I organized my ePortfolio by category that way when I go to work on it, it will be clean and easy to navigate. I had fun writing each journal post, especially my post about the Aenied. I wrote the post on Mexico's Independence Day, so of course I had to add some pzazz to it. There was so much going on when I was reading it, that if I did not write my journal post while I was reading it I would have forgotten something. Writing that journal post was so much fun because while I was reading and writing my post, I was trying to explain everything to my roommate. There were a couple journal posts like The Romance of Tristan where I struggled to add more information. Now that I am reflecting back on posts like that one, I believe that I just did not pick the right topic to talk about; instead of making a new one, I just continued to write what I already had. I believe that it is noticeable to differentiate which posts I felt strong about and which ones I struggled with. For example, my post about Antigone is one of my favorite posts because I was able to see a strong woman in Antigone as well as seeing Ismene as a rule follower. That post is also the post that I felt a strong connection with as well. When you read the post it is short, but I used that post to create my Idea 1 paper. At the time I did not think I could go as in depth as I should’ve, but through my paper I was able to bring out every single idea and thought I had.
My biggest challenge while writing my journal posts every week was that I would try to make sure I had similar lengths for each post instead of focusing on my content. There would be times where I would be able to catch myself and be able to get myself back on track to focusing on the content. My journal post about The Song of Roland is more focused on how much I wrote because I specifically remember adding information that was taught in out Ancient and Medieval Culture class with Dr. Bird because I could not think of more ideas and did not want a super short journal post. Despite this challenge, I enjoyed making my ePortfolio. When I open my webpage, I see my personality in the design. I know that I can work harder next semester and improve my writing skills, but I am still proud of what I have now. This is the first literature class I have taken since high school, which is why I think I struggle with expanding on my idea as well as getting to the “so what” of writing. If I had a better background of literature and writing, I believe that my journal posts would be exactly where I would want them to be.
Iconography Reflection
December 2, 2019I really enjoyed the iconography workshop. I personally enjoyed the fact that women were the ones who were talking to us more about the subject. Usually when I think of anything religious, I automatically think that men are the experts because men are dominant in the Church. I also liked to hear how the women first got into iconography and being able to see what they made. I was actually able to see Libby later in the day and I told her that before class I did not realize that iconography is still a thing as well as it still being worldwide. Iconography is not a practice that is seen frequently which is why I was so shocked that someone I know practices it. My favorite part of the workshop was being able to make my own little icon. I was very attracted to the gold leaf and got very excited to use it (not surprised I started early). The only thing I wish that was different would to be able to see more of a variety of icons such as those who are not Catholic icons. I love Jesus, but sometimes I get uncomfortable talking about Catholicism if I am not in Church or a religious studies class.
The Romance of Tristan
November 18, 2019The Romance of Tristan is a typical medieval romance. Tristan showed loyalty to his uncle, the King, when he told Yseut that they could not be together. His loyalty was not to God, but to his family. He also is a hero knight. He went to Ireland and cut off the tongue of a dragon. Tristan being in love with an already married woman is also a common theme in medieval romance, which is the courtly love aspect of medieval romance. Their romance takes place in the forest where they are able to be alone. Instead of being in a place that is seen as scary and evil is changed to a scenery of love and privacy.
The Letters of Abelard & Heloise
November 11, 2019The letters between Abelard and Heloise does not show a tragic love story, it is just showing the relationship between the two people. Heloise was educated and knew that if she loved Abelard, she would no longer be equal to him. In the first letter, Abelard says how she prefers to be just a friend of his. She enjoyed having his attention as well as the sexual pleasure she got from him, but she knew that if she married him she would lose her freedom. As I continue to read the letters, I noticed that both Abelard and Heloise are more amicable. Abelard's first letter is to his friend to cheer him up. I personally believe that Abelard was being dramatic on purpose about his relationship with Heloise and her decision to not marry him. I do believe that they have feelings for each other, but it is not what I consider love. He cares more about becoming a philosopher than love. He shames himself for not focusing on his dream. In letters 2 through 5, Heloise begins with asking why he hasn't contacted her and he responds with telling her to focus on her work as well as asking for prayers for himself and his safety. Their relationship to me is the a modern day equivalent of just "talking". They like each other but not enough to be a couple.
