Monthly Archives: December 2013

End of the Class Wrap-Up

Well, we’ve reached the end now. After weeks of pouring over stories, epics, and poems we have completed this semester. I really enjoyed this semester and all the stories we have read,especially Beowulf and the Tempest (they have to be my favorite) The class itself was fun, especially when we got into smaller groups to discuss something about the text. I found that when we did this, I liked having to bounce ideas off of others and was able to get to know my peers a little better.

This blog was interesting task, it was the first time I had to do something of this nature and for me, it was difficult to remain on top of updating it. However, I think that this aspect was difficult for me only because I had been trying to distance myself from the internet this term and I had to actively remind myself to write a blog post. However, when I did get into the swing of writing a post, I found that  it was really nice to have a space where I could write my rambling thoughts that had some vague connection to the course. I think this was a really good idea, but I would suggest having various due dates or check in dates for the posts.

But now that we are done, I just want to say thank you for this term. I hope you have a wonderful holiday season.

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Satire

One of the many things that I enjoyed in this course was the use of satire in a few of the texts(particularly Oroonoko  and Gulliver’s Travels). Since we discussed satire in regards to these texts, I began to think about the satire in general. I found that the definition of satire is “a literary work holding up human vices and follies to ridicule or scorn” or “wit, irony, or sarcasm used to expose and discredit vice or folly”. I really like this idea, because I think that it is a good thing for humans to make fun of themselves; behaving as if we have no faults is not a good thing.Satire, I realized is a good way to express what we do not like about ourselves or others in a humorous way. Because of this, satire has become a great comedic method in modern shows like Mad TV, SNL, Colbert Report, and many others.

Satire, especially in the modern usage is typically used  to ridicule an opposing political party or to make a point that a political view/action is wrong (typically expressed in political cartoons). An example of such is this political cartoon that is pointing to the flaws of having gun laws that are not strict within the United States. The cartoon balances the seriousness of people who have died due to gun violence by making it into an advent calender, which gives the implication that these instances of gun violence are a daily treat for the NRA. The phrase “Nothing Says ‘Christmas’ Like Gunfire” is a satirical statement that is being used to make a political point. 

 

Pat Bagley - Salt Lake Tribune - NRA Advent Calendar - English - NRA, Christmas, Newtown, School Shooting, Shooting, Guns, Colorado, Suicide, Advent, Rifle, Shotgun, Accident, Shot, Killed

 

where I got the definition of satire: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/satire

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December 17, 2013 · 10:30 am