IRA

In the Wheel of Time series, there are elements of more than one religion. First off, with the reincarnation and cyclical way time moves in this series, its got elements of Buddhism and Hindhuism. But with having the Creator and the Dark One, it also has elements of Christianity (as well as the struggle between the two). Even the fact that people worship either the Creator or the Dark One reflects the religions in our world (the real world).

I also noticed that there seems to be only one religion in these books. Sure, there are elements of various religions in the series, but theres only one religion or belief system in this series. Actually, i find it pretty interesting that while some doubt the existence of the Creator or the Dark One, most do believe. I also realized that their belief in the Wheel of Time and that its turning is what allows their land to exist isn't so much religion as a fact of life.

IRA

Something i have noted in this book, as well as many others. You begin to notice that many things that were long-running issues in the previous books are being resolved. It's understandable, as the series is nearing its conclusion. For example, Mat has finally killed the golem, Perrin has finally accepted that he is the leader of the Two Rivers, as well as accepting his connection to the wolves. I find it interesting to see the change in these characters in the book. They have all changed drastically since the series started. Things they once struggled against, they now accept, whether its death, marriage, the ability to channel, or leadership (just to name a few). This is also anothger example of the coming of age nature of these stories. You could also say that they've gained the wisdom to realize that there are things you can change and things you can't.

I've also noted a similarity between Oedipus and the Wheel of Time series in general: prophecy. They both have prophecies in them. In Oedipus, all the prophecies have come true no matter how they tried to avoid them. There are alot of prophecies in the Wheel of Time series, so its hard to say if all of them have come true or will, but many of them have. This raises the question of whether or not prophecy is immutable or if it can be changed. Its a question of free will vs. predestiny (this is also something of a theme in the WoT series).

IRA

In this book, after a long struggle with his sanity, Rand al'Thor has finally overcome it. He's accepted the fact that he was Lews Therin in a previous life and so he now has all those memories and no longer hears his voice. As i mentioned before, this is a coming of age story. I believe this is also a reference to that. While its not exactly the same, it also shows how the events in your life shape you. Also, in this book, the end draws near (for this world and Age). I believe that Tarmon Gai'don is very similar to the apocalypse, which is an event which is referenced in pretty much every culture. It has the same basic concept as all the other apocalyptic events in various cultures. Everyone fears it but at the same time believes it to be inevitable (same in WoT series). This book shows you a bit more of the struggle between good and evil (Rand and the Dark One). Most of the other books show his struggles between other people, not necessarily Darkfriends. This one, however, is a bit more focused on the major struggle of the series. I find that many of the characters in these books have a lot of similarities with ancient cultures and their gods. Prophecy is also a major part of this series. This story is about personal and social struggle.

Loves Labours Lost: Humor

In class, we played a game to demonstrate the way they acted in the play. This showed the humorous side to their way of courting their loves and the sort of stilted, exaggerated way of speaking they had. I think that there is humor in the way they speak, since it's so exaggerated. It's also rather funny how they all deceive each other. Overall, the sheer ridiculousness of it makes it funny.

There is also humor in this play because they all vow to keep their oaths but in the end they all break them. The characters are also funny simply because of the way they act. Honestly, its actually kind of funny how they lie all the time. They lie for the sake of lying, which while true to human nature, leads to humorous situations when they get caught in their own lies.

Loves Labours Lost: Journals #5 & #6

Journal #5

I chose to speak about the scene from Holofernes perspective. I believe that he feels that everyone else who's present (maybe not Nathaniel) is an idiot. I believe he considers Armado to be somewhat ignorant and too wordy, though he's actually being hypocritical without knowing it. The fact that he speaks so much Latin is an example of his pompousness. I believe he feels distaste for the whole situation, because of the people he's with. I would also like to point out that at least Moth and Costard seem to notice his pompous attitude (they comment on his manner of speech).

Vocabulary

Quondam- of an earlier time; former.

Peregrinate- an obsolete word for foreign.

Hornbook- a leaf or page containing the alphabelt, religious materials, etc., covered with a sheet of transparent horn and fixed in a frame with a handle, formerly used in teaching children to read: a primer or book of rudiments.

Preambulate- 

an introductory statement; preface; introduction. Synonyms: opening, beginning; foreword, prologue, prelude. Antonyms: epilogue, appendix, conclusion, afterword, closing.

the introductory part of a statute, deed, or the like, stating the reasons and intent of what follows.

a preliminary or introductory fact or circumstance: His childhood in the slums was a preamble to a life of crime.

