IOC Practice

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Women's Literature Reflection

What is the purpose and benefit of the study of literature? 

The typical reply to such a question would evolve developing ones skills in communication. This is true, as studying literature as a whole can develop the skills to share ideas through speech and writing, but it also develops ones ability to read and listen to the sharing of others ideas. Overall, literature is a mere sharing of ideas, and studying it helps us do so too. But, in my opinion, it's more than that; more than just learning to communicate. Engaging in timeless literature allows for us to connect with anyone, through the communication of ideas. Themes from centuries before can still be relatable today, and time and place is of no significance when considering the connection that a reader can have to the literature being read. Such sympathy can be felt for characters who feel pain, and extreme joy is experienced for the characters who feel joy as well, and this is regardless of when, where, or by whom the piece of literature was created.

What is women’s literature and what is the value in studying it? 

Most literature is written by men. This is why there is no specific name for the literature of men. However, women's literature is different. It provides any single reader with a different perspective on life. Countless real life struggles are written by women, and because only women have experienced these struggles, only women can truly express these feelings in words. Men could try to write about the struggles of women, but the perspective and depth would not be the same. That's why so much value lies in women's literature, as embedded in it are so many themes that are inexpressible by anyone else but a woman.

Why were the themes and values of Munro’s social realism so significant during the 1950s-1980s? 

Alice Munro's work was significant during the second wave of feminism. This was when women wanted to separate from the social norms of society that forced them to carry out the roles associated with the female gender. Consciousness started rising, and this idea was expressed through her work. Rising out of her short stories was the awareness of the roles that women wanted to be freed from, and her works contributed in rising consciousness, and this was largely expressed through personal experiences, which is a value of women's literature.

Although she does not identify as a feminist writer, how has Munro’s work contributed to gender equality? 

She shares her personal struggles through her work, and, as mentioned previously, those, contributes in rising consciousness, which led to a greater level of equality between genders. This was through her own personal perspective of life, which was quite influential. She might not be fighting for the right to be equal through her literature, but she does express personal experiences to raise consciousness.

What do you enjoy most about the content of Munro’s work and what impact has it had on you?

Any person could research the facts of the discrimination against women and obtain  all the information they need to paint a vivid image of reality back then. But there is nothing quite like reading a piece of literature from the perspective of one of the many women that suffered during this time. Personal experiences allow for a greater degree of connection with the author, as I experienced, and this was overall the intention of her work. 

I feel Analytical

"Time" - Pink Floyd

Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day
Fritter and waste the hours in an off-hand way
Kicking around on a piece of ground in your home town
Waiting for someone or something to show you the way

Tired of lying in the sunshine staying home to watch the rain
You are young and life is long and there is time to kill today
And then one day you find ten years have got behind you
No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun

And you run and you run to catch up with the sun but it's sinking
Racing around to come up behind you again
The sun is the same in a relative way, but you're older
Shorter of breath and one day closer to death

Every year is getting shorter, never seem to find the time
Plans that either come to naught or half a page of scribbled lines
Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way
The time is gone, the song is over, thought I'd something more to say

Home, home again
I like to be here when I can
When I come home cold and tired
It's good to warm my bones beside the fire
Far away, across the field
The tolling of the iron bell
Calls the faithful to their knees
To hear the softly spoken magic spell

Analysis

The song "Time" by Pink Floyd is a depiction of the progression of time, and how it seems to  rapidly pass by over a lifetime. This is done through several intentionally incorporated techniques the help illustrate the passing of time, besides through the meaning of the words themselves. The flow of time is depicted through the structure of the song lyrics, as well as through metaphors, and the main idea of the song is effectively brought across through engaging the audience, by both literary devices and pronouns.

The general idea in the structure of the lyrics is that it begins with the view of life from a young age, but progresses to the view of life from the perspective of the older individual. "Kicking around on a piece of ground in your home town..." This third line in the song symbolizes the beginning of a journey that is about to take place, symbolizing the younger phases of life. "You are young and life is long and there is time to kill today..." Another line, depicting the attitude towards time, which at a young age seems infinite; infinite enough to be wasted. However, the song gradually works it's way towards a point of no return: a man who has seen most of his life quickly pass him by. "Shorter of breath and one day closer to death..." A hard pill to swallow. The song hopes to portray how reality begins sink in too late in one's life. "Every year is getting shorter, never seem to find the time..." Ultimately, the song is brought to a point where time has travelled from one side of a lifespan to the other. This, in essence, is what effectively depicts the gradual progression of time through the structure of the lyrics, which is directly linked with the main idea of the song.

The depiction of the progression of time in this song also has great effect on the listener in terms of involvement. The common use of the pronoun "you" allows for the audience to put themselves in the reality that the lyrics describe, which will ultimately engage the audience more in spreading the message. This is the case for most of the song, before entering the last section where he focuses and reflects more on the reality of his own life. "The time is gone, the song is over, thought I'd something more to say..." This is the first appearance of a personal pronoun, and it remains at his perspective. It allows again for the audience to use the experience of others to examine their own lives, and realize how fast time flies by.

