of the protagonists in the literary works. Moreover, the lack of a father leads to the main characters having to discover themselves with little to no guidance and sometimes take on more responsibility.
I never thought of Tong's connection.... Interesting =)
One connection worth mentioning is this idea of "mindless worship". I only have two examples so far. The first is from Ozzie's story, with Yakov Blotnik. The custodian mumbles prayers nonstop, but does he have any idea what he is saying? Ozzie thinks not, and it is something that comes up again and again. My other example is from E. E. Cumming's poem, "next to of course god america i". The speaker being quoted is just throwing out any patriotic snipit he can think of.
Obvious? Well, I think it's important to point out that there are two different types of worship being dealt with here. In "Conversion...", it is religion, and in the poem, it is our country. Both of the people do not understand, and also maybe don't think it is important to understand what they are saying.
I think there are many aspects that tie the stories together. Since the beginning of the year (practically the first day) I saw how many of our readings related to thinking. "Neither out Far nor in Deep," "Thinking as a Hobby," "The Voice You Hear when You Read Silently," and 1984 all analyze how we think. These readings explore the technical process that our brains go through as we try to comprehend, and in the case of "Neither out Far nor in Deep" and 1984, maybe even the lack of an ability to think due to limitations (in the case of 1984--newspeak, the control of the government). These readings made me think about HOW we think, and WHY we think the way we do, and how outside influences can force us to stretch our minds or to only see the surface. Religion is another extremely constant topic, because some of our readings are actual religious texts and others have characters whose lives are centered around religion. Life of Pi, Cat's Cradle, The Conversion of the Jews, The Gospel, and Bagavad Gita all relate to religion. There are so many different aspects, where some texts seem to find religion as nurturing--as a means of escape in times of difficulty. Others attack the flaws and show how they can injure the people, and how improvements can be made. The latter texts can instill doubt or cause us to contemplate. Another topic is perspective. Mencius (which is absent by the way), 1984, and many of the poems deal with this. In 1984, my mind had to warp around all these ideas of "Who is right?" or "Does everyone believe in the Party?" or "Has life always been this way?" Mencius's whole idea of the mountain is all about perspective. There COULD have been trees before, but who would ever know? Poems like "Stopping by the Woods..." is written in two "perspectives" (I'm stretching this word a little). On the one hand, it's just a story about walking into the woods. But there's also a deeper, and darker meaning hidden beneath the text. And that again relates to the poem "Neither Out Far Nor in Deep" whose whole point is that we can't see any deeper.
One reoccurring theme in some of our recent readings is the frequent use of "doublethink." Even though the term is only purposefully used in "1984," I feel like the concept can be found in other readings such as the "Practice of Yoga". Though Krishna endlessly praises those suppresses sensation and feeling, he tries to ignite shame and the fear of disgrace from Arjuna when he says "your enemies will sneer and mock you: The mighty Arjuna...he slunk from the field like a dog." (pg 52) Also I feel like the "Scripture of Jesus" tells anecdotes (such as the seeds in the thorns and rocks that do not grow) about how some people cannot receive salvation yet most people who read the Bible still believe that everyone can be saved.
Adding to what Tong said, Pi also lacks a father because of the shipwreckm and Pi is definitly forced to discover himself with little or no guidance.
One connection I made was that many of the authors pondered thinking and the different types of thinkers. As well, both William Golding and the author of "Neither out Far nor in Deep" critized the way people think. William Golding stated that most people are type three thinkers, and think superficially. The author of "Neithor out Far nor in Deep" also talks about people who aimlessly think, and there thoughts never scratch the surface.
One little connection I made was that a lot of these readings touch upon many different cultures and religions. Are all these books and poems purpously in our corriculum because Newton is so liberal?
wow i never realzied all of these connections!
well (add on to cora's)
i think that a lot of what we read deals with the government, and other higher authority figures, telling you what to do and everyone else mindlessly follows. Then there is that one person who and REBELS no one knows how to deal with it. In The Conversion of the Jews, everyone follows what the teacher says until Ozzie expresses some questions and ideas that are against the norm. So, Ozzie then tries to get everyone to follow him, which they do. This all has to do with following one person who has some idea and there is clearly an opposing force. Also in 1984, Winston tries to rebel against Big Brother and then is caught and forced to go with the masses again. Also in Neither out Far nor in Deep, the people mindlessly look one way and follow what everyone else does. Though in this poem, there is no one who really rebels.