(initial capital letter) the introductory statement of the U.S. constitution, setting forth the general principles of American government and beginning with the words, “We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union. …”

Journal #6

This play is full of lies. None of these characters can be honest to save their lives. Their penchant for lying, even if only to mock others, brings them far more trouble than necessary. If they could just be honest and say their feelings straight out (both women and men) they would have far fewer problems. Its not just about their love that they can't be honest, they can't be honest with anybody. None of them seem to be capable of having an honest conversation. As far as the relationship between truth and love goes, it seems to imply that most people can't be honest about love. It seems to say that love makes liars out of us all. Basically, you give your love empty words. Compliments, gifts, all of it empty and meaningless. If we could just bring ourselves to be honest, then I think we'd find far more happiness in love and elsewhere. I'd say that the relationship between truth and language is almost nonexistent. Honestly, its very hard to discern the truth from their words because they bury it in so many meaningless and empty words that its almost impossible to understand the meaning of them. I believe it applies to human life in the sense that it shows what people are like. It also shows that if we were just more honest, life would be far simpler, but we're all just a bunch of liars.

Vocabulary

Knavish- like or befitting a knave; untrustworthy; dishonest.

Archaic. waggish; roguish; mischievous.

Unbosom- to disclose (a confidence, secret, etc.).

to disclose one's thoughts, feelings, or the like, especially in confidence.

Vouchsafe-

to grant or give, as by favor, graciousness, or condescension: to vouchsafe a reply to a question.

to allow or permit, as by favor or graciousness: They vouchsafed his return to his own country.

to condescend; deign.

Troth-

faithfulness, fidelity, or loyalty: by my troth.

truth or verity: in troth.

one's word or promise, especially in engaging oneself to marry.

Loves Labours Lost: #4

He says it is impossible to study without knowing love or beauty. He also says that beauty and love can teach you, as well. He says that they see their learning in their eyes. Here's the exact quote:

"And where we are our learning likewise is:
Then when ourselves we see in ladies' eyes,
Do we not likewise see our learning there?"

I think he's referring to the reflection of themselves you see in someones eyes (both literally and figuratively). He uses a lot of rhetorical references, such as Hercules, the Sphinx,  and Apollo. He uses these to convey the fact that love is immensely strong and impossible to resist. The effect of this is that they come to the conclusion that they aren't forsworn. As he goes on arguing the point that they aren't forsworn, he says that women's eyes are the Promethean fire,
"they are the books, the arts, the academes,
that show, contain and nourish all the world:
else none at all in ought in ought proves excellent."
He's saying that without them studying and learning are impossible. Without them, how can they study and learn? Basically they are the inspiration for it. As such, they are fools to forswear women. He also says poets never wrote without having felt and experienced love. When they did, their verses were magnificent. Example of what they could do:
"O, then his lines would ravish savage ears
And plant in tyrants mild humility."
So all in all, he uses his arguments to prove that they are not forsworn and can woo (or court) the French ladies.

Vocabulary

Coursing- the sport of pursuing game with dogs that follow by sight rather than scent: a direction or route taken or to be taken.

Idolatry- excessive or blind adoration, reverence, devotion, etc.

Coxcomb- a conceited, foolish dandy; pretentious fop.

Misprision- a neglect or violation of official duty by one in office: a mistake or misunderstanding: failure by one not an accessory to prevent or notify the authorities of treason or felony: a contempt against the government, monarch, or courts, as sedition, lese majesty, or a contempt of court.

Loves Labours Lost: Journal #3

Holofernes

Holofernes style of talking is fancy, and he also talks haughtily. Basically, he thinks he's really smart and great. In short, he's conceited. Though he does talk fancily, he's actually a bit plainer spoken than some others in this play. He makes a lot of comparisons. He also mocks Dull because he thinks he's uneducated and not that smart. Example:

"The deer was, as you know, sanguis, in blood; ripe
as the pomewater, who now hangeth like a jewel in
the ear of caelo, the sky, the welkin, the heaven;
and anon falleth like a crab on the face of terra,
the soil, the land, the earth."

"And, to humour the
ignorant, call I the deer the princess killed a pricket."

Nathaniel

Nathaniel, like Holofernes, is more plainly spoken. So you know, i mean they are plainly spoken in the sense that you can actually tell what they're talking about. That being said, he does speak a bit haughtily. He's also rather condescending to Dull. He also thinks he's very smart (conceited). Example:

"Truly, Master Holofernes, the epithets are sweetly
varied, like a scholar at the least: but, sir, I
assure ye, it was a buck of the first head."

"Sir, he hath never fed of the dainties that are bred
in a book; he hath not eat paper, as it were; he
hath not drunk ink: his intellect is not
replenished; he is only an animal, only sensible in
the duller parts:"

Dull

Dull is a less well educated character than the others, so i suppose as a result he's less concerned with following the latest fashion of talking as they do. He is also more plain soken than the others. Though Nathaniel and Holofernes are as well, he is still more plain spoken than them. Even so, he is still smart and witty. He's simply less obvious about it and doesn't feel the need to prove it by speaking in complex and meaningless words. Example:

"And I say, the pollusion holds in the exchange; for
the moon is never but a month old: and I say beside
that, 'twas a pricket that the princess killed."

