8. Choose a poem which creates pity or sympathy in you. Show how the feelings of pity or sympathy are brought into focus by the use of poetic techniques.
1. “Somewhere, at some time”
2. “Tiny”/ “small”
3. “I had no say”
4. “I was taken”
5. “blind, naked, defenceless”
6. “my father smiled”
7. “no grief filled my empty space”
8. “my death was celebrated”
9. “I WAS”
10. “Pretending to be a woman”
11. “The cot I might have warmed”
12. “No Queen’s Counsel”
13. “sterile”
14. “plastic bucket”
1. Repetition
2. Synonyms
3. First person narrative (4.)
5. List/ vulnerable/ cumulative effect
6. Imagery
7. Imagery
8. Oxymoron
9. Past tense/ CAPITAL LETTERS
10. Comparison
11. Supposition/ Imagery
12. Imagery – Wealth
13. Word choice – double meaning
14. Word choice – imagery – cheap – no ceremony
Through the opening lines, Milligan creates a clear sense of sympathy for the foetus. When he uses the repetition of “somewhere, at sometime” he is creating a sensation of vagueness, that nobody can remember where or when the baby was conceived – nobody cares. When he refers to the foetus using synonyms (“tiny”/ “small”) he is stressing to the reader how vulnerable it was. This idea of vulnerability is continued when the foetus says, “I had no say in my being” and by using the first person narrative we are more inclined to believe the foetus is a developed person, and we sympathise with the fact that it had no control in its life.
Friday, 25 February 2011
Thursday, 24 February 2011
Monday, 14 February 2011
"Freedom" Software
Just a link to a useful bit of software you can download.
It's called "Freedom" and you can use it to lock your internet connection for a fixed period of time. I use it myself as I know how tempting and distracting it can be to go online when I should be doing some work.
As we come up to the exam season, this might be worth a shot in order to allow you to concentrate on the important task of revising more fully.
For a free trial, click here.
The full version costs $10 (approx £6.50) and you'll probably need your parent/ guardian to make the online payment for you. There are versions available for both Windows and Mac. I haven't seen the Windows version but the Mac version runs very easily. As I say, I find it very useful if my will-power isn't doing as well as it should be...
It might be worth letting your parents have a look so they can make an informed judgment for themselves.
Hope the break is treating you all well.
It's called "Freedom" and you can use it to lock your internet connection for a fixed period of time. I use it myself as I know how tempting and distracting it can be to go online when I should be doing some work.
As we come up to the exam season, this might be worth a shot in order to allow you to concentrate on the important task of revising more fully.
For a free trial, click here.
The full version costs $10 (approx £6.50) and you'll probably need your parent/ guardian to make the online payment for you. There are versions available for both Windows and Mac. I haven't seen the Windows version but the Mac version runs very easily. As I say, I find it very useful if my will-power isn't doing as well as it should be...
It might be worth letting your parents have a look so they can make an informed judgment for themselves.
Hope the break is treating you all well.
Friday, 11 February 2011
Poetry - Glossary
This is not exhaustive but there's a link on the right-hand side if you need any more.
Adavnced Higher - Duffy Questions
(a) Make a detailed analysis of Duffy’s treatment of memory in Litany.
AND
(b) Go on to discuss Duffy’s treatment of memory in two other poems.
“Duffy uses her poems to show the distinction between interiors and exteriors”
Keeping this statement in mind, discuss the principal means by which Duffy explores the surface impressions in two or more of her poems.
Make a study of two or three poems in which Duffy makes use of persona — in monologue and/or in dialogue. In your study, you should examine the poetic techniques Duffy uses to create this and consider the effects achieved.
AND
(b) Go on to discuss Duffy’s treatment of memory in two other poems.
“Duffy uses her poems to show the distinction between interiors and exteriors”
Keeping this statement in mind, discuss the principal means by which Duffy explores the surface impressions in two or more of her poems.
Make a study of two or three poems in which Duffy makes use of persona — in monologue and/or in dialogue. In your study, you should examine the poetic techniques Duffy uses to create this and consider the effects achieved.
