Posts

How, why, and to what effect does Mahfouz use stream-of-consciousness narration in the novel?

Throughout the novel Mahfouz explores the deep and inner thought of Said Mahran using a stream-of-consciousness narration. This type of narration started to be used more often as realist fiction and the modern literature movement began to grow. In the past, the focus of stories would often be to create something out of this world or mythical in order to create interest for novels. The main purpose was to entertain the audience and create a broad message and theme that most people can apply to their lives. However, as novels began to focus on more realist fiction, character development became more important for novels. With this new perspective, new narration styles were pioneered to help dive deep into the minds of characters to help create a realistic representation of human emotions and experiences. Mahfouz makes use of stream of consciousness narration throughout the novel in order to gain a better insight into the unstable mind of Said Mahran. He does this through inner monologu

Two articles introductions

If the text had been written in a different time or place or language or for a different audience, how and why might it differ? In the opinion column "Here's something I'd be thankful for: Ridding football of racial slurs" written by Jefferson Keel, he explores how the use of sports mascots depicting Native Americans is racist. In our current time period, this article would be read with respect and an open mind for the most part, depending on the political views and beliefs of the reader. However, had this article been written a hundred years prior, the views and opinions of Keel would not be taken seriously, as American readers at the time did not have the same racial tolerance as they do now, not having gone through the civil rights movements, and overall shifts in morals that come with time. Furthermore, the article would likely not have been published considering the racial prejudices at the time towards Native American Indians. This helps to showcase how a tex

Two Introductions

1. How could the text be read and interpreted differently by two different readers? The New York Times article "For women under 30, most births occur outside marriage" written by Jason DeParle and Sabrina Tavernise could be read and interpreted differently by varying audiences. This all depends on things like their age, political beliefs, gender, as well as their personal values and opinions. Looking at this text from the conservative perspective with a middle to middle-high social status, and focus on traditional values; that reader will mostly agree with the opinions presented in these articles, and the certain biases. However, a younger and more liberal person in a lower and similar social status, with a relatively high education will most likely pick up on these biases, and disagree with the biggest statements made in this article. The focus on these perspectives will help illustrate the certain dichotomy between these two political beliefs, as well as provide an examp

Practice IOC

  https://youtu.be/h_GElleAJzA

In what ways could Wallace's theory be applicable to Their Eyes Were Watching God?

David Foster Wallace's 'This is Water' and Zora Neale Hurston's 'Their Eyes Were Watching God' are at times quite similar. The default setting that Wallace describes in 'This is Water' is similar to the way Hurston describes Janie's emotion while she is married to Joe. She is forced to stay at home or at the shop, while Joe is working as mayor of Eatonville. While there is no mention of routine, Hurston does describe Janie feeling like she does not know where the last twenty years went, which is similar to the automatic or default setting that Wallace describes in his text. And you can assume that a contributing factor to this feeling, would be the fact that every day Janie is doing the same thing. When you are stuck in a constant routine, your grasp of time tends to get weaker and weaker the longer it goes on for. In terms of empathy and emotional intelligence, at times it is quite difficult to empathize with characters in Their Eyes Were Watching

Structure in Things Fall Apart

Chinua Achebe as we all know is a proud Igbo and a devote Christian. He was a member of the Nigerian independence movement, and published the novel shortly before they gained independence. Having this information at hand, you can understand why he incorporated certain elements of structure into the novel. In the first part of the novel, he aims to educate his audience about the Igbo culture. An example of this would be in the first chapter when Okoye is talking to Unoka about the debts that he must repay him. The third person omniscient narrator mentions the fact that in Igbo culture, conversation is considered an art, where proverbs are respected, and one does speaks around the point their trying to make, rather than directly at it. This is reflected in the first part of the novel, as the story is told in a very circular motion, rather than linear. This is intentional, as it gives the novel a certain Igbo authenticity. In terms of the narrative voice, Achebe decides to use a third pe

Introduction

The personal history of an author can have a significant influence on the way meaning is constructed in his/her writing. Comment on specific instances of such influence in Things Fall Apart. Chinua Achebe wrote the novel 'Things Fall Apart' in 1958, two years before the independence of Nigeria, and was a devoted member of the Nigerian independence movement. Although the British did take Nigeria for themselves by destroying the previous culture, and despite his role in the independence movement, Achebe does his best to equal the playing field, and refrains from writing the British as these monsters who ruined the utopia that was Umuofia. The reason for this is because of his personal history, living as a devoted Christian but also a proud Igbo. He uses this complex personal history to help influence meaning in his novel and therefore creates characters that are imperfect, helping to create a balance between the two sides in the novel.