About the Poet:Gabriel Imomotimi Gbaingbain Okara(born April 21, 1921 in Bumodi, Nigeria) is a Nigerian poet and novelist who may be pronounced as highly original and uninfluenced by other poets. He has been extremely successful in apprehending the moods, sights and sounds of Africa. His poems show great sensitivity, perceptive judgements and a tremendous energy. Okara also shows a concern on the topic of what happens when the ancient culture of Africa is faced with modern western culture.

Once Upon a Time Summary by Gabriel Okara

The poem Once Upon A Time written by Gabriel Okara illustrates the changes a father has seen in him throughout his life which have been influenced by the way society has changed.

In the first stanza, at the start of the poem Okara writes they used to laugh with their hearts and eyes; but now they only laugh with their teeth while their ice-block cold eyes search behind my shadow. This phrase illustrates the change in the way people act showing that their laughs used to be genuine and heartfelt however now their attitudes have changed. The description of laugh with their teeth illustrates someone showing false interest. The dark imagery ice-block cold eyes which follows shows that there is no emotion or feeling in the action.

In the next stanza Okara describes how they used to shake hands with their hearts implying that the actions were genuine and were also symbolic of good intentions however Now they shake hands without hearts while their left hands search my empty pockets. This phrase illustrates that all good intentions have gone and how now it is every man for him. Everybody is only focusing on their own personal gain. The use of a metaphor emphasises how there is a lack of trust as everybody is trying to use each other.

The phrase empty pockets could connote that he has been stripped of all genuine happiness and has been left feeling empty and alone.In the next stanza,Okara shows the change in him as a man. And I have learned, too, to say Goodbye, when I mean Good-riddance. Here there is an evident shift in the stanza due to the fact that he is now talking about himself and how he too has learned to be false. This could imply that society has pressured him into changing in a negative way.

At the end of the poem Okara confesses I want to be what I used to be showing instant regret and sadness at the choices he previously made. This piece of dialogue could suggest that he can only be himself around his son as he recognises his younger self in his son, the self that was genuine and true, which had not yet been beaten down by society.

The Distance to Andromeda by Gregorio C. Brillantes

The Boy Ben, thirteen years old, sits there and wide-eyed before the screen of the theater, in the town ofTarlac, his heart thumps in awe and excitement, and his hands are balled into unconscious fists, as the spaceship burns its blue-flamed journey through the night of the universe that is forever silent with a high metallic hum.

Enclosed in time within the rocket, the ship itself surrounded by timelessness, which is in turn framed by the boundaries of the cinema screen, the last men and women and children of Earth watch the asteroids, the stream of cosmic dust, the barren planets drift past the portholes like luminous flowers at once beautiful and monstrous, floating in the ocean of space. The traveler search the night for another world of air and greenness, remembering the end of the Earth, the Final War, the flickering radioactive fires upon the lifeless continents. Beyond the dead seas of Mars, and beyond the ice-bound tomb ofNeptune, past the orbit of Pluto and out into the black immeasurable depths, the rocket flashes onward, through years of space and time: a moving speck among the twinkling stars, propelledby the flame of its engine and a certain destiny. A sun loomsup from the blackness, more golden and more gentle than the star they have always known; and as a globe of shining water and green-shadowed land appears through the viewports; they break out into jubilant cries and dazed whispers of thanks to God. Cradled by a final blast of power, the spacecraft lands on the meadow: a quiet moment before the airlocks open, a sigh of wind in the nearby trees. The survivors of the Earth climb down onto the grass, and the filmed prophecy ends with them gathered as on a pilgrimage beneath the vertical cylinder of their rocket, looking out across the plain to the hills green in the light of the new sun.

The curtains close the window of the screen; an amplified phonograph scratches outa tired rhumba; there is a brief scramble for vacated seats, the usual reluctant shuffling towards the exit after the show. Ben thinks of staying for one more screening but his friend Pepe stood up to leave, waving to him from the aisle.

He and Pepe go up the aisle, stepping on brittle peanut shells and candy tinfoil; in the diffused light, the audience waits for the lovely and terrible dream.

The two boys linger before the moviehouse and look up at the photo stills tacked on the display board: the nuclear-bombed cities, New York and Paris and London, where no man would ever breath and walk again; tomorrows spaceship, flaming meteor-like in the night ofspace; the faces of the last people, brave before the unexplored night.