Wednesday, 9 February 2011
V For Vendetta - Intro/ Summary
V For Vendetta was directed by James McTeigue in 2004. It is a film that presents a dystopian future where England has fallen to a fascist regime. Against this government a single man tries to restore freedom. The film addresses many issues but the focus of this essay will be…. and how McTeigue effectively uses to cinematic techniques to achieve this.
A young woman (Evey) is drawn into the attempts of a masked “terrorist” (V) to overthrow the fascist government in England. Gradually, Evey is persuaded of the evils of her government and, by the time V is killed, she has adopted his revolutionary ideas and finishes his work; destroying the Houses of Parliament, a symbol of the wickedness of the government.
A young woman (Evey) is drawn into the attempts of a masked “terrorist” (V) to overthrow the fascist government in England. Gradually, Evey is persuaded of the evils of her government and, by the time V is killed, she has adopted his revolutionary ideas and finishes his work; destroying the Houses of Parliament, a symbol of the wickedness of the government.
An Inspector Calls - Intro/ Summary
“An Inspector Calls” was written by JB Priestley just before the start of war in 1939. Set just before the first world war, the play focuses on the self-destruction of a wealthy family as they learn of their involvement of the suspicious death of a young woman. While the play addresses many ideas, the focus of this essay will be… and how Priestley effectively uses to dramatic techniques to achieve this.
At a celebratory meal for the Birling family, who have arranged a marriage between their daughter Sheila and aristocratic Gerald. The joy is disrupted by the visit of a mysterious police inspector. He gradually explains to each how their callous actions have destroyed the life of a young girl. After he leaves them, the family bicker to escape their guilt, ignoring the fact that their actions, regardless, were immoral.
At a celebratory meal for the Birling family, who have arranged a marriage between their daughter Sheila and aristocratic Gerald. The joy is disrupted by the visit of a mysterious police inspector. He gradually explains to each how their callous actions have destroyed the life of a young girl. After he leaves them, the family bicker to escape their guilt, ignoring the fact that their actions, regardless, were immoral.
Monday, 7 February 2011
Tea-Drinkers Union
Just a quick note of what we discussed today:
1. Socrates, the father of modern philosophy.
2. The Socratic "Why?"
3. What do we mean by "good"?
4. What is valuable?
5. How do we know what we know?
Excellent debate today. Good, good, good, good, good, good, good, good, good.
1. Socrates, the father of modern philosophy.
2. The Socratic "Why?"
3. What do we mean by "good"?
4. What is valuable?
5. How do we know what we know?
Excellent debate today. Good, good, good, good, good, good, good, good, good.
Wednesday, 2 February 2011
Greek Myths - Talk Information
Hermes
Hermes was born on Mount Cyllene in Arcadia. According to the Homeric Hymn to Hermes, Zeus in the dead of night secretly raped Maia, a nymph and begot Hermes upon her. The Greeks generally applied the name Maia to a midwife or a wise and gentle old woman; so the nymph appears to have been an ancient one, or more probably a goddess. At any rate, she was one of the Pleiades, daughters of Atlas, taking refuge in a cave of Mount Cyllene in Arcadia. They were discovered by the local king Abacus, who raised Hermes as his foster son.
The infant Hermes was precocious. His first day he invented the lyre. By nightfall, he had rustled the immortal cattle of Apollo. For the first sacrifice, the taboos surrounding the sacred kine of Apollo had to be transgressed, and the trickster god of boundaries was the one to do it.
Hermes drove the cattle back to Greece and hid them, walking them backwards so that their tracks seemed to be going in the wrong direction. When Apollo accused Hermes, Maia said that it could not be him because he was with her the whole night. However, Zeus entered the argument and said that Hermes did steal the cattle and they should be returned. While arguing with Apollo, Hermes began to play his lyre. The instrument enchanted Apollo and he agreed to let Hermes keep the cattle in exchange for the lyre.
