Sheikh Al Junaydi

In the start of the novel, Naguib Mahfouz begins the story with Said Mehran walking out of jail after four years. From there, Naguib Mahfouz portrays Said as a man desperate to find redemption and to find himself in a corrupt and changed world in his eyes. In the novel we see Said constantly believing that the innocent tend to be unsuccessful whilst the guilty flourish.  In the novel Said  seeks guidance and help from Sheik al Junaydi. The Sheikh seems to be one of the only characters who are responsible for helping with Said’s lost sense of ethics during this quarrel that Said has with society  and repression. Not only does he represent fate and the will of God because of his social position in the mosque, but he is also seen  as Said’s righteous guide which as we know he obviously needs. Throughout The Thief and The Dogs, there are numerous cases of Said not truly understanding the meaning behind Sheikh Al Junaydi’s words of wisdom. This shows how Said is confused about the path that he must take in his life and how his internal conflict is affecting his decisions in every thing he does or thinks of. 

In the novel we see how Sheikh Al-Junaydi incessantly warns Said Mehran that retribution is not worth the consequences and he must let it go and therefore contributes to the theme of how vengeance leads to the eventual fall of the Said Mehran in the novel. In  the novel, Said is constantly told to go “wash and read” to which he only responds by blaming everyone around him.  By that the Sheikh is trying to get Said to forget the past and look towards religions and seek redemption through religion and of course move on with his life. Only on the second read, will readers understand that Said was given these opportunities to redeem himself but he just them due to his heavy thoughts of vengeance which cloud his mind with his excuses to not look for peace. A common trend within the novel is that Said justifies his decisions by blaming his circumstances. Towards the end of the chapter he reveals that he is on a trajectory that approaches hell rather than heaven. This means that Said had already accepted his fate as a criminal and had no intentions of saving himself. 

Through this indirect characterization of Said, we realize how Mahfouz brings in the Sheikh to go against Said’s doubting attitude and acts as a safe guard on how much we commiserate with him. Sheik al Junaydi plays a major role in the  theme of fate vs. free will as he unifies the free will piece in the novel. Through providing a contradiction between environments, the audience being to become aware of the main characters actions and begin to question. Said was so focused on  revenge and seeking retaliation He believes that this is the only way that he could finish his mission. Sheik al Junaydi introduces the reader with a different idea of ethics and morality as he provides a positive and more spiritual path.

Thesis Statement

• In the novel, Mahfouz uses  Saids experiences to represent the experiences of most of the Egyptian people as if they feel betrayed by the country they love. He uses Saids conflicts and as well his struggles to represent the conflicts and struggles that the Egyptian people felt at the time

Passage Analysis (Chapter 14)

The Thief and the Dogs is a novel written by Naguib Mahfouz, which interprets the story of Said Mahran, a thief who is betrayed by his wife Nabawiyya and friend Illish which then leads to him going to jail and losing his daughter. Throughout the novel Said has a desirable thirst to kill them both as well as his ex mentor,  Rauf Ilwan. As the story progresses we see how Said starts to  develop in to a complex character who struggles to deal with himself and the outside world. The complexity of Said’s character and his ego is intriguing and makes the novel an interesting read.

In this passage from chapter 14 of The Thief and dogs, we see how Said , who at this point in time is a broken man incapable of controlling his impetuous emotions. He tries to escape from Rauf’s compound at which point he comes to a realization that the time is nearing when he has to enter ‘one last battle’ which foreshadows a tragic death for the protagonist. Said then hails a cab which he describes as a safe haven. Mahfouz employed this style of writing where he compares Said’s pain from the wound being nothing compared to the relief of being safe again. This could indicate that Said might have been going through the same thought process as the reader that the metaphorical wound in his heart is nothing compared to the peaceful life he could have led.

Later when he gets to Nur’s flat he feels the wound on his leg and identifies it as a possibly caused by a bullet grazing him without penetrating. This draws the attention of the readers to the fact that Said had escaped death so many times before just as he did right now but as all cycles have it there is a peak and a trough and the reader might foreshadow a trough where Said won’t be so lucky. The text catches a glimpse irony when Said says “You’ll get away all right.” The style of writing then shifts to indirect internal monologue where Said questions whether he might have killed Rauf Ilwan. Mahfouz integrates the possibility that another innocent person might die to foreshadow the fate of Said’s wasted life.

