To better a story or emphasize a point, authors sometimes use allusions that involve references to myths or classical texts. Allusion is an imperative part of understanding literature because they give us an unfathomable understanding of an author 's message. An author can carefully draw upon allusions to give a story, poem, or other works of literature from more meaning or to provide clues about the author 's message. The most familiar are Greek and Roman myths. The Greeks and Romans had an abundance of gods and goddesses in common, but the Roman name often differed from the Greek name. Gods and goddesses are often alluded to in other pieces of literature. Writers sometimes condense big ideas or intricate emotional issues by referring to a …show more content…
The article written by Daniel Mendelsohn titled “Unburied: Tamerlan Tsarnaev and the Lessons of Greek Tragedy”, compares the burial of Boston marathon bomber to those of the ancient world. Mendelsohn began his article with the quote “bury this terrorist on US soil and we will unbury him” to show the anger of the Worcester residents as they protested at the funeral home- where Tamerlan Tsarnaev body was held. At this time, no funeral home would take his body, no cemetery would bury it and his own widow did not claim his body. As protests continued, cemetery officials and community leaders grew concerned that a local burial would jolt civil unrest. It continued on like this until Martha Mullen, a Christian woman intervened and stated Jesus’s injunction “love our enemies” as her encouragement. Martha’s action was able to transport Tsarnaev’s body to Virginia for a Muslim burial. In updates that followed, a Boston law professor, Ray Madoff, who specializes in the “the law of the dead” stated that there was no precedence-legally it was no man’s land. No man 's land is an area that is well acquainted with the Greek classics. …show more content…
In his second amusing stanza, he writes “Antigone, triste Labdacid, I can’t believe you went and did what uncle said you shouldn’t! (I’m in awe of you!) Please be mine? —Haemon” (Mend.Class V.1.5-8). Mendelsohn interprets a humorous side of Antigone going against her uncle 's wishes of burying her brother by showing how fascinated her fiance, Haemon is. Labdacid in the stanza, who was at a time, the king of Thebes, whose son was Laius, who fathered Oedipus; Oedipus ' children were Polynices, Eteocles, Antigone, and Ismene. Further on in the poem, Mendelsohn has moved on to Euripides ' Medea, “Medea, there are some who snort maternity just ain’t your forte; if you’ll be mine I’ll stop their naggin’—we’ll fly away! xo, ur Dragon”. In the original play, Madea stated “ i would very much rather stand. Three times in the front of battle than bear one child” (Eur. Med.249-50). Mendelsohn has taken that concept and twisted it into a laughable statement where the “Dragon” is stating if she were to be with him he would be able to stop her nagging and take her away. In a sense, he would be able to turn her into a woman society could accept or change her into a woman they would not
“In theory it may seem all right to some, but when it comes to being made the instrument of the Lord's vengeance, I myself don't like it,” is what Robert Gould Shaw, the commander of the 54 Massachusetts Infantry, an all black regiment of soldiers in the American Civil War. Obviously, Edmond Dantes did not agree with this statement. This quote explains that although some people may see fit to serve vengeance on their own, others believe it is in the hands of God alone. Judgment Day comes to us all inevitably. We all pay for all evil and injustices of our life, yet sometimes there will be someone so viciously wronged, that he will return like a wrath of nature, with an unquenchable thirst for vengeance. Such a vendetta is the building block
Wisdom: Is it worth the consequences that might come with it? In the eye-opening short story, “Flowers For Algernon” by Daniel Keyes, Charlie Gordon is a mentally challenged man who is given the choice of a surgery which will assist him in becoming exceptionally smart. He takes the offer because the chance to gain knowledge is all he has ever wanted. Adam and Eve are people living in literal paradise. Although they have all of the resources needed to live a life that is free of misfortune, they eat the fruit of a tree, knowing it will open their eyes beyond their current conscious state.
Use of Allusion and Symbolism in Edward Scissorhands Nothing just happens in film. Directors all make certain choices in production in order to invite a particular response from the audience. The film, Edward Scissorhands is based around the introduction of a social outcast into a community and his attempts at acceptance. Although at first he is accepted whole heartedly and somewhat smothered, he later learns that despite how human he is, he cannot co-exist in the same world due to his differences.
Many authors use allusion in an effort to give a deeper meaning to a story by referring to another work, which has a similar theme. It can also be a way to further emphasize the main point and help the reader better understand and think more deeply about what they are reading. Throughout the novel, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey, he incorporates many references to the Christian Faith. Although it isn’t direct, his strong use of allusion and symbolism force us to infer. Randle McMurphy, an intelligent and observant asylum patient, makes his way into the Oregon State Hospital. Kesey utilizes the Christian Faith and Jesus Christ through the characterization and development of the main character, Randle McMurphy. This dominant, yet reformative asylum patient comes to the aid of his fellow men in attempt to change the ways of the ward.
Have you ever thought about six to thirteen year olds ever acting like savages and turning into a serial killer? After reading Lord of the Flies, this is exactly what happened. Ralph, Piggy, Jack and other kids cash land on a gorgeous island with leaving no trace for the world to find them. Ralph tries to be organized and logical, but in the other hand, Jack is only interested in satisfying his pleasures. Just like in the short story, The Tortoise And The Hare, Lord of the Flies, stands for something. This novel is a psychological allegory, the island, as the mind, Ralph, the leader, as the ego, Jack, the hunter, as the id, and Piggy, an annoying little boy, as the super ego. As we read Lord Of
To start with the most common one, the role of the gods, one can see many such allusions thrown all over the odyssey. The epic poem starts in Mt.Olympus where the gods are discussing what will happen to Odysseus , Master mariner and warrior of Ithaka. As it so happens he is on the island of Kalypso, one of the lesser gods. Also, as Odysseus travels, one learns about the role of the gods in not only his travels but other peoples ones too. Agisthos, the man who stole Agamemnon's wife and killed him, was sent a message from Zeus by Hermes, giving him the information of what will happen if he kills him. Also, Menelaus, the red haired king of war, had to wrestle with a sea-god in order to gain acceptance and sail all the way back to his homeland of Sparta, and find news about the rest of his companions. He would not find out about his brothers demise until he got home.
