WEEK 2

Good morning!

I hope you all had a great weekend with lots of rest on the Lord's Day.



Now it's time to work. Let's look at Antigone.

In a way, this is a very simple story. You have one static character (static means fixed, not changing) surrounded by several dynamic (changing, developing) characters. What's a little strange in this story is that the static character is also the main character. The Antigone we meet at the beginning of the play is the same Antigone we get at the end. I don't think that detracts from the story--it's just unusual. The other characters run up against her (her conviction, her stubbornness, her unwavering conscience) and are then challenged to change. 

But in another way, this play has a lot going on that we might not see. Aristotle considered the tragedies by Sophocles, as well as those of other Greek playwrights, and made a set of observations about the tragic character. He noticed that the typical tragic character had these qualifications:

1. He is neither entirely good nor bad. He is like any one of us.

2. He must come from a place of elevation (an honored family, a high social status, often royalty). 

3. The hero's fall is (partly, at least) due to a moral failing or weakness (usually pride). We should also note that the gods are in some sense responsible.  

4. The consequences of the moral failing or weakness must seem to be beyond what is strictly just. (In other words, the punishment seems too much for the crime.) 

5. The hero must recognize his own error and take responsibility for it (or at least attempt to).


These five characteristics, together, are what make a tragedy Aristotelian.

Your work for the week (due at the usual time):

1. 

A. Read my comments on your character paragraphs from last week. You may need to revise, one or more of them. This is not optional. If I gave you less than 100/100, then revise them according to my comments (probably something about discussing the Greek idea of conscience in the 4 paragraphs). 

B. Write a short essay* (500 max for this one too) that discusses the role of conscience on the characters of Antigone. [REMEMBER that all characters are hearing the same message: OBEY THE GODS. Your discussion, for most characters, needs to focus on what gets in the way of that message.] Discuss Antigone, Ismene, and Creon. There's just not enough going on with Haemon to add him to the discussion. This is also literary analysis, so you can assume the basics: stick to analysis (no plot retelling), use quotes, and organize it well. Organization for this one is straight-forward: intro, 3 body paragraphs, conclusion. You might want to review this VIDEO from last term on incorporating quotes.


2. Read through chapter 20 of Watership Down. For each chapter (yes, you'll need to go back and look those first 8 chapters from last week again) provide a short explanation of the chapter's title. A couple of sentences should do it. Eventually you'll have the whole book at a glance when we're ready to write about it. 

3. LBGB work. Our work in LBGB for this course will involve 1) Review: we'll review the big ideas, but I won't make you re-read entire chapters; and 2) practicing the definitions and Style & Usage items that we skipped in HSW1. This week we'll look at chapter 1. Here's your work:

A. Conjunctions: define the three types and write an original sentence for each. 

B. Define conjunctive adverb. Write three sentences (note the punctuation pattern in my examples!) using three different CAs. Here are a few to choose from: 

in addition, accordingly, furthermore, moreover, on the other hand, similarly, also, hence, namely, still, anyway, however, nevertheless, then, in fact, besides, incidentally, next, thereafter, certainly, indeed, nonetheless, therefore, consequently, instead, now, thus, finally, likewise, otherwise, undoubtedly, further, meanwhile

Make sure the word you're using is WORKING as a conjunctive adverb. Many of the words in this list can be used as other parts of speech.

C. Explain the difference between these pairs and use each correctly in a sentence: 

    all together / altogether

    ___ and I  / ___ and me. 

4. Did you catch that this week's essay is 500 words MAXIMUM? Just thought I'd point that out again. 

* As with all of our writing, you will probably be revising every first draft. And maybe the second...maybe even the third...


HAVE A GREAT WEEK!