Said ponders over the thought of how the bullet that killed Rauf Ilwan would destroy his sense of loss but little does he know that he has committed a grave mistake again of killing an innocent man. His actions will eventually lead to his death that has no meaning to it which is something he did not want to happen to him. “A world without morals is like a universe without gravity” 

Establish how Said is a tragic hero

• What is Said's tragic flaw? (harmatia)

Said's constant desire for revenge can be interpreted as his main tragic flaw. Another of Saids tragic flaw would be the fact that he seems to be very hypocritical and tends to not look as both sides of the story, he also seems to go with his actions not thinking about the trail of trouble that he is leaving behind. This is one of the main characteristics that had ,later on in the novel, lead to his downfall. An example from the text would be a quote from him, "“To kill them both Nabawiyya and Illish at the same time, would be a triumph”, his constant expressing of hate towards other characters in the play is considered as his main tragic flaw, since it lead to him getting shot at towards the end of the novel

• How does he display excessive pride? (hubris)

 Throughout the novel, Said tend to blame other characters for being the ones held responsible for  al the trouble and struggles that he is going through, never having himself to blame. He even blamed Sana for not recognizing him "I have no faith in all her sex", the previous line shows how his thinking is that of a 3 year old boy, blaming Sana when she hasn't seen him for all these  years. This shows how excessively his character displays pride, as he sees that he himself is flawless and never to blame to what is happening between him and the other characters in the novel.

• When is his reversal of fortunes? (peripeteia)

Said's reversal of fortunes occurred at the moment when Rauf rejects him for who he truly is, “If I set eyes on you again,” Rauf bellowed, “I’ll squash you like an insect" that is the quote that Rauf said from the text,  This tells us  how Said is now on his own and knows that no body has his back due to the fact that Rauf once used to be his mentor and close friend, but now he is just another upperclass individual who Said attempted to steal from. 

• At what moments in the text does he recognize that the reversal was due to his own actions? (anagnorisis)

There were many moments in the text where he does recognize the reversal was due to his own actions. One of the main moments in the text was when he begged Rauf to not call the police on him. He then realizes that his actions were wrong.  Said deliberately broke into his house in the evening  when Rauf was sleeping. “Yes, I do, but please don’t.” Said says that after Rauf said, “No? Don’t you deserve it?". This shows how Said acknowledges his mistake , and begs Rauf not to call the police, showing that he knows that the reversal of fortunes is due to his own actions.

• Is his fate greater than he deserved? (nemesis)

 In Said case I indeed do believe that his fate was not greater than what he deserved. He deserved everything that got to him due to the fact that he took a path which would eventually lead him to his own destruction. What goes around comes around and everyone must go through life reporting to their own actions. If their actions are good then they must be rewarded, if they are bad then they must suffer the consequences of their actions. Said had to suffer the consequences for his own actions no matter his intentions whether he believed his actions were right or wrong. 

Stream of Consciousness ---- Thief and The Dogs

   Stream of consciousness is a writing technique used by the author in order to show the inside of the main characters mind. In The Thief and the Dogs, the readers are given the opportunity to view ideas and certain opinions about certain situations through the  mind of the main character, Said. Mahfouz uses stream of consciousness as a way to develop the main character and the overall theme of the novel swell as help the audience relate to the main character in a more efficient way. When the novel gives us an insight on what is going on  inside the main characters head, the audience is able to understand the theme of revenge and hatred on a level that could not simply be understood through simple narration. Mahfouz wanted to give us a greater insight on the main characters hunger for vengeance as well as his eagerness to see his daughter an also the pain he feels and all the thoughts going through the main characters mind through the main characters point of view. From the first page of the novel, the change in text to italics tell the audience that the main character is thinking and that we are now inside the main characters head. Throughout the novel, italics are used to go inside Said’s head. Being released from jail marks his quest for hate fueled revenge. It is important to know that the original book in Arabic did not have italics. The English translation then used the italics to switch from indirect to direct monologue, thus zooming into the stream of consciousness that is present in the novel. Through being able to go in his head, the reader is able to relate to Said better. The stream of  consciousness technique used in the novel by Mahfouz is generally different then Naguib Mahfouz’s other work which tends to be grounded in a more realistic fiction idea.

In the novel "The Thief and the Dogs", Naguib uses this narration to express Said's thoughts as mentioned before. By shifting and changing between different styles, it allows the audience to dive deeper into the main characters thoughts and significantly bring them back to the reality of his situation. This develops Said as a character due to the fact that  several traits and emotions are clearly expressed in a more efficient manner. It also allows the readers to relate to the main character with his position and his situation in the story. For example, Mahfouz uses this type of narration during Saids first confrontation with his daughter as a free man. His daughter's rejection brings to him the feelings of humiliation and anger. Another example would be every time Said think about his betrayal, which brings back Saids intentions for revenge and retaliation, and serves as an elucidation for these motives. moreover, it creates a larger significance on the reader as they are exposed to Said's distinctive situation. This technique is successfully exposed throughout the whole novel. Through the use of internal soliloquies  and sudden drifts to different types of third person narration, the main characters story is revealed in a circular plot. There is a clear line  presented between past and present, which aids the reader to sense that Said can possibly be in a certain state of remembrance especially during the start of the novel. Saids choices and motives are highly influenced from past events, so it was critical for Mahfouz to include the shift to the past in order to show us the root to all of Saids troubles as well as where all his ideas originate in order to relate to Said and help develop Said's character more efficiently. 

