The most
marked likeness between the two stories is the rational approach the men take to their new
environment. Otto the scientist provides the scientific background to explain what is going on
at the center of the earth. Axel, in the chapters involving the volcano that spews them back to
the surface of the earth, is most concerned with the workings of his compass, which seems to
have gone crazy.
Crusoe's main and urgent concern is survival. He heads back
to his capsized ship to retrieve supplies. In the chapter on the volcano, Axel too is primarily
concerned with survival; in his case, he needs to survive the volcanic eruption that will hurl
his companions and him to Italy.
The books are very much alike in their
attempts to frame extraordinary events within the context of a realistic universe. Axel and
Crusoe are not going to be saved by fairies or supernatural creatures. They both need to use
their logic and commonsense. Both are in a "new world," but it is one that adheres
minutely to the physical laws of the universe.
Both men experience a similar
fear of death in the new environment. Crusoe reflects:
I
had a dismal prospect of my condition; for as I was not cast away upon that island without being
driven, as is said, by a violent storm, quite out of the course of our intended voyage, and a
great way, viz. some hundreds of leagues, out of the ordinary course of the trade of mankind, I
had great reason to consider it as a determination of Heaven, that in this desolate place, and
in this desolate manner, I should end my life. The tears would run plentifully down my face when
I made these reflections.
As he encounters the volcano,
Axel thinks:
The mineral crust was about to burst, the
heavy granite masses were about to rejoin, the fissure was about to close, the void was about to
be filled up, and we poor atoms to be crushed in its awful embrace!
"Uncle, Uncle!" I cried, "we are wholly, irretrievably
lost!"
Yet, in both cases, approaching the situation
rationally provides the answerand logical thinking rules both men. Axel is preoccupied with
determining what part of the earth they are under, and he thinks it is Iceland. Crusoe's mind is
riveted on his survival through gaining supplies and finding a safe place to sleep.
the pleasure of their new environments. In Crusoe's case, it comes years later from the way he
has mastered his environment and become the lord of his own domain:
At the end of this march I came to an opening where the country
seemed to descend to the west; and a little spring of fresh water, which issued out of the side
of the hill by me, ran the other way, that is, due east; and the country appeared so fresh, so
green, so flourishing, everything being in a constant verdure or flourish of spring that it
looked like a planted garden. I descended a little on the side of that delicious vale, surveying
it with a secret kind of pleasure, though mixed with my other afflicting thoughts, to think that
this was all my own; that I was king and lord of all this country indefensibly, and had a right
of possession; and if I could convey it, I might have it in inheritance as completely as any
lord of a manor in England.In chapter 27 (in my
text, the volcano episode is chapter 42), Axel experiences a deep sense of wonder and awe at the
landscape and, like Crusoe, also experiences solitude. Crusoe is all alone through much of the
book, while Axel has his companions, but both are in places that seem solitary and untouched.
Axel thinks as he looks at the Central Sea:I looked
round a bay formed by projections of vast granitic rocks. At the extreme end was a little port
protected by huge pyramids of stones. A brig and three or four schooners might have lain there
with perfect ease. So natural did it seem, that every minute my imagination induced me to expect
a vessel coming out under all sail and making for the open sea under the influence of a warm
southerly breeze.But
the fantastic illusion never lasted more than a minute. We were the only living creatures in
this subterranean world!I hope this helps. I would focus
on the idea that both stories have a very strong grounding in reason, rationality, and , despite
the extraordinary circumstances they describe. The main characters deal with life logically. We
are drawn to both stories because they seem realistic.
Thursday, October 24, 2019
What are some differences between Athena and Penelope in The Odyssey?
Athena is
an immortal goddess, and Penelope is a mortal queen. That is probably the largest difference
between the two characters in . Athena is also a goddess of war and
battlefield strategy. While Penelope uses her wits to get out of choosing a suitor, she is not a
warrior and has no fighting prowess of which to speak. Athena is also known for being a
bachelorette (some myths have her married to Hephaestus, though it is unclear if the union was
ever consummated) while Penelope is one of the most famous wives in ancient literature. Penelope
is also a mother; Athena is not.
Because of her immortal powers, Athena knows
where and in what condition Odysseus is throughout the story, while Penelope cannot be sure if
he is alive. And while both characters love Odysseus, Athena does not seem to feel any romantic
or sexual love for him the way Penelope does.