Hermes was born on Mount Cyllene in Arcadia. According to the Homeric Hymn to Hermes, Zeus in the dead of night secretly raped Maia, a nymph and begot Hermes upon her. The Greeks generally applied the name Maia to a midwife or a wise and gentle old woman; so the nymph appears to have been an ancient one, or more probably a goddess. At any rate, she was one of the Pleiades, daughters of Atlas, taking refuge in a cave of Mount Cyllene in Arcadia. They were discovered by the local king Abacus, who raised Hermes as his foster son.
The infant Hermes was precocious. His first day he invented the lyre. By nightfall, he had rustled the immortal cattle of Apollo. For the first sacrifice, the taboos surrounding the sacred kine of Apollo had to be transgressed, and the trickster god of boundaries was the one to do it.
Hermes drove the cattle back to Greece and hid them, walking them backwards so that their tracks seemed to be going in the wrong direction. When Apollo accused Hermes, Maia said that it could not be him because he was with her the whole night. However, Zeus entered the argument and said that Hermes did steal the cattle and they should be returned. While arguing with Apollo, Hermes began to play his lyre. The instrument enchanted Apollo and he agreed to let Hermes keep the cattle in exchange for the lyre.
Greek Myths - Talk Information
Hera
Echo
According to the urbane retelling of myth in Ovid's Metamorphoses,[33] for a long time, a nymph named Echo had the job of distracting Hera from Zeus' affairs by leading her away and flattering her. When Hera discovered the deception, she cursed Echo to only repeat the words of others (hence our modern word "echo").
Leto and Artemis/Apollo
When Hera discovered that Leto was pregnant and that Zeus was the father, she banned Leto from giving birth on "terra-firma", or the mainland, or any island at sea. Leto found the floating island of Delos, which was neither mainland nor a real island, and Leto was able to give birth to her children on the island. As a gesture of gratitude, Delos was secured with four pillars. The island later became sacred to Apollo. Alternatively, Hera kidnapped Eileithyia, the Goddess of Childbirth, to prevent Leto from going into labor. The other gods forced Hera to let her go. Either way, Artemis was born first and then assisted with the birth of Apollo. Some versions say Artemis helped her mother give birth to Apollo for nine days. Another variation states that Artemis was born one day before Apollo, on the island of Ortygia and that she helped Leto cross the sea to Delos the next day to give birth to Apollo.[34]
Semele and Dionysus
When Hera learned that Semele, daughter of Cadmus King of Thebes, was pregnant by Zeus, she disguised herself as Semele's nurse and persuaded the princess to insist that Zeus show himself to her in his true form. When he was compelled to do so, his thunder and lightning blasted her. Zeus took the child and completed its gestation sewn into his own thigh. Another variation is when Hera persuades Semele to force Zeus to show himself in his real form. Unfortunately, he must do what the princess wants, having sworn by Styx.[35] In another version, Dionysus was originally the son of Zeus by either Demeter or Persephone. Hera sent her Titans to rip the baby apart, from which he was called Zagreus ("Torn in Pieces"). Zeus rescued the heart and gave it to Semele to impregnate her; or, the heart was saved, variously, by Athena, Rhea, or Demeter.[36] Zeus used the heart to recreate Dionysus and implant him in the womb of Semele—hence Dionysus became known as "the twice-born". Certain versions imply that Zeus gave Semele the heart to eat to impregnate her. Hera tricked Semele into asking Zeus to show his true form, which killed her. But Dionysus managed to rescue her from the underworld and have her live on Mount Olympus.
Io
Hera almost caught Zeus with a mistress named Io, a fate avoided by Zeus turning Io into a beautiful white heifer. However, Hera was not completely fooled and demanded that Zeus give her the heifer as a present.
Once Io was given to Hera, she placed her in the charge of Argus to keep her separated from Zeus. Zeus then commanded Hermes to kill Argus, which he did by lulling all one hundred eyes to sleep. In Ovid's interpolation, when Hera learned of Argus' death, she took his eyes and placed them in the plumage of the peacock, accounting for the eye pattern in its tail.[37] Hera then sent a gadfly (Greek oistros, compare oestrus)) to sting Io as she wandered the earth. Eventually Io was driven to the ends of the earth, which the Romans believed to be Egypt, where she became a priestess of the Egyptian goddess, Isis.
