Eng2800: Mapping the Ancient World

Note: Titles of texts must be underlined or in italics

Tosa Diary paper topics (Remember all of these topics require an argumentative response)

1. Consider the role of journeying in this text, and compare it to another text in this course that is concerned with the theme of journey (like The Odyssey for instance).

2. Although this is supposed to be a “diary,” it is written by a male author and told through a female perspective. Relate this perspective to the text’s content and its meaning.

3. Write a paper in which you consider the differences and/or similarities between this book and The Pillow Book. You might want to think about the vernacular, gender identity, Japanese history, emotional expression, etc.

4. Bring Tosa Diary together with Orlando: what is the purpose of “gender bending” in these two ‘texts’? Are these purposes similar, different, or similar in some senses and different in some senses? Remember that in order to respond to this topic you will need to rewatch Orlando at least once.

5. Compare/contrast Tosa Diary to Virginia Woolf’s diary. (you’ll need to read the rest of the diary at this link: http://www.nytimes.com/books/00/12/17/specials/woolf-diary5exc.html). You also will need to keep in mind that these texts are coming out of different historical contexts.

Here are paper topics for The Pillow Book!

1. Explore the relationship of nature and human action in The Pillow Book. To do this, you will need to look at descriptions of nature alongside descriptions of human actions. Are there any moments that bring together human action and nature? What role does nature play in human action?
2. How does cultural context and/or historical context influence the text? How does cultural/historical context affect / influence Shonagon’s text? This question requires background research.
3. In this question you should think about the theme of freedom in the text (this is a broad theme so you can interpret it as you see fit). Here are some ideas: you can look at Shonagon’s freedom to write down her thoughts and feelings, her freedom within her society, etc. You will want to think about the meaning and purpose of personal expression here, and come up with an argument about its meaning in the text.
4. In this question, you should think about Shonagon’s gender and class position within society. Make an argument about how gender and/or class is represented in this text. You may want to bring in the article we briefly looked at together in class (available on JStor): Watching Commoners, Performing Class: Images of the Common People in The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon.
5. What is the role of satire and/or humor in The Pillow Book? Make an argument in which you consider the purpose, meaning, use of satire and/or humor in the text.

Michelle and I will be discussing Ki no Tsurayuki’s Tosa Diary (Nikki) . Ki no Tsurayuki’s Tosa Diary is a poetic diary that is a creative non-fiction account of his 55 days of travel, narrated using a female persona. We will focus mostly on the narration and poetry. We will address how sex and gender affects how one writes poetry and reflects an individual’s voice. We will explore why Tsurayuki would write in a female voice instead of a male voice to narrate his story. We will discuss some of the poems that was in the reading and your individual thoughts on it. We will also be discussing the scholarly article, “Writing Like a Man: Poetic Literacy, Textual Property, and Gender in the Tosa Diary”by Gustav Heldt . This article’s central argument is the relations of writing associated with gender and social status in the Tosa Diary. It questions the reasons behind the text creation based on social conditions and authorship.

The Pillow book completed in 1002 is a book of observations, anecdotes and stories of Sei Shonagon as a court lady to Empress Teishi during the Heian Period. The Heian Period is the last division of Japanese history (9794-1185). This period was named after the Capital City of Heian-kyo or modern day Kyoto. This period is also considered the peak of the Japanese Imperial Court and noted for its art especially in poetry and literature. Like a journal,  this book list topics of all kinds, personal thoughts, Interesting events in court, poetry and some opinions on her peers. In Class, we would like to discuss the following:

Today in class I will be discussing Cao Pi’s ” A Disclosure on Literature” as well as Lu Ji’s “Poetic Exposure on Literature”. I will be going into further detail on both writers points of view on literature and its significance. Cao Pi believes that literature has different categories/ levels and that each writer brings out something different based on experience, do you agree with that? is a writers ability to excel in a topic is linked to his/her comfort level and knowledge of the subject? . Lu Ji explains the writing process, from brainstorming, to writers block, being faced with plagerism, to being able to form a hypothesis and finally being able to create literature. As a college student were you able to relate to any of these challenges?

“The story of king Shahrayar and Shahrazad” is taking from “The thousand and one nights’’. In this story the two kings was taking a walk just outside of their palace. Suddenly they heard a scream and saw a huge black demon was walking with a glass chest. When the demon came on the shore he opened the glass chest and a lady came out of it.  The two kings were getting terrified as the time passes. They cannot explain to themselves what was going on. They are hiding and observing the situation.

In the passage it stays “demonic” figure is appearing. Back in the ancient anything black, strong, huge and scary looking would get a demonic image. The demon was carrying a “large glass chest piece with four locks.” This could easily refer to as some kind of huge and elaborate cage that the lady was in. The cage was probably made with a strong glass like transparent material. In the passage it is also mentioned the lady that came out had a “beautiful figure” and she was pretty like the “moon”. The passage is probably trying to say that the lady’s body looked attractive. Her face was just as bright like the moon. The two kings probably got attracted when they saw the lady.

