This week was nice with only having one day of class and all. Wednesday's reading was very hard for me to follow. It was the Pericles' "Funeral Oration." Apparently it was his famous speech for soldiers who died in war. At first, I really didn't think this speech was very appropriate for a funeral, it just didn't seem like it was meant for that purpose. Closer to the end of the speech, I was able to see some relations to funerals. There were several confusing words and phrases throughout the entire reading, this was definitely not my favorite reading. Friday's reading was from "The Trial and Death of Socrates" by Plato. We read the chapter titled "Apology." It was not actually an apology, but more of Socrates' explanation to the jury about his false charges that were brought against him by Meletus. He was charged for being a Sophist, which is just a fancy word for somebody who makes people pay them in order to hear "wise words." They were pretty much just like lawyers, because they taught people how to argue and win, not teaching them real truth. He was also charged with corrupting the youth, and not believing in the gods, but in other new spiritual things. This part is funny. Meletus is charging Socrates with not believing in the gods, making him an atheist. But then he is also charging him with believing in other new spiritual things, making him not an atheist. So these two charges pretty much cancel each other out.
I really liked the Greek definition of wisdom. It is "knowing the limits of your knowledge; comes from knowing that you don't know, rather than assuming specialized knowledge makes you wise." These are some profound words. I like how the Oracle says that Socrates is the wisest man alive, simply because he knows that he doesn't know anything. He goes around trying to find someone wiser than himself, but finds no one. And why is that? Because everybody else thinks they know everything. They can't admit that they really don't know shit. That makes me laugh. Another way of defining wisdom is "the lifelong pursuit of knowledge." Because it is pretty much impossible for any human being on earth to know everything, nobody is truly wise. But if they are constantly out there searching for the truth, that makes them wise.
I think that this chapter was kind of neat. I am almost (not quite, but almost) anxious to read the next chapter for next week.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Sunday is the End of My Week
I don't know when the end of the week is supposed to be, but for me, my week is Monday-Sunday lol.
So this week was books 16, 18, 22, 24, and teh last 17 lines of 23. Book 16 is about how Achilles' friend Patroclus dies. I can feel Achilles' pain in this bok. Patroclus wears Achilles' armor to pretend to be him, so that Achilles' could kill man-killing Hector. The only thing Patroclus could not wield was Achilles' spear. Only Achilles could handle such a heavy weapon. I can understand Achilles' rage after his friend was killed. He was out to get Hector, that's for sure.
Book 18 is about the Shield of Achilles. I did not know how much detail went into the making of armor in those days. Hephaestus was the crippled craftsman to make his shield. I love the thorough description of the 9 different sections of Achilles' shield. The earth, sky and sea, the sun, the moon, and the celestial constellations are in the center of the shield. This is like the center of his worldview (like the sun). The two cities, the City at Peace and the City at War, scene was very interesting. In the City at Peace there was a scene of two men quarreling over a murdered family member. Instead of killing each other over it (like the City at War would have done), they decided to have a judge make the final decision. There was also a field being tilled, a king's estate with the harvest being reaped, and a vineyard with people picking the grapes. There was a pasture where some cattle were being violently killed by some lions. And next to that bloody scene was a sheep farm with sheep. My favorite scene was the dance floow, where men and women were dancing. I really enjoy going out and dancing with my friends. I thought the river of ocean was neat, how it surrounded the entire shield, like a protective barrier for his protective armor. I do think it is funny how there is not mention of the gods, since not only is he half-god, but the gods are a big part of this time period.
Book 22 and 24 describe the death of Hector, as wella s how Achilles' shamed him. After killing Hector, Achilles was so filled with rage that he dragged Hector's body from his chariot for 12 days around Troy. He woke up every morning, tied Hector's body to his chariot, dragged him around the walls of Trow, and then went back to his tent to eat breakfast. I cannot believe this continued for 12 days straight. All I can say is wow. What an asshole. I can understand his hurt for his friend, but seriously, that is just low. He should be ashamed of himself. I am glad that he gave Hector's body back to Priam so Hector could have the burial that he deserved. It made me sad to learn that Hector had to die. I knew this before I even got to read that part, but I really liked Hector. He was fighting for his country, his friends, and his family, while Achilles was just in the fight for revenge. He is stupid. I definitely do not like Achilles.
