Western Literature week13－藺才芯的部落格

Western Literature

12/9

week13

How to write an essey?

1.briefly introduce the meaning of the word

2.introduction+three examples or details

3.briefly conclude it

definition:1.drama2.chorus3.tragic flaw4.hubris(n)=pride5.tragedy
1.drama(n):Drama is the specific mode of narrative, typically fictional, represented in performance.The term comes from the Greek The structure of dramatic texts, unlike other forms of literature, is directly influenced by this collaborative production and collective reception. The early modern tragedy Hamlet by Shakespeare and the classical Athenian tragedy Oedipus the King by Sophocles are among the masterpieces of the art of drama. A modern example is Long Day's Journey into Night by Eugene O’Neill.

2.chorus(n): A Greek chorus is a homogeneous, non-individualised group of performers in the plays of classical Greece, who comment with a collective voice on the dramatic action. The chorus consisted of between 12 and 50 players, who variously danced, sang or spoke their lines in unison and sometimes wore masks.

3.tragic flaw(n): a failing of character in the hero of a tragedy that brings about his downfall.For example:1)In Hamlet, the tragic flaw determines his downfall in the play. And his tragic flaw is his indecisiveness.2)Oedipus is a perfect example of having a tragic flaw in this famous Greek tragedy. The cause of his downfall was his inadvertent wrongdoings. The hubris of Oedipus is the cause which made him disobey the prophecy of the gods.3)The character of Dr. Faustus is also one of the best examples of tragic flaw. The tragic flaw of Dr.Faustus is his ambitious nature to learn . He made a contract with Lucifer and sold his soul in this connection. Finally, his soul is taken to hell and then he realizes his sin and repents but it was too late.

4.hubris ( also hybris, from ancient Greek ) means, in a modern context, extreme pride or self-confidence; in its ancient Greek context, it typically describes violent and excessive behavior rather than an attitude. When it offends the gods of ancient Greece, it is usually punished. The adjectival form of the noun hubris is "hubristic".

5.Greek tragedy is a form of theatre from Ancient Greece and Asia Minor. It reached its most significant form in Athens in the 5th century BC. Greek tragedy is an extension of the ancient rites carried out in honor of Dionysus. Tragic plots were most often based upon myths from the oral traditions of archaic epics. In tragic theatre, however, these narratives were presented by actors. The most important authors of Greek tragedies are Aeschylus,Sophocles and Euripides.

Oedipus v.s swollen foot

In Greek,the name”Oedipus” suggests :“swollen foot”.

The Sphinx(with female chest,wings, and the body of a lion)

人面獅身像

Kreow is Jokasta’s brother in law(p.666)
Four Greek tragedies:

Four Greek tragedies are Othello(奧賽羅),Hamlet(哈姆雷特), Lear(李爾王)and Macbeth(麥克白) are all writen by William Shakespeare.

crimson tapestry

illium

A new capital called Ilium was founded on the

site in the reign of the Roman Emperor Augustus.

The Face That Launch'd A Thousand Ships

Was this the face that launch'd a thousand ships,

And burnt the topless towers of Ilium?

Sweet Helen, make me immortal with a kiss.

Her lips suck forth my soul: see where it flies!

Come, Helen, come, give me my soul again.

Here will I dwell, for heaven is in these lips,

And all is dross that is not Helena.

I will be Paris, and for love of thee,

Instead of Troy, shall Wittenberg be sack'd;

And I will combat with weak Menelaus,

And wear thy colours on my plumed crest;

Yea, I will wound Achilles in the heel,

And then return to Helen for a kiss.

O, thou art fairer than the evening air

Clad in the beauty of a thousand stars;

Brighter art thou than flaming Jupiter

When he appear'd to hapless Semele;

More lovely than the monarch of the sky

In wanton Arethusa's azur'd arms;

And none but thou shalt be my paramour!

Doctor Faustus浮士德:

Faustus becomes dissatisfied with his studies of medicine, law, logic and theology; therefore, he decides to turn to the dangerous practice of necromancy, or magic. He has his servant Wagner summon Valdes and Cornelius, two German experts in magic.

*prefix

ab---negative

aboriginal,abortion,aboriginal,AB歐巴桑

spec---to look

for example: spectator

audi---to listen

for example:audience,auditorium,audible

*vocabulary

trilogy(n): 三部曲
fail to +V未能做到
purple robes /blue blood means royalty
competence(n): ability
impetence(n)不舉
crossroad(n)=intersection

exacting(a): demanding,caring a lot

for example:In order to gain a strongest physical strength,the athletes took an exacting training schedule.

vengeance/revenge(n): the punishing of someone for harming you or your friends or family.For example:As he cradled his daughter's lifeless body in his arms, he swore(to take) vengeance on her killers. idiom:with a vengeance

swollen(a): larger than usual 腫脹 For example:The stream is swollen because of the heavy rain.
condemn(v) to scold
on one hand...on the other hand
ideal spector(n): looker
crimson(a): red,bloody
tapestry(n): 掛毯