Assignment 1: "Victorian Literature"

01. Which 2 readings did you select from the list?

I selected two books from the list you published

1.- Poe, E.A. The Murders in the Rue Morgue (USA, 1841-short story)

2.- Conrad, J. Heart of Darkness (Britain, 1899-novel)

02. Using these readings, compare (3 examples) and contrast (3 examples) the works with the ppt presentations on Victorian Literature and Culture given in class.

In the book “Heart of Darkness”

1.- Pilgrims and characters seem to be civilized people but they were not civilized at all.

2.- Ambition is the reason why characters get into conflict with the rest of the world.

3.- It is presented the dark side of human life due poverty, bad people.

4.- New views on everything, new inventions and devices.

5. - Conrad´s deterministic thought shaped by the ideas of Darwin in the evolution of the species.

6.- The writer described a person or a place just as you see in a moment, things as they are.

In the book “The Murders in the Rue Morgue”

1.- It is shown mystery and terror all through his work.

2.- The grotesque and dark side of life in his work.

3.- Women had a secondary role in society.

4.- Poet was a heavy drinker and gambler. Elements which were forbidden in that period.

5.- Allusion is present in his work.

6.- He is a romantic poet marked by the extermination of Indians. Founder of the detective stories. War against Mexico, America took Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and California.

03. Do you feel that the readings you completed are very good or excellent examples of Victorian Literature? Why/Why not?

Yes, these readings are excellent examples of Victorian Literature because of the themes and symbols shown in each book.

04. Would you recommend these readings to your friends and family? Why/Why not?

I would recommend “The Murders in The Rue Morgue” because It is easy to read and The vocabulary used there is not complicated, you will not get bored reading this short story.

“Heart Of Darkness” Is a cultural novel showing the dark side of slavery, ambition and evil. However is lot more complicated to understand it , Class struggle in opposition to religion(Catholic church) is present in his novel.

Assignment : Middle English

1. Approximately when was Middle English spoken?
Middle English was in use between the late 11th century up to appriximately the 16 century
2. What were the major factors which led to the development and the spread of Middle English?

The diversity of forms in written Middle English may signify neither greater variety of spoken forms of English than could be found in pre-Conquest England, nor a faithful representation of contemporary spoken English. This diversity suggests the gradual end of the role of Wessex as a focal point and trend-setter for scribal activity, and the emergence of more distinct local scribal styles and written dialects, and a general pattern of transition of activity over the centuries that follow.

3. Match the following Old English words with their Anglo-Norman equivalent: A. Pig B. Cow C. Wood D. Sheep E. House F. Worthy G. Bold

A. Pig = Pork

B. Cow = Beef

C. Wood = Forest

D. Sheep = Mutton

E. House = Mansion

F. Worthy = Honourable

G. Bold = Courageous

4. Compare & contrast the structure of nouns, pronouns and verbs, between Middle English & Modern English.

The contrast of these kinds of words is that they are simplified , the grammar of Middle English is much closer to that of modern English than that of Old English. Compared to other Germanic languages, it is probably most similar to that of modern Dutch.

5. How is pronunciation different between Middle English and Modern English?

All letters in Middle English words were pronounced. (Silent letters in Modern English come from pronunciation shifts, which means that pronunciation is no longer closely reflected by the written form.) . Therefore 'knight' was pronounced [kniçt] (with a pronounced and the as the in German 'Knecht'), not [naɪt] as in Modern English.

6. What is the Chancery Standard, and how did it come into effect?

Chancery Standard was a written form of English used by government bureaucracy and for other official purposes from the late 15th century. It is believed to have contributed in a significant way to the development of the English language as spoken and written today. Because of the differing dialects of English spoken and written across the country at the time, the government needed a clear and unambiguous form for use in its official documents. Chancery Standard was developed to meet this need.

7. Who wrote the Canterbury Tales?

Geoffrey Chaucer at the end of the 14th century.