What are they all saying about rebellion? Does it not work out in the end?
Also in some of these pieces of work animals come up, like in Life of Pi(on the ship) & Cat's Cradle (well it's in the title) and Thinking as a Hobby (tiger on shelf) and Stopping In The Woods (the horse) they also semi-deal with the animalistic, more savage side of a human being. Maybe some of these animals are not crucial to the story but they are all there for a reason. This connection still needs some more work because there is more there I am just not sure of what. Animals though are important!
It seems like a general comment, but I think it's important that not only do most of these pieces explore human nature, but the darker aspects of human nature (savagery, ambition, lust, falseness) and how it comes about.
Life of Pi covers, of course, the animal side of man that, no matter how much religion and education has suppressed it, can never fully be tamed.
Cat's Cradle explored humanity's dangerous and ultimately destructive curiosity, the compulsion to have access to information that should maybe be left unaccessed.
"Thinking As a Hobby" obviously makes clear the mental weaknesses of the majority of the population, including lust, cynicism, hypocrisy (that masquerades as intellect), and savagery.
"Conversion of the Jews" illustrates how even a child - the universal symbol of uncorrupted purity - placed in a position of power may abuse it. Also, it lays bare the extreme measures - often cruelty - that goes under the pretense of religion.
1984 gives a dire prophecy about extreme megalomania and its consequences on society, and ends with a disheartening view on the manipulability of man.
The Gospel of Mark - apologies in advance on a touchy subject - reveals the human side of the Son of God (but actually, he prefers "Son of Man").
The Bagavad Gita illustrates the paradoxical absurdities of war, something mere mortals love to monger, with a reverse psychology twist.
The assorted poems also probe into aspects of human nature that most people would rather not admit about themselves (much like Chomsky's criticism of Orwell, eh?). [Let's make it harder now and see if you can guess the poem I mean!] For instance, the fascination with the superficial, a more focused attack on "soapbox patriots" who extol nationalistic euphemisms without really knowing anything (...like Yakov Blotnik), the ultimate weakness - mortality and suicide (despite what we wish it meant, with it's pretty imagery), domestic divisions (husband and wife, father and children) and how one parent can turn their children against the other, thoughts on insanity, and (most recently) the seemingly small things that human beings do to each other that spread ire like pestilence.
That was one long sentence, but anyway, that's what I think is the connecting premise of the texts we've been reading, depressing though it is. Also, I see now that a lot of this connects to Wenqi's thought on doublethink; a lot of these readings highlight how some accepted (and touchy) subjects of human life belie their own meanings (war, religion, etc...)
One connection is most thoroughly explained it The Bagavad Gita. It talks about instead of worrying about consequences and risks and your actions, you just need to simply be. I also noticed this theme in the Gospel of Mark. All of the people are skeptical of Jesus and question him and try to trick him and ask him about his logic and thought process, but he talks about how what is important is faith, not all the little rituals people perform. I also saw this in "An Introduction to Poetry" because it talks about how when people are reading poems they always purposely try to dig really "deep" and find the "right" meaning of the poem and over analyze things when all they need to do is read and take things in.
A small connection was that a lot of these readings were mainly about people who seemed to be completely alone, or at least very lonely (Life of Pi, 1984, Cat's Cradle)
A connection between many of the readings and poems is the meaning of death. In "Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening," by Robert Frost, death is not considered a bad or evil thing, which is what most readings make it out to be. Instead Frost describes death like the woods, which are, "lovely, dark, and deep." In this poem, the distinction between life and death isn't a straightforward, black and white definition such as "good and bad." Death is just something that "He" is not ready for, since he still has, "promises to keep."
In "The Space Heater," by Sharon Olds, death is compared to the heater, which is considered an evil thing at the beginning of the poem. Olds compares the heater to the "infant's headstone that was added near the foot of my father's grave." Then, she compares the coils of the heater "like hairs in hell."
