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Heart of Darkness Vocabulary

Abject – utterly hopeless, miserable, humiliating

Altruistic – unselfish and concerned for the welfare of others; caring

Ascetic – one who leads a life of self denial; humorless, grim, sparse, simple

August – dignified, splendid, novel, revered

Capered – playfully leapt; jumped and frolicked, especially in a mischievous way

Cipher – code; letters are substituted with symbols according to a key

Countenance – facial expression

Craven – cowardly, fearful

Declivity – piece of land that slopes down at an angle

Delusion – false belief, especially in the face of strong evidence to contrary

Deplorable – unacceptable and worthy of condemnation; wretched due to poverty or neglect

Diaphanous – transparent or insubstantial

Disinterred – dug up, exposed, unearthed

Dissipated – overindulgent in pleasure, immoral in excess; gradually faded away

Drollery – slightly odd or quirky humor

Effaced – rubbed out; obliterated; erased; behave humbly and respectably

Evanescent – fleeting; disappearing after only a short time

Farcical – absurd, mixed-up, comically confused

Gabardine – smooth twill fabric; durable and lightweight, man-made

Gait – manner of walking

Harlequin – comic buffoon- like character, colorful; fanciful

Hovel – a miserable dwelling, hut or shack

Immutability – unchanging nature; not developing or evolving; stubbornly permanent

Imperturbably – without being made uneasy or irritated; calm; not agitated

Implacable – stubborn, unable to be persuaded or moved

Indissolubly – cannot be undone, broken or dissolved; permanent

Inextricable – unable to be solved, extracted, freed, or removed

Interminable – seemingly endless, long, boring, frustrating

Intrepidity – characteristic of being fearless and persistent, especially in pursuit of object; courage

Languid – without vigor or energy; listless and indifferent

Lugubrious – extremely mournful, sad, gloomy

Lurid – horrifying and shocking in graphic nature

Malevolently – with malice, anger, and evil intent

Mangroves – tropical evergreen trees of tidal coasts (near river mouths)

Mephistopheles – one of 7 devils in the Faust legend, one who Faust sold his soul

Moribund – dying or nearly dead

Motley – composed of a variety of materials or types

Pate – skull, scalp, top of head

Pestiferous – bringing; bearing disease

Placidity – calmness, lack of agitation

Postscriptum – P.S. at the bottom of a letter; an additional note

Precarious – uncertain, unstable, dangerous, risky

Prevaricator – one who does not tell whole truth or who answers directly

Privation – lack of necessities, deprivation

Propitiatory – designed to appease and win favor

Rapacious – greedy and grasping; using unscrupulous means to gin desired end

Recrudescence – recurring nature, breaking out or becoming active again after dormant period

Rudimentary – basic, without luxuries or sophistication

Scow – slat bottomed vessels such as rowboats, sailboats, barges, ferries, and rafts

Sedentary – sitting idle

Sententiously – in a way that is offensive as a result of being moralizing and condescending

Sepulcher – a vault or building used for burial of dead bodies

Somnambulist – sleepwalker, one who is out of touch with reality

Tenebrous – loosely connected

Tepid – lukewarm, unenthusiastic

Trenchant – directly and deliberately hurtful, intending to cause pain and or death

Truckle – wheeled bed, often kept beneath another for convenient storage

Uncongenial – unfriendly and unwelcome

Uncouth – ill mannered and rude

Wanton – sexually indiscriminate; without restraint or inhibition

Worsted – smooth woolen cloth that would be very warm; highly manufactured material

Jules Verne Journey to the Center of the Earth Essay

Journey to the Center of the Lindenbrocks

Similarities and differences is what drives a story and often gives it meaning. Jules Verne was a master of differences and similarities between characters to enhance his conflicts in the plot and displays his talents well in his novel, Journey to the Center of the Earth. The stark contrast between Professor Otto Lindenbrock and his nephew, Axel Lindenbrock, is evident throughout the novel, but also complimented with few similarities between the uncle and his nephew was well. Professor Lindenbrock’s was well as Axel Lindenbrock’s personality, optimism, and motivation will each be evaluated in their journey to the center of the Earth.