I do hope the other books we read at least have a little bit happier story line, and maybe even a happy ending. I did enjoy thi sbook very much though because it was quite descriptive, like many stories from this time. I have read several different excerpts from The Illiad many different times in high school, and even once freshman year of college. I am glad to have been able to divulge deeper into the meanings behind the words this time.
So this week was books 16, 18, 22, 24, and teh last 17 lines of 23. Book 16 is about how Achilles' friend Patroclus dies. I can feel Achilles' pain in this bok. Patroclus wears Achilles' armor to pretend to be him, so that Achilles' could kill man-killing Hector. The only thing Patroclus could not wield was Achilles' spear. Only Achilles could handle such a heavy weapon. I can understand Achilles' rage after his friend was killed. He was out to get Hector, that's for sure.
Book 18 is about the Shield of Achilles. I did not know how much detail went into the making of armor in those days. Hephaestus was the crippled craftsman to make his shield. I love the thorough description of the 9 different sections of Achilles' shield. The earth, sky and sea, the sun, the moon, and the celestial constellations are in the center of the shield. This is like the center of his worldview (like the sun). The two cities, the City at Peace and the City at War, scene was very interesting. In the City at Peace there was a scene of two men quarreling over a murdered family member. Instead of killing each other over it (like the City at War would have done), they decided to have a judge make the final decision. There was also a field being tilled, a king's estate with the harvest being reaped, and a vineyard with people picking the grapes. There was a pasture where some cattle were being violently killed by some lions. And next to that bloody scene was a sheep farm with sheep. My favorite scene was the dance floow, where men and women were dancing. I really enjoy going out and dancing with my friends. I thought the river of ocean was neat, how it surrounded the entire shield, like a protective barrier for his protective armor. I do think it is funny how there is not mention of the gods, since not only is he half-god, but the gods are a big part of this time period.
Book 22 and 24 describe the death of Hector, as wella s how Achilles' shamed him. After killing Hector, Achilles was so filled with rage that he dragged Hector's body from his chariot for 12 days around Troy. He woke up every morning, tied Hector's body to his chariot, dragged him around the walls of Trow, and then went back to his tent to eat breakfast. I cannot believe this continued for 12 days straight. All I can say is wow. What an asshole. I can understand his hurt for his friend, but seriously, that is just low. He should be ashamed of himself. I am glad that he gave Hector's body back to Priam so Hector could have the burial that he deserved. It made me sad to learn that Hector had to die. I knew this before I even got to read that part, but I really liked Hector. He was fighting for his country, his friends, and his family, while Achilles was just in the fight for revenge. He is stupid. I definitely do not like Achilles.
I do hope the other books we read at least have a little bit happier story line, and maybe even a happy ending. I did enjoy thi sbook very much though because it was quite descriptive, like many stories from this time. I have read several different excerpts from The Illiad many different times in high school, and even once freshman year of college. I am glad to have been able to divulge deeper into the meanings behind the words this time.
Friday, January 15, 2010
The Easiest Day
Well I have to say that this week will probably be the easiest days of class. During this first week, we discussed the common history of the Greeks, as well as read the first and sixth book of Homer: The Illiad. I have to say that there are way too many names to remember right now! I am glad that the book follows only certain characters, because I couldn't remember every "This person is the son of this person, and they are from here, and killed this person," live.
I think it is funny how gods are made in man-like image, and if a mortal man is compared to a god, it is an insult. (Since the Gods are fickle creatures.) I can already tell that I am probably going to really like this class, if I can learn to understand the language used.
In Book I, the story follows Achilles, who is very moody and angry. He is only out there for his own glory. He even begs his mother at one point to help him commit treachery towards his fellow Achaean's, to prove his worth to them. He may have been on the same side as Agamemnon, and was one of his "highest knights persay," but they definitely did not get a long.