In "The Invasion of the Jews," death is a confusing aspect of the story. Ozzie's fellow classmates, and Itzie want Ozzie to jump of the roof, only to rebel againt their teacher. They don't understand the consequences of this action, and think that it's all simply a game. After Ozzie's mother screams to Ozzie to come down, and not be a martyr, Itzie yells, "Gawhead, Ozz- be a Martin!" This shows that Itzie didn't understand that asking Ozzie to jump off the roof, would be the same as asking him to kill himself.
Even beginning with our summer reading, the literary texts we have been dealing with this year are all connected by the overarching theme of surface thinking. With the occasional protagonist who combats it.
In "Thinking as a Hobby" the entire short story compares the different types of thinkersand details what a surface thinker, or grade three thinker, is like. That was the first story we read, and the base for everything that came after.
In 1984, those in the party are viewed as surface thinkers from the readers perspective. They all follow the party and believe what they say without digging deeper.
The poem,"Neither out Far nor in Deep" also goes into detail about the hoards of people who all follow each other, and don't contemplate anything to get more from it then just what it appears to be.
The list goes on, and all of the characters in these literary works have the same sort of thought process, or are surrounded my mindless people.
one obvious statement I have here, and that is in all of the readings I felt that the/a group of people were somewhat influenced by one individual. Sorry if this has already been said. :)
But in all the poems we've read so far, especially Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening, the main character is definitely dealing with some sort of struggle in his life, and feels influenced by the people around him/ in his "village."
That could be another idea, of how the main characters are all dealing with stuggles in their life and can't seem to move on until someone really powerful comes along and "changes" them. Stating the obvious here, but 1984 is the best example of this. In Life of Pi, I would have to say "Richard Parker" put major stress on him, and caused him to change as a person...only temporarily. And in the Bible, Jesus's humble character impacts everyone and their beliefs on God and their own personal feelings.
And in The Conversion of the Jews, the obvious influence would be Rabbi Binder...and the Ozzie...I think. They all also seem to revolve around death......
So yeah..I think ya'll get my point. :D
One of the common ideas is the reflection of religions. In Life of Pi, Pi's concepts of religion are not coherent with the modernized "traditions", which is similar in The Gospel of Mark, when Jesus was questioned with traditions created by men with secular needs.
Also, different opinions on human nature are presented. The principles of Mencius can be compared with the characters of Oceania from 1984, especially Winston.
Adding to what Alice had said, the savage, animal side of men from Life of Pi also demonstrated human's natural instinct to denial (to protect one's self) when the Japanese men chose to believe the animal story. In Cat's Cradle, the Hoenikkers lived in a an atmostphere of denial: Felix and his wife's death, Angela, her childhood, and her husband, Newt and his ex-fiancee, Frank and his childhood.
First of all, I want to say that we have a really smart class! Everyone notices such interesting things :)
I think Tong's idea is really interesting and definitely a detail I never would have picked up. Cora's connection is also pretty cool. I think that 1984 also connects to that, since all of the children in the book seem to be mindlessly worshipping Big Brother and the whole system that is in place. Hallie, awesome question (about whether rebellion works out or not), I'm really curious to what the books are saying about it. Does anyone have an idea of what the answer is? I think the books we read are saying that rebellion really doesn't do much.
I found that in most of the readings we have done this year, war is a recurring theme. Whether it's an internal war or an external one, it is present in many places. Sometimes the war is more of a fight to overcome certain emotions, while other times it is a war between world powers.
In 1984, war is a big part of society. In fact, that society depends upon war. In Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening, the narrator experiences an internal war in which he fights between giving in to feelings of suicide and continuing to live his life. In The Conversion of the Jews, Ozzie fights an internal war over what he believes is right and another war with authority. In many of the poems we have read (especially those by Sharon Oldes), the character fights within themselves to conquer certain emotions, objects, or people.
