Reason and Comedy/Satire

Hey folks,

Just some food for thought (possible exam idea?). Have you noticed the use of comedy in our readings? This week with Candide the comedy continues. So my question is why. What are your thoughts on why an age devoted to reason would use comedy? Are reason and comedy tied together? And what does that say about our current era? Have you noticed that a comedy almost never wins the Oscar for best picture? Why?

Homework for 3/5

Homework:

Read Candide. It is long but you WILL like it. Answer the following:

Starter Question for Candide

Candide is a black comedy with a biting point about the world we live in. Voltaire uses hyperbole—the overstating or exaggeration of events and speech to make his philosophic point.

Examine a character or a specific scene to show how the grisly, cruel and anything-but-perfect world we live in is exposed through Voltaire’s outrageous use of hyperbole. Consider the pain, torture, multiple miseries and deaths characters experience. Examine the language used. The entire work seems to exaggerate nearly everything.

Your examination should be 1 to 1 ½ pages in length. Please double space and type as usual.

I'm in

Just a test to see if it worked, see you all in class.

A Class Report for 2/20

Great job this week!

Class was very good last night. For a first session with literature, we had lively and interesting discussions. Let's keep the moment going this coming week. We are reading a tragedy, so forget the laughs (bummer), but we can still bring the same great willingness to explore the work. Ask yourself questions as you read an bring them to class.

This week's readings include: Sea monsters, lustful stepmothers, mathematics and the proper way to cook an Irish child.

Enjoy!

Please try to post a comment or a new post on the blog to make sure your author's rights are working.

Homework for 2/27

Read Racine's Phaedra and Swift's "Modest Proposal."

Do the following Starter Paper:

Phaedra Starter Question

Racine’s Phaedra explores passion (emotion or irrationality) and logic (reason) in a very different way from Moliere’s Tartuffe. Its tragic approach leaves us with burning questions and troubling statements. Consider one of these ideas in a one page response:

Passion’s boundaries. What does the play say about the limits of passion?

Rationality. How effective is rationality in decision making?

Father and Son relationship. How do the achievements of a father weigh on a son?

Step Families. What does the play imply about step family structure?

Royalty and governmental power. How is power controlled in a monarchy?

Make sure you select only one theme. Double space and type your paper.

First Short Paper Assignment--Tartuffe

Starter Question for Tartuffe

“I wonder if it is not better to try to correct and moderate men’s passions than to try to suppress them altogether.”

—Jean-Baptiste Moliere

Consider the play Tartuffe in light of this quotation. In what ways does the play, display a need for moderation of emotions and even logic? Which characters seem to need moderation and which seem “balanced” in terms of their passions?

Write a single page, double spaced, typed response. Provide some examples from the play—get specific and demonstrate a character’s need for moderation.

Welcome

This blog is the online home of English 272. It is an extension of of our classroom. Together we can keep in touch, post questions and provide answers to make the class a richer experience for all members.

I hope you enjoy English 272. We will be reading the best of world literature since the Renaissance. It is interesting, challenging material worthy of your time and our discussions.

If you have questions, check this blog. I shall update it as necessary. Once you receive permission, you may post questions and provide answers to questions.

Welcome to Spring 2008!