Professor Lindenbrock’s personality is very different from Axel’s. The professor is adventurous, and often looks to disprove theories of many famous philosophers. On the other hand, Axel is less adventurous and could be described as a follower. Often believing and following the theories of famous philosophers, Axel is more pragmatic than his uncle. The professor’s ego also rarely ever legs his admit defeat. Only on one occasion throughout the novel does Otto Lindenbrock admit defeat: when he chose the wrong tunnel to enter in the beginning, and his decision to cross the large body of water they encounter later on. Axel’s ego is not as stubborn as the Professor’s, but they still share some of the same Lindenbrock characteristics.

One of those characteristics being their optimism. Professor Lindenbrock shows great amounts of optimism and determination throughout their journey, and rarely accepts defeat. Like his uncle, Axel is determined and optimistic about their journey when it is going well. Unlike his uncle, Axel uses almost every excuse he can think of in order to ascend back to the surface. After Axel fell and almost killed himself, he exclaimed “…is the journey not over, then?” this way of thinking contrasts with his uncles relentless efforts to reach the center of the Earth when he responds “…rest today, and tomorrow we will set sail”. The professor uses the fact that Arce Saknuesem claimed to have reached the center of the Earth as means to continue the journey despite how long it would take if they had enough food and water to last. Differences in optimism and determination between the two characters rely on another factor, motivation.

 The motivation of Professor Otto Lindenbrock and Axel Lindenbrock are what drive them to overcome their perilous journey. The professor’s motivation resides solely in his love for geology. Axel too has a passion for geology, but it is dwarfed by the professor’s. Instead, a girl by the name of Grauben is Axel’s motivation to complete their journey, which is why he used every excuse to return to the surface. Unlike Axel, Professor Lindenbrock is not distracted by the exterior world and his sole motive for reaching the center of the Earth is for scientific gain and self satisfaction. Otto Lindenbrock expresses this by saying, “Leave me, I tell you. I have undertaken this expedition. I will carry it out to the end, and I will not return. Go, Axel, go!” this displays the difference between Axel, who cannot wait to end the journey, and the professor, who has no intention of ever abandoning his quest.

            The similarities and differences are blatantly evident between Professor Otto Lindenbrock and his nephew, Axel Lindenbrock. Although they share a lobe for geology, their personality, optimism, and determination are very different. These characteristics not only add to the plot, but also give the characters unbelievable depth for the reader to explore. While Otto and Axel Lindenbrock make amazing discoveries deep inside the Earth, the reader make equally amazing discoveries inside the Lindenbrock characters, just as Jules Verne intended.

George Orwell 1984 Essay

Totalitarianism: A Negative Utopia

            Throughout history, many people have speculated on what the future will bring. George Orwell, author of 1984, was no different. Orwell believed that a totalitarian form of government was imminent if the American citizens were not aware of the dangers it holds. Throughout 1984, Orwell warns the readers of a dreary existence under a totalitarian government. Orwell’s message is simple: do not let the government (Big Brother) take away freedom in the name of security or peace, or one will find themselves without rights or voice. Orwell’s message about totalitarian government is clearly stated as, “WAR IS PEACE, FREEDOM IS SLAVERY, IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH”.

            The first line of Big Brother’s slogan, “War is Peace”, is an oxymoron that describes totalitarianism perfectly, Orwell knew that totalitarianism is kept and gained through force, or war. His message about totalitarian government is that it is never peaceful. Those under a totalitarian government who are not completely compliant will be killed, much like today in China and Cuba. Orwell symbolized this by having Winston and Julia brutally tortured after their conspiracy to overthrow Big Brother was uncovered. Because of the escalating tensions in 1949, Orwell viewed Russia and Spain as evil countries. It was from these countries that Orwell fanaticized the World of “Oceania”. Through war, Spain and Russia increased their power, much like Oceana did in 1984.

The second line of Big Brother’s slogan, “Freedom is Slavery”, is also an exact comparison to a totalitarian style government. In “Oceania”, one must give up their rights of love, friends, and most importantly the freedom of thought. This is an extreme example of the powers of a totalitarian government, but to Orwell, his point must be viewed seriously. Orwell is trying to persuade the reader that totalitarianism may look good ideologically, but in all reality it would be a horrible place to live. Oceania could be described as a “negative utopia”, much like how Orwell was trying to get the public to fell about totalitarianism. Orwell wanted people to realize that the only way to survive in a totalitarian for of government was to be a “slave” of that government. Every “Party Member” in Oceania was a slave who either spent their time working for the government or exercising “Two Minutes Hate” against a conspirator named “Goldstein”. This was how Oceania controlled its people, much like how an advanced totalitarian government would control its.