Lamia
Lamia was a queen of Libya, whom Zeus loved. Hera turned her into a monster and murdered their children. Or, alternately, she killed Lamia's children and the grief turned her into a monster. Lamia was cursed with the inability to close her eyes so that she would always obsess over the image of her dead children. Zeus gave her the gift to be able to take her eyes out to rest, and then put them back in. Lamia was envious of other mothers and ate their children.
Echo
According to the urbane retelling of myth in Ovid's Metamorphoses,[33] for a long time, a nymph named Echo had the job of distracting Hera from Zeus' affairs by leading her away and flattering her. When Hera discovered the deception, she cursed Echo to only repeat the words of others (hence our modern word "echo").
Leto and Artemis/Apollo
When Hera discovered that Leto was pregnant and that Zeus was the father, she banned Leto from giving birth on "terra-firma", or the mainland, or any island at sea. Leto found the floating island of Delos, which was neither mainland nor a real island, and Leto was able to give birth to her children on the island. As a gesture of gratitude, Delos was secured with four pillars. The island later became sacred to Apollo. Alternatively, Hera kidnapped Eileithyia, the Goddess of Childbirth, to prevent Leto from going into labor. The other gods forced Hera to let her go. Either way, Artemis was born first and then assisted with the birth of Apollo. Some versions say Artemis helped her mother give birth to Apollo for nine days. Another variation states that Artemis was born one day before Apollo, on the island of Ortygia and that she helped Leto cross the sea to Delos the next day to give birth to Apollo.[34]
Semele and Dionysus
When Hera learned that Semele, daughter of Cadmus King of Thebes, was pregnant by Zeus, she disguised herself as Semele's nurse and persuaded the princess to insist that Zeus show himself to her in his true form. When he was compelled to do so, his thunder and lightning blasted her. Zeus took the child and completed its gestation sewn into his own thigh. Another variation is when Hera persuades Semele to force Zeus to show himself in his real form. Unfortunately, he must do what the princess wants, having sworn by Styx.[35] In another version, Dionysus was originally the son of Zeus by either Demeter or Persephone. Hera sent her Titans to rip the baby apart, from which he was called Zagreus ("Torn in Pieces"). Zeus rescued the heart and gave it to Semele to impregnate her; or, the heart was saved, variously, by Athena, Rhea, or Demeter.[36] Zeus used the heart to recreate Dionysus and implant him in the womb of Semele—hence Dionysus became known as "the twice-born". Certain versions imply that Zeus gave Semele the heart to eat to impregnate her. Hera tricked Semele into asking Zeus to show his true form, which killed her. But Dionysus managed to rescue her from the underworld and have her live on Mount Olympus.
Io
Hera almost caught Zeus with a mistress named Io, a fate avoided by Zeus turning Io into a beautiful white heifer. However, Hera was not completely fooled and demanded that Zeus give her the heifer as a present.
Once Io was given to Hera, she placed her in the charge of Argus to keep her separated from Zeus. Zeus then commanded Hermes to kill Argus, which he did by lulling all one hundred eyes to sleep. In Ovid's interpolation, when Hera learned of Argus' death, she took his eyes and placed them in the plumage of the peacock, accounting for the eye pattern in its tail.[37] Hera then sent a gadfly (Greek oistros, compare oestrus)) to sting Io as she wandered the earth. Eventually Io was driven to the ends of the earth, which the Romans believed to be Egypt, where she became a priestess of the Egyptian goddess, Isis.
Lamia
Lamia was a queen of Libya, whom Zeus loved. Hera turned her into a monster and murdered their children. Or, alternately, she killed Lamia's children and the grief turned her into a monster. Lamia was cursed with the inability to close her eyes so that she would always obsess over the image of her dead children. Zeus gave her the gift to be able to take her eyes out to rest, and then put them back in. Lamia was envious of other mothers and ate their children.
Greek Myths - Talk Information
Songs to Ares
Homeric Hymn 8 to Ares (Greek epic C7th to 4th B.C.)
