AP Lit & Comp 3/3 17 1. Bel and the Serpent discussion 2. Worth a second look from Bel 3. Sonnets 101 4. Read Exodus Part I for next class (p.381-444) / take full length M/C prior to next class
The Apocrypha o literally means hidden o written in the time period between the old and new testaments o Actual books in the apocrypha are Bel and the Dragon and Song of the Three Young Men othe apocrypha is a set of books not considered authoritative or divinely inspired in Judaism and Protestant churches and, therefore, not accepted into the canon of the Scripture. oa large portion of the Apocrypha was officially recognized by the Roman Catholic church in 1546.
Here s the story of Bel Bel was the name of the Babylonian god. King Cyrus (Babylonian king) worshipped Bel. Daniel worshipped the Christian God. Cyrus believes that Bel is a living god, since he ate all the food and wine sacrificed to him each day. In fact, he says this to Daniel: Do you not think that Bel is a living God? Do you not see how much he eats and drinks every day?
Here s the story of Bel Despite Cyrus s remark, Daniel believes that Bel is a false god, simply a statue made of clay and bronze. To prove this, Daniel sets a trap. In the altar, where Bel s statue resides, it turns out that there is a trap door underneath the table in the altar. So each evening, all 70 priests come into the altar, through the trap door, and consume all the food and wine and leave undetected. To catch them, Daniel throws ashes on the floor of the altar. The priests consume the goods but this time leave behind footprints.
Here s the story of Bel The Babylonians also worshipped a great dragon (that looked like a serpent.) Daniel was asked to worship the dragon. When he wouldn t, he was told to kill it without weapons to prove it wasn t a god. Daniel gives the dragon a mixture of pitch, hair, and fat, which it eats. Then it bursts. The Babylonians aren t too happy that their god is dead and threaten to kill both Daniel and the king (for letting Daniel kill the dragon).
Here s the story of Bel The king gives Daniel to the people, and they throw Daniel into a den of lions, where he stays for six days. However, the lions don t hurt him. On the seventh day in the den, the king gives glory to the God of Daniel, and Daniel is released. Those who wanted to destroy Daniel are thrown into the den and devoured by the lions, with Daniel watching.
TPWB similarities to Bel? Like the Babylonians, when they learned of their God's true nature, the Price women stand helpless as their illusion of safety and consistency is shattered. (When Ruth May is killed) The members of the village are bloodthirsty (during the hunt), much like the Babylonians are (when wanting to see Daniel killed by the lions.) Tata Kuvudundu (village witch doctor) is fake. He claims the gods will rise up against Leah, Anatole, and the village. However, it s really only him that does this.
Worth a second look: Instead of coming back, he acted like he d just decided to stroll out there for the sake of thrashing the trees with his belt, and man alive, he did. We heard him for an hour We started to get scared about what he d do when he finally came in, for there was really no telling. Our doors didn t lock, but Mother came in our room with us and helped us push the beds around so the door was blocked. We went to bed early, with metal pot lids and knives and things from the kitchen to protect ourselves with, because we couldn t think of anything else. -Rachel p.340
Worth a second look: The transition from spirit to body and back to body again is merely a venture. -Adah p.343 Hunger of the body is altogether different from the shallow, daily hunger of the belly. Those who have known this kind of hunger cannot entirely love, ever again, those who have not. Adah p.345
Worth a second look: BECAUSE I COULD NOT STOP FOR DEATH HE KINDLY STOPPED FOR ME. I was not present at Ruth May s birth but I have seen it now, because I saw each step of it played out in reverse at the end of her life. The closing parenthesis, at the end of the palindrome that was Ruth May. Her final gulp of air as hungry as a baby s first breath. That last howling scream, exactly like the first, and then at the end a fixed, steadfast moving backward out of this world. After the howl, wideeyed silence without breath While we watched without comprehension, she moved away to where none of us wanted to follow. Ruth May shrank back through the narrow passage between this brief fabric of light and all the rest of what there is for us: the long waiting.