8. Describe the medieval pilgrims who journeyed from Canterbury to London.

The contrast of these kinds of words is that they are simplified , the grammar of Middle English is much closer to that of modern English than that of Old English. Compared to other Germanic languages, it is probably most similar to that of modern Dutch.

9. Why did the pilgrims take this journey?

They wend their way to Canterbury from every shire of England to seek the holy blessed martyr, Thomas Becket, who has helped them when they were sick.

10. It is thought that some of the stories in The Canterbury Tales originated in Italy. What was the name of the Italian book and who wrote it?
The Canterbury Tales were written in Middle English, specifically in a dialect associated with London and spellings associated with the then emergent chancery standard. Although no manuscript of the Tales exists in Chaucer's own hand, two were copied around the time of his death by Adam Pinkhurst. 11. The Canterbury Tales is considered an extremely important book, both in terms of English Literature & in the history of English writing. In your opinion, why is this book so important?

It's important because it gave to the English Language, the main root of words from Old English up to now. Besides that The Canterbury Tales contributed in terms of culture and history.

12. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is: It is a detailed explanation of the proper etiquette & behaviour for all knights in Medieval Europe.
13. Who is Sir Gawain?
He was a knight of King Arthur´s round table. 14. What is the challenge that The Green Knight proposes to the Knights of the Round Table?
The Green Knight offers to allow anyone to strike him with his axe if the challenger will take a return blow in a year and a day.
15. What is the similarity between Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and the Irish tale of Cúchulainn?
In this Irish tale of Cúchulainn parallels Gawain in that, like The Green Knight Cú Chulainn´s antagonist feints three blows with the axe before letting his target depart without injury.
16. What is the importance of the pentagram/pentangle in the poem?
The pentagle symbolizes the virtues to which Gawain aspires such as to be faultless in his five senses; never to fail in his five fingers; to be faithful to the five wounds that Christ received on the cross; to be strengthened by five joys that the Virgin Mary had in Jesus; and to possess brotherly love, courtesy, piety, and chastity.
17. How are numbers used to symbolize events in the poem?
The poet highlights number symbolism to add symmetry and meaning to the poem.
18. What is the significance of Sir Gawain's neck wound?
Gawain´s wound is an outward sign of an internal wound.
19. Which actor played The Green Knight in the film adaptation, Sword of the Valiant?
Tha actor who played The Green Knight in that film was Sean Connery.
20. In many ways this poem is, in the modern sense, a soap opera. Compare Sir Gawain and the Green Knight with a modern Chilean teleseries. I can compare this poem with Miguel Carrera soap opera which is a Chilean teleserie, fighting for all those values or virtues encountered in Sir Gawain and The Green Knight poem.

Assignment: Autobiography

Not so far away from my sight I can think of that greenish weeping willow...that makes me remind of that clear light blue sky smelling as if it were a fixed landscape in the mirrow of my mind and perhaps it is thought that way up to now, believe it or not I feel the same sparkling emotion full of happiness and joy figuring out every moment he was doing while being underneath the willow´s shadow.

Assignment 1 : "Writers On Writing"

Answer the following questions on your blog site; based on the information you gathered from the video clips and the biographies.

4. What are some of the fears these highly successful writers have about writing? John Grisham thinks that the hardest part of writing is laying out the whole book and when he has to face the final dateline.

• Ian McEwan says that for him is to catch the reader´s interest otherwise his writing would be a failure.
• Margaret Atwood says that the most difficult issue is beginning to write and convincing herself it is going forward. (her book)
• Salman Rushdie says that the hardest part is having complete control on a given situation, though a lot of events affected him when he was writing so he needs to keep calm to produce a new book otherwise he can´t do what he is suppossed to be doing.
• Paul Auster fears life itself saying that life is unexpected.
  

5. What are some of the difficulties they have when they are writing?
Some say to be calm in order to write properly, others to work against tha final dateline, others facing boredom when writing a novel.


