Medea Journal #1

In Medea, the chorus seems like they are in a close relation with Medea. Medea also shows this by how she refers to them as " friends", and the chorus reponds back with a different way that shows that there is a close connection between them. The chorus, as well as summarizing the plot of the play, seems to also give a deeper insight into the meaning of the play. In Oedipus, however, the chorus is refered to as the citizens where the leader serves as acting for the entire chorus in many situations, and serves the role of the people of the society. The chorus seems to summarize the plot and acknowledge the importance of the gods.

Sophocles Journal #5

Through the structure of the plot, Sophocles is able to bring up pity and fear within the audience in his play "Oedipus the King." Sophocles story goes along a certain path, for example, when Oedipus goes and meets with the Oracle at Delphi, it shows him that he is bound to kill his father. He tries to get away from this fate of his by going to Thebes, there, he conquers the Sphinx and becomes the King. While he is on his way to Thebes, he runs into a man named Laius and kills him, and he ends up to be Oedipus' father. Through this, the crowd feels pity and feels fear for the situation. The pity of the crowd comes from Oedipus' leaving Corinth and Polybus and coming to Thebes, and he ends up killing his own father. This situation brings up fear in the crowd because it shows how things in this play are not things that will always be portrayed in real life. Also, the crowd pities Oedipus when he realizes that Polybus was not his father, and he begins to worry about what to do. When the imagery of light falls upon different aspects of Oedipus' life, the crowd fears this as well because it shows that there is nothing left in Oedipus' character in his life. When Jocasta commits suicide and Oedipus goiges his eyes, the crowd feels pity because they can feel the struggle and pain that Oedipus is going through when his life turns out so terrible.

Sophocles Journal #4

Sophocles uses a lot of imagery throughout the play to get his message across and have the reader be able to understand what the theme is that he is trying to portray. Sophocles uses lots of imagery of light(truth as well as time play a big part in this imagery as well).

-"But now for all you power Time, all-seeing Time has dragged you to the light..." (p.356)

-"O god- all come true, all burst to light! O light- now let me look my last on you" (p.353)

-The imagery of light is used to portray truth, it is reached by Oedipus after certain period of time has brought out what has been happening in his life. Light is also being used to show that new facts are also coming to be known as the way in the play. Oedipus emphasizes that he will never look at light again and that it is his last time to look at it, this shows that the Truth has come out about Oedipus and that there is nothing left to acknowledge. Time was a big factor in getting the Truth to come out in this situation, nothing really could stop the truth from coming out, time forced the revealing of his truth. The truth was forced out by time in Oedipus, which shows that no matter how powerful a person is, the truth is bound to come out sooner or later.

Sophocles Journal #3

Sophocles establishes gender roles that actually contrast the man and woman. He shows how women should take a less intense/involved role in a relationship as we can see by Jocasta and Oedipus in a face to face argument that they both encounter. Oedipus asks Jocasta a bunch of questions which she answers as well as tries to figure out what has happened with Oedipus. Jocasta is what Sophocles portrays a perfect wife should be like, one who obeys and tells their husbands the truth. When both a man and woman talk to each other face to face, it seems as if their conversation consists of lots of facts and the point being made is clear, which shows that honesty and trust between a man and woman is fairly good. Sophocles seems to be upset about Oedipus' actions because he portrays Oedipus negatively because of the bad call he made in killing Laius as well as his attitude. Creon is seen as the perfect man because he takes the time to listen to reasonable thinking and he also believes that words are stronger than actions of doing things.

Sophocles Journal #2

Oedipus

At the beginning, Oedipus seems like a very skilled leader, he wants the killer to be brought to justice. He hopes the best for Thebes and truly commits to finding out who the killer of Laius is and where he is. The way that Oedipus talks and the words that he uses kind of show that he is both knowledgeable and intelligent. As the story continues, Oedipus seems to become more harsh and misuse his powers. An example is when Oedipus starts yelling at Tiresias as he won't give him any information and shows that he cares only for himself, Oedipus also starts to use different kinds of vocabulary words than he did before like " scum", and he becomes very demanding. Also, when Tiresias tells Oedipus that he in fact is the killer, he doesn't listen and ignores him to save himself from death.

Tiresias

Tiresias seems to be very wise, he uses his power of words instead of actions. Tiresias does not really attack anyone in a verbal or any kind of way unless someone else has attacked him in such a way. For example, when Oedipus yells at him for not telling him the truth. Tiresias does not want to hurt anyone, which is seen by his use of words and not actions.

Creon

Creon although less powerful than Oedipus, seems to have good advice to give to him. Creon seems to be the complete opposite of how Oedipus views him to be. Creon is a kind hearted person, and instead of action, uses words just like Tiresias.

Sophocles Journal #1

Summary

P. 159: Oedipus is just wondering why all of his people have come to him, what they want and other reasons.

P. 160: The priest is explaining the situation that the city is in.

P. 161: The priest wishes for Oedipus to help restore what the city used to be like.

P. 162: Oedipus shows his distress towards the condition of the city and discloses that Creon has been sent to the Oracle at Delphi to seek assistance.

P. 163: Creon comes back with what he has been told and Oedipus tells him that he should spread the news around to everyone.

P. 164: Creon spreads the news to everyone, discloses that revenges shall be in order for the murder of King Laius to end the situation.

P. 165: Oedipus meanwhile tries to but isn't very successful in finding clues for the murder.

P. 166: Oedipus later figures out that a thief had supposedly killed King Laius, but the Sphinx had stopped everyone from capturing the killer.

P. 167: Oedipus promises that he will find who the killer is and get revenge.

P. 168: The citizens of Thebes, are praying to the gods to seek help.

P. 169: The citizens of Thebes set forth their problems to the gods while praying.

P. 170: All that the citizens are doing is praying to the gods.

Literary Teachniques

1. Personification

"And black Death luxuriates in the raw, wailing miseries of Thebes." (p.160, line 37-38)

- This shows how death is coming to them.

2. Allusion

"The singing, riddling Sphinx." (P. 166, line 148)

-The Sphinx which is a mythological animal is said to have beeen killing and also eating people who could not solve her riddle, but Oedipus turned out to be the first one to solve it.

3. Metaphor

"Our ship pitches wildly, cannot lifet her head from the depths, the red waves of death..." (p.160, line 29-30)

- Describes how the city of Thebes is like a ship that is not under control, and shows how it is headed for doom.

Dystopian Journal #6 (1984- RD work)

C. Winston physically rebels against the party

“To embrace her was like embracing a wooden image” (Orwell 58). Winston’s wife felt no pleasure in having sexual intercourse, and she was part of the anti-sex league. The government wanted people to have sex like Winston’s wife did, they didn’t want people to have pleasure because the people might rebel against the government. They were trying to take all the emotions away except hate. For example, the government wanted to take away orgasm scientifically so that people would not feel pleasure during sexual intercourse, but rather just do it for pro-creation.“No emotion was pure, because everything was mixed up with fear and hatred. Their embrace had been a battle, the climax a victory. It was a blow struck against the Party. It was a political act” (Orwell 105). Winston tries to show that he is rebelling against the Party by having sexually intercourse with Julia. The party views sexual intercourse as something that is very wrong and that people should not feel pleasure in doing so. But Winston does it anyways and this quote shows that the action he takes in fact does hurt the Party.