Literature in Translation

Literature in Translation

  Recently there has been a significant increase in the study of literature in translation from languages that were previously unrecognized on a global scale. There are many reasons as to why one must study literature in translation and its importance and the effect it could have on an individual. Studying literature helps us discover and indulge in different cultures and explore a different style of thinking as well as different ideologies than the ones we own. Translating a text requires an ideal amount of studying due to it being a very difficult task due to various reasons. In order to be successful at the task, one must indulge in different cultures and become proficient in the understanding of different beliefs and values. Reading a translated book could be more difficult and complicated than is seems, due to the fact that some meanings and certain characters could have a significant meaning in a certain culture, and another meaning in another culture. This then cause significant meanings to be lost due to a difference in the way certain aspects of the stories are perceived and distinguished. In certain languages, some words cannot be translated word for word, this causes a mass confusion in certain meanings within certain texts/novels/stories. 

Paper 2 - TFA (Thesis + Outline)


Thesis Statement

Chinua Achebe's "Things Fall Apart" portrays Africa, particularly the Ibo society, right before the arrival of Europeans. Things Fall Apart analyzes the destruction of African culture by the appearance of the white man in terms of the destruction of the bonds between individuals and their society. Achebe, who teaches us a great deal about Ibo society and translates Ibo myth and proverbs, but most importantly, he emphasizes on how social status plays a big role in the culture.The Ibos rely on one's successes to determine how much one should be respected. In Umuofia, it appears that the big factors in success are the amount of wives and barns that a man has as well as a man social status. Social status plays a big role in characterization, especially with Okonkwo. 

Outline:

Body 1

• The role of social class in Umofia

Body 2

The importance of social class to Okonkwo 

Body 3

How Achebe uses social class as a major contribution to characterization. 

Paper 1 Practice

Paper 1 “Why Fight For Russia”

The following extract that I have received is a leaflet, or one could see it as a brochure. This is decided due to the structure of the extract as well as the heading of the extract, which seems to be advertising the author’s point of view. On the bottom of the page, certain information was given to us about the extract received indicating that the following extract is a leaflet made by a British pacifist in 1914. Since the extract talks about fighting and due to the date given to us, we can now understand that this leaflet revolves around the First World War. This essay is an attempt to analyze this extract identifying the author’s purpose and intended audience as well as different persuasive language and also differ literary features that the author has used in the leaflet provided to us.

As we already understand from reading the text, the extract is a leaflet given to British soldiers as well as the British general public, persuading them to not fight with Russia and not fight the war in the first place. It also attempts to persuade the people to protest against thee war. From this we can then go to understand the purpose of this leaflet is to inform the general public as well as the soldiers about the author’s true opinions on Russia, as well as to persuade the people that fighting in this war would be against British morals. The leaflet talks about Russia’s unethical values so this then helps us understand the purpose of the extract. We can also learn who the authors intended audience are, which from what we already know, are the British general public as well as British soldiers. We can see this from the authors attempt to inform and educate the public and the British army as well as the general public, and the due to the author explaining to the army to not fight with Russia and to not fight the war if they can, and to protest against the war.

As we have learnt from the previous paragraph as well as from the information given to us on from the extract, we come to understand the extract is a leaflet or a brochure which acts as an advertisement used to advertise the authors ideas and point of views about Russia and why he believes that fighting with Russia and fighting in this war is unethical and goes against British morals. He also talks about how the Russians go against all of the British ideologies about liberty and justice, due to the fact that he talks about how the Russians treat their soldiers and how they don’t match the British ideologies of the western world. The leaflet goes on to explain how the country they should side with if they are forced to fight , are the Germans due to their similarities  and how the Russians are different to the Germans and they they are slaves of a corrupt autocracy and they are just violent people in genera and they again go against British ideologies of liberty and justice. The author goes on to explain how he is against the what and actually persuading the general public to take part in protests against England taking part in the war.

As we can see from reading the extract that the author uses a persuasive as well as an informative tone. This is a sort of tone that a teacher would use with their students. The author uses a type of vocabulary that most people would understand and doesn’t use any complicated words, thus we can understand that he is attempting to communicate with everyone in the general public from all different educational levels. The author also uses a large, bold font to catch the readers eye and to grab their attention as he uses sentences such as “A WAR for Russia is a War Against Civilization”, as well as “British Stand Clear”. These types of phrases draw the reader into reading the leaflet and make the leaflet seem more interesting that it actually is. It also shows and acts as if the leaflet is trying to inform the people of a really important situation and a crucial piece of information. The author uses a interesting title that say simply “Why fight for Russia?”, Which then makes the audience curious as to find out what the answer of this rhetorical question is as it has been on peoples minds as thy observe the leaflet to read the authors point of views. It also makes then curious as they want to see if the authors point of view might change their opinion about the war or not.  This then sets an educational mood and it seems as if the audience are learning something and gaining information about Russia’s true colors. It also sets an opinionated tone, which then causes the audience to change their point of view on the war itself.