Ben looks up at the pictures, and he feels again, deep in a silence within him, like the vibration of invisible wires, the hum of the universe, the movement of the planets and stars. He turns to his friend in a kind impatience, his eyes bright, his chest tightening; he begins to speak, but the hum and movement cannot be uttered. Cmon, Ben, says Pepe, and they cross the street away from the sound and glare of the theater, through the small belling tinkle of the calesas and the warm gasoline dust, while the strangeness within him strains almost like a pain for utterance.

They saunter down the main street in the manner of boys who have no immediate reason for hurry, lazy-legged and curious-eyed. They come to the plaza; children are roller-skating around thekiosko, and the stars are clear in the sudden night over the town.

The two boys get up on the bench and sit on the back rest and watch the skating children. In the white light of the neon lamps, the continuous rumbling sound of the skaters rises and falls with the quality of the cemented rink: now hollow and receding, now full and ascending, going around, seemingly unending. Tito comes by and join them atop the bench; and they talk of a swim in San Miguel tomorrow morning; they agree to meet here, at thekiosko, after the lastMass.After a few random topics, from basketball to the new swept-winged jets that passed over the town during the day, the talk shifts to the movie Ben and Pepe have just seen. Tito does not go for that kind of picture, so fantastic he says, so untrue to life.

With every second the night deepens in the sky. As though in obedience to some secret signal, Ben looks up at the stars. The Southern Cross hangs in the meridian; the half-man and the half-horse in Centaurus rides over the acacias, and the Milky Way is a pale misted river dividing the sky. The stars are faraway suns The strangeness stirs in silence within him: the unknowable words die stillborn in his mind, and the boy joins in the casual conversation, while the rumble of the skates rises and falls, around and around, as if forever, and the stars swing across the sky.

I wonder if there are people on Mars like in the comics.

If there are any, says Tito, theyd look like Mr. Cruz.

Just because he flunked you in algebra.

Do you think people will ever get to the moon?

Ahh, nobodys going to land on the moon, says Tito, theres no air up there.

Theyll bring their oxygen in the rocketship.

Moon, rocketship, Mars what kind of crazy talk is that?

With comic farewells, the three boys part ways, Ben walks home alone, back across the plaza, past the skaters and the lamp-posts of kiosko, the border of trees and the town hall. The empty house onRomulo Streetstares at him through a vein of vines, like a sick old woman abandoned by her children. The electric plant by the river thunders compressedly as he goes by, the massive dynamos producing heat and light; it is as though he were discovering the power of the machines for the first time, quivering in the air, trembling underground. On the bridge, he stops to gaze at the sky; the far edge of the river, without trees or houses, planes into a horizon; the stars seem to rise from the dark land and the water.

He stands alone on the bridge, and he is suddenly lonely, the vast humming turning within him, waiting: for a streak of blue flame, a signal flare among the stars. Where and why Thousands of years away by the speed of light, the other worlds He recalls the view of the heavens through the port holes of the rocket, and the photographs of the galaxies, the whirlpooled suns in the book his father gave him one Christmas. The rocket, an atom wandering in the outer reaches of unknown space: to be lost and lovely forever in the starry night He feels very tiny, only a boy, shrinking, helpless, standing between the dark river and the lights in the sky.

Bonsai Edith Tiempo

All that I love I fold over once And once again And keep in a box Or a slit in a hollow post Or in my shoe

All that I love?

Why, yes but for the moment And for all time, both. Something that folds and keeps easy, Its utter sublimation, A feat, this hearts control Moment to moment To scale all love down To a cupped hands size.

Till seashells are broken pieces From Gods own bright teeth, All life and love are real Things you can run and Breathless hand over To the merest child.blue In money bill.

Actually, I heard the brief analysis of the poem Bonsai by Edith Tiempo prior the moment that I had read the lyrics. And sincerely speaking, when I went over it, it doesn't congregate with my expectations. Things that come up with my mind or I certainly visualized that it talks about the characteristic, structured and existent of bonsai that associates to love. It would be sort of describing how dwarf and how to maintain it size. Elaboration of the state of being tough or other distinctiveness to the other plant who grown freely, of course in relation with the theme, love. However when I examined the poem I end up with termination of being enlightened that Bonsai is worth to be the title of the poem. The general inference of the poem is if the love is profound the more it is hard to be controlled. The idea of the bonsai sounds theoretical in many aspects, indeed with that kind of impression escorts Edith Tiempo to be the award-winning as well as the first lady of Philippine poetry in English. Consequently, to prove that the Bonsai is appropriate to be the title; analysis, lyricism and figure of speech will provide satisfactory answers and evidences to the scorching mind. Plus, diction of the poem to appreciate it better.

