Section 3
December 19, 2018
Total Words: 634
Homer speaks to
his audience using poetry as the medium of his story. Contra Marshall McLuhan,
in the case of The Illiad, the medium
is not the message. In the day of Homer, people generally wrote through the
form of poetry. Through poetry, Homer told a story including and utilizing the
Greek gods as characters in the story. Pagan culture surrounded Homer at the
time of writing, meaning many people believed in many gods. Thus, by having
multiple gods in this way, Homer appealed to the worldview of his audience.
Additionally, people at that time believed that if one worked enough, they
could become a god. With a belief that mankind could conquer the evil of
society, people thought that humans could achieve perfection.
In Dante’s Divine Comedy, the rule of three, the
number three, and the symmetry inside the book suggest the specific theological
idea of the trinity. Many examples show three different things or ideas.
Specifically, the story generally follows three people throughout. Prominently,
the Dante divided the book into three sub-sections. Symmetrically, three things
point to the three figures of God. Throughout the book, Dante reminds readers
that God exists in the three persons of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Speaking
to readers, Dante communicates an obfuscated idea, yet readers can discern the
truth in the message. Structurally, Dante beautifully furnishes his poem with
the number three in order to suggest the greater theological theme.
All words hold
power. Even the nimblest of words own authority. Seamus Heaney, in “Digging”
expresses intricate concepts through nimble and simple phrases. For instance,
the third line of the second stanza portrays a clear picture of a son analyzing
thoughts with the three simple words of “I look down.” On Sunday mornings
during church, taking notes, I look down to my almost sub-conscious doodling: a
gun with my pen as the barrel. Influenced by Heaney’s artistic craft, I recall,
recite, and rewrite the elegant words, “the squat pen rests; snug as a gun,”
remembering the power of words. I love words. Heaney reminds me that if I do
not use words carefully, I lose the control over my influence and could harm
others.
For years and
years, English teachers plague students with the requirement of reading his
work and writing about his talent: Shakespeare. Why would teachers plague
students? Teachers must have a good reason. Perhaps students should learn the
reasons if they do not understand. Through many ways, Shakespeare crafted
himself into the greatest wordsmith of all time, a position he made difficult
to contest by using rhyme schemes and consistent rhythm. With messages
interlaced in humorous plots and tragic tales, his work resounds across culture
even still today, influencing practically everyone everywhere. In Richard II,
he uses analogies left and right and words like insinuate or beguile: vibrant vivid
verbs. As a virtuoso, Shakespeare was an excellent leader the writing realm.
Conclusively, students can learn why they read Shakespeare with ease.
Humans, now broken
creatures, once lived in an unblemished realm, a constant fellowship of peace.
I think most likely, Ayd Rand spoke once, “Every writer is a moral
philosopher.” In all different ways, all writers elude to their life patterns:
how they live, what they ought to do. For instance, Richad II illustrates no
king or queen could perfectly rule for justice. Humankind, a fallen race, cries
out at the breaking of spirits everywhere. Dante elaborates upon the recreation
of human reality; he even seems to think humans are beasts. We have lost our
touch; from the beginning we broke the rules. Siegfried Sassoon speaks also of
injustice and the corrupt nature of people in “Base Details” through the
immoral actions of even the scarlet Major. Every character profanes an aspect
of life; the degree and method vary, but all people sin.
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