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.