"Ares, exceeding in strength, chariot-rider, golden-helmed, doughty in heart, shield-bearer, Saviour of cities, harnessed in bronze, strong of arm, unwearying, mighty with the spear, O defender of Olympos, father of warlike Nike (Victory), ally of Themis, stern governor of the rebellious, leader of the righteous men, sceptred King of manliness, who whirl your fiery sphere [the star Mars] among the planets in their sevenfold courses through the aither wherein your blazing steeds ever bear you above the third firmament of heaven; hear me, helper of men, giver of dauntless youth! Shed down a kindly ray from above upon my life, and strength of war, that I may be able to drive away bitter cowardice from my head and crush down the deceitful impulses of my soul. Restrain also the keen fury of my heart which provokes me to tread the ways of blood-curdling strife. Rather, O blessed one, give you me boldness to abide within the harmless laws of peace, avoiding strife and hatred and the violent fiends of death."
Orphic Hymn 65 to Ares (Greek hymns C3rd B.C. to 2nd A.D.)
"To Ares, Fumigation from Frankincense. Magnanimous, unconquered, boisterous Ares, in darts rejoicing, and in bloody wars; fierce and untamed, whose mighty power can make the strongest walls from their foundations shake: mortal-destroying king, defiled with gore, pleased with war’s dreadful and tumultuous roar. Thee human blood, and swords, and spears delight, and the dire ruin of mad savage fight. Stay furious contests, and avenging strife, whose works with woe embitter human life; to lovely Kyrpis [Aphrodite] and to Lyaios [Dionysos] yield, for arms exchange the labours of the field; encourage peace, to gentle works inclined, and give abundance, with benignant mind."
Homeric Hymn 8 to Ares (Greek epic C7th to 4th B.C.)
"Ares, exceeding in strength, chariot-rider, golden-helmed, doughty in heart, shield-bearer, Saviour of cities, harnessed in bronze, strong of arm, unwearying, mighty with the spear, O defender of Olympos, father of warlike Nike (Victory), ally of Themis, stern governor of the rebellious, leader of the righteous men, sceptred King of manliness, who whirl your fiery sphere [the star Mars] among the planets in their sevenfold courses through the aither wherein your blazing steeds ever bear you above the third firmament of heaven; hear me, helper of men, giver of dauntless youth! Shed down a kindly ray from above upon my life, and strength of war, that I may be able to drive away bitter cowardice from my head and crush down the deceitful impulses of my soul. Restrain also the keen fury of my heart which provokes me to tread the ways of blood-curdling strife. Rather, O blessed one, give you me boldness to abide within the harmless laws of peace, avoiding strife and hatred and the violent fiends of death."
Orphic Hymn 65 to Ares (Greek hymns C3rd B.C. to 2nd A.D.)
"To Ares, Fumigation from Frankincense. Magnanimous, unconquered, boisterous Ares, in darts rejoicing, and in bloody wars; fierce and untamed, whose mighty power can make the strongest walls from their foundations shake: mortal-destroying king, defiled with gore, pleased with war’s dreadful and tumultuous roar. Thee human blood, and swords, and spears delight, and the dire ruin of mad savage fight. Stay furious contests, and avenging strife, whose works with woe embitter human life; to lovely Kyrpis [Aphrodite] and to Lyaios [Dionysos] yield, for arms exchange the labours of the field; encourage peace, to gentle works inclined, and give abundance, with benignant mind."
Greek Myths - Talk Information
Artemis
Artemis and Actaeon
Artemis was once bathing in a vale on Mount Cithaeron, when the Theban hunter Actaeon stumbled across her. Enraged, Artemis turned him into a stag and, not knowing their own owner, Actaeon's own dogs killed him.
Artemis and Adonis
In some versions of the story of Adonis, who was a late addition to Greek mythology during the Hellenistic period, Artemis sent a wild boar to kill Adonis as punishment for his hubristic boast that he was a better hunter than she.
In other versions, Artemis killed Adonis for revenge. In later myths, Adonis had been related as a favorite of Aphrodite, and Aphrodite was responsible for the death of Hippolytus, who had been a favorite of Artemis. Therefore, Artemis killed Adonis to avenge Hippolytus’s death.