            The third and final line in Big Brothers slogan is “Ignorance is Strength”. This is above all the most important element of what kept a totalitarian government alive and also what Orwell feared most. To star in power, a totalitarian government, like Oceania, must keep its people uninformed in order to keep them under control. This was shown in 1984 by hundreds of things “The Party” practiced. Winston worked in “Minitrue”, which was the information center for all of Oceania. Of course, it was controlled by the government. Everyday Winston would receive a request to change a document of history in order to benefit Oceania’s government. This kept the people uninformed of the truth and easily manipulated. Orwell’s fear was that people are easily manipulated and a corrupt government could use that to their advantage. Orwell portrayed this by their language “NewSpeak”. NewSpeak is a transition language introduced to Oceania in order for the government to theoretically control the minds of the people. By removing words such as “freedom” and “opinion”, they would fade away and the idea lost forever. This was the primary fear Orwell expressed of totalitarian government.

            The novel 1984, written by George Orwell is a dedication to the movement to stop totalitarianism form coming to the United States. Orwell’s message that one should never give up his or her rights for peace or security is one that has held strong in the United States but not other countries. The year, 1984, has come and gone; but George Orwell’s “prophetic, nightmare vision in 1949 of the world we were becoming is timelier than ever”. 

Oedipus Rex Summer Assignment 2

Oedipus’s great achievement put him in the position to become the King of Thebes. Here is a quote from the play describing his actions is: “Whose coming to our Cadmean town released the toll we paid, of a hard Sorceress, and that, without instruction or advice of our imparting; but of Heaven it came thou art named, and known, our life's establisher." The Sorceress mentioned in the quote is the Sphinx that held the city of Thebes under siege. Oedipus is the one who soleve the sphinx’s riddle and saved Thebes. After solving the riddle of the Sphinx Oedipus was crowned king.
Shortly after solving the riddle of the Sphinx Oedipus becomes complacent and forgets the needs of his people. When Oedipus is greeted by the Priest of Zeus he then realizes how poor the condition is of his people. Although Thebes is in turmoil, Oedipus still sees himself as a great king. Oedipus speaks to the Thebians before the royal palace and says: "I myself have come hither, Oedipus, known far and wide by name." This demonstrates how Oedipus has become self-centered and complacent with new luxurious life.
After returning from his journey to Pytho, Creon informs Oedipus of how he must solve the crisis and save Thebes. Oedipus is told that Laius, the past king, was killed in vein and the only way to save Thebes is to banish the murderer from the city. As Oedipus’s pride takes over he promises he will avenge Laius by finding the murderer and banishing him, "So shall you see me, as of right, with you, venging this country and the Gods together. Why, 'tis not for my neighbors' sake, but for mine, I shall dispel this plague spot; for the man, whoever it may be, who murdered him." Oedipus now has a new sense of pride because he will save Thebes from the horrible villain that made the city fall to ruins. What Oedipus is unaware of is that his prideful search for the truth of Laius’s death will drive him to endless suffering.
As Oedipus reveals more about he is past and discovers who killed King Laius he is faced with much suffering which is the fourth stage of a tragic hero. After questioning countless people Oedipus uncovers that is was he himself that murdered his father and fulfilled the first half of the prophecy. This sends Oedipus down a deep spiral of suffering and depression. Then Oedipus would fulfill the second half of the prophecy when Oedipus slept with his own mother, Jocasta. As Jocasta figures out what evil has became on her, she commits suicide by hanging herself. If this was not enough Oedipus was then banished from Thebes and his two daughters were taken from him. Oedipus felt the true meaning of suffering at that point in his life.
The final stage of a tragic hero encounters the perception of his or her failures. Although Oedipus tried his hardest to prevent his prophecy from coming true, he failed. By leaving his parents and constantly worrying about the prophecy, Oedipus was following the path of the prophecy the whole time. Eventually Oedipus pleaded that the gods take him away from his suffering and he gouged his eyes out. During the end of the play Oedipus finally understands that he could do nothing to stop the evil prophecy form coming true. Being helpless to the will of the gods, Oedipus lived the rest of his life in the perception of sorrow.