The author uses many literary devices as well as persuasive language to aid in his persuasion of the British public and the soldiers in not fighting the war as well as not fighting with Russia. The author uses logos as he explains and talks about the amount of money they spent. They also use logos later on as the author explains the amount of Germans compared to the amount of Russians to show they if they ere to fight the war, they had to fight with Germany as they are outnumbered. The author also uses pathos as he explains the audience about the similarities between them and the Germans and how that the Germans are outnumbered thus persuading them to , if they had to fight the war, to side with Germany. The author uses Rhetorical questions to keep the audience thinking and interested to find the answer. The author uses rhetorical questions such as “ What is Russia”, and “Why fight for Russia”. The author uses persuasive language to help in shaping the audience’s opinion about Russia. The author also uses persuasive language as he explains how Russia are cruel not only to others, but also to their own people and how that goes against the British ideologies of justice and liberty. The author then uses ethos as he identifies how the Russians are unethical thus instigating an ethical appeal.

The author uses and unorganised structure of different paragraphs which shows unprofessionalism in the leaflet. He also uses bold and large font titles to help catch the reader’s attention as they receive the leaflet or walk past the leaflet on the street.  The author uses a simple, easily read sized font that is easy to read so that the general public could read the information with no constraints and helps connect with the audience in an easier way. The author also doesn’t use too many words and keeps his information simple and goes straight to the point so that the audience doesn’t get bored whilst reading the leaflet.

In conclusion, we have reviewed the audience and purpose and that the author used this leaflet to help persuade the audience and help shape the audience’s opinion in order to match his. The authors use of literary devices as well as persuasive language has been explained and how the author used the persuasive language in order to persuade the audience that his point of views and ideas about the war and about Russia are the right ideas and the better opinion.  

Media bias post

The prompt that I have chosen to write about is if it is acceptable for a government to try to shape public opinion through information campaigns. I disagree with this statement for many reasons. I don't strongly disagree either due to the fact that there could be a reason for the government to try to shape the publics opinion for a positive reason. After reading the article about the friendly fire that occurred and was covered up by the government to help maintain the positive image of the US military, and watching the documentary as well as analysing the leaflet, I then formed my true opinion on the matter as well as the statement, and in this blogpost I will be discussing these reasons thoroughly.

The article shows how stubborn the government were in this situation due to the fact that friendly fire occurs in wars, it is a normal thing and is seen as a mistake. After the incident occurred where Pat Tillman was shot down by his own troops in a friendly fire situation, the U.S government should have informed the Pat's mother about the incident exactly as it occurred as the mother and the family had an absolute right to know how her son died, especially in an incident like this. The mother had every reason to rant and write a book about the situation. The way that the media manipulated the public and shaping its opinion the U.S army shows the negative aspect of the statement. If the government told the public as well as the family the truth as it is, the publics opinion about the army would have completely changed.

We then watched a documentary called "Control Room", I realised how the media as well as the government would go so far to be able to shape the publics opinions in a certain way. In the documentary, I observed how Al Jazeera were being accused of siding the Arab public and were accused of "lying" as well as "shaping" their news so that the public only get one side of the story. The were also said to falsely accuse the Americans of performing in acts that they were predominantly not a part of. This caused the Arab public to grow hate towards Americans as well as the army. The Americans were wrong to an extent, not the extent to which Al Jazeera were reporting.

I then read a leaflet that was given to the British army during world war 1 as an attempt to help convince the soldiers to not help fight with Russia during the war. The truth is that the government should not give the people one side of the story and ask them to choose sides when they have no information or any clue about the other side. The government as well as the media, should give the people both sides of the story, and then ask them to choose sides so at least they are aware and would be able to choose according to what they believe to be true.

Media Biased Article

ISIS and the Lonely Young American

This pastiche is about an article written in the New York times about a girl who, on internet, started communicating with a man name Faisal who was apparently 51 and married. From the article we understand that Faisal was trying to convert this girl named Alex to islam. He eventually succeeded and from the article we can see that the girl doesn't seem to be that old. From the heading we can see how this article is going to regard the Islamic State in a certain way, even though that the man himself might be and extremist, but does not seem to meet the criteria of an ISIS member. He is considered to be an extremist due to the fact that the article mentions how the man used to experiment with bombs.

