Peter Elbow’s proposal is different from what we would call traditional “critical thinking” as his proposal is based on believing instead of doubting. Traditional critical thinking has us look for errors in something. If presented with two or more answers for question, and we don’t know which answer is correct, traditional critical thinking will have us compare the answers to see which answer has the least amount of errors with it. Elbow’s proposal asks us to believe all the answers, and determine which answer contains the most truths.
The assumption about the nature of truth from Elbow’s recommendation is that truth will be able to reveal itself if people are willing to believe all the answers. The assumption is that the truth is the most
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This assumption also shows the assumption Elbow’s proposal makes about human intellectual processes, which is that it wants to know the correct answer, and is willing to disregard previous answers so long as a better answer presents itself. So long as the process to find a correct answer isn’t one that tears down the wrong person’s answer, but rather a process that builds the correct answer’s legitimacy, the wrong person will be more willing to accept the correct answer. This is because the doubting game is inherently hostile to the other person when compared to the believing game. When neither person knows the correct answer, but both believe they know the correct answer, the doubting game causes conflict. Due to the fact that the doubting game has you finding …show more content…
Early in my academic career, I believed that Shakespeare’s works were unnecessary to be taught to my fellow classmates and myself. This was particularly bad for me when we had to read Romeo and Juliet. Despite never reading the story before, I thought I knew what mattered in the story: Romeo and Juliet’s families were feuding, Romeo and Juliet fell in love with each other, and Romeo and Juliet kill themselves at the end of the story. However, because I was willing to play to the belief game, I was willing see if I was wrong and if there was merit to this literature. Later on, I was glad to see that I was wrong in my assumption. I was glad to learn that there is more to stories than simply plots, but morals and lessons that reach throughout time in their applicability to people. This revelation wouldn’t have been possible had I played the doubting game. I would have been too entrapped in the little details to see the bigger picture. I would have been too caught up in the fact that people don’t talk the way they do in the story in current times, or I would’ve been stuck to my belief that Romeo and Juliet is simply a love story. Going back to what I said earlier in this essay about the doubting game being inherently hostile, had I played the doubting game, I would’ve spoken out about having to read Romeo and Juliet, causing me to get in trouble, causing
Works Cited:.. Shakespeare, William. The. Romeo and Juliet. Eds. Maynard Mack and Robert Bayton.
Shakespeare, William, Louis B. Wright, and Virginia A. LaMar. The tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. New ed. New York: Washington Square Press, 1959. Print.
There are many tragedies to be found in literature, but only a few are like Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. It is a story of forbidden love in which a young couple are torn apart by their families’ feud in Renaissance Italy; the play’s tragic ending has both main characters die. Many aspects of this play have sparked a heated debate: is Romeo and Juliet a tragedy or is it simply tragic? Some critics claim that the play lacks elements that are necessary for a tragedy. Yet Aristotle explicitly states the essential components of a tragedy in his Poetics, and Romeo and Juliet meets those requirements. Romeo and Juliet can be considered an Aristotelian tragedy because of Romeo’s impetuousness, Juliet’s loyalty to Romeo, and the play’s peripeteia.
Throughout history never has there been a piece of literature as well known for its tragic end as that of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Although many factors contribute to the grief and misfortune that this play represents, human actions play the principle role in the final outcome. At first glance, one may look over the character of Friar Laurence dismissing him as only a minor player in the plot. However, upon closer examination, it becomes obvious that the Friar plays an essential role in the development of the play and, although has good intentions, is responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet.
Shakespeare is Important William Shakespeare’s plays are being made into box office film hits at an incredible rate. Films such as Much Ado About Nothing with Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson, Hamlet with Mel Gibson and Glenn Close, Othello with Laurence Fishbourne and Henry V with Kenneth Branagh have been seen by a surprising number of teenagers. Often they have not understood it all, or even half of it, but they have been affected by the powerful characters and by the Shakespearean magic which has affected audiences around the world for centuries. They want to know more, they want to understand, and what better motivation can any teacher ask for than that students WANT? That alone is sufficient reason for any English teacher to start a course in Shakespeare.