Medea is often very demanding in getting what it is that she wants; Antigone, will do what she need to do in order to get what she wants. With Antigone she is defies the law of a king to uphold the law of her spiritual belief. In the middle of the night she lives the house and sneaks into a field to bury her dead brother. Medea killed many people, including her own sons and a princess, in order to only spite her unlawful and cheating husband. The two women are like alligators, waiting motionless for the right time to strike. In the case of Medea, swift, violent strikes. And with Antigone, a cool collected precise one. These women are always determined to get what they want.
“A Sound of Thunder” is a story by Ray Bradbury about a man named Eckles that wants to hunt something other than regular animals, so him and a group of people travel back in time to hunt dinosaurs. The leader of the group told all of the people to stay on the floating path when they got there so they don’t kill any plants or insects that could change what happens in the future. Eckles got scared when he saw the dinosaur so he went off the path. When the group got back to the present time the group they found out that they had a different president, that was like a dictator. The leader of the group saw that Eckles stepped on a butterfly. After that the leader shot and killed Eckles. Some of the allusion in “A Sound of Thunder” were when Mr. Travis said, “Christ isn’t born yet” (1029), he also says, “Washington might not cross the Delaware, there might never be a United States at all” (1030), and the last allusion is referencing to the butterfly effect.
Antigone believes that a woman should be intrepid and strong, even at the risk of challenging men’s authority. When she proposes to bury Polynices, Ismene answers, “we’re not born to contend with men”. (75) Antigone’s response, “that death will be a glory” (86), does not directly address gender issues, but it expresses her fury at Ismene’s passivity. After the burial of Polynices, Antigone defiantly states, “I did it. I don’t deny a thing,” while being interrogated by Creon (492) and later comments that she was “not ashamed for a moment, not to honor my brother”. (572-3) Antigone’s gallant speech and defiance toward traditional gender identities audaciously shows her revolutionary desire for gender equality.
In both of the poems, "Introduction to Poetry" and "Trouble with Poetry", Collins makes an interesting form of observation of the world he lives in while possibly explaining his daily life or experiences.
For centuries humans have been drawing parallels to help explain or understand different concepts. These parallels, or allegories, tell a simple story and their purpose is to use another point of view to help guide individuals into the correct line of thought. “The only stable element in a literary work is its words, which if one knows the language in which it is written, have a meaning. The significance of that meaning is what may be called allegory. ”(Bloomfield)
The Greek god of love, Eros, is seen in varying perspectives. To some, he is a powerful force that takes a leadership role in life. He is mighty and unwavering. To others, he is a servant of the people. One such concept of servitude is portrayed in the poem “Eros,” written by Anne Stevenson. Through the use of rhyme, alliteration, and other literary devices, Stevenson produces the reader with a clear image of a beaten god. Because of this, “Eros” can easily be approached with the formal critical strategy.
In the play Antigone, by Sophocles, it is greatly apparent just within the first few exchanges between Ismene and Antigone that there are various social issues surrounding the women in ancient Greece. The play raises many gender and socially related issues especially when looking at the contextual background of the playwright and the representation of the women within the play. When the characters of the first scene begin their analog, it is important to note what they are actually saying about each other and what their knowledge of their own social status is. The audience is first introduced to Antigone who we later learn is the antagonist of the play as she rebels against the protagonist, Creon. Her sister, Ismene, is the second character the audience is introduced to, hears of Antigone's plan to bury their brother's body in the first scene. Ismene’s actions and words give the reader the hint that her sister’s behavior is not usual, "so fiery" and "so desperate" are the words used to describe Antigone's frame of mind. At this very early point in the play the reader discovers that Antigone is determined to carry out her mission to bury her beloved brother. However, she is in no position that gives her the rights as a woman, sister, or even future queen to make her own decisions and rebel. Instead, her decision to bury her brother demonstrates her loyalty to her family, the gods, and to all women. Her motivation for those decisions will end up driving her far more than that of what the laws set by Creon have implemented. She shows no fear over disobeying the king and later says about the punishment of death "I will lie with the one I love and loved by him"(Sophocles, 2). Throughout the play the reader can see the viewpoint of an obedient woman, a rebellious woman, and the social norms required for both of them.
Her hatred toward Greek women continues as she discusses the fact that she should not have to bear children or have a strong maternal instinct in order to be considered a woman of societal worth. Women should be as important in battle as men are, as she states on page 195 when she says “They say that we have a safe life at home, whereas men must go to war. Nonsense! I had rather fight three battles than bear one child. But be that as it may, you and I are not in the same case.” The gender imbalance in the ancient Greek civilization is greatly upsetting to Medea, creating her mindset that Greek women are weak and simple minded while Greek men are oppressive and inequitable. Medea shares
Rylee O’Brien Ms. Daniel Language Arts 5-6 10 December 2017 Recapturing The Past A woman named Lauren Oliver once said, “Take it from me: If you hear the past speaking to you, feel it tugging up your back and running its fingers up your spine, the best thing to do-the only thing-is run.” When reading the story, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, this quote is very relevant to the people of Sleepy Hollow. Ichabod Crane lives in a the small town of Sleepy Hollow, he falls in love with Katrina Van Tassel.