Analysis Farther, Bonsai in the first stanza is directly illustrates the love that for doing a thing as keeping something in a box. And the box for me represents heart. Heart technically symbols of love, to make it in unique the poet presents a box instead. All that I love I fold over once And once again And keep in a box The other objects is the same with the feature of a box that unoccupied, concave and opening structure. Or a slit in a hollow post Or in my shoe. The second stanza ask question but not in rhetorical expression. The poet answers her own questions that love will last both in a jiffy and eternity.All that I love? Why, yes, but for the moment- And for all time, both. Plus the continuation of the second stanza enumerates the other stuffs that can be associated with love. But the main thing there, all those things represents the members of the family. The objects may bear different classical values but all those things are just the representation of love of mother to her child conceivably parents to children. Son's note or Dad's one gaudy tie, A roto picture of a queen, A blue Indian shawl, even A money bill. The next stanza defines or dictates how to keep those objects. The complete directions of achievements can be control by accurate love. It's utter sublimation, A feat, this heart's control To explain the third stanza farther, the object is being describes to range everything to downward even it is love. In here, it gives emphasis in the theme of the poem. It should be in hands size Moment to moment To scale all love down To a cupped hand's size From other analysis says that the last stanza presenting an imagery of destruction of earthly things and implied security religion offers. For me, yes its about destruction in the sense that we need to put the object in little size thats why we tend to break or cut it just to control its size. And the second line shows the divine existence and power, the mighty one who could only manage impossible things in love possibly. Im pretty sure none human being could afford to break down seashells into pieces, only God can do it perhaps. Till seashells are broken pieces From God's own bright teeth, Life on earth temporary and whatever we cling on will all be lost. Significant things that we eagerly attain and the good deeds that we redeem here in earth consider as the most treasured and remarkable belongings that we want to turn over to child because we love them so much. I believe this is what the parents want to happen to their children. And life and love are real Things you can run and Breathless hand over To the merest child

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvMy Brothers Peculiar Chicken: an Analysis using Readers ResponseApproach

Posted onMay 19, 2012

My brothers peculiar chicken has an intriguing question if the peculiar chicken is a hen or a rooster.

It arouses the curiosity of Kiko to his chicken because of the appearance of his peculiar chicken, which leads to an argument with his brother coming from the field until they reach their home.

The story will arouse the curiosity also of the reader about the peculiar chicken because of the way the author describe the chicken.

At the end of the story it seems that the peculiar chicken of Kiko is rooster but suddenly his peculiar chicken lay an egg that will give an idea for the readers that his peculiar chicken is a hen.

Theres something mysterious about the peculiar chicken when Kiko and his brother, brought the peculiar chicken to the cockpit it had a fight with the red Texan rooster. The Texan rooster is a killer; as described by the people, it has killed more than a virus. A strange thing happened in the match, the red rooster did the love dance with the peculiar chicken meaning, the Texan rooster fell in love with the peculiar chicken, but the peculiar chicken kill the Texan rooster.

In that instance we can say that the peculiar chicken is a hen because the notorious rooster in the cockpit fell in love with the peculiar chicken and make a love dance. But the peculiar chicken beat the Texan rooster in the match that could lead to the idea that this peculiar chicken is a rooster not a hen. Is it not really possible for a rooster to lay egg, still hen and rooster are both chicken that could hatch an egg?

Despite the confusion presented in the piece, I still believe that this is a nice story to read.

At the beginning of the novel, the priest is waiting for a boat that will take him out of the capital city. He is on the run from the police because religion has been outlawed in his state and he is the last remaining clergyman. While talking to a man named Mr. Tench, he is summoned to a dying woman's house and misses his boat. He hides out in a barn on the estate of a plantation owner, befriending the owner's daughter. Forced to move on, he heads to a village in which he used to live and work as pastor. There he meets Maria, a woman with whom he has had a brief affair, and Brigida, his illegitimate daughter. He spends the night in the town and wakes before dawn to say mass for the villagers. The lieutenanta sworn enemy of all r eligionarrives at the end of mass, leading a group of policemen in search of the priest, and the priest goes out to the town square to face his enemy. No one in the village turns him in, however, and the lieutenant does not realize that he has foun d the man he is looking for. Instead, the lieutenant takes a hostage, whom he says he will execute if he finds that the villagers have been lying to him about the whereabouts of the wanted man.

The priest heads to the town of Carmen, and on the way he meets a man known simply as the mestizo. Uninvited, the mestizo accompanies the priest on his journey, and it very soon becomes clear that he is an untrustworthy figure, and most likely interes ted in following the priest so that he can turn him in and collect the reward money. The priest finally admits that he is, indeed, a priest. But the mestizo, who has become feverish by the second day of their journey together, does not have