Oedipus Rex Summer Assignment 1

Oedipus fulfills a characteristic of a tragic hero by being a member of the ruling/higher class. Oedipus’s downfall is the truth behind his birth. The truth is uncovered when the Old Man is brought before Oedipus for questioning. Because of a prophecy that Oedipus would kill his father and marry his mother, as a child Oedipus was send from his home to live with the Old Man. When the Old Man, being unaware that Oedipus is the baby sent to him years ago, says he received the boy form Laius, the former king of Thebes, Oedipus then discovers that he is of royal descent.

     Oedipus is a more fully-realized human being that others mostly because of his royalty and his horrible prophesized fate. Heightened powers and destiny are apparent because Oedipus is a natural born leader and bears higher status than many. When Oedipus describes his fate to the Messenger he says, "Why, Loxias declared that I should one day marry my own mother, and with my own hands shed my father's blood." Because of Oedipus’s gruesome destiny, he is more acknowledged than others.

     The fate of Oedipus is a combination of what others tell him and also what he chooses to do. Oedipus attempts to change the fate given to him by the oracle by staying away from his parents. This however, was unsuccessful. When the Old Man saved Oedipus’s life as a baby his fate was affected, resulting that the outsider changed Oedipus’s fate. The prophecy is another factor that affects Oedipus’s fate. Given from the gods, the prophecy would be nearly impossible to change.

     Throughout the play Oedipus drives his friends and family away making him lonely. As people tell Oedipus of his past life and the prophecy he was given, Oedipus rejects almost everything people are trying to explain to him. Because Oedipus is stubborn and doesn’t believe what many people tell, him he drives them away making himself lonesome. As more and more people tell him the prophecy, Oedipus seeks the truth and becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth. Jocasta on the other had advises Oedipus to forget his quest for the truth. Of course, because Oedipus does not listen to anyone, he continues his search to find his true birth parents. Jocasta then realizes that Oedipus must have understood who his true parents are and hangs herself in her bed chamber to end her suffering.     

     Oedipus is known for helping his intelligence and his people ask him for help in times of a crisis. Before becoming King, Oedipus solved the riddle of the Sphinx confirming to all that he is an intelligent man. The plague hits Thebes and the priest asks him to find a cure for the plage. " thou art named, and known, our life's establisher. Thee therefore, Oedipus, the mightiest head among us all, all we thy supplicants implore to find some way to succour us, whether thou knowest it through some voice from heaven, or, haply of some man." Wanting to keep his title as an intelligent man, Oedipus agrees to find the cure to the plague and find the man that killed Lias.

     Oedipus’s life is full of suffering and he must learn from it to survive. Oedipus learns that there is no way he can change the prophecy given to him. As hard as Oedipus tires, he can’t stop his suffering so he must become stronger from it. Each time Oedipus learns something new about his past it makes him suffer even more than before and begins to realize that the more he knows about his life, the more sorrow becomes of him. Even when others learn of the prophecy his life is affected negatively. When Jocasta realizes Oedipus’s prophecy has came true she hangs herself just as Oedipus realizes Jocasta is his mother. This is probably Oedipus’s lowest point in his life because he realizes he killed his father and his mother committed suicide because of him.

     Oedipus's flaw breaks him to piece. Because Oedipus does not know his prophecy, it leads him to fulfilling the oracle’s prophecy. If Oedipus would have known his prophecy all along he would be able to stop it from happening. Also, if Oedipus’s parents wouldn’t have sent him away the prophecy would not be fulfilled either. Because Oedipus’s adoptive parents, Polybus and Merope, didn’t tell him he was adopted, Oedipus had no way of knowing that the man on the crossroads was Laius and that the woman he would eventually marry would be his mother. After realizing his flaw, Oedipus gouges his eyes out to represent how we was blind of his past which brought him to his doom.