This passage took place next to the palace of the two kings. It was the time when they were walking next to the shore.  When they saw the black demon coming they started to get scared. After getting they scared they hide in top of the tree. The two kings were watching from the distance what the demon was doing. When the demon set the lady free from the glass chest the demon said “Mistress of all noble women, you whom carried away on your wedding night, I would like to sleep a little.” This quote implies may be lady was the leader of all noble women, from her native place. May be she at that she was getting forcefully married and the demon rescued the women from her weeding night. The demon had to go through lot of trouble to rescue the lady that’s the reason he must be tired.

In the story from the description it shows the demon was really powerful and kind. The two kings personality also shows that they are actually not that brave, to confront the demon. They did not want to get close to the demon.  In the passage it’s also mentioned that when lady got out from the glass chest she sat in a rock, and the demon put his head on her lap and his legs reached the sea shore. This implies the demon was much larger than anticipated. The lady could be the same size as regular humans.

The whole passage of this tone was full of irony.  The two kings were shocked when they saw the demon and his actions.  They were not expecting a huge demon dark at night carrying a beautiful lady.   They were also surprised to see a beautiful lady coming out from the glass chest.

For our discussion tomorrow, Jason and I will be focusing on four of Du Fu’s poems, “Moonlight Night”, “Spring Prospect”,”Qiang Village” and “Ballad of the Firewood Vendors”. We will be focusing on the themes of these four poems and the effects of the An Lushan Rebellion. We will also be discussing the translations of the poem called CH’ANG KAN or “The River-Merchant’s Wife:A Letter” and comparing the translations to the original Chinese meanings. CH’ANG KAN is a narrative of a woman who was married to a business man. It reflects the ancient time of Chinese women being a wife of a business man’s life. The article we will be using is The Translator’s Invisibility by Lawerence Venuti. It talks about how translations should make the translator appear invisible. This is supposed to facilitate the exposure of the text’s meaning.

Here’s a link to the writing center:

http://writingcenter.baruch.cuny.edu/

In today’s class we looked at students’ past close readings, and worked together to come up with a better sense of what does and does not constitute a good close reading. Here’s what we came up with for a good close reading:

Integrates quotes clearly and meaningfully into sentence

Grammatically correct: Grammar should not get in the way of the clear conveyance of meaning

Explore the passage as the primary focus and then connect it to the rest of the text

Correct formatting of quotes

Close reading should be thorough and analytical — be sure you’ve covered all your bases

I will be discussing the trial of Orestes, but more importantly focusing on Athena’s judgment and her overall purpose in this play.

The case is about whether Orestes’s murder of his mother is justifiable because he was avenging his father. Ultimately it boils down to which parent is more important the mother or the father? We have Apollo as the male representatives, The Furies as the female representatives, Men of Athens as the jury, and Athena as the judge. Both sides passionately explain their views and the importance of their own gender with examples regarding blood, marriage, and birth. We have Athena who at first is ambiguous as to who she will side with, but later reveals her true loyalty towards men. As a result The Furies are extremely angry and threaten to wreak havoc on the city of Athens. But Athena calms them down and persuades them to join her side. Which raises the question what is her purpose in this play? Was it just simply to judge the trial? Or is there something much deeper?

I will be briefly talking about the article, The Journal of Hellenic Studies: The Problem of the Eumenides of Aeschylus by R. W. Livingstone. It talks about the various problems such whether or not Aeschylus clearly give the audience a concrete answer to the trial. In addition, debating on what Aeschylus meant about the solution. Finally, he talks about what he thinks the significance of Athena’s judgment.

“The Trojan war and the relationship of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra are already fraught with conflicts embedded in gender roles. Then the chorus prepares the audience for the entrance of Clytemnestra by linking gender with certain attributes of character. They suggest that steady resolve and intensity of purpose are gender-specific when they refer to the male (inner) strength of Clytemnestra” (Case 323).

For today’s discussion, I will be focusing on gender roles in Agamemnon. Does Clytemnestra fit into the mold of woman; the feminine traits women are supposed to possess? Or does she go against this society-accepted model?

The character of Clytemnestra in Agamemnon is perplexing as the role she embraces is frequently altering. Many characters depict Clytemnestra in a manly manner whilst alluding to her femininity; “That woman-she manoeuvres like a man” (14). In addition, Clytemnestra utilizes dialect generally held for male characters. This “manly” representation proceeds in the behaviors and activities Clytemnestra exhibits throughout the play, with a final climax (in this part of the trilogy) of Mariticide (not to be confused with matricide).

Through examination, it is conceivable to consider Clytemnestra’s dismissal of her gender role.

However, does Clytemnestra’s behavior towards Cassandra somehow reinforce gender stereotypes? How? And if not, why?

I will be making reference to Classic Drag: The Greek Creation of Female Parts, by Sue-Ellen Case, which further delves into female roles in Greek society and drama, focusing on the theater and men’s representation of woman.