Being one of the most debated texts in history, Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’, has the power and ability to divide audiences. Throughout the play, it is seen that Shakespeare has left the audience to contemplate the underlying cause of the Romeo and Juliet tragedy. Shakespeare begins by showing the reckless actions and choices of the lovers, illustrating one of the main contributing factors to their deaths. Friar Lawrence plays a large role in the deaths of the lovers as he is the main instigator, greatly contributing to the deaths. Also, demonstrated through the play is that the lover’s destiny is written in the stars. Without
< http://callisto.gsu.edu:4000/CGI:html> (5 May 1997). Rozen, Leah. "William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet."
The classic play Romeo and Juliet by the famous playwright William Shakespeare is one of the most beautiful love stories of all time and has captured and inspired readers everywhere. Regardless of the fact that it was written in the 1500’s, it is still being performed and extolled today. There is a multitude of reasons for such continuance of the play. First of all, its everlasting themes of love and hate enable people to deeply relate to the story. Secondly, its memorable characters deeply imprint on the minds of readers. And lastly, above all, is its magnificent language which many writers today regard in awe. These three elements make the acclaimed play, Romeo and Juliet, one of the most timeless stories of our lives.
... middle of paper ... ... Although assuming a didactic purpose on the author’s behalf is a dubious practice, there are clues throughout the play that lead us to an understanding of Shakespeare’s belief that love cannot be accounted for by reason alone, and neither can the play be appreciated solely by this faculty; imagination and passion are necessary to appreciate both art and love.
3 Dec. 2013. Kerschen, Lios. A. A “Critical Essay on ‘Romeo and Juliet’. ” Drama for Students. Ed.
In Peter Elbow’s essay “The Doubting Game and the Believing Game” have rules that Elbow urges the reader to use in the two games (doubting and believing) to have one main goal of teaching critical thinking which yields intellectual “power”. These games are to help highlight curiosity, fair judgement and adaptability. All which are components of high-level reasoning (critical thinking). The intellectual way of being is seeking mental challenges and ask questions that stop at one answer but open up more questions. This develops the critical thinking on being rational and reflect on the reasonability of a person’s beliefs.
Shakespeare has created stories that are so powerful, emotional, comedic, tragic and romantic that they are still continuously remembered and studied in the modern era. Though the essence of his talents does not lie in the simple themes behind his plays, but more so in
In today’s world the quality of the art form called writing is said to be somewhat diminishing, it is important for English literature to keep some studies of classic literature, such as Shakespeare. I think well rounded education must have a strong foundation in both modern and classical literature, for the foundation in classical literature, an in-depth study of Shakespeare’s works would be more than sufficient. Not only was Shakespeare so skilled in his writing that he has become a significant point in the history of literature, but a majority of his works were written on such basic human themes that they will last for all time and must not be forgotten.
Literature is an art form, it is entertainment, history, and a medium of self-expression. There is something magical about the creative power that is within literature. With words alone, literature illustrates the rise of nations, the fall of tyranny, the power of true love, and the tragedy of unescapable fate. When discussing timeless literature, it is almost impossible to not bring up the works of William Shakespeare. However, while some are enthusiastic about discussing Shakespeare, many can’t help but sigh. Some find his work outdated, his language cumbersome, and question: for what purpose is society so fixated on his work? Despite complaints from a few contemporary readers, Shakespeare’s work exhibits quality and thoughtfulness that is
William Shakespeare's Relevance Today For as long as formal education has existed in Britain it has been a largely standard assumption that teaching the works of William Shakespeare is relevant and necessary. Perhaps the relevance of his writing is taken for granted, perhaps it is necessary to re-examine the role of Shakespeare for the modern audience. There are indeed many people who question the relevance of this 440 year old playwright to a 21st century audience, taking it even as far as perhaps the greatest heresy of all, questioning the necessity of GCSE pupils learning Shakespeare at all.