     Oedipus does the opposite of accepting defeat and showing a noble and courageous character. As Oedipus is faced with suffering he greets it with a sense of defeat and acts like it would be better to be dead that still live. After Oedipus gouges his eyes out he loses all the characteristics of a noble and courageous hero. The senator asks why Oedipus had gouged he eyes out and he replied: "What was there left for sight? What, that could give happiness? Lead me to exile straight; Lead me, O my friends, the worst of murderers, of mortals most accurst, Yea and to Gods chief object of their hate." This is the turning point in the play when Oedipus gives up and wishes he was dead. Oedipus does not appreciate the man that found him as a baby and saved his life because he wished he was dead.

King Arthur Essay

            The story of King Arthur would be nothing if it did not have the sorcerer Merlin.  Being an extremely influential character throughout Arthur’s life, Merlin was also around before Arthur was born. Arthur was brought to Sir Ector by Merlin to be raised as a normal boy, but fate had much bigger plans for future king. Merlin served as Arthur’s advisor and relied on him for help in dire situations along quests. Arthur turned to Merlin for advice before battles and tough situations. This led King Arthur to acquire the legendary sword Excalibur. With help from Merlin King Arthur was able to slay many beasts and kings throughout England.  Lang gives the reader a direct message that Arthur relies on Merlin in the quote: "…Arthur had many battles to fight and many Kings to conquer before he was acknowledged lord of them all, and often he would have failed had he not listened to the wisdom of Merlin..."

            The number three is a recurring motif on King Arthurs many stories. Sir Gareth encounters the three brothers on his quest with the Lady Linet. He meets a knight in black armor, a knight in green armor, and a knight in red armor, all of which Sir Gareth slay. Another example in which the number three is seen is when Arthur asks Sir Bedivere to throw Excalibur back into the lake. Arthur received Excaliber from the Lady of the Lake while he was with Merlin, but towards the end of the story he no longer wants it. In the first of three instances, Sir Bedivere hides the sword and plans on retrieving it later for his self but Arthur becomes suspicious when Sir Bedivere replies with nothing after King Arthur asks what happened. On the second of three instances, Arthur then sends Sir Bedivere back to dispose of Excaliber but he returns with the same story that nothing happened. Arthur then threatens Sir Bediveres's life and sends him for the third time and when he returns he explains that a hand rose from the water and caught the sword as he threw it in.

            Characters in Romance literature usually have visions or dreams that lead them or give them information relevant to their quest throughout the story. In the story of “The Questing Beast” King Arthur has a strange dream where "he thought the land was over-run with gryphons and serpents which burnt and slew his people, and he made war on the monsters, and was sorely wounded, though he still killed them all." Arthurs dream came true when later in that same story Arthur and his knights encounter a strange beast that is a combination of a serpent and gryphon. Another example is when a squire has a dream that a king went on a pilgrimage and his squire was slain. The squire had a dream that he found a gold candle and was stabbed. When the squire woke up, he shouted for help because he had actually been stabbed and he was holding a gold candle.

Magical/supernatural events occur often in the book King Arthur: Tales from the Round Table. One example is when King Arthur and all of his are at the round table during the story of “The Coming of the Holy Graal.” Enjoying a Pentecost supper, the knights at the round table suddenly heard a clash of thunder and then a bright light shone into the room. Everyone gazed at each other dumbfounded, then the Holy Graal floated into the room and food appeared before them all as if by magic. Sir Gawaine along with several other nights was astonished at what they saw, so they devoted themselves to search for the Graal.

In the story of “The End of it All,” King Arthur is betrayed by his nephew Sir Mordred. Arthur entrusted Sir Mordred to govern the land while he was gone from England to fight Sir Lancelot. Sir Mordred accepted the responsibility but his intents of what to do with Arthur’s kingdom were evil. Sir Mordred betrayed King Arthur trust by sending letters announcing Arthur had died in battle and Sir Mordred was now crowned king. Sir Mordred also betrayed Queen Guenevere forcing her to marry him even when he that her husband King Arthur was still alive. King Arthur then retured only to be denied landing by Sir Mordred and faced a great resistance forcing Arthur to retreat. Sir Mordred also betrayed Arthur by turning his own people against him. King Arthur eventually killed Sir Mordred but at a great cost: only three of Arthurs Knights survived the battles.

