Skene is the stage building that is backgound to the stage.
Parodos is the side entrance for actors as well as chorus. It is also the name of the first song sung by the chorus as they enter the orchestra.
Orchestra is the center spot where the chorus stands.
Theatron is where the audience sits.
After reading Oedipus The King, one can come to the conclusion that destiny is a main theme of the play. No matter how hard a man tries to change his destiny, nothing can take it off its path. What is prophesied will come to pass. As seen by Oedipus, a man who tried so hard to change his faith but in the end could do nothing. Before he was born, it was decided what course his life would take. Jokasta was told by a prophet what her son was destined to do, “It said that Laios was destined to die at the hands of a son born to him and me” (726.829-830). Oedipus received a similar prophecy from a oracle in his younger years. The oracle told Oedipus, “I would be my mother’s lover, I would show the world children no one could bear to look at, I would murder the father whose seed I am” (728.911-914). These two prophecies very similar, about the same man, came from two different prophets. As you know from the reading these actions were carried out by Oedipus. There is a possibility that his action could have been avoided if the people that raised him told him that they were not his actually parents. That was a possibility, however that was not in the gods plans.
There was another point that I found interesting. While Oedipus was in the process of uncovering the truth about his birth, multiple characters advised him not ask any question. They told him the truth would only lead to pain, but the mans thirst for knowledge was to strong to stop him. Once the truth was revealed nothing but pain and suffering came from it. As the saying goes, “curiosity kill the cat”.
Traditional illustration and calligraphy of a famous poem Shān Xíng by poet Dù Mù.
From Wikipedia:
During the Tang Dynasty, poetry continued to be an important part of social life at all levels of society. Scholars were required to master poetry for the civil service exams, but the art was theoretically available to everyone. This led to a large record of poetry and poets, a partial record of which survives today. Two of the most famous poets of the period were Du Fu and Li Bai [Li Bo].
Tang statue of a civil official dressed in Hanfu, made of sancai glazed earthenware
Tang era gilt-gold bowl with lotus and animal motifs
A Tang period gilt-silver jar
A tomb guard (wushi yong), terracotta sculpture, Tang Dynasty, early-8th-century
Hello everyone,
My post is mainly about the background introduction of “Jian’an Poetry”. Maybe it will help you to understand the seven great literary men that Cao Pi mentioned in the third paragraph of A Discourse on Literature. These seven men together made a special poetry style called “Jian’an Poetry (feng gu) (建安风骨）”, “Jian’an” is a title of an emperor’s reign, and we can understand it as a name of this time period. This period is also called“Three Kingdoms Period” (220-280) in history. I excerpt a part of interpretation from Wiki, “This poetry category is particularly important because in the case of the Jian’an poetic developments, there is a special difficulty in matching the chronology of changes in poetry with the usual Chinese dynastic chronology based on the political leadership of the times.”
“feng” means wind, we can understand it as the vitality of the article, it is an inner, spiritual strength which can influence people’s ideas. “gu” means bones, it refers to the expression of the article, if the language is accurate, concise, and clear, the articles will be powerful like bones.
The Three Kingdoms period was one of the bloodiest periods in Chinese history. There were a lot of wars and the united country was split by warlords. Therefore, these seven literatus’ poems mainly reflected the social unrest and suffering of people’s livelihood. It showed their own distinct characteristics of that times.
Thank you!
Linyan Fu (Linda)
Both Aesop’s fables and the Jataka tales have been adapted for children’s literature. The first clip is for a children’s animation of “The Golden Goose” and the second is Disney’s 1934 cartoon “The Tortoise and the Hare.” What do you think?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeZe2qPLPh0
After reading Aesop’s Fables I feel that the author was probably poor and came from humble beginnings. It’s hinted but never historically proven in the intro that Aesop was a slave. The lessons from these fables seem to be how he viewed life in his impoverished situation. I noticed recurring themes of greed and poverty in a couple of the stories. Some of the fables speak of the pursuit of more than you need such as the dog dropping his meat when he saw the reflection of a larger meat in the water (The Dog, the Meat, and the Reflection) or the man who killed his hen that lays golden eggs hoping for more gold inside (The Man and the Golden Eggs). Both the dog and the man lost the great thing in their possession by trying to attain more. In “The City Mouse and the Country Mouse” it’s argued that a safe life in poverty is better than a life of wealth with problems. These lessons seem consistent with a slave’s perspective on life and trying to view his situation as better than his master’s. The fable “The Two Hyenas” in my opinion could be directed toward his master because of its lesson that those in position of authority should be kind in how they treat others because one day they might be ruled over as well.
Pandora Opening her Box by James Gillray
Zeus and the Jar of good Things
Zeus shut up all good things in a huge wine jar, which he left in the hands of a man. This man was curious and wanted to know what was inside. So he prised open the lid and all the good things blew away, flying up to the gods.
Thus, hope alone remains with men, and promises them the good things which have fled.
Aesop
Books 21-24 were the climactic scenes in the book fields with many dramatic events. The whole scene surrounds this curved bow that was a gift Odysseus have received from an old friend Iphitus. The bow reinstates Odysseus superiority in the book. It in a way it takes us back to a time before Odysseus faced any hardship. This particular bow challenges the strength of the suitors as Eumaeus says, “will separate the men from the boys. It won’t be easy to string that polished bow. There is no man here such as Odysseus was”(21.88-90). Eumaeus is trying to instill fear in the suitors saying Odysseus strength is unmatched and hoping that he will come back to reclaim his rightful place. After suitors Leodes attempt and fail to string the bow he says, “I foresee it will rob Many a young hero of the breath of life. The bow presented a problem among the suitors, which was not to be ignored. The bow to me symbolizes restoration and peace back to Ithaca. Once back in the rightful hand of Odysseus the books shift fulfilling the prophecy Odysseus will reclaim his place as king of Ithaca.
What amazes me is Odysseus tactician ways that helped to overcome every obstacle that was placed in front of him from the gods to mortals. Odysseus out spoken words stole the hearts of some and others sympathized. It’s interesting how the role of hiding his identity played an important part of the books. It helped him get through many barriers and win many battles. The book overall was interesting i like the fact that everyone who suffered through grieving over Odysseus return was now in a better place, order was now restored!
First of all I hope you all notice the degree at which Homer is pushing on the moments before the big battle. When I was starting Book 17 I hoped that by Book 20 , the battle to remove the suitors would be up and running . But Homer does not neglect any details during those moments, from the repetitions of old stories we have already heard about in early books, or the emphasis put on the fate of the suitors ( who all have to die by the way ), or again in bringing up minor characters into play; everything is made to amplify what is coming. Odysseus and his son Telemachus are shown to be extremely patient , but isn’t how everyone prepares for a big battle ? because besides strategy you also have to be patient if you want to kill all your enemies. Though, I was struck by the same fate given to all the suitors. Why for example the worthless Antinous and Melanthius should have the same fate as Amphinomous who appear to be a good man ? What this done to put the accent on the bitterness on the revenge ?