"For months, she had been growing closer to a new group of friends online — the most attentive she had ever had — who were teaching her what it meant to be a Muslim. Increasingly, they were telling her about the Islamic State and how the group was building a homeland in Syria and Iraq where the holy could live according to God’s law.

One in particular, Faisal, had become her nearly constant companion, spending hours each day with her on Twitter, Skype and email, painstakingly guiding her through the fundamentals of the faith.

But when she excitedly told him that she had found a mosque just five miles from the home she shared with her grandparents in rural Washington State, he suddenly became cold."

 The man started to drop off presents at her house which included head scarfs and other islamic gifts such as books and prayer mats. He also started sending her link on how to properly wear a head scarf and how to pray. Bare in mind that Alex has never met a muslim in person in her life. She then agrees to convert to Islam and publicly announces it on twitter.

This then cause many complications due to the fact that the man was able to change her belief into thinking that ISIS was a good organization and that all of her other christian followers on twitter and all her non muslim friends were are infidels and they were people that she shouldnt be around.

She was then accused of being a spy which cause many complications for her and her family.

The language being used in the article is seen to be as negative as the author uses a negative tone to explain the situation. I and most people would agree that the situation is wrong, but the way that the situation is expressed is seen as over exaggerated and that the whole situation is held out of proportion.

IOC practice 2

file:///Users/apple/Music/iTunes/iTunes%20Media/Voice%20Memos/20151002%20172003.m4a

IOC practice

file:///Users/apple/Downloads/20150928%20225446.m4a

This is Water response.

In the essay This is Water, David Foster suggests that true freedom acquired through education is the ability to be adjusted, conscious and sympathetic. He uses this thesis statement in his essay and helps develop this thesis statement by using everyday examples which one would be able to relate to whilst reading this essay. He uses these examples in an attempt to make what he is trying to say much simpler, due to the fact that the point that he is trying to shed light on might not get across to all people who are reading this essay. He also uses metaphors to make it easier for the reader to relate to. 

As i have mentioned before, David tries to shed light on his statement by using metaphors and examples which are crucial in the understanding of the essay. More importantly, David is trying to send an important message across to his readers, that there is more to life than yourself. He tries to explain that one must understand that life isn't only about you and that your life doesn't just revolve around your own experiences. He tries to explain that in order to be happy, one must put himself in other people's shoes, to know that there is another world that you must enter that revolves around another individual. A person must learn that he must look at both sides of the road before crossing the road of judgment. Meaning that a person must think twice before judging someone due to the fact that you are incapable off reading other people's minds thus you cannot make a judgment about how tough their lives are and the daily hardships that they have to put up with. Before you start complaining about how long the line at the store is, realise that you are not the only person waiting in line and that there are other people waiting in line too just like you are. David uses plenty of metaphors and examples in order to further explain to the audience his statement. One example he uses in the beginning of the story is the fish example, where two young fish meet an older fish who asks them "how is the water", the two young fish then go on to reply by saying "what the hell is water?". After reading through the story, one realises that what the author means by 'water' is that in this scene, water is the representation of life. Thus you can think of it as the older fish asking the younger fish "hows life". The fact that the two young fish seemed quite confused by this question, proves just how complicated life really is, and the daily issues one must go through without even knowing what is the real purpose of life and how complex and mis understood life really is. Literature in a sense, helps readers deal with real life situations which might seem confusing and complex, through reading enough literature, one starts to learn strategies and ways of how to deal with daily life situations and complications. This shows that literature is truly one of the most beneficial aspects of education.        

Munro Literature Reflection

The study of literature teaches people many different skills which they can use daily or in the future such as how they can react to different situations. Literature also allows readers to deal with situations indirectly and they tend to think what would the character do if they were in the readers position or vice versa. Literature allows students to use their minds as they analyse characters thus strengthening their thinking skills just like other subjects like maths or physics. Literature helps students think critically and they don't only analyse characters but they analyse the characters surroundings and the authors surroundings and how the book could relate to the author's life. This sort of analysis requires tools such as rhetorical devices and other literary devices which one must memorise to help them in analysing the book in more depth. Studying literature also helps broaden ones imagination as it helps them create images in their head of what for example a character looks like and what the place the story took place looks like. The study of literature also helps in the improvement of reading , composition and vocabulary skills, which one must acquire for the future for things such as applying for a job or writing a personal statement for uni. The study of literature may also be a great way to study and learn about other cultures and societies. Literature students gain a positive and better perception of life. They could read something in a book that might change their life forever thus acquiring better skills in navigating the world. Just like studying normal literature is viewed and being quite important. The study of women's literature is just as important or even more important, due to the fact that one might gain a greater insight in the world in the point of view of women, and how women feel whilst being discriminated against. This is beneficial to not only men but women too. You may think of it as a bit of a history lesson as well, due to the fact that today, one might not come across discrimination against women to the extent that women used to be exposed to during the 1920's or 60's. This, again, gives readers especially men, an insight into the world of women and life in there perspective and how they feel during certain situations. This helps students learn more about women and even increase their skill in dealing with certain type of women. Munro's work was so significant during the 1950's-1980's due to the fact that it was the best time to release such books as it was the time of the women empowerment movement, which motivated women at this era to write about their life and how they feel and life through their perspectives and how the have felt in the past and how they would like to feel in the future. I like Munro due to the fact that I feel like her writing is of very high standards and she creates outstanding short stories which contain very entertaining characters.