A test of honor confirms a hero’s morals and what they believe to be is right and also his or her pledges. In the story of “What Beaumains Asked Of The King”, Beaumains, known as Sir Gareth, is tested of honor when Lady Linet asks King Arthur to recruit knights to help rescue her sister. Seeing this as an opportunity to prove himself to everyone, Sir Gareth asks Arthur to let him go on Linet’s quest. Arthur complies with Sir Gareth’s request but only to make Linet furious because Sir Gareth is a kitchen boy. Sir Gareth encounters many knights that he must defeat in order to keep his promise and fulfill his test of honor. After slaying the knights, Lady Linet realizes that Sir Gareth is an honorable man and will keep a promise to a total stranger. Sir Gareth fulfills his promise in the end of the story by conquering the Red Knight and rescues Lady Lyonesse.

King Arthur is the ideal example of a nearly perfect yet flawed hero. Throughout the stories, King Arthur proves to be a powerful, fair, and openhanded ruler. King Arthur hardly ever commits a mistake and has the respect of almost all of his fellow knights. Although Arthur may seem like the perfect hero, there is one thing about him that could be called a flaw: he is too reliant on the people around him. The downfall of King Arthur was the fact that he put too much trust into the people close to him. A prime example of this is when King Arthur left Sir Mordred the position of King. Sir Mordred betrayed King Arthur which led to vicious battles with many casualties.

Morgan Le Fay is a prime example of the evil enemy. Arthur's sister, Morgan Le Fay, disliked her brother and had a strong skill in magic which caused trouble for Arthur. Later in the story Morgan Le Fay steals Arthur’s scabbard while he was resting. Arthur pursued her but she tossed the scabbard into a lake and escaped afterwards. The next morning Morgan Le Fay sent Arthur a mantle that was decked in jewels in hope the he would forgive her but Arthur was suspicious. The Lady of the Lake appeared to him and warned him to let the messenger put it on first. She fell down and burned to ashes instantly and King Arthur was outraged. Morgan Le Fay had become Arthur's evil enemy because she let her hate control her actions.

An archetypal female figure in the book is The Fair Maid Of Astolat. The Fair Maid is the daughter of Sir Bernard, the Baron that helped Sir Lancelot to prepare for the tourney. The Fair Maid falls into the category of an archetypal female figure because she is just an innocent maiden who falls in love with Sir Lancelot. Instantly falling in love with Sir Lancelot, the Fair Maid asks him to wear her token to the tourney. Hoping the token will disguise him, Lancelot accepts. The Fair Maid later asks Sir Lancelot if he would be her husband but he declines. Because the Fair Maid was naïve and illogical from her heartache, she killed herself because she swore to herself she would never love anybody but Sir Lancelot.

The story of King Arthur would be nothing without his many quests he and his fellow knights undertake. Although King Arthur: Tales From the Round Table is a collection of many famous stories about King Arthur and his companions, the most famous is the quest for the Holy Graal. Known by many, the story of the quest for the Holy Graal has been passed on for hundreds of years. Not only does the book tell the quest of the Holy Graal, but it also tells famous stories such as “The Drawing of the Sword”, “The Sword Excalibur”, “The Passing of Merlin”, “How Morgan Le Fay tried to kill King Arthur”, “Lancelot and Guinevere”, and may more.

Oedipus Rex Timeline

A prophecy is given to Oedipus’s parents. The prophecy states that Oedipus would kill his father and lay with his mother.

This causes Oedipus to be sent away by his mother, therefore Oedipus runs away from his family to change prophecy. This is the catalyst for the story.

“I must sleep with my own mother and shed paternal blood with my own hands”

Oedipus is born to King Laius and Queen Jocasta of Thebes.

This event is significant because it is the birth of the main character.

The shepherd said of Oedipus birth, “…he was from the house of Laius.”

Oedipus’s parents sent him to die by leaving him out on his own and stabbed stakes through his feet.

This gave Oedipus his name which means “swollen feet.” It also causes Oedipus to run from his home which eventually leads to him fulfilling the prophecy.

The Messenger tells Oedipus, “I found you in the woody glens of Cithaeron.”

The Shepherd gives the Messenger Oedipus.

Because of this, Oedipus ends up in Corinth being an adopted son of King Polybus.

The Messenger said to Oedipus, “No, another shepherd gave you to me.”

The Messenger gave Oedipus to King Polybus who adopts Oedipus and raises him as his own.

