World literature lesson 4 - Essay Example

World Literature Lesson No. 4 Match the terms in Column I with the s in Column II. antithesis - G. contrasting ideas expressed in a grammatically balanced statement epic - B. long narrative poem that relates the deeds of a larger-than-life hero didactic literature - A. literary work that is meant to instruct, give advice, or convey a philosophy or moral message elegy - E. poem that mourns the death of a person or laments something lost moral - F. lesson about life that a story teaches proverb - D. short saying that expresses a common truth or experience analogy - C. comparison of two things that shows how they are alike in certain aspects (2) An Ethiopian proverb says, "What one hopes for is always better than what one has." Which familiar proverb teaches the same thing? Ans. “The grass is always greener on the other side.” (3) Proverbs in African oral traditions are used mainly to Ans. convey cultural wisdom. (4) Which one of the following familiar sayings is closest to the meaning of The Destiny of a Wolf-Cub? Ans. “A leopard never changes its spots.” (5) What does If You Cannot Stand a Sting teach about the consequences of people's actions? Ans. People should consider consequences before they act. (6) Which of the following statements is true of an anecdote? Ans. An anecdote often has a broader meaning than is first apparent. (7) Which of the following is a reason for early African oral traditions in literature? Ans. Much of African literature is ritual drama. (8) What caused many early Africans to leave eastern Africa to find new kingdoms to the south and west? Ans. drought conditions (9) Arabic culture's greatest contributions to the Western world include Ans. advanced agricultural methods & translations of Greek and Roman manuscripts. (10) In Unmarked Boxes, the poet Rumi compares a poet talking about the gold of baked bread with a town in the desert looking "up at stars on a clear night." This comparison is an example of Ans. analogy (11) An epic teaches the values of the society that creates it. Which pair of qualities best represents the values of Sundiata's culture? Ans. courage and loyalty (12) Which of the following excerpts is an example of antithesis? Ans. “Hell burns fiercely and Paradise is brought near.” (13) The line that opens The Exordium from the Koran contains the prayer in Allah's name for guidance to "The path of those whom You have favored, / Not of those who have incurred Your wrath." This is an example of Ans. antithesis (14) Memorial elegies were especially important to al-Khansa's pre-Islamic culture because many of her people Ans. knew that life could end suddenly. (15) In Why We Tell Stories About Spider, why must Anaanu bring a swarm of bees, a python, and a leopard to God? Ans. to prove he is worthy of having stories told about him (16) Which technique is used to help storytellers remember the tales? Ans. refrains (17) In Why We Tell Stories About Spider, the tale says, "Anaanu went away and sat down and thought." This sentence is a context clue that prepares the listener for Ans. how cleverly Anaanu performs his tasks. (18) When people refer to the moral of a folk tale or a fairy tale, such as The Fisherman and the Jinnee, they are referring to Ans. a lesson about life. (19) Writers often use analogies to Ans. explain something that is unfamiliar. (20) In addition to entertaining the reader, folk tales and fairy tales often Ans. teach something to the reader. (21) Which of the following questions would most likely help a reader infer the message of a story? Ans. What does the main character want? (22) In Sundiata, one of the characters says, "I have just suffered the greatest affront of my life! I am enraged . . . nothing can ever wash me clean of this insult." The word "insult" is a context clue to help the reader understand the meaning of Ans. affront (23) Which of the following is the best example of didactic literature? Ans. the Koran (24) All of the following are characteristics of epics EXCEPT Ans. they always portray a conflict between God and man. (25) It is the fifth helper who may be rightfully claimed to have done the best among the five. Truly the other four have managed to demonstrate great skills unique for each of them and a tremendous capacity of having carried out so, yet the girl’s ultimate salvation relies heavily on rising from the dead. The last helper has accomplished the task of bringing the girl back to life which is most extraordinary. Moreover, the areas where the first four helpers excel in might have amounted to nothing even upon the successful tracking of the python because the girl is already cold. There are alternative means to execute the tasks performed by the mighty rescuers prior to the fifth no matter how painstaking. However, the ability to restore the dead back into the living is way too marvelous and absolutely requires a godly power so the fifth helper who possesses this attribute stands out. (26) By juxtaposition of two entities with opposing traits, antithesis aids in the didactic nature of a literary work. “Man proposes, God disposes” is one concrete antithetic example. Abraham Lincoln’s statement that reads “The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here” is also one such instance of antithesis. In conveying the message of the Koran, Muhammad employs the ‘scientific method’ by which he convinces his followers through the order of observation, correction, representation by diagrams, as well as practical demonstration. It eventually becomes persuasive for the believers to abide by his teachings since this device is essentially capable of eliminating doubts toward Islam for by the method of science, the principles of Koran are reconciled with the modern systematic approach and as with the widely accepted logic or philosophy. The persuasion proceeds in the manner of observing the law by contemplation then correcting certain unruly actions and setting oneself as an example of righteous practice to others. As another device, Muhammad encourages followers to acknowledge the spiritual law by way of ‘memorization’ so as to instill the written set of doctrines in the mental faculty. This effort can take effect but only to some extent considering members who lack the memorizing potential. In which case, the degree of persuasion may not amount to as much as that which enhances the tool in helping followers to meditate upon their thoughts and deeds. (27) In “On Her Brother”, a state of bravery amidst lamentation is evoked by Al-Khansa in mourning the loss of her brother Sakhr. Despite the sadness which reflects through such elegy, the poetess is still able to express pride and composure in stating how significant Sakhr has been for the tribe he leaves behind and this is fairly evident as Khansa testifies with “Protector of rights and defends when the edge of time’s evils was feared” in reference to her brother. Similarly, at the stage when Khansa learns to accept Islam, her hope is renewed within a courageous outcry upon discerning Allah’s power covering the Islamic belief of an afterlife. The dominance of courage is perceived in the poet’s bold appeal uttering “Let not Allah remove Sakhr and his love.” Hence, this optimistic emotion draws upon a balance between painful agony and relief from sorrow. (28) As a founder of the Mali Empire, Sundiata’s character possesses valiance which assuredly qualifies him to be treated an epic hero. With an undaunted move of finding resolve upon the conflict of having to overthrow the wicked ruler for the sake of his homeland’s freedom, he demonstrates epic heroism by way of choosing to confront unpleasant circumstances of battle and turmoil. Another notable trait would the remarkable devotion of Sundiata in patiently building his army over time to figure means of gaining more strength and tactics. Ensuring the enemy’s defeat as such is well aligned with the epic hero’s capacity to command and interact by powerful speech or other modes of communication. It not only reveals the conspicuous image and actualization of leadership and skills in warfare but even the necessary intelligence and soundness of judgment an epic hero may be identified with in addition. Sundiata exhibits loyalty to his homeland by remaining with his people and understanding that prosperity would further strengthen his kingdom. Having that much faith as he continues with his reign and expresses support toward religion matches another quality of an heroic figure of epic in the sense that people could always put their trust on him in crisis due to an improved economy. Read More