Orion
Orion was a hunting companion of the goddess Artemis. In some versions of his story he was killed by Artemis, while in others he was killed by a scorpion sent by Gaia. In some versions, Orion tried to seduce Opis,[32] one of her followers, and she killed him. In a version by Aratus,[33] Orion took hold of Artemis' robe and she killed him in self-defense.
In yet another version, Apollo sent the scorpion. According to Hyginus[34] Artemis once loved Orion (in spite of the late source, this version appears to be a rare remnant of her as the pre-Olympian goddess, who took consorts, as Eos did), but was tricked into killing him by her brother Apollo, who was "protective" of his sister's maidenhood.
Artemis and Actaeon
Artemis was once bathing in a vale on Mount Cithaeron, when the Theban hunter Actaeon stumbled across her. Enraged, Artemis turned him into a stag and, not knowing their own owner, Actaeon's own dogs killed him.
Artemis and Adonis
In some versions of the story of Adonis, who was a late addition to Greek mythology during the Hellenistic period, Artemis sent a wild boar to kill Adonis as punishment for his hubristic boast that he was a better hunter than she.
In other versions, Artemis killed Adonis for revenge. In later myths, Adonis had been related as a favorite of Aphrodite, and Aphrodite was responsible for the death of Hippolytus, who had been a favorite of Artemis. Therefore, Artemis killed Adonis to avenge Hippolytus’s death.
Orion
Orion was a hunting companion of the goddess Artemis. In some versions of his story he was killed by Artemis, while in others he was killed by a scorpion sent by Gaia. In some versions, Orion tried to seduce Opis,[32] one of her followers, and she killed him. In a version by Aratus,[33] Orion took hold of Artemis' robe and she killed him in self-defense.
In yet another version, Apollo sent the scorpion. According to Hyginus[34] Artemis once loved Orion (in spite of the late source, this version appears to be a rare remnant of her as the pre-Olympian goddess, who took consorts, as Eos did), but was tricked into killing him by her brother Apollo, who was "protective" of his sister's maidenhood.
Greek Myths - Talk Information
Poseidon
Poseidon was a son of Cronus and Rhea. In most accounts he is swallowed by Cronus at birth but later saved, with his other brothers and sisters, by Zeus. However in some versions of the story, he, like his brother Zeus, did not share the fate of his other brother and sisters who were eaten by Cronus. He was saved by his mother Rhea, who concealed him among a flock of lambs and pretended to have given birth to a colt, which she gave to Cronus to devour.[13] According to John Tzetzes[14] the kourotrophos, or nurse of Poseidon was Arne, who denied knowing where he was, when Cronus came searching; according to Diodorus Siculus[15] Poseidon was raised by the Telchines on Rhodes, just as Zeus was raised by the Korybantes on Crete.
According to a single reference in the Iliad, when the world was divided by lot in three, Zeus received the sky, Hades the underworld and Poseidon the sea. In the Odyssey (v.398), Poseidon has a home in Aegae.
The foundation of Athens
Athena became the patron goddess of the city of Athens after a competition with Poseidon. Yet Poseidon remained a numinous presence on the Acropolis in the form of his surrogate, Erechtheus.[1] At the dissolution festival at the end of the year in the Athenian calendar, the Skira, the priests of Athena and the priest of Poseidon would process under canopies to Eleusis.[16] They agreed that each would give the Athenians one gift and the Athenians would choose whichever gift they preferred. Poseidon struck the ground with his trident and a spring sprang up; the water was salty and not very useful,[17] whereas Athena offered them an olive tree. The Athenians (or their king, Cecrops) accepted the olive tree and along with it Athena as their patron, for the olive tree brought wood, oil and food. After the fight, infuriated at his loss, Poseidon sent a monstrous flood to the Attic Plain, to punish the Athenians for not choosing him. The depression made by Poseidon's trident and filled with salt water was surrounded by the northern hall of the Erechtheum, remaining open to the air. "In cult, Poseidon was identified with Erechtheus," Walter Burkert noted; "the myth turns this into a temporal-causal sequence: in his anger at losing, Poseidon led his son Eumolpus against Athens and killed Erectheus."[18]
The contest of Athena and Poseidon was the subject of the reliefs on the western pediment of the Parthenon, the first sight that greeted the arriving visitor.