Music Anthology Role Play

 2pac "Changes"

   2pac's song "Changes" is no doubt one of the greatest songs to be put out there. "Changes" is initially 2pac's timely meditation about crime, race and politics. It is also known to be about the hard and tough life in the streets. The reason the song is so special is that is sheds light on significantly important problems such as gang violence, racism, drugs, corruption and poverty. Yet what tops it all of is that the song is full of Tupac's own experiences and exploits and also full of his emotions and his passion and the fact that he is so passionate and determined to strive to change these issues which many countries including America is still facing today. 

  In the first couple of lines, Tupac starts the song by saying "I see no changes, wake up in the morning and I ask my self, is like worth living ? Should i blast myself ?". What Pac was trying to imply here is that he still sees no changes in society and that society still continues to deliberately oppress the poor and more specifically the black community. These thoughts going through his head makes him question the value of his own life. He then goes on to say "I'm tired of being poor and even worse I'm black, my stomach hurts so I'm looking for a purse to snatch". This could be interpreted in two ways. One way to think of this is that Pac tries to imply that it is bad enough being any other colour and poor, but then again it is even worse to be black and poor in such an oppressed and racist environment. The other way to think of this is that what Pac was trying to put out is that in the time, being black was worse than being poor, which is unfortunate living in such a harsh and regressive society.These lines could be viewed as a way to illustrate how many black people in America live in such poverty and such a racist and rough society that the lack of jobs and the lack of opportunities gives them the incentive to be do wrong and steal due the fact that they are hungry and so they look for a purse to snatch because they have to motivation or reason to do right so instead they divert to being criminals just to get by. This concept is repeated when he raps "Give the crack to the kids who the hell cares? One less hungry mouth on the welfare." Pac then goes on to say "Cops give a damn about a negro, pull a trigger kill a n**** he's a hero" . This goes out to prove how oppressed the black community is by the corruption of the government as well as the corruption by the police, he's also touching the controversial topic of how African Americans are targeted by the police and if a cop kills a African American male it's not a big deal, intact he could be seen as a hero. In a later verse, Pac goes to mention the fact that no matter where he goes he sees no changes and that all he sees are racists that are holding the world back. He also mentions something very important in the second verse. He says "Take the evil out of people they'll be acting right, cause both black and white are smoking crack tonight". What Pac is implying here is that all races commit crimes yet people won't even think a split second or hesitate to call black people "criminals". He was also trying to imply that if people were able to see the good in each other as opposed to the bad ,which is all the people look for nowadays, the world would be a much better place. Things like war, drugs and poverty are only but a simple dream which Pac mentions as he says "Some things will never change" 

  Tupac wants to inspire his people to join him and take a stand against these issues that are holding his people back. Tupac repeats throughout the song that he sees no changes and truly want to see his people rise and make changes to benefit them. Tupac was more than just a rapper, he was more like an unelected leader for his people, trying to make a change so aid not only the black community, but to help the world become a better place. That is the reason why I believe that this song is no doubt when of the best songs to have been written in history. (Listen to the song below) 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ay9BWM8lwOA 

Paper 2 Practice.

Show how and to what effect Achebe makes use of myth, legend of other stories and tales. 

    Things Fall Apart, centers on the fictional Ibo clan of Umuofia. Umuofia is rich in oral history and highly values individual expression through language. This aspect of the Ibo culture is highlighted through the use of myth, proverbs, and story-telling. This response with explore how Achebe uses these cultural traditions to instill the reader with a better understanding of Ibo culture. Having a greater understanding of Ibo culture helps to bridge the gap between the Western audience and the largely misunderstood cultures of Africa. Through cultural appreciation, all readers can better empathize with the downfall of both the protagonist, Okonkwo, and the Ibo traditional society.

An example is the use of proverbs.Proverbs are short sayings that contain a well-known truth or piece of advice. In the novel, they represent very important snippets of the Ibo culture. All of the facets of Ibo culture, including history, traditions, government structure, and hierarchies, shape these everyday sayings. Thus, Ibo values are reinforced through the ubiquitous use of proverbs. These sayings represent stories of the way of the Igbo people. There is a proverb that is commonly used in the culture and it is " proverbs are the palm oil with which words are eaten." One of the first instances of a myth was in Chapter 7 where Achebe describes to us the internal conflict within Okonkwo's son Nwoye, over preferring his mother's tales but wanting to please his father, "Nwoye knew that it was right to be masculine and violent" . Prior to this, one of Nwoye's favourite myths is recounted, allowing the reader to learn about the quarrel between the Earth and the Sky. As we mentioned earlier, the primary aim that myths like these serve is creating a richer environment for the audience to immerse themselves in. 