6. What are some of the positive aspects to writing?
Some of the positive aspects of writing is that it helps you to overcome your own personal fears or problems in real life. Experiencing enormous emotion and intellect. Another aspect is that a writer is always taking big risks.


7. Do you feel these authors enjoy being writers? Why?
They all enjoy being writers, they can´t imagine life without writing.


8. Is reading an important facet of writing? Why?
Yes, definetely it is an important facet of writing because you develop different skills.


9. In your opinion, what are the 3 most important things which will make your writing successful?
First of all to have something to say, to put pen to paper, to focus on what you want to say no matter what is going on outside your book, to be disciplined in order to spend most of the time laying out your book, to catch the interest of the public so as they keep on reading without leaving the book aside.

English Literature: Old English/Beowulf Assiognment 1b

1. When was Old English spoken?
Old English or Anglo-Saxon is an early form of the English language that was spoken and written in England and south eastern Scotland between the mid-5th century and the mid 12th century.

2. Name 4 language groups which influenced the development of Old English.
The 4 language groups are Germanic, Latin, Norse and Celtic language groups.

3. In the Phonology section, name 5 phonetical differences between Old English & Modern English.

Example: senġan "to singe" is [sendʒɑn] < /senjɑn/ < *sangjan

and bryċġ "bridge" is [bryddʒ] < /bryjj/ < *bruggjō < *bruɣjō

Example: hring "ring" is [hriŋɡ]; [ŋ] did not occur alone word-finally in Old English as it does in Modern English.

4. Are there any similarites between Old English and Modern English? Name them.
Syntax(word order), The way to ask questions(similar way of writing) some phonologycal sounds and morphemes.

5. In the Orthography section, enlarge the picture of the runic alphabet. How many letters (runes) are there in this alphabet?
They are 34 letters (runes)

6. Which epic poem was originally written in Old English?
Some of the most important surviving works of Old English literature are Beowulf, an epic poem.

7. In the See Also section, click on: Beowulf. Appoximately when was Beowulf written?
It was written between the 8th and the early 11th century.

8. Even though Beowulf was written in England, the story takes place in which countries?
This story takes place in Denmark and Sweden.

9. In the poem, which 3 antagonists does Beowulf battle or fight against?
Beowulf fights against Grendel, Grendel´s mother and an unnamed dragon.

10. What happens to Beowulf at the end of the story?
He is fatally wounded and then he is buried in a tumulus by the sea.

11. Who was the author of Beowulf?
It is an unknown author.

12. What were the titles and the dates of the two film versions of Beowulf?
1999 Beowulf film.
2005 Beowulf and Grendel film
2007 Beowulf film.

Assignment 7: A report

To: University Director
From: Katia carrasco
Date: December 1st, 2009
Subject: Ideas about common room

The purpose of this report is writen to analyse the location and advantages of having a common room to us at the University. As an advice, I will suggest you to choose a big room since we are a lot of students to be fitted in it.

I would recommend you a clear space with a lot of light so It would be very nice to spend our free time there, listening to the music, chatting with our friends, having a cup of tea or coffee when the weather turns bad.

I would prefer a room looking at a green area like near the main garden because the green areas relax any stressful atmosphere after a difficult oral presentation or exam. Another important point is painting the chosen room white, in that way It would look clean and spacious, the upmost important detail is to buy a microwave oven to heat our food and an electric kettle to put on when it is cold.

It is a fact that you will prepare the room taking into consideration my suggestions and If you need any help please do not hesitate to ask me a hand.

Yours faithfully,

katia carrasco

Crime and Environment review (November 18, 2009)

The most relevant concern about crimes is to learn fighting and preventing them to happen. In my opinion, we have to be aware of different types of crimes like: fraud, elderly abuse, white collar crimes that are the most popular ones for me. Apart from pickpocketing and mugging. I have been investigating on the net about fraud, concerning identity fraud or credit card fraud, so to prevent this we have to be cautious when using a credit card or withdrawing cash from a bank machine, looking around and being suspicious of any weird or strange uncommon sign.