This event is very significant Oedipus has always thought that Polybus was his birth father.

“Know that he took you as a gift from my own arms” said the Messenger to Oedipus.

Oedipus leaves Corinth for fear of killing Polybus, who he thought was his father. He then kills King Laius, his real father, at the crossroads.

This event is significant because Oedipus has now fulfilled part of the prophecy.

“But he more than paid for it and soon was struck by the scepter from this very hand, lying on his back, at once thrown out of the car. I killed them all.” Said Oedipus about his encounter with the chariot at the crossroads.

Oedipus solved the riddle of the sphinx ending streak of terror it has caused.

This causes Oedipus to become crowned King of Thebes for saving the city.

The Priest said of Oedipus, “It was you who came and released Cadmus’ Town from the tribute we paid to the cruel songstress…”

Oedipus marries Jocasta and takes control of the city Thebes.

This event fulfills the second part of the prophecy.

“Well, then- are you still married to my sister?” said Creon.

Oedipus sends Creon to the Oracle at Delphi.

This is important because they needed to find out how the gods say that the people of Thebes should solve the plague.

“And that which my inquiry found our only cure I have done, for I have sent Creon, son of Menoeceus, m own brother –in-law, to Apollo’s home at Pytho, so that he may learn what I should do or say to save this city.” Said Oedipus.

Creon returns to Oedipus with a solution to the plague.

This event is significant because it brings on the search for the killer of the former king, Laius.

“Phoebus clearly ordered us, my lord, to drive out the pollution being fostered in this very land, not to nurture it unhealed.” Said Creon about what the god told him to do to solve the plague.

Oedipus declares that he will banish the killer of Laius.

This is significant because now Oedipus begins searching for the killer and eventually finds his true past.

“And if the culprit fears this accusation, he should lose his fear and come forward, for he will suffer nothing worse than safe exile from this land.” Said Oedipus.

Tiresias, an old blind prophet, blames Oedipus for the murder of Laius.

This is significant because it is the first time Oedipus hears that he is the killer.

“I say that you slew the man whose slayer you seek.” Said Tiresias to Oedipus.

Oedipus blames Tiresias and Creon for framing Oedipus for the murder of Laius.

This is a significant because Oedipus does not trust the two wisest men in the city who know the truth about the killer of King Laius.

“I think you both-you and the one who framed these things-will regret your urge to cleanse this land, but if you were not so old, you’d learn now what such words earn.” Said Oedipus to Tiresias.

Oedipus and Jocasta talk about prophecies and she claims that prophecies are false.

This is significant because she is telling him not to worry about what was prophesied of him.

“You now, free yourself from these matters; listen to me and learn why nothing mortal can show you anything of prophecy.” Said Jocasta to Oedipus.

Oedipus summons the one survivor of the incident at the crossroads to see if he was the killer of Laius.

This event is of great importance because it shows that Oedipus is beginning to worry that he might actually be the killer.

“You reason well, but, nevertheless, send someone to fetch the servant and don’t neglect it.” Said Oedipus to Jocasta.

A messenger tells Oedipus that Polybus is dead by natural causes.

This gives Oedipus a false sense that he did not kill his father.

“He is from Corinth, announcing that your father Polybus is no more, but has perished.” Said Jocasta to Oedipus about why the messenger was there.

Oedipus shares with Jocasta and the Messenger that he was prophesied to kill his father and lay with his mother.

This is important because nobody knew that Oedipus was aware of the prophecy.

“Loxias once told me that I must sleep with my own mother and shed paternal blood with my own hands.” Said Oedipus.

Oedipus learns of his misfortune and the truth behind his swollen feet.

This event is significant because he first learns of his past.

“I freed you when your feet were pieced at the ankles.” Said the Messenger to Oedipus.

Oedipus sends for the Shepherd so he can speak to him.

This is significant because Oedipus is searching for answers to his past.

“Will someone go and bring the shepherd to me?” said Oedipus.

Jocasta now leaves the castle entryway and goes into the castle.

This is significant because it is the last time we will see her alive.

“Alas, alas-unhappy man! This alone can I say to you, and nothing else ever after.” Said Jocasta to Oedipus as she leaves.

The Shepherd tells Oedipus that he is the son of Laius.

This makes Oedipus realize that the prophecy came true.