The Song of Roland
November 4, 2019The medieval "others" are Muslims and are represented as the enemy. They are seen as pagans and untrustworthy. Comparing The Song of Roland and Aliscans, they both refer to the winners (Christians) as knights. The knights are seen as trustworthy, loyal and having faith in God. The Muslims in both works are the enemy of the Christians as they are not following the true works of God. Muslims are called pagans and Saracen in Roland, and they are called craven infidels, barking as well as pagans and Saracen in Aliscans. Both works are very similar where they show the Muslims as the evildoers and the people in the wrong. Conversion is also a message in both, Charlemagne wants the Spanish king to convert to Christianity so that the war can be over. In Aliscans, Guibork converts from Islam to Christianity and because she does so, she has an amazing husband who does no wrong.
Christian Hagiography
October 28, 2019Saint Mary Magdalene’s story goes over the meaning of her name as well as her ‘abilities’. When going over her name, the meanings of her name describe who she was as a person before, during and after her conversion. Her name also comes from her backstory and family property. The audience of this text are those who want to know a brief summary of Mary Magdalene’s importance to chrstianity and the role that she played. She impacted other people’s lives such as the couple who tried to conceive. She preached about Christ and did wonders to have those people believe in Christ and his teachings. She was a proud woman who spoke about her negative past before meeting Christ.
Augustine and Friendship
October 14, 2019Augustine mentions friends (Alypius and Nebridius) that he has in Confessions, but he also has a friendship with God. To be someone's friend is to be attached to the a person by affection. Augustine sees God in high regards and only tells God all of his sins. God is the being that he trusts most, which is part of the unofficial rule of being a friend. When something happens, Augustine turns to God. He also mentions that "as I became unhappier, you came closer" (Augustine, 109). Augustine does not mention any other friend that has that similar effect on him. All of the sins that he writes down in Confessions are sincere and he continues to tell God that he couldn't help it just like a Christian from today. Readers could say that the relationship between God and Augustine is not friendship because it is not both ways, but the way Augustine talks about God has friendship features. Everything Augustine mentions is not something that a person with his stance would want to be out in the public and the way he just spills the beans shows that Augustine has a close relationship/friendship with God.
Minos in Circe and Metamorphoses
October 8, 2019I want to focus solely on Minos and his actions regarding the Minotaur. In Circe, Minos shows hatred towards Pasiphae especially for what she did (creating the Minotaur). He showed disgust towards the monster and wanted it killed right away. After Pasiphae refused to have her child killed, he was able to see the benefits of having the monster. In Metamorphoses, the birth of the Minotaur is because of Pasiphae's adultery. It also says that Minos had the labyrinth created to hide the monster. What is really interesting about this, is that Metamorphoses is a quick 'here is what happened, the end' type of thing. Circe goes into depth about how the tensions rose in Pasiphae and Minos's marriage, the hatred and love for the creature as well as Circe's help to control the Minotaur. What also stands out is that the monster was created because of adultery, whereas in Circe the Minotaur was created because Pasiphae had sex with a blessed bull.
Roman identity relied heavily on if one was truly roman or not. Power is a great example on what it means to be a true roman. In Augustus's autobiography, he hides behind a huge facade. He is so focused on being seen as a hero or god, that he makes Cicero sound modest. Augustus described himself as god-like whereas Suetonius describes Augustus as a mortal. Augustus believed that he was a descendant from a god, which is why he had the power he had and why the roman citizens respected him. Virgil wrote The Aeneid because Augustus wanted him to. The Aeneid is essentially the history of the founding of Rome as well as showing Augustus's lineage. Aeneas was the son of Venus, and with him having his power- it shows a great similarity of Augustus and his power based off of him claiming he is related to Aeneas and Venus. Historically, the gods played such a huge role in roman identity because the Romans believed that if something bad happened it would have been because the gods were angry. The citizens would dedicate as much time as needed to worship the gods, so that they could be spared as well as keeping the gods happy in general.