Another example of myths and stories  are those in the forms of songs. This form is spread throughout the text, and provides the audience with another form of culture to associate with the Igbo. This would allow a more diverse group to identify with them. The act of including lyrics without accompanying tunes or music, however, can perhaps also be interpreted as a comment by Achebe on the integrity of his text. It's almost as if he is reminding us that no matter how much we sing or read these songs, there is still an element of Igbo culture that has been irreparably lost due to colonisation  This is represented symbolically via the medium of his novel: as a book we cannot include a song within it, and books embody civilization and education (which the colonizers 'brought' to the African people). 

These are only some of the examples that Achebe uses in his novel "things fall apart". 

Paper 2 Practice

• To what extent has an awareness of context enriched or enhanced your understanding of Things Fall Apart?

The novel Things fall apart examines the effect of colonialism on the fictional clan called Umofia which is proclaimed to be in the Southeast of Nigeria. The novel provides a greater understanding of the labyrinthine Igbo culture through the protagonist, Okonkwo. It is important to understand how an awareness of the Igbo culture enriches the reader's understanding of the text. The novel significantly impacts ones understanding of gender roles and gender equality. This response will examine how an understanding of traditional Igbo culture enriches the reader's understanding of masculinity and femininity in Things Fall Apart. Okonkwo is portrayed as a manly, arrogant, strong and fierce character which is what eventually leads to his downfall. Many people truly believe that Okonkwo actually epitomises everything Achebe believed shouldn't be in his characteristics. In the novel there is a drive that truly obliges Okonkwo to become this masculine and fierce person, and it it that he wanted to become everything that his father, Unoka, wasn't. In the story Unoka is portrayed as a friendly person yet he is also portrayed as a coward and usually referred to as un-masculine. 

Some people might believe whilst reading the story that  Okonkwo's ways would seem very sexist and unfair to women. The use of a feminist lens is thus there to support the most precise understanding of the Igbo culture. The novel itself was  set during the 1800s, a time where racism and sexism was conventional world wide. Achebe does not depict the standard society in which we live in due to the fact that this would have made the story seem a bit unrealistic. The descriptions of the oppression of women throughout the novel including wife beating, are needed. Achebe make a genuine note on how the igbo life was before the European colonisation . Achebe points out that life in the igbo world wasn't really a shortcut to nirvana. The reader of Things Fall Apart who generally can't relate to the story has a chance of receiving the wrong interpretation of the cultural context whilst of the contrary, the readers who can relate have a respectful understanding of their traditional culture.They are more forgiving of their own historical misdeeds, such as slavery, because they understand them and have moved on. These readers are not close enough with African culture to engage in such reflections with this novel. Through reading Things Fall Apart with a feminist lens, one can better understand the historical role of gender in the novel.

In the novel  things fall apart , men are portrayed as more powerful and more superior than women. This is visible through the protagonist, Okonkwo, who is very arrogant and has very narrow minded beliefs over gender roles in the Igbo culture. The idea of masculinity in the Igbo culture is reflected through men. The fact that there are some activities that require the attention of men rather than women increases the amount of sexism which is portrayed by Achebe in the text. Women however, are portrayed very differently than men. In the novel women cook food, take care of the house, take care of the children and there are crops which require women's attention. Women, however, are sometimes referred to as Agbala, which means titles man. Okonkwo uses this word to refer to his father, meaning that men are abashed whilst being compared to women. In the Igbo culture, a rich man can have multiple wives which can be processed as a symbol of power. There is also a practice known as wife beating, which shows how it was norm for women to be oppressed in the igbo culture. 

Things fall apart (Okwonwo)

Things fall Apart

How does Okwonko develop themes in the text as a tragic hero ? 

Throughout the novel, Okwonko is portrayed as a powerful, strong and brave character. He's also portrayed as a leader who values his reputation over others. The novel also portrays Okonkwo as a man of action, a man of  high status in the Igbo village. He holds the prominent position of village clansman due to the fact that he had shown incredible skills in two intertribal wars. Okonkwo’s hard work had made him a wealthy farmer and a recognized individual amongst the nine villages of Umuofia and beyond. Okonkwo’s tragic flaw isn’t that he was afraid of work, but rather his fear of weakness and failure which stems from his father’s unproductive life and disgraceful death. When Okwonko's problems start going south, he starts to realise that fate has had a part in his difficult times. He blames the oracle for the death of Ikemfuna, He then almost faces exile as he mistakingly kills Ezeudu's son. He then leaves for seven years. The reason Okwonko is considered a tragic hero is due to the fact that he eventually hung himself which led to a sad and tragic ending Okwonko and the novel. 