Additionally, there lies within a few metaphors that are incorporated to exemplify the rapid passing of time. "No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun..." Through this lyric, Pink Floyd draws parallels between an individual's life and a race. This lays the foundation for a section of the song that follows. As it continues, parallels are drawn between the aging of an individual and the sun. "And you run and you run to catch up with the sun but it's sinking..." Here the sun is seen as another contestant in this 'race,' and is compared to the aging of any given person in the audience. "The sun is the same in a relative way, but you're older..." The line portrays the sun as an aging human, also running the race of life, and it too will run out of time.

Lastly, some literary features can more effectively spread the main idea. Most involves repetition of phrases and alliteration. "dull day..." As sung in the first line of the song, this is an example of alliteration, whose effect can draw the audience's attention. "And you run and you run..." Repetition here contributes in illustrating an ongoing race and emphasises its length, which also depicts the passing of time itself. To the same effect, the lyrics "Home, home again..." are also an example of repetition, through which the audience can ultimately be drawn in.

In conclusion, there is a clear thread that through multiple techniques, including structure, metaphors and audience involvement, the main idea of the song, which is the rapid passing of time throughout life, is effectively depicted to the audience.

The Struggles of Sylvia Plath

Sylvia Plath was born in Boston on October 27th, 1932. Plath is a well-known, celebrated American poet. She was bound for glory, as since a very young age she found success, already publishing poems at the age of only eleven. Plath had also received scholarships as a result of her exceeding intelligence, and entered the best universities, where her career would only flourish. However, her personal life is not anywhere near as radiant and delightful as the side of her life the world knew best.

Part of the darkness in her life was in the form of her father. Her mother worked at the University of Boston, where she met Plath's father, Otto Plath. He was a strict man. When Plath was only eight years of age, she lost her father to complications involving diabetes. This lead her and her family into a period of economic turmoil. It also lowered Plath into a state of depression. 

Furthermore, her husband, Ted Hughes, who she married in 1956, had left her for another woman in 1962. Their children were left in her hands. This only worsened her depression.

On this ever darkening road to self-destruction, she was motivated, through the loss of her husband and father, and her relationship with both men, to write a collection of poems, collectively named 'Ariel.' It consists of some of her most infamous works. One of them, perhaps the most famous, is 'Daddy,' a poem which describes her strange relationship with her father through a mouthful of figurative speech and metaphorical language. The opening lines depicts Sylvia Plath's life around her father. 

You do not do, you do not do

Any more, black shoe

In which I have lived like a foot

For thirty years, poor and white,

Barely daring to breathe or Achoo.

The poem has been described as a confrontation between the father, taking the part of a giant and evil Nazi, and Plath herself, taking the part of a Jew and a victim. However, through this poem, it is as if she gets revenge. She claimed that she's killed both her father and the model of her father - her husband. This poem shows her struggle to declare that, no matter how terrible her father was, she is now through with him, as the last line so clearly illustrates.

Daddy, daddy, you bastard, I'm through.

This poem, among many others, are perfect depictions of the struggles that plagued  Sylvia Plath's life, and ultimately lead her to end it by her own will.

Paper #1 Practice

The text that will be analysed is an article titled 'The Language of African Literature,' focusing on the life of an African village child, who treasured the value of his language, which was only destroyed by the imperialism of the English language.

The article, through various indications, suggests the intended audience, which in this case, is most likely those who have control over the education in his country. He identifies all of the issues that imperialism has brought upon his future, and the significant negativity of this is emphasized by the mentioning of the value that the langue possesses. This is the first of the evidence. "English became the language of my formal education. In Kenya, English became more than a language: it was the language, and all others had to bow before it in deference." He indirectly calls for the helping of his generation, and for all those who will lose their mothertongue to the imperialism of the English language. The purpose of the article is to educate the audience of the problems that the English language has caused to the cultural and educational aspects of peoples lives. It also is an indirect call for help.

Within in the text, the author plays on two different views of language. On one side, you have the mother tongue of the community. He identifies all the values that lie deep within the language itself, and how it can be used as a tool to unite individuals as one people. "It had a suggestive power well beyond the immediate and lexical meaning. Our appreciation of the suggestive magical power of language was reinforced by the games we played with words through riddles, proverbs, transpositions of syllables, or through nonsensical but musically arranged words." The author ultimately views langue gas a powerful and valuable aspect of life. On the other hand, there is the English language. Based on the context of this text, the author and the community alike view language as well as a powerful tool to colonize and create a hopeless future for those who don't speak it. This was the case for Ngũgĩ.

A few aspects of the text stand out in terms of its contribution to setting the mood. We can firstly denote from the text that there is a sense of helplessness. Through the way that the author brings across the information, he leaves the reader with a negative feeling. The last sentence of the text depicts this. "English became the language of my formal education. In Kenya, English became more than a language: it was the language, and all others had to bow before it in deference." The audience feels that there is no hope for the language, and therefore no bright future for those who speak it. "All others had to bow before it." This line specifically extracts from the reader some extent of emotion. 

