Blog Archives

Symbolism, Archetypes, and Motifs

9/16/2019

Chapters 11 and 12

In class we will read chapters 11 and 12. There are four questions to answer in MLA format on Google Classroom. You may write the answers on a hard copy or type.

Arguably beginning with Freud, Jung, and Campbell, the symbolism and archetype discussion has become fundamental, not only to literature, but to sociology, psychology, and religion, etc. Archetypes are symbols, or even structures, that are fundamental to how our brain thinks, remembers, and connects ideas. They are apart of our DNA, spirit, psyche, or wherever you feel comfortable locating them-- because science is still unsure. What we do know is that they seem to be similar (though not exactly the same) across time periods and cultures. They link and connect our mind to our body and our environment. They seem to be a secret psychological code to understanding story and ourselves. Because they are inherent to you, we just need to tap into them and create our own lists of symbols, archetypes, and motifs. Begin with: what does the archetype remind you of, and how does that make you feel...

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African Mythologies

9/12/2019

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Chapter 10

If is important to feel into the way a culture tells a story and to understand the beliefs or ideas of that culture to really listen to them. It doesn't mean that we suppress our own ideas, but that we look at another's to help articulate our own ideas and beliefs and find community together. When you learn about someone else, what also do you learn about yourself or what is human ?

Cultures of West Africa

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ALWG: The Importance of Naming

9/10/2019

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Chapters 8 and 9

What does your name mean to you? Really mean? Did you inherit it from a family member? Does it have a story? Do you have a nickname? Did you name yourself? Make a collage/poster of your name (8x11) that expresses what your name means to you.

Your life's soundtrack

"When I'm alone in my room sometimes I stare at the wall and in the back of my mind I hear my conscience call" (LL Cool J "I Need Love" quoted in Beah 68). What music represents you and what do you need?

Soundtrack Project

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Juxaposition: the sacred and the profane

9/6/2019

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Chapters 5-7

Find examples for your literary devices and finish the questions from the other day. Today especially watch the juxtaposition between the sacred and symbolic. When we enter a storytelling time the symbols naturally become richer and start to connect to one another. How many things have come in threes? How often do we see or cross water? In memory and storytelling time we are in a dream or prayer. Images float up and away one after another.

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An Ocean of Reflections: Chapters 2-5

9/4/2019

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Literary devices are brushes that word artists use to paint their pictures, tools with which they carve our our experiences. This book is an excellent piece to use as a literary cornucopia of devices. Here are the devices we are focusing on today: flashback (review), juxtaposition, genre, tone, symbol/archetype, and motif. We are also starting a soundtrack for our lives. I will give the teacher directions later, for now just think about the music that defines your life. :)

A motif is a reoccurring image or idea in a story. It may reoccur in a single story, an author's work, the work of a cultural period or place, or seem to be a part of a human story. The idea that someone out there is thinking of us under the same moon or across an ocean seems to be a human experience, but also have a special place for people who have had to leave homelands behind. Another motif from A Long Way Gone Chapter 2, is the idea of having to face your own reflection. Some other examples are below. What can you come up with?