In sundiata I learn that  for seven years sundiata and his mom travel from asylum to asylum, sometimes  people shown great hospitality and occasionally being mistreated by their hosts.I felt sorry for these misleading act by the people.   But however I like Sundiata dedication because he  never give up and lose his hope instead he learns of new peoples and customs, while impressing most people he meets. He spends a particularly long time with Mousa  at Mema, who helps raise Sundiata and teaches him the ways of war so as to potentially groom the boy as his heir. I think this is part where main character is becoming hero. Sundiata also learns during his exile about the evil sorcerer king Sumoaro  who is slowly forcing the cities of Mali and beyond under his control through cruelty. When Niani falls to the sorcerer king, a search party is sent to Ghana to find Sundiata and ask him to claim his mantle as ruler. Though his choice to return to Mali and battle the sorcerer king upsets the Moussa Tounkara, but I think it is good move. This show loyalty towards other.  he is ultimately given his blessing and the first of his subservient armies. I also saw that Sundiata goes to many cities and lands that he visited during his period of exile, slowly building up his army. Finally, his armies come up against those of Soumaoro. Though Sundiata is successful in his battles, he cannot harm the sorcerer king because the latter has magical protections.  Overall I think he is real hero because of his royalty towards his loved ones.

When I first heard about Sundiata: An Epic of old Mali. I wonder what the story is going to be epic.By reading the first page it seems to be first person narration of story because The epic of Sundiata is told by griot a story teller Djeli manadou  He begins with details of Sundiata’s ancestors, as the force of history is important in the tale of the man whose victory will create the Mali Empire. I found that most this region follow muslim religion. Sundiata’s father Maghan  was king of the city of Niani. One day, a soothsaying hunter foretells that he will produce a great ruler through the marriage of an ugly woman.  I mean that kind of surprising like some people predict a future. Later, two hunters bring a woman and that was Sogolon.  The king takes Sogolon for his wife, but she refuses to let him consummate the marriage until magic powers help him to rid her of a wraith (spirit) that was making her resistant. Sundiata is conceived. I don’t like how he is very desperate or obsess for slogan. Like the way he force to Sologan to have a sex with him and uses black magic.  I feel very sorry for her because she is powerless. Late I believe Through Sologan Sundiata was born. I don’t like how Sassouma send sundial and his mother to exile  is insecure about slogan because for king prophecy  and frightened her own son will lose his control, the queen. I don’t know whether it is true or false story but it is quite interesting.

Though out canto 10 to 12 I found that punishment is getting more harsh for person who are in hell. Dante is still in sixth hell. I don’t know why Dante wanted write this book but I think in his writing I found that indirectly he is critisizing his current political happening in Florence. He also mention Farinata a death politician where he meet continues discussing Florentine politics. He and Dante clearly represent opposing parties (though these parties are not named), yet they treat each other politely. From Farinata’s words and those of the nearby soul, Dante realizes that the shades in Hell can see future events but not present ones, this was very unique like how hell can see future. Many of them conversation are about Florence politic . I feel like Dante wanted some changes in his home town because in canto 12 line 1 to 3 talks how Florence  is corrupted.The Seventh Circle of Hell, which contains those who are violent, is subdivided into three smaller circles: they punish the sins of violence against one’s neighbor, against oneself, and against God. I love how every circle of hell base on person sin. I found the more Dante go deeper more the cruel punishment. Overall the book Dante was very unique because it gives reader alert that what you do in present has consequences in future. I feel like he is indirectly advising his reader that life is precious and we have to do good in order to successful in life or else you be in problems.(hell). Dante seems to be smart writer.

