Understanding Okonkwo: A Study Guide for Things Fall Apart
Literary Terms
Direct Characterization
The author directly tells the reader about a character’s personality and attitude.
Indirect Characterization
The reader has to figure out the character based on their actions, physical appearance, words, and what others say about them.
Motivation
The reasons that compel a character to act as they do.
Myth
An anonymous, traditional story that explains a belief, custom, or mysterious natural phenomenon.
Tragic Hero
A person who is neither completely good nor bad, who commits
Read MoreThe Pursuit of Happiness: A Journey of Self-Discovery and Values
The happy man is at peace with himself
The man seeks happiness and freedom.
There have been two types of happiness:
• Man abdineo: order and balance.
2. Dionysian Happiness: for new sensations.
Happiness is a result and life is a means to externalize the most humane thing we
inside, so that happiness is the subjective experience of being good with yourself.
The road to happiness: a set of small illusions
It is a form of travel rather than a final statement, since there is no absolute happiness.
Following Jesus Today: A Guide to Christian Living
Following Jesus Today
Following Jesus today means establishing a real, though not physical, relationship with Him. This relationship can be described as a friendship that springs from knowing Jesus personally. It is a life-changing experience that transforms us from the inside out.
The Transformative Power of Knowing Jesus
Consider the experience of Paul of Tarsus. His life was radically changed after encountering the risen Jesus. Paul, a Jewish Pharisee, meticulously followed the Law of Moses and
Read MoreUnderstanding the Church: Its Origins, Mission, and Structure
Understanding the Church
Key Concepts
Chrism
Oil set (Ash Wednesday at the Chrism Mass)
Eucharist
Thanksgiving
Sacramento
Visible reality that contains a higher, invisible reality.
Religion
Source: Lahti, RE = re, Reboot = link, link
Back to unite two realities: the divinity and humanity, the transcendent with the immanent, the higher and lower. The fact is specifically human, has its origins in the recognition of a superior being that transcends and gives meaning to their fundamental questions:
- Where did
Transcendentalism and Emily Dickinson: American Literature in the 19th Century
TEMA 9: Transcendentalism
This eclectic movement involved preachers, educators, artists, writers, and intellectuals. Originating in Boston, Massachusetts, it’s considered an American adaptation of European Romanticism. A Transcendentalist is “one who displays a predominant tendency to respect his intuitions.” What is popularly known as Transcendentalism is idealism.
Chief Intellectual Influences:
- German philosophy: Kant, Hegel
- The poetic expression of European Romanticism: Goethe, Novalis, Wordsworth
The
Read MoreJohn Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath: A Literary Response to the Great Depression
John Steinbeck & The Great Depression
The Great Depression
The Great Depression was an unprecedented, severe, and long economic downturn. Several factors contributed to its devastating impact:
- Stock Market Crash of 1929: Led to widespread financial panic.
- Bank Failures: Over 5,000 banks failed, resulting in the loss of savings and a halt in lending.
- Low Consumerism: Job losses (over 25% unemployment) and foreclosures (600,000 homeowners) drastically reduced consumer spending.
- Drought and the Dust