ENG 2800 with Prof. McGlynn

Please read (in the translation I’ve ordered, info below) the following sections of The Tain:
1.The Pillow Talk and its Outcome
2. The Tain Begins
4. The Boyhood Deeds of Cu Chulainn
6. Single Combat
7. The Find the Bull
12. The Final Battle

The Tain. Translator: Ciaran Carson.  ISBN-10: 0670018686  Publisher: Viking Adult:  256pp

On Monday we will talk about 1, 2, and 4, with the rest on Wednesday. You might glance at the titles of the other chapters so that you can see what is happening in the parts we are not discussing.

 When people love someone, they always have to sacrifice something valuable. Most people would choose to sacrifice something for their love. I think it takes bravery to love someone. However, Chang was not brave, so he failed. I think Chang’s explanation that he gave to his friend is just his excuse.

I had a rather hard time with this reading. I actually read it over again and was a little confused even after the second reading. What I don’t understand is why Ts’ui agreed ti see Change after clearly being upset by the forward behavior that he displayed earlier. I do agree tha from the beginning Ts’ui’s behavior portrayed her as being a difficult person, I’m led to believe that this was just an example of the complexity of her character that shows throughout the story.

I am also very surprised about how this story ended, but I really don’t understand the girls behavior In the begining when they first met and then the sudden change in feelings. Why did she act like that and co pletly turn around.

I think ying ying character is questionable in this story. Having an affair with her cousin and displayed unruley behaviour towards her mother could not but pridict unfavorable ends. What ever happened at the end I am of the openion that Chang was not to be blamed for her misfortune but it could be regarded as her destiny.

I was shocked by the ending of the story of Ying-ying. Usually, or should I say in the English tragedies that I’ve read so far, the plot has always culminated in a tragic ending for the heroes as a result of their love. Here, the tragedy is the result of the heroes choice to disregard their love and follow their rigid rationale. I wonder what message each type of story is trying to teach us about the meaning and benefits of love.

While I was reading this, I thought that there was a lot of repitition when Jesus was explaining who he is and what he was there to do.  He also responded to all the questions starting with “Very truly, I tell you…” I think that by him responding with those exact words expresses that he is being truly honest with what he speaks, even though a lot of people don’t believe in what he says.

I thought it was interesting that in the begining of the story every one that met jesus was fascinated by the things he could do, and quickly became followers, but as the story progressed the people he met went against him as they saw him as a threat to what they believed in.

I noticed that Jesus kept saying: “it is not yet my hour”. I believe this repetition signifies the concept of destiny and fate that this story expresses. Jesus knew when he was going to be arrested and murdered because he had the knowledge of his own fate. In the beginning of the story when Jesus did not get arrested signified that it was not yet his hour to be killed. The last supper and Jesus’ speech at the last supper foreshadowed that his hour was coming and he prepared himself to be arrested and crucified.

While i was reading John, i wondered why people who welcomed Jesus suddenly became crowds who tries to kill Jesus and mock him. When jesus came to Jerusalem, they said ” Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Load”. After Jesus got arrested, Jesus went to the court. People even asked Pilate to relase Barabbas who was a bandit instead of Jesus.