Worth a second look: Because I could not stop for death he kindly stopped for me, or paused at least to strike a glancing blow with his sky-blue mouth as he passed.a bite at light at Ruth a truth a sky-ble presentiment and oh how dear we are to ourselves when it comes, it comes, that long, long shadow in the grass. Adah p. 365 Rachel s thoughts from p.366
Worth a second look: Mother held on tight to the hand of Ruth May, her chosen child, but also stayed near me. Since the terrible night of the ants, Mother had been creeping her remorse in flat-footed circles around me without ever speaking of it, wearing her guilt like the swollen breast of a nusing mother. So far, I had refused to suckle and give her relief, but I kept close by. (345,6) -VERY VIVID and interesting choice for a simile. About Ruth May soiled and subdued, she looked like a small malnourised relative of my previous sister.
Worth a second look: Father informed her that God showed no mercy upon those who flouted their elders, and that he, Reverend Price, had washed his hands of her moral education. He said this in just the plainest everyday voice, as if discussing that the dog had gotten into the garbage again. He stated that Leah was a shameful and inadequate vessel for God s will, and that was why he would no longer even stoop to punishing her when she needed it.
SONNETS 101 A sonnet has 14 lines. A sonnet must be written in iambic pentameter A sonnet must follow a specific rhyme scheme, depending on the type of sonnet. A sonnet can be about any subject, though they are often about love or nature. A sonnet introduces a problem or question in the beginning, and a resolution is offered after the turn (AKA) the shift.
English Sonnet An English Sonnet is also called a Shakespearean Sonnet. Common themes include: love, beauty, politics, and morality. English/Shakespearian sonnets are structured this way: 14 lines total (like all sonnets) Three 4 line stanzas known as quatrains (think quad for four) 1 couplet (two lines) at the end of the twelve lines Usually there are 10 syllables per line Iambic means the syllables are unstressed/stressed (like a heartbeat: ba boom, ba boom, ba boom The rhyme scheme is often abab cdcd efef gg. The shift happens in line 9 (after the first two quatrains). Check out the Sonnets 101 handout (we got in class today / it s also on our website) for examples
Spensarian Sonnet Named after Edmund Spenser Spensarian sonnets are structured this way: 14 lines total (like all sonnets) Three quatrains which develop three distinct but closely related ideas The couplet contains a different idea (or commentary) WHEREAS the English/Shakespearian sonnet s couplet is a conclusion and is thus presented in a more dramatic way. Also written in iambic pentameter; 10 syllables per line; 5 iambic feet The usual rhyme scheme is: abab, bcbc, cdcd, ee -Spensarian sonnets looks a lot like English sonnets but they usually have fewer switches in the rhyme scheme. Check out the Sonnets 101 handout (we got in class today) for examples
Petrarchan Sonnet A Petrarchan sonnet is also known as an Italian sonnet. This sonnet form is named after Francesco Petrarcha, an Italian poet from the fourteenth century. Petrarchan sonnets are structured this way: 14 lines total (like all sonnets) The octave (first 8 lines think Octopus) The sestet (ending 6 lines) Also written in iambic pentameter; 10 syllables per line; 5 iambic feet The usual rhyme scheme is: abba abba and concludes with any variation of c,d,e. The shift happens in line 9 (between the octave and the sestet) Check out the Sonnets 101 handout (we got in class today) for examples
Iambic Pentameter A line of iambic pentameter is a line with ten beats. An iamb is two beats, or one foot. Penta is five (line has five feet ). Meter is the rhythm of the poem. A foot is made of an unstressed syllable and a stressed syllable (in that order). Check out this example: And this one.
For next class Read part I of Exodus (pages 381-444) Group 4 be ready to lead discussion Complete the sonnet assignment (which was actually due today) go back through and try to figure out whether the five sonnets are English/Shakespearian OR Petrarchan. Take the full length practice M/C exam (60 minutes) we will score it next Thurs 3/9, so have it done by then. Use the strategies you highlighted on the M/C strategies packet from a few weeks back as you answer the questions.