I can understand both sides of the story, where Achilles stands up to Agamemnon, but Agamemnon is the king, and I guess he does deserve the best. You do not challenge your king. Agamemnon was acting kind of like a baby when he decided to give back Chryseis to her father, Apollo's priest Chryses, and demanded that everybody give him prizes to make up for it. Achilles stood up and said he didn't deserve their prizes, because the gods (and the priest) only requested Agamemnon's prize, not everybody elses. I would be pissed if I was told to give up my stuff because somebody else lost theirs, but I guess I would also be pissed if I had to give up my stuff and somebody tried to challenge what I wanted.
In Book VI, the story focused more on Hector. I do like Hector better. He is fighting not only for his own honor and glory, but also for his home, his family, and his fellow Trojans. He does not go to see his mother to cry to her, but to ask her to gather the other older women to pray to Athena for help. He refuses the wine she offers him, to keep his head straight. He then goes to see his brother, and finds him adoring himself in his armor. He first makes fun of him and ridicules him, and then tells him he needs to be out there fighting. Paris agrees with him, but says he needs to wait a little bit, but will meet up with him later. I think he is just scared.
After visiting his brother, he goes to find his wife and child, and has to ask a servant where they are. They were watching the battle. I feel bad for his wife, because she is there crying wanting him to be with her and their son. But I also think she is a little bit of a whiner. She kind of goes over the top by bragging about having nothing left. (I mean I can understand losing her family, but she doesn't need to shove it in his face.) He is Troy's best fighter, and he isn't trying to just get his glory fix, he wants to save Troy's glory, and save his wife, son, and all of the other women and children.
I enjoy this story, even if it is very brutal, bloody, and hard language sometimes. There may be a lot of names to remember, but it is something that I can actually read and enjoy. I hope that the other stories are just as good.
I think it is funny how gods are made in man-like image, and if a mortal man is compared to a god, it is an insult. (Since the Gods are fickle creatures.) I can already tell that I am probably going to really like this class, if I can learn to understand the language used.
In Book I, the story follows Achilles, who is very moody and angry. He is only out there for his own glory. He even begs his mother at one point to help him commit treachery towards his fellow Achaean's, to prove his worth to them. He may have been on the same side as Agamemnon, and was one of his "highest knights persay," but they definitely did not get a long.
I can understand both sides of the story, where Achilles stands up to Agamemnon, but Agamemnon is the king, and I guess he does deserve the best. You do not challenge your king. Agamemnon was acting kind of like a baby when he decided to give back Chryseis to her father, Apollo's priest Chryses, and demanded that everybody give him prizes to make up for it. Achilles stood up and said he didn't deserve their prizes, because the gods (and the priest) only requested Agamemnon's prize, not everybody elses. I would be pissed if I was told to give up my stuff because somebody else lost theirs, but I guess I would also be pissed if I had to give up my stuff and somebody tried to challenge what I wanted.
In Book VI, the story focused more on Hector. I do like Hector better. He is fighting not only for his own honor and glory, but also for his home, his family, and his fellow Trojans. He does not go to see his mother to cry to her, but to ask her to gather the other older women to pray to Athena for help. He refuses the wine she offers him, to keep his head straight. He then goes to see his brother, and finds him adoring himself in his armor. He first makes fun of him and ridicules him, and then tells him he needs to be out there fighting. Paris agrees with him, but says he needs to wait a little bit, but will meet up with him later. I think he is just scared.
After visiting his brother, he goes to find his wife and child, and has to ask a servant where they are. They were watching the battle. I feel bad for his wife, because she is there crying wanting him to be with her and their son. But I also think she is a little bit of a whiner. She kind of goes over the top by bragging about having nothing left. (I mean I can understand losing her family, but she doesn't need to shove it in his face.) He is Troy's best fighter, and he isn't trying to just get his glory fix, he wants to save Troy's glory, and save his wife, son, and all of the other women and children.
I enjoy this story, even if it is very brutal, bloody, and hard language sometimes. There may be a lot of names to remember, but it is something that I can actually read and enjoy. I hope that the other stories are just as good.
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