This myth is construed by Robert Graves and others as reflecting a clash between the inhabitants during Mycenaean times and newer immigrants. It is interesting to note that Athens at its height was a significant sea power, at one point defeating the Persian fleet at Salamis Island in a sea battle.
Poseidon was a son of Cronus and Rhea. In most accounts he is swallowed by Cronus at birth but later saved, with his other brothers and sisters, by Zeus. However in some versions of the story, he, like his brother Zeus, did not share the fate of his other brother and sisters who were eaten by Cronus. He was saved by his mother Rhea, who concealed him among a flock of lambs and pretended to have given birth to a colt, which she gave to Cronus to devour.[13] According to John Tzetzes[14] the kourotrophos, or nurse of Poseidon was Arne, who denied knowing where he was, when Cronus came searching; according to Diodorus Siculus[15] Poseidon was raised by the Telchines on Rhodes, just as Zeus was raised by the Korybantes on Crete.
According to a single reference in the Iliad, when the world was divided by lot in three, Zeus received the sky, Hades the underworld and Poseidon the sea. In the Odyssey (v.398), Poseidon has a home in Aegae.
The foundation of Athens
Athena became the patron goddess of the city of Athens after a competition with Poseidon. Yet Poseidon remained a numinous presence on the Acropolis in the form of his surrogate, Erechtheus.[1] At the dissolution festival at the end of the year in the Athenian calendar, the Skira, the priests of Athena and the priest of Poseidon would process under canopies to Eleusis.[16] They agreed that each would give the Athenians one gift and the Athenians would choose whichever gift they preferred. Poseidon struck the ground with his trident and a spring sprang up; the water was salty and not very useful,[17] whereas Athena offered them an olive tree. The Athenians (or their king, Cecrops) accepted the olive tree and along with it Athena as their patron, for the olive tree brought wood, oil and food. After the fight, infuriated at his loss, Poseidon sent a monstrous flood to the Attic Plain, to punish the Athenians for not choosing him. The depression made by Poseidon's trident and filled with salt water was surrounded by the northern hall of the Erechtheum, remaining open to the air. "In cult, Poseidon was identified with Erechtheus," Walter Burkert noted; "the myth turns this into a temporal-causal sequence: in his anger at losing, Poseidon led his son Eumolpus against Athens and killed Erectheus."[18]
The contest of Athena and Poseidon was the subject of the reliefs on the western pediment of the Parthenon, the first sight that greeted the arriving visitor.
This myth is construed by Robert Graves and others as reflecting a clash between the inhabitants during Mycenaean times and newer immigrants. It is interesting to note that Athens at its height was a significant sea power, at one point defeating the Persian fleet at Salamis Island in a sea battle.
Tea-Drinkers Union/ S1 Classicists
This is a nice website that has some excellent quotes from both Roman and Greek cultures. Really, well worth a look...
Tuesday, 1 February 2011
Why do teenagers have such a bad press?
Intro
• The reporting of teenagers in the media is a contentious/ difficult/ complicated issue.
• Teenagers are often in the news, but their reporting is a moot/ controversial/ debatable issue.
• Every generation of teenagers has its reputation scrutinised by the media.
• The reputation of teenagers is not clear cut: are they a good influence in society, or bad?
• Their behaviour, language and culture is alien to adults, but can we really say it is deserving of a bad reputation?
• Perhaps their strange and clandestine/ esoteric culture is hard for adults to understand, but the extent to which it can be said to be “bad” is hard to say.
• The reputation of teenagers is wide open to personal experience and interpretation.
• While teenagers may seem a separate species to most adults, can we say their culture deserves a bad reputation.
• That said, it cannot be denied that through anti-social behaviour, teenagers do not help themselves.
• Seeing a group of underage drinkers at a bus-stop, though, hardly refutes/ contradicts/ disagrees with the picture painted by the media.
