Favorite Lectures

Connor Voelpel

Prof. Brady

EGL 102: Literature For The Soul

5/4/24

Throughout the course of our semester we had some wonderful lectures and discussions.  In no particular order, I really enjoyed Antigone.  By far I loved this one, it was one of our first actual pieces and I enjoyed it so much.  When we would do the character traits it was very fun and our fish bowls and especially our workshops.  Not just because it helped me learn how to write better this was around when I started to make my friends.  

Another one of my favorite lectures was our short stories unit.  This was a bittersweet unit due to the books we read.  I enjoyed these because of the suspense in some and it actually made me a better writer while I read and was able to notice some skills the writers did in short periods of time.  A tiny book felt like one hundred pages with how much information and how well put together it was.  My favorite short story was Children Of The Sea. The writer portrayed such good skills and techniques that I’ll even take from and learn for myself.  

Another one of my favorite lectures was, the tragic hero’s and their flaws.  This was a great unit because during this it really made me connect to so many movies I have watched and actually could relate the lecture to.  One of which is Gladiator, a gentleman who ends up being a highly respected general until someone kills the emperor.  He then becomes a Gladiator and ends up dying in his final fight but ultimately killing the person who slayed the emperor.    

Character Adjectives: (Antigone) 

Creon	Ismene	Antigone
Religious Lawful  Loyal  Ruthless Impervious Dominating	Caring Loyal Lawful Obedient  Passive Quiet  Compliant Fearful (To compromise written law) Indecisive Submissive	Passionate Daring Bold Thoughtful  Prideful Confident  Brave Loyal Rebellious Stubborn Strong (Fortitude)  Defiant Admirable Unwavering

Underlying Theme: Silence 

Theme: Making life altering decisions 

• Sets a precedent, shifting entire lives and irreversible. These decisions you have to live with. 

Theme: Appeasement

• “All right. I was trying. I said the mountains looked like white elephants. Wasn’t that bright?” (Hemingway 1).

• “Will you love me?”

Theme: Complexity of Human Relationships

•  “Then what will we do afterwards? We’ll be fine afterwards. Just like we were before. (Hemingway 2). Jig is saying things won’t go back to the way things were. 

Theme: Inability to accept Truth 

• “And we could have all this, she said. And we could have everything and every day we make it more impossible…” (Hemingway 3) 

Theme: Shifting of Power

• “Do you feel better? he asked. I feel fine, she said. There’s nothing wrong with me. I feel fine” (Hemingway 4) 

• The American is compromising her physical health.