When I first heard about “Dante: The comedy” I thought it would be the story about some African story or mystery because of that name. When I go through the book from the first canto it catches reader attention mentioning about forest as he finds himself wandering alone in a dark forest, having lost his way on the “true path” (I.10). He says that he does not remember how he lost his way, but he has wandered into a fearful place, a dark and tangled valley. Above, he sees a great hill that seems to offer protection from the shadowed glen. This made me realize that may be author use forest to symbolize about his current situation of his life.    Through out the  text it becoming more scarier when woods can talk like human. and finally met vigil Italian poet and  warns Dante, however, that before they have to  climb the hill  to first pass through the place of eternal punishment (Hell) and then a place of lesser punishment (Purgatory); only then can they reach God’s city (Heaven). Encouraged by Virgil’s assurances, Dante sets forth with his guide. I thought it is very strange because he is human as I know hell is seen by death person. this is very strange This woman was Beatrice, Dante’s departed love, who now has an honored place among the blessed. She had learned of Dante’s plight from St. Lucia, also in Heaven, who in turn heard about the poor poet from an unnamed lady, most likely the Virgin Mary. I was shocked how they can communicate from heaven to hell. This is very unrealistic in my opinion.Virgil also explain Hell’s sinners as people who have “lost the good of the intellect.” I think this word speak thousand words.  Through Canto 1 to 10 I feel like Dante right now he is in the lightest sin place and I feel like he had mile of journey to reach his destination.

Passang Lhamo

To be honest I read Macbeth before but however I forgot little bit. When I first read through Macbeth, I was impressed by William Shakspeare writing the way he catch reader attention when he introduce thunder and lightning . It made me feel that the story gonna be some tragedy and plus witches put more spice in story. Like the way they deliver there dialogue in act one ” All hail, Macbeth, thou shalt be king hereafter! Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none. ” Through out the Macbeth I believe he is confuse between himself and his near ones. I was so shocked when witches said Macbeth will become king . In Macbeth what I don’t like is his wife who plays major role in killing king Duncan. Although I believe Macbeth was the the one who killed king but I believe through his wife force he have to kill the king. Through out the book Shakespeare shows how Macbeth face conflict between man vs society. After Macbeth killed king  in Act 2 scene2 I was shocked how he had fear of attempting murder. “will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood ” I like how Shakespeare symbolize neptune ocean as symbol of pure and clean and he compare with Macbeth sin.

Passang Lhamo

Through out the Sophocles free will and fate were shown however I agree that Oedipus was not composed by his fate but he was responsible for his own conduct.  I believe From his very birth Oedipus was predetermined to marry his mother and murder his father although God Apollo played Oedipus destiny but at the end his fate was in his hand . There were a series of events that I witness in theses book  when Oedipus did chose his freewill against fate Oedipus had too much emphasis on his self but what he can not control is his wrong deeds like Distrusting, disobeying, and disbelieving the Gods all played a role in his misfortune. This made me realize that Oedipus action against god is his free will. But what he cannot avoid is later I saw God Apollo coming after Oedipus destroying his happiness when he  calls the old oracle a liar after he was told he was responsible for Laius?s murder. He left his home, Corinth,  assuming that  he could deceive the gods from his fate. Unfortunately, Apollo?s oracle would be awaiting Oedipus? s arrival no matter where he went or what he did. Later that I found  view of Oedipus’s self-love, and disrespect for the gods was frail. “If a man walks with haughtiness of hand or word and gives no heed to Justice and the shrines of Gods despises- may an evil doom smite him for his ill-starred pride of heart!- if he reaps gains without justice and will not hold from impiety and his fingers itch for untouchable things. This made me realize that Oedipus action of killing his father and disrespecting towards god was his free will but what lead after his deed is his fate that he cannot escape and have to face the consequences.

Passang Lhamo

When I read through Sophocles ,it was different from what I read before.  From  the first part of Sophocles,  I somehow felt the story gonna be some kind of tragic and mystery.  The first form of light and darkness is knowledge is present in the play by Sophocles, The very first example of this is spoken by Oedipus at the beginning of the play when he says, “I must bring what is dark to light” in reference to the mystery of Laius’ death. I think his is the first and most obvious example, and it sets the stage for the use of light and darkness to represent knowledge throughout the the play.  I immediately realize that the story is going to be darkness vs light. Thank God I was right when read carefully. Because throughout the play I found the writer use irony in his play. Even though people who have sight to see the real but failed to see what the depth of reality however ones who are blind seems to be smarter than normal people. For example I believe Teiresias, the only physically blind character, is the only person that throughout the play can actually see what has, is and will happen. Teiresias charges Oedipus, “but I say that you, with both your eyes, are blind!” he makes the reference not to his physical state but to his mental state. Teiresias also says: “you do not even know the blind wrongs you have done” referring to Oedipus’s unknown incestuous relationship and the murder of his father.  I found it kind of irony because although Oedipus is not blind but he was blind with his mother and wife. Light and darkness (sight and blindness) takes on three different forms throughout the play, the first form refers to knowledge, the second to physical light and the third to truth of king laius death. This made me realize that we should not judge people from outside sometimes people who are blind may be smarter than us.

