Author Archives: Michael Bildirici

The Oxford English Dictionary has multiple definitions for the word ‘eager’. It is derived from the Old French word aigre, meaning sharp, keen or sour. Aigre in turn is derived from the Latin word acer, which can mean can also mean sharp, as well as pungent, swift … Continue reading →

  Perspective in Poetry and Prose: When you read a story or poem, one of the first elements you picks up on is the perspective used by the author. This affects what you know and you don’t know, and how you experience … Continue reading →

Dante and his guide, Virgil, enter the the fourth ring of Hell, and are confronted by Plutus, the god of wealth. This region of hell is reserved for those guilty being greedy throughout their lives. Because they possessed this negative … Continue reading →

The following text is found on page 577. My words start from the italics. ‘Then they separated, and each of them went on his way. The merchant himself went back home to his family, his wife, and his children, and … Continue reading →

Original Hebrew ו  לֵךְ אֶל נְמָלָה עָצֵל    רְאֵה דְרָכֶיהָ וַחֲכָם. ז  אֲשֶׁר אֵין-לָהּ קָצִין    שֹׁטֵר וּמֹשֵׁל. ח  תָּכִין בַּקַּיִץ לַחְמָהּ    אָגְרָה בַקָּצִיר מַאֲכָלָהּ. ט  עַד-מָתַי עָצֵל תִּשְׁכָּב    מָתַי תָּקוּם מִשְּׁנָתֶךָ. י  מְעַט שֵׁנוֹת, מְעַט תְּנוּמוֹת    מְעַט חִבֻּק יָדַיִם לִשְׁכָּב. יא  וּבָא-כִמְהַלֵּךְ … Continue reading →

One of the most powerful passages in Antigone is the ode to man. It is the first of the choruses, or poetic interruptions by Theban elders. Since Antigone is not broken up into acts, scenes or books, the chorus serves … Continue reading →

The following is a hybrid outline/ draft Introduction: In Ancient Greece, storytellers and bards usually prefaced their performance with an appeal to the nine Muses, or the goddesses who were thought to provide inspiration to the mortal practitioners of the arts … Continue reading →

Topic: Binary of Memory vs. forgetfulness, with a focus on the prominent importance given to the act of remembering and the cautionary tales and adverse attitudes towards forgetfulness. Thesis: In The Odyssey, Homer is obsessed with recounting as many stories … Continue reading →

  “‘Don’t be there When she sucks it down. No one could save you, Not even Poseidon, who makes the earth tremble. No, stay close to Scylla’s rock, and push hard. Better to mourn six than the whole crew at … Continue reading →

(Book V: Lines 118-143. Page 388.) “You gods are the most jealous bastards in the universe— Persecuting any goddess who openly takes A mortal lover to her bed and sleeps with him. When Dawn caressed Orion with her rosy fingers, … Continue reading →