Don Armado

Armado is a conceited, arrogant, show-off. He puts so many round about words in when he talks or writes that it becomes ridiculous. He can't have a straight-forward conversation to save his life. Example:

"Great deputy, the welkin's vicegerent and
sole dominator of Navarre, my soul's earth's god,
and body's fostering patron."

Jaquenetta

She is the most plain spoken character in the play thus far. She's not as educated (can't read), and doesn't try so hard to be witty. Example:

"Good master Parson, be so good as read me this
letter: it was given me by Costard, and sent me
from Don Armado: I beseech you read it."

Moth

Moth is witty and somewhat disrespectful. He is intelligent, though. The predominant feature of his language style is his mocking and sarcastic ways. Example:

"As swift as lead, sir."
"You are too swift, sir, to say so:
Is that lead slow which is fired from a gun?"

Vocabulary

Pricket- a buck in his second year.

Coppice- a thicket or dense growth of small trees or bushes, especially one regularly trimmed back to stumps so that a continual supply of small poles and firewood is obtained.

Commonwealth- the people of a state or nation viewed politically; body politic.

Pia mater- the fine vascular membrane that closely envelops the brain and spinal cord under the arachnoid and the dura mater.

IRA

In this story (all 13 of the books), the main character is basically destined to die from the beginning. He is expected to save humanity and in return everybody basically fears and hates him. Rand al'Thor is the main character, and a tragic hero. Now, his success isn't necessarily a given, but pretty much all of the prophecies about him, and Tarmon Gai'don (the Last Battle), agree that he will die regardless of whether or not he wins or loses. But then again, the prophecies do say , "his blood on the rocks of Shayol Ghul, sacrifice for man's salvation." It never specifically says he will die, but it does seem to indicate it. All in all, though, because of this he is definitely a tragic hero. Another thing that i find it interesting to observe is the fact that though he is destined to save them, they dread his coming. Part of the reason for this, I'm sure, is the fact that if the true Dragon Reborn has come, then it must mean that the Last Battle will be soon. Also, the Prophecies say that he will bring about another Breaking of the World. This is another reason that they fear and hate him. Personally, i think they should show some gratitude to him, since he's going to willingly sacrifice himself for their sake.

In books 1-4, Rand had hoped he might survive the Last Battle. But in some of the last books, from about 5-12, I'd say, he had started to think death would be a relief. Though i think he still kind of hoped that he'd survive till about book 7 or so. But from about then on, he started to seriously think about wishing to die. But in this book, I think he's sort of embraced death. Basically, he's not thinking about death as a release or something to seek out, but something that he must accept. He's willing to die now, and he won't avoid it. He's sort of embraced the Aiel saying, "Life is a dream from which we all must wake." So that basically kind of shows the Aiel philosophy on death (they've embraced it).

As i explained before, men channel saidin and women saidar. To channel saidin, you must control it. To channel saidar, you have to embrace it. In my opinion, this is a symbol for yin and yang. Its also said that saidin is far more violent than saidar. "An ocean of fire", "molten steel and steel-shattering ice", are several descriptive terms used for it. Saidar is described as a gently flowing river, though if you can't surrender to it, it can kill you or sear the ability to channel out of you as easily as saidin can if you lose control it. Saidin is always a struggle, a war if you will. Saidar is a surrender and if you can't surrender to it, you can't use it. So, as you see, they are polar opposites (like yin and yang). Also, they're the force that drives the Wheel of Time. They couldn't do that on their own. Like yin and yang, light and darkness, they couldn't exist without each other. Though i'd like to point out, neither of them are evil, they just are. They can be used for evil, or by evil people, but they aren't evil in and of themselves. Also, the Wheel of Time controls all events, including bad things, but it isn't evil, either. It just is. That could also be seen as a symbol that good can't exist without evil, light can't exist without darkness.

Loves Labours Lost: Journal #2

Rosaline

Rosaline style of talking is rather sharp. She is quick-witted, so her responses are pretty fast. She might be called a bit shrewish because of the way she talks, but i believe it shows her intelligence and unwillingness to be cowed. I'd also say she's somewhat sarcastic, as well as mocking (her comments are barbed, too). Here's a couple of examples of her style of talking:

"Pray you, do my commendations; I would be glad to see it."
"Is the fool sick?"
"Alack, let it blood."
"The hour that fools should ask."

Princess

The Princess seems to be humble. When Boyet compliments her beauty, she dismisses it as just talk. She also basically says beauty is in the eye of the beholder, not in words. She's also intelligent, quite capable of matching wits with Ferdinand or anyone else. She can also be rather political in her responses, criticizing one minute and apologizing the next. Here's some examples of her language style:

"Were my lord so, his ignorance were wise,
Where now his knowledge must prove ignorance.
I hear your grace hath sworn out house-keeping:
Tis deadly sin to keep that oath, my lord,
And sin to break it.
But pardon me. I am too sudden-bold:
To teach a teacher ill beseemeth me.
Vouchsafe to read the purpose of my coming,
And suddenly resolve me in my suit."