One other big difference
between the two women is that Athena was present as a character in The .
She had influence on the war...
What were the major events in the life of Frederick Douglass that formed his identity?
The first
major life event that formed 's identity was his witnessing his Aunt Hester being brutally
whipped. This event occurred when Douglass was very young. At the time he did not understand why
his aunt was being beaten. However, the event frightened him and taught him that the world was
fundamentally unsafe for him and those he loved.
A second event in early
childhood that shaped Douglass's identity was his being sold away at the age of seven from his
plantation of birth. Douglass was taken from his friends and family and placed in an unfamiliar
and decidedly more brutal environment. Douglass would later note that this was when he began to
understand what slavery was. He began to understand how the system of American slavery worked to
dehumanize both enslaved people as well as those who held them captive.
A
final defining moment in Douglass's early childhood was his learning to read. Upon learning to
read, Douglass began to realize that the oppression of black people is a matter of social
hierarchy and racial brutality. The oppression of black people was not due to innate inferiority
(as he had previously believed). Learning to read marked a turning point when Douglass began to
believe that he could eventually achieve emancipation and help abolish the system of slavery
itself.
Throughout the text of 1984, Orwell plants warnings to the reader. What are some of the larger issues at hand here? Throughout the text of 1984, Orwell...
It seems
that the overall warning sound throughout the work is the reality of what happens when
individuals lose control of their government. From the most fundamental of standpoints and
although it would like to show it otherwise, the government of Oceania, Big Brother, had to have
seized control from the people. It is highly unlikely that any body politic would have
legitimized such a government. Once individuals lost control of their government, government,
through the form of Big Brother, turned on them. The idea of eliminating the private realm in
favor of the public, ensuring that all thoughts are controlled or channeled towards embracing
governmental aims, as well as being a collector of covert information against the government are
all ways in whichindicates that we, as citizens, must take a stand and control our governments.
The world Orwell creates might not be real, but it contains enough fearful elements for us to
fully embrace and understand that if we, as citizens, turn off the need to pay attention to
government, there is a good chance that government will turn on us.
What are the benefits of studying poetry?
This is a
great question! There are definitely many benefits to studying poetry for many groups of people.
Here are some:
1) Language learners can greatly benefit from a concentrated
immersion in poetry. As poetry emphasizes rhythm and stress patterns, many ESL (English as a
Second Language) learners can hone their pronunciation skills by reading poems aloud.
Reading-aloud sessions can provide the requisite practice to increase the confidence of language
learners.
Additionally, in studying poetry, language learners and other
students can begin to appreciate and discover the history behind the poems they read. For
example, Shakespearean poems provide a wide context from which to discuss relevant topics such
as gender relations, human sexuality, and cultural norms during the Elizabethan era.
The Elizabethan era, as we all know, heralded the golden age of the Renaissance as
well as the new age of English exploration and expansion. Therefore, an appreciation of the
historical context of the...
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
What is the scariest short story ever written? What is the scariest short story YOU have ever read?
'The Landlady'
by Roald Dahl. Discretely despicable.
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
What is education like in The Giver?
's
highly-organized community is founded on the principles of Sameness, where conformity is
encouraged and each citizen plays a specific role in society. Education is Jonas's community is
depicted as highly regulated and limited. Although Lowry does not go into specific details
describing theand requirements of the community's school, there are a select number of scenes
that give the reader insight into what education is like in Jonas's community.
The audience knows that children in Jonas's community begin school at a young age and
continue going to school after they are given their Assignments at the age of twelve. Jonas's
sister Lily is six years old and attends school. She mentions that her age group was visited by
another group outside of the community, which reveals that socialization and interactive play
are promoted in the community's school. Jonas also recalls Asher being punished using a
"discipline wand" for mispronouncing a word, which indicates that corporal punishment
is used in schools and correct language is emphasized.
Jonas also does a
significant amount of homework and mentions that the Committee of Elders pays close attention to
the Elevens at school in order to help determine their future Assignments. Students are also
required to complete a certain amount of volunteer hours. Given the society's stance on
Sameness, literature and certain subjects are censored. The only people with access to novels
and history books are the Giver and the Receiver of Memory.