“He was said to be the child of that man himself, but your wife could explain the situation best.” Said the Shepherd of Oedipus.

Jocasta is found dead hanging in the palace.

This is significant because Oedipus never saw her as his mother until she was dead. This is also the beginning of Oedipus deep suffering.

“Then inside we saw the woman hanging, al twisted up in a twisted noose.” Said the Servant to the Chorus outside the palace.

Oedipus gouges his eyes out with Jocasta’s brooches.

This shows us how desperate and depressed he felt about his life.

“Repeating these things, many times and not once only he raised his hands and struck his eyes.”

Oedipus goes to Creon who tells him that he will go to the oracle and see how he should spend the rest of his life.

This shows that while Creon was shown hate by Oedipus, Creon still wants to please the gods.

“You would ask on behalf of one so wretched?” Said Oedipus to Creon.

Oedipus apologizes to his daughters for bringing them into this world in such a terrible situation.

This shows that Oedipus truly cares for his daughters and wishes that he could raise them in a better place and in a holier way.

“And I weep for you, although I cannot see you” said Oedipus to his daughters.

Oedipus is led into the palace by attendants.

This is significant because it is the final event of the play.

"You have gone far enough in weeping; go inside.” Said Creon to Oedipus.

Victorian Narrative Poetry Analysis

“The Lady of Shallot” – Alfred, Lord Tennyson

·         All nonets

·         AAAABCCCB

·         “The Lady of Shallot”

·         She can not look outside because if she does it will kill her.

·         The mirror symbolizes the fact that the Lady can only see the shadows of the world, not the real thing.

·         There is the contrast that while beauty nears the island of Shallot, one at Shallot the wind quivers and the flowers that are on the island are overlooked by four foreboding towers.

·         She contrasts men and women passing Shallot and also a wedding party and funerals.

·         They foreshadow that she will look down on Camelot to see real people soon and so the curse will come upon her and she will die.

·         Sir Lancelot’s arrival is so momentous because it causes the Lady to leave her web and go view Lancelot with her own eyes.

·         The ironic part of his arrival is that his beauty and the beauty all around him took on cause death to the Lady.

·         In part one, nature is described with vivid colors and it is majestic but in part four, all the beauty of nature turns to “pale-yellow” and nothing has the color it had before.

·         One possible interpretation to her wearing with is that in love, she was innocent and had no fault. Another possible interpretation was that she was pure of the outside world for she had not been seen or touched by it.

·         The connection this poem has with his life is that while it starts in prosperity, he loses a close friend who seemed unfair to him much like the death of the Lady.

·         This poem is allegorical back to the story of Adam and Eve and how the first sin caused eventually death. The message he sends through the Lady is that abandoning yourself and who you are will cause you to die unappreciated.

·         Alliteration: “But who hath seen her wave her hand” (Line 24)

“All bowsher from her bower eaves” (Line 73)

“I am half sick of shadows, said”

·         Consonance: “Or is she known in all the land” (Line 26)

“Only reapers, reaping early” (Line 28)

“And moving through a mirror clear” (Line 46)

·         A Lady live in a tower and works on her loom looking into a mirror and only sees the world through that mirror. Sir Lancelot passes the tower and she looks and the curse come upon her and she is destined to die soon.

“My Last Duchess” – Robert Browning

·         AA/BB/CC…

·         14 Quatrains

·         He asked him to do thing like stand and walk with him.

·         A picture of his late wife.

·         She didn’t like him the way she liked the other guys.

·         He criticizes that she slept around on him.

·         He became upset with her and did not mind that she was dead.

·         He is proud that he did not stoop down to her level.

·         A man shows his guest a picture of his late wife and hates what she became to him.

“Porphyria’s Lover” – Robert Browning

·         ABABB/CDCDD…

·         “The sullen wind was soon awake” and “I lightened with heart fit to break”

·         They are two lovers who should not be together as in lines 23-31 where she explains her love for him but she can not lo9ve him and then he come to the realization he loves her back.

·         The men in both poems kill their lover/wife to keep them to themselves and feel no regret.

·         The man strangles her to death in order to keep her to himself and if she live, he will have to give her up.

·         A man waits for his woman to return home during a storm and realizes that if she live, he will have to give her up so he kills her.