The structure of the article itself allows for more pathos within the reader. The author first mentions the connection that the language brought amongst the people of their culture. Afterwards, the author highlights the issues, which creates a more depressing mental picture of the situation.

In conclusion, the main purpose of the text is to educate those who have control about the issues of language imperialism and the negative effects it has on minorities. All the aspects of the article wish to achieve this purpose, whether through theme, stylistic features, tone and mood, or structure.

Paper #2 Response

1- To what extent has an awareness of context enriched or enhanced your understanding of Things Fall Apart?

There are many things in this world that I don't understand. There are multiple cultural or religious acts that I may find ethically incorrect that others of different cultural values may see as completely normal. But, if one understands the depth of the culture and context, then perhaps these strange things begin to make more sense in the mind of an outsider. This is the case for Things Fall Apart. Particular moments within the text stood out to me is seemingly odd, or even disturbing at times. Such moments I had accepted due to my knowledge of the context at hand, whether the context is the culture of the people, or the characteristics of the person. This awareness of context has allowed me to realise why actions that seemed unethical to me were actually carried out.

The first example is an obvious one, which is arguably the turning point of the text. It was the moment when Ikemefuna was murdered in the Evil Forest. Ikemefuna, until this point in the text, was a beloved member of Okonkwo's family for three years. That chapter in Okonkwo's life came to a close as the elderly members of the community had ordered the death of Ikemefuna. At the expense of absolutely no wrong doings, he, in all his innocence, was taken to the Forest for an undeserved execution. This moment in the story was a shock to me at first. It is worthy to note how Achebe, through the loving connection between the boy and the family, creates within the reader a positive attachment with Ikemefuna. This does, however, make the murder all the more shocking and saddening. Although it remains a shock to me as the reader, my initial confusion as to why this had even happened was gone when I had read about the context surrounding the situation. The murder had been ordered as part of a spiritual ritual that had to be performed. One thing we learn about the Ibo people is that often, they don't know why. Yet, the do not question the Oracle. The fate of the boy was also very uncertain. Another aspect of the murder that stood out as a shock was the fact that Okonkwo participated in the ritual. I gained understanding through my awareness of the context, which in this case was the never ending motivation that Okonkwo had to become everything his father wasn't. Okonkwo tried his best to achieve and become as masculine is possible. However, this motivation became a negative force when the ritual had to be performed. At first, he was asked not to participate, but his motivation to appear manly and strong, physically and mentally, was what drove him to accept. As unethical as this scene as a whole had seemed, the awareness of context did open my mind in order to understand the reason for such actions.

One additional moment in the text that stood out was when Okonkwo had physically abused his wife after she had failed to get his meal ready when and how he wanted it. This is, again, ethically wrong on all levels, especially when it is viewed upon from a perspective of our generation. The context however, which is particularly time and culture, can help us see this as a more likely event to have occurred. At the time, men were seen as far more superior than women. This is just an aspect of their cultural views. Although the abuse was unnecessary, what this does depict is the male domination of the time, which is the contextual knowledge that helped me understand why such unethical actions would be carried out.

Overall, the awareness of context has enriched my understanding to the extent that I can accept the unusual happenings within the text with a little more ease. Even though these moments are still disturbing, the context of it all, whether it is the culture, religion, time, or motivation, has put all of these moments into perspective.

Okonkwo (the tragic hero)

The themes of the text 'Things Fall Apart' are developed by the author through the use of his characters. Okonkwo, the protagonist, is a prime example. Achebe himself articulates that Okonkwo was a tool of developing the themes of the text.

One of the themes that Achebe is able to develop through the character of Okonkwo is the idea of change, or the struggle between change and tradition. Most, who are loyal to their culture, would not have the desire to drastically change their cultural and religious values. Okonkwo, for example, rejects the opportunity for change. Joining another religious group, or conforming to a new political system, was, for Okonkwo, not a manly act. Doing so would be against his values, as he all but looked down upon the ways of his father, and thus swore to never follow in his footsteps. He resisted change in fear of becoming his father. This struggle between change and tradition, and the resistance of change is seen clearly through the character of Okonkwo in the text.

Destiny is another theme that could connect with the resistance of change. The destiny, or fate, of a character can be determined by the flexibility of their nature, or any willingness of change. In this regard, Okonkwo was of a completely inflexible nature. With the arrival of the Europeans, and all the cultural values that they brought with, it is inevitable that Okonkwo's destiny with be cursed with negativity. Fate was to bring his own self destruction, thus he is considered a tragic hero, with a tragic flaw. The theme of destiny is an obvious reflection of Okonkwo's character. Achebe successfully uses him for the purpose of developing his main themes.

There may have been a purpose supporting Achebe's decision to choose a tragic hero as his main character. It connects to one tradition proverb. "Wherever something stands, something else will stand beside it." Achebe's own interpretation of this proverb is the idea that the Igbo people do not believe in an absolute. There is no one side of any situation. For any good, there will be bad. Such is the case for Okonkwo. As a tragic hero, he achieves greatness, yet also brings about his own self destruction, all through the motivation of not being a coward like his father. This does support the proverb and could suggest the purpose of choosing Okonkwo to be a tragic hero.