Boyet

Boyet is the consummate courtier, always flattering. I think he's a bit of a suck-up. A prime example of this is the way he talks to the Princess. I also have to say he's kind of witty (comparing lips to pasture,sheep, etc.) and a bit love obsessed, particularly when he says all that stuff about Ferdinand (the King) looking at the Princess. Here's an example of his style and the main reason i think he's a suck-up:

"And wherefore not ships?
"No sheep, sweet lamb, unless we feed on on your lips."
"So you grant pasture for me."

"Be now as prodigal of all dear grace
As Nature was in making graces dear
When she did starve the general world beside
And prodigally gave them all to you."

Costard

Costard's style is somewhat humorous and argumentative. He's also rather witty, as seen when he argues that he hasn't broken the oath about not speaking or going near a woman by arguing about the wording of it. Basically, he's the comedic relief. Here's an example:
"I do confess much of the hearing it but little of
the marking of it."
"I was taken with none, sir: I was taken with a damsel."
"This was no damsel, neither, sir; she was a virgin."
"If it were, I deny her virginity: I was taken with a maid."

Ferdinand (King)

Ferdinand's language style is somewhat arrogant at times, as well as being kingly. He is usually polite, though. Like all the characters in this play, he's also witty. He also speaks grandly, like a lot of other characters but then again, this is a Shakespearian play. Here are some examples:

"Let fame, that all hunt after in their lives,
Live register'd upon our brazen tombs
And then grace us in the disgrace of death;
When, spite of cormorant devouring Time,
The endeavor of this present breath may buy
That honour which shall bate his scythe's keen edge
And make us heirs of all eternity."

Biron

His style of talking is humorous and merry, as well as witty and joking. He's incapable of having a straight-forward conversation, too obsessed with witty language. Here's an example:

"This wimpled, whining, purblind, wayward boy;
This senior-junior, giant-dwarf, Dan Cupid;
Regent of love-rhymes, lord of folded arms,
The anointed sovereign of sighs and groans,
Liege of all loiterers and malcontents,
Dread prince of plackets, king of codpieces,
Sole imperator and great general
Of trotting 'paritors."

Vocabulary

Prodigally- wastefully or recklessly extravagant.


Votaries- ardent devotee of some aim or pursuit.


Hobby-horse-  1. a stick with a horse's head, or a rocking horse, ridden by children. 

2. a figure of a horse, attached at the waist of a performer in a morris dance, pantomime, etc.

Welkin- the sky; the vault of heaven; the sky, heavens, or upper air.

Loves Labours Lost: Journal #1

The humor in Act I is rather hard to understand and notice, simply because they say it in a serious way. I have to admit, it took me a while to see the humor in some of the lines. Heres an example of humor in Loves Labours Lost:

Costard
Me?

Ferdinand
[Reads] 'that unlettered small-knowing soul,'--

Costard
Me?

Ferdinand
[Reads] 'that shallow vassal,'--

Costard
Still me?

Ferdinand
[Reads] 'which, as I remember, hight Costard,'--

Costard
O, me!

Now, it might be hard to see the humor in this, because its dry and they say it in a serious way.  But i think its actually rather funny. Honestly, the way they talk is rather humorous in general, simply because they talk so fancily. The way Costard acts like he has no clue that the letter is talking about him adds to the humor of it. In general, Costard seems to be a rather humorous character. When he enters the scene, it gives it the first major dose of humor (more noticeable). I also think another humorous facet of it is the way that Armado talks. By the way Biron, Ferdinand, and the others are talking they are also anticipating a good laugh from Armado's letter.

Ferdinand
A letter from the magnificent Armado.

Biron
How low so ever the matter, I hope in God for high words.

Longaville
A high hope for a low heaven: God grant us patience!

Biron
To hear? or forbear laughing?

So clearly, they find Armado's flowery language very amusing. Personally, so do i. Also, they are asking for the patience to not laugh. This is another example of less obvious humor.

Vocabulary

Academe-
Any place of learning, a school.
The public grove in Athens in which Plato taught.

Grosser-
unqualified.
flagrant and extreme.
indelicate, indecent, obscene, or vulgar.
lacking in refinement, good manners, education, etc.; unrefined.

Gentility-
good breeding or refinement.
affected or pretentious politeness or elegance.

the status of belonging to polite society. 

members of polite society collectively.

Forsworn-

to reject or renounce under oath: to forswear an injurious habit.
to deny vehemently or under oath. 

to perjure (oneself).

to swear falsely; commit perjury.