*Disclaimer: I could not focus on reading because I kept trying to answer my question while I was reading so now I’m writing my question and answer so I can finish reading.
Question: Is Aeneas the son of Neptune? If so, is that a factor on why Neptune (Poseidon) was against Odysseus?
On page 5, Aeneas (I believe) yells to his sisters cursing them for disturbing the sea and bringing suffering to his crew. He also says “tell your King this: the sea and the trident are allotted to me, not to him” (p. 5). Once he says this, the seas are calm and the sun returns. When Aeneas yells to his sisters, to me it shows a fact that those are his sisters and it is no type of endearment. The only plausible explanation for the relationship is through a sharing of a parent. Since Aeneas is a human and his sisters, to my imagination, are some type of sea creature. It would only make sense that their father would be Neptune, especially if he calmed the sea for ‘his son’.
Let’s just keep going with this idea that Aeneas is Neptune’s son, it would make sense that in The Odyssey, Odysseus has so many issues with Poseidon because Poseidon is on the side of his son- the Trojans. We know that Odysseus killed the Cyclopes which angered Poseidon, but he was against Odysseus since the beginning. Odysseus was for the Greeks and Aeneas was for the Trojans. If Poseidon was on the side of the Trojans, the only reason would be to protect his son a similar way Athena was protecting Odysseus.
plot twist. Venus calls him her son but he has human parents now??? These Trojans need to get it together. We're going to have to find out who Aeneas' parents are on the next Maury.
“Our own death would be if we should go against Creon
And do what he has forbidden! We are only women,
We cannot fight with men, Antigone!
The law is strong, we must give in to the law
In this thing, and in worse. I beg the Dead
To forgive me, but I am helpless: I must yield
To those in authority. And I think it is dangerous business
To be always meddling.”
In this passage, I can feel the inequality of women and how women must follow laws and rules. Antigone wanted to bury her brother properly even if it meant going against the laws and being killed for her actions. Antigone believes that she had a right to do what she wanted for her blood and that no law should stop her. Her sister, Ismene, was too afraid of what could happen and she also knew that women cannot fight men. Ismene believed that it was ridiculous to break the law because doing so was not worth death. The importance of this passage shows that although there are so many consequences and rules a woman had to face, endure and follow, Antigone was willing to do what she could to do what she thought was right. Antigone was willing to go against the norm whereas her sister was a follower or the standards.
Although The Odyssey and Pericles’ Funeral Oration take place in different times of ancient Greece, both still show similar values such as hospitality and men having a manliness image. Since Thucydides is writing what he believed Pericles said, he put “that no words can do more than justice to their deeds” (p.76 line 11). My interpretation of this quote is that one should always do good in their actions and to be just. Part of doing good, is to help those in need. When Odysseus is landing on countries asking for help, he is always given it along with gifts. The people of Phaeacia are known to always help travelers. Technically, you could say that being hospitable is in their blood. Not only are these people being spoken about positively, but with their actions they are doing what they believe is just. Besides being hospitable, both readings show that manliness is key. For Athenians, it was a custom to give a public funeral for those who had been the first to die in war (p.72 lines 1-2). Dying during war was preferred than coming home a loser. It was such an honor to die in war that even Telemachus had wished his father died during the Trojan War so that he could have had an easier life than for his father to be missing. Odysseus shows his manliness by surviving all of his obstacles during his journey back to Ithaca. Telemachus was even looked down on by Athena because he was acting like a boy since he did not kick the suitors out of his home. To be in a man is to live for your country and be the toughest one can be especially if one has power. These values are not only seen in these texts, but also other ancient Greek texts.