Laurence Chan, Class Summary

Our World Literature Class taught me a fairly large amount on the texts we've read in class as well as random facts on literature in general. I thoroughly enjoyed many of the required readings especially the Greek tragedies. I think other classmates would agree with me when I say the choices were fantastic except for the Sufi poetry. Perhaps it was just a lack of my own patience that I did not enjoy such work. Overall the class went well and I was happy to be a part of it. Diviani, if you remember what you told me in the library that night we both stayed up to do work (haha), then I still disagree with you.

The class was a very nice experience for me, and I'm glad for being exposed to, and understanding the books we needed to read. Thanks.

Laurence Chan, Class Presentations Pt. 2

For my own presentation, I had decided to go a different route to the rest of the class, but similiar to the original course. I followed our own class themes of reading world texts, epics, stories of origins, and comparative literature. For my own idea I wanted to suggest a text that would easily mix and match with our other texts. In picking Virgil's The Aeneid, the class would have more material to compare and contrast with the other stories and texts of our class. I suggested some of my ideas in class for possible comparisons and contractions. Examples were comparing the tragic stories of women in Greek and Roman tragedies, such as Medea vs. Dido. A comparison of the heroes and their different glorified characteristics would also be a topic; Achilles was famous for his bloodlust and strength, but Aeneas while also a fighter was known as a respectful and dutiful leader.

Besides, the book was just fun to read.

Laurence Chan, Class Presentations

I was very interested in seeing the choices and methods in which my classmates tackled the class presentations. Actual student made variations of the syllabus, powerpoint presentations, and handouts helped make each presentation unique and engaging. Common ideas were taking famous texts from many different locations in the world. Books and stories like Things Fall Apart and the Chinese Legend of the Monkey King were stories I thoroughly enjoyed and recommend. A book that was recommended several times wasDon Quixote. I have never read it but now I am very curious about it and will definitely be checking it out.

Overall I felt the presentations were a great idea as it offered the rare chance of a student's perspective and suggestion. If I ever had to make my own real syllabus for class I would definitely add student presentations in it.

Laurence Chan, Medea II

After finishing the play, I am surprised at how much I enjoyed the rest of the play. I was waiting to see Medea's rationale on killing her own children and totally destroying Jason's happiness, and I must say I liked it. Medea is a victim of an unwanted spell of love. She had given Jason everything she could, done everything possible under the sun to help him achieve his dreams and the only thing she had asked for was to be his only wife. I felt no pity towards Jason and though I don't approve of all her actions I fully understand. Medea won my sympathy.

Overall I thought the play was a fun read. It pleased me to see the gods and chorus had been on Medea's side as well. Good example of Greek tragedy.

Laurence Chan, Medea I

I have heard of the play Medea before reading it. I knew it was going to be a bloody tragedy involving many murders and betrayal. "A mother who kills her own children." I wasn't sure what I would think as I began reading the play but to my surprise I am enjoying it. Medea had fallen in love with Jason unwillingly, and when the play begans she already had forsaken her own homeland and betrayed her people. The spell love casts over people is strong, and perhaps though the play is fiction, people can be brainwashed and step over lines they never knew they could for it. Many people have often gave up their own families for love.. and unfortunately it usually does not end well.

Laurence Chan, Sufi Poetry

The last week we have been studying Sufi poetry. We've read and analyzed many poems by several poets. As we were attempting to write our own Sufi-style poetry, I was reminded of the frustration I felt through the usage of metaphors and nature. Most sufi poems have the same characteristics of nature, birds and flying, and flowers. The poems could provide good lessons or insight, but most are too vague considering they are religious poems that are supposed to guide you.

Oedipus Rex

Oedipus Rex is one of the most famous plays of all time. It was written by Sophocles in a time where gods and goddesses were often featured interfering with human life. Fate was a key theme emphasized in many epics and tragedies. Oedipus Rex is no exception, and the story is built on how Oedipus, his father, Laius, and mother, Jocasta attempt to prevent their fate and end up suffering terribly.

Reading the story of Oedipus makes me feel this tragedy was intended to stir human emotion. I see it as a way of humbling people, and a reminder to make people realize some things are not always left up to their hands, though hopefully fate isn't as severe as Oedipus Rex. I cannot help but feel pity for the characters, as they did not intend harm but were punished for fate decreed it.

The Ramayana

As I read the Ramayana I notice distinct differences from this and the Illiad. When The Ramayana describes its hero, you can see which traits are considered worthy. Every epic boasts of a great man who will lead his people into ruling a land or saving a people. The epic will speak of his courage, skills in battle, strength, and leadership ability. However, in the Ramayana many other skills are spoke of as well. These other skills are considered worthy of high praise and there you can see what qualities are important for the people who wrote it, and for the culture it belongs to. These skills are having high virtues, knowing the law, having a strong conscience, eloquent, obedient, and pure.

The Iliad Book 1 and Book 22

Reading the Illiad surprised me because of all the violence it had. I had always heard it was an epic, and a huge famous story but I suppose it makes sense. I had just read the Aeneid for class so I can see many connections.

One thing that fascinates me is how borrowing, or jumping on an already famous story, was not considered bad. Originality was the problem. Virgil writes The Aeneid long after The Illiad and continues the story after the fall of Troy. The famous story of The Inferno by Dante Alighieri speaks of Virgil as well as his characters in The Aeneid, so it was common practice to do that.

Reading The Aeneid was not my only time I had been exposed to such work. I had watched the movie Troy before and I must say, things are kind of different. The epic itself is big on describing the violence and the gods interfence, but the movie does no such thing. Finally it is interesting to note that although Achilles is supposed to be the hero in The Illiad, in The Aeneid he is portrayed as savage.

Gilgamesh I and XI / Genesis 6-9

In the epic of Gilgamesh it is told that a huge flood had nearly destroyed the entire world. The greater gods had been unsatisfied with Earth but one god had made a boat which preserved life. While in the Bible there is only one God and worshipping anything else would be a sin, in the epic of Gilgamesh it seems there are an abundant number of gods, each with their own forte.

On the other hand, there are many similarities between this story and the story of Noah's ark. What is the significance that both of these stories of origins, both of these stories involving some greater being(s) discontent with the world and attempting to purify via flood? As I have stated in my first post, this could be for a number of reasons. Water, while having the ability of being extremely destructive, is also associated with life. Second, perhaps this can be seen as a cleansing of the world.

It is an interesting note that both stories have "flood stories" and how the two are so similiar. Both involve building ships with the most specific requirements, and sending out birds to survey the land.

Laurence Chan, Genesis 6-9

This was my second time reading Genesis. I don't remember my initial impressions but I was surprised at how God had seemingly "human" characteristics: anger and resentment. His want to rid the world of all humans was never put into action, but because of Noah's goodness, the story of Noah's Ark was created. This is an interesting point. Noah was spared and encouraged to have many children to ideally spread goodness. Therefore, man's way of thinking was filtered while we are still encouraged to have free will.

Looking at this book as strictly as a book of origins, I stop to think about the choice of a flood to "cleanse" the earth. Water, while capable of great destruction, is more known as a symbol of life. This huge flood could have been seen as a renewal of good, much like baptism involves water. I guess you can say it was the world's first and only world-wide baptism.