Section 1:
Many adults claim that teenagers abuse the language as they know it.
- Give examples of how teenagers use this language
- How might adults consider this language “an abuse”
- Why do adults not like this language?
- Do all teenagers have their own way of speaking?
Section 2:
- Few adults draw attention to teenagers’ good work
- Hundreds of thousands of teenagers do voluntary work
- Our bars and restaurants depend on teenagers for waiting tables, etc
- None of this is reported
- Only the behaviour of a minority gets reported
- This is hugely unfair
Section 3:
Teenagers are rude
- Give examples of their rude behaviour
- No please or thank yous
- No manners (what do we mean by “manners”)
- Being loud and boisterous
- What instead of pardon
- A loss of “respect for elders”
Section 4:
- Every generation of teenagers has been given a bad reputation
- This is because adults do not fully understand them
- Adults don’t remember what it was like to be a teenager
- They have a nostalgic view that does not acknowledge any bad behaviour
- They think education used to be better but conditions in schools were brutal
- They think teens are no badly behaved but this is just because there are more media to report it
- We have never had so much media in human history
- Hence, more bad stories are going to be published
Section 5:
- The media is based on capitalism and the drive to make money
- Without profit, the media will collapse
- So, the media run stories which are sensationalised
- These tend to be more shocking to outrage people and encourage them to buy their newspapers
- This is nothing to do with fair reporting – it is about increasing the circulation of the paper
- Consequently, teenagers are painted as yobs when 99% of teens arewell-behaved and conscientious citizens
Conclusion
Your point of view/ opinion
• The reporting of teenagers in the media is a contentious/ difficult/ complicated issue.
• Teenagers are often in the news, but their reporting is a moot/ controversial/ debatable issue.
• Every generation of teenagers has its reputation scrutinised by the media.
• The reputation of teenagers is not clear cut: are they a good influence in society, or bad?
• Their behaviour, language and culture is alien to adults, but can we really say it is deserving of a bad reputation?
• Perhaps their strange and clandestine/ esoteric culture is hard for adults to understand, but the extent to which it can be said to be “bad” is hard to say.
• The reputation of teenagers is wide open to personal experience and interpretation.
• While teenagers may seem a separate species to most adults, can we say their culture deserves a bad reputation.
• That said, it cannot be denied that through anti-social behaviour, teenagers do not help themselves.
• Seeing a group of underage drinkers at a bus-stop, though, hardly refutes/ contradicts/ disagrees with the picture painted by the media.
Section 1:
Many adults claim that teenagers abuse the language as they know it.
- Give examples of how teenagers use this language
- How might adults consider this language “an abuse”
- Why do adults not like this language?
- Do all teenagers have their own way of speaking?
Section 2:
- Few adults draw attention to teenagers’ good work
- Hundreds of thousands of teenagers do voluntary work
- Our bars and restaurants depend on teenagers for waiting tables, etc
- None of this is reported
- Only the behaviour of a minority gets reported
- This is hugely unfair
Section 3:
Teenagers are rude
- Give examples of their rude behaviour
- No please or thank yous
- No manners (what do we mean by “manners”)
- Being loud and boisterous
- What instead of pardon
- A loss of “respect for elders”
Section 4:
- Every generation of teenagers has been given a bad reputation
- This is because adults do not fully understand them
- Adults don’t remember what it was like to be a teenager
- They have a nostalgic view that does not acknowledge any bad behaviour
- They think education used to be better but conditions in schools were brutal
- They think teens are no badly behaved but this is just because there are more media to report it
- We have never had so much media in human history
- Hence, more bad stories are going to be published
Section 5:
- The media is based on capitalism and the drive to make money
- Without profit, the media will collapse
- So, the media run stories which are sensationalised
- These tend to be more shocking to outrage people and encourage them to buy their newspapers
- This is nothing to do with fair reporting – it is about increasing the circulation of the paper
- Consequently, teenagers are painted as yobs when 99% of teens arewell-behaved and conscientious citizens
Conclusion
Your point of view/ opinion
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