The protagonists and/or characters of several of the stories/novels/poems that we have read this year may have totally contrasting storylines and morals, however, they do share one important central theme. In each of these literary works, a character or group of characters becomes aware (or the reader is aware) of his or her strength and the sometimes frightening power that humans have over themselves, their peers, societies, and the world in general. For example, in Life of Pi, Pi Patel comes to terms with his dire situation involving the tiger Richard Parker (or Pi's "alter ego", however you want to see it) by realizing that inside himself, he has the strength and ability necessary to tame this savage creature. In Cat's Cradle, the Hoenikker siblings - three people who were scorned throughout their childhoods and often disregarded - prove to have immense power with their obtainment of "ice- nine" which ultimately results in the end of mankind. In "Thinking as a Hobby", Golding notes that people achieve grade-three thinking when they ask questions and seek for the answers to those questions - thus learning that they have all the skill they need within themselves to understand and have absolute fulfillment in life. In "The Conversion of the Jews", Ozzie Freedman releases his pent-up emotions by discovering that humans have the power within to control other people (which he does as he stands on the roof of the synagogue). And of course, in 1984, though their convictions prove false, Winston Smith and Julia believe in their abilities to conquer Big Brother and his regime. In the Bagavad Gita, Krishna teaches the prince Arjuna that he (and all people) have immortal souls. Thus, when people die, their souls remains alive and never loses their power. In "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening", the protagonist learns of his power of choice (in other words, that ultimately he may decide his fate of survival/death). In Sharon Olds' s "The Space Heater", the narrator discovers that she has the power to make other people submit to her even if only in the most simple acts. Lastly, in "The Victims", the strength of a woman to throw her husband out (and the ability of her kids to feel proud of it) is quite apparent. Wow, that was a really LONG post but I did see a big connection! :)
One small connection that I noticed involved the Gospel of Mark and 1984. In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus tells a parable regarding how the seeds that fall on stony ground in the process of sowing may grow at first, but will eventually wither away. Only those that fall on good soil will grow healthy and strong. In 1984, O'Brien states that there is no way but the way of the Party - the Party is forever; just like seeds on good soil.
All of these books have do with a psycological change of a person or people. Most have to do with person losing a part of themselves or finding it.
In Life of Pi, Pi looses some of his human side and embraces his animalistic side. At the beginning Pi starts out as an very intelligent and religious person. But while Pi was out at sea, he disobeyed all his beliefs and that broke something within him.
In 1984, Winston looses his right of thought. He looses the part of him that thinks about the facts and how the government is structured. He ends up brainwashed like all of the other people.
The Bagavad Gita is the opposite. It starts out with Arjuna having lost his will to fight and Krishna convinces him otherwise.
The Space Heater and the Victims, both have to do with a psycological change. Though it may not be something that was they before, but they did discover a part of themselves. The Voice You Hear When You Read Silently goes along with that also.
When we first started reading the excerpt from the piece about the Hindu prince going to battle, I immedietly saw a link between that and 1984. The prince's god is strongly influencing the prince, and causing him to question his better judgement about going to war. This god is confusing the prince with his opinions on what is right and what is wrong, and how cowardly a man should become. I thought that the prince concluded the exerpt as a confused human who is not sure if he should listen to his god and act on behalf of his people and religion, or if he should listen to himself and his conscience; what he interprets to be wrong and right. Leaders throughout Orwell's 1984 have a similar affect on other characters. When first becoming tortured, Winston sticks strongly to his own beliefs and rejects everything else. When he is in the jail after his first encouner with OBrien in the Ministry of Love, Winston is incredibly confused about what exactly he should believe. To give himself a greater idea of the "dark side," Winston writes phrases that support the party he once greatly opposed all over the wall. Up untill Winston finally realizes that he truly loves Big Brother on pg. 245, this confusion stays with him at various degrees for the novel's progression. Winston's confusion was also present before becoming tortured. Even when Winston first starts writing "Down with Big Brother" all over his paper at the start of the book, he still had doubts about whether or not he was truly passionate about rebelling against the party.
I'm sorry this is so late. I've been really busy lately.
A big theme in 1984, Cat's Cradle, TFA, Life of Pi, and the one about thinking is how people seem to need to be connected. Life of Pi is the only one where I think I need to explain why I think this. Pi feels drawn to his family, and searches for meaning and community through religions- more than other kids, and much more than is normal.
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