Why does Achebe choose a tragic hero for his protagonist in his colonial counter narrative ? 

Achebe establishes the concept that the emotion of pity does not come from a person becoming better but when a person receives undeserved misfortune which is exactly what Okwonko received in his novel, and fear comes when the misfortune befalls a man like us. Okwonko decided to kill himself so that he wouldn't give the colonisers the pride of revenge due to the fact that he knew that they would be after him. Okwonkwo though that if he gathered with the clan leaders they could kick the colonisers out of Umofia, and he was also convinced due to the fact that he thought the people would be convinced due to the burning of the churches etc. Overall the fact that Okwonkwo had an undeserved misfortune such as exile caused fear and the emotion of pity, but the in the same time gave hope to the people and the readers as they though that Okwonkwo was going to come back for revenge but on the contrary, he committed suicide which then cause not only confusion, but a tragic ending for the novel. 

What is the purpose of function on Okwonkwo in thing fall apart ? 

 

As we know from the story, Okwonkwo was a hard working and self respected member of the Umofia clan. Even though Okwonkwo was shown in the novel as a powerful, strong, and fearless fighter who anybody would generally tremble upon, his life was mostly dictated by fear. This made Okwonkwo a realistic character and proved that he had a weak spot which made it easier for some people to relate to him if necessary. In the novel, Okwonkwo attempts to work hard, provide for his family, be brave, and be masculine in every possible way as he also fear femininity. As a result, Okonkwo becomes successful in many ways , he becomes very wealthy, holds a high-ranked position in the community, has three wives, and is known for his skill as a wrestler and warrior. But he also tends toward emotions that are extreme, and his fear motivates him to take actions which are often unnecessary and ultimately destructive. Okwonkwo gave meaning to the story and he was a good person in which at the time people and readers could relate to. 

Practice Paper 1 - Political Speech

The text I will be analysing is President Lyndon B. Johnson's special message to the Congress : The American Promise March 15, 1965.

     It is well known that during the 1960's the African American community had not gained their voting rights. President Johnson encouraged Congress to pass the voting right act. He expressed this through his famous speech "We shall overcome", which was delivered on March 15 , 1965. This speech is identified as a political speech due the fact that it contains features of a speech such as rhetorical devices, persuasion methods, and the use of ethos , pathos and logos.

    The target audience of this speech are the members of Congress however Johnson is also targeting the people of America therefore he is not only asking the Congress to pass the voting right act but also asking the American people. In the text he directs a point to both members of the Congress and others who were present and all the people watching sine he mentions in the text "to all the nation tonight".  This shows that he is not only concerned about the political aspect of the voting issue but the ethical aspect of the issue as well sine he is also attempting to rally the support of the American people. Throughout the speech , and ideal amount of persuasion methods were used. Johnson uses pathos in his speech to get persuade the audience to support his cause. He mentions the amount of violence that was used recently in Alabama which was caused by men and women protesting against their denial for the right to vote. Johnson uses this to persuade the American people and the Congressmen by appealing to their emotions in order to support his cause. In order to do this he seized the opportunity to mention the Selma massacre. He also puts himself into the speech. He implies that he is part of the American people, there he did not only try and make the people view him as the leader of America, but made himself be viewed as part of people of the United States. He uses the word "we" as he considers himself as one of the people. He uses we in the the famous line "We shall overcome". He then again appeals to the audience's emotions as he implies that he too wants something to be done to the situation with the civil rights for the African American people. This adds pathos due to the fact that he includes his emotions with the emotions of the people.

    What gives Johnson more of a reason to recite this speech is the fact that Johnson used to be the Majority Leader in Senate as he worked to help different aspects of the Civil Rights movement of 1957. He believes that American should get rid of its racial discrimination. Johnson refers to different text from American history. He gives examples from the Constitution , and the Emancipation Proclamation to support his arguments. This could be used as an example of logos as he allows the audience to understand and connect the dots between the different periods of time This also is helpful as it is a great way to persuade the members of the Congress as it tells them how the country should be governed whist referring to previous constitutions and supporting his arguments. The tone of the speech is hopeful as he always refers to a better and brighter America. He says what he would like to happen and how he would like america to change but in the same time appealing to the peoples emotions.

   In conclusion, this text uses many rhetorical devices and an ideal amount of persuasion methods that helped persuade the people of Congress and the American people which were his target audience.    
Johnsons speech will be remembered as the speech that helped racism and pass the voting rights to the African American Community.

Practice IOC

https://soundcloud.com/mohamed-abousen/ioc Practice IOC.