At the beginning of Sophocles’ play, Oedipus is faced with all the problems of Thebes, the city he is to rule.  Throughout book I realize God plays important role in Odiphus because at first with Oedipus, the gods decided to destroy him and his family for no reason. It might be hard to believe that gods can have humanistic traits, but in fact they do. The gods, especially Apollo, are considered evil in my because they destroyed an innocent man’s life and his family. I Can relate Sophocles and Odyssey because throughout the Oedipus and Odysseus journey God are represent fate and shown as evil because they didn’t help them but instead they harm them. The role of God in these stories taught me In life sometimes you should follow your heart  that not all god are god like not not all people are kind.

Week 9

Throughout the Odyssey, I was surprised by the culture of Greek during that time. I realized that there are huge different role of women and men are shown during that time, I believe that women were considered inferior and men are consider superior. In Odyssey women job is to looker after family like Penelope,  while her husband Odysseus duty is to going for war.Besides Penelope , homer also shown women appear in the form of temptresses and  either seduce Odysseus into staying with them such as Goddess Athena, Calypso and Circe. I was shocked to see how goddess Calypso and circe tried to seduce Odysseus, I wonder these Goddess fits in characters of Gods.

While reading  Odyssey freewill and fate will are illustrated,  I found that Odysseus represent free will and God represent fate .However I believe Odysseus is characterized as strong and ambitious man who decide his own fate by going against these Gods. During Odysseus journey after war many God tried to fool Odysseus to reach his destination like Sea God, wind God, circe who tried to stop Odysseus journey . Example Through the sea god Odysseus crew were killed by flood and unable to reach his direction. When Odysseus was about to reach home Calypso try to seduce him and kept him for years , Polyphemus about to eat his friends alive but however I realized  how These god represent Fate in odysseus journey but I was Glad that Odysseus go against his  fate and chose his free will by showing his heroic act by fighting against and not giving up. Through Odysseus journey homer taught me that if you have a will there is way even though fate tried to not achieve your goal. But at the end your action will decide your own destination.

When I first read through Odessey, I found little difficult to understand because the way it was written was difficult to understand. The beginning of text line got me in confuse like what exactly the narrator is saying. However I search the background story of Odyssey I found that the story took place in eight century in Greek. I found that odyssey was written by Homer. While reading through the Odyssey I found that there is strong interaction between God and people. I also realised that god protect people from evil things. “We gods had warned him, sent down hermes Argeiphontes, our most observant courier “ (line 25 book 1) To be honest I don’t know who is god speaking to however this lead to believe me that God protect and guides the humans through right path.

In Odyssey from book 1 to 8  I found that the main  protagonist  is  Odysseus , he was the one one who fought among the other greeks heroes at troy and aftermath of war he struggles to return home (Ithaca) . I found that most of  his team died but he left. The another character is also introduce in this text,  a woman named Penelope  is the  wife of  Odysseus ,  Through them I discovered there son Telemachus  Odysseus’s son. An infant when Odysseus left for Troy, Telemachus is about twenty at the beginning of the story. Over all during that time I found there is strong connection between and humans.

To  be honest I had a little knowledge about baptized . I believe the christian should baptized there child after giving birth. I believe  by some Christians that in the heart of a baptised child faith as a gift or grace from God, as distinct from an act by the person, is made present. however I was surprised  by jesus baptized. I mean when I first read it it was impossible to made me believe that he talk during baptized.t first, even John the Baptist sought to dismiss Jesus’ request for baptism. He said, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” (Matthew 3:14). John recognized Jesus was the spotless Lamb of God  who did not need to be baptized to show His repentance. He then consented after Jesus replied, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:1  I was shock reading this  because I don’t  thing so any kids can talk during baptized.  Second,  I believe Jesus’ baptism connected the humanity of Jesus with the rest of humanity. Though He was without sin, He took on the form of a man and identified with human experiences. In Mathew there is many conflict shown out of every conflict I found that when mary is virgin and became pregnant which creates conflict between her husband and herself. I also found that the herod king desperately wants jesus I believe he want to be superior than jesus  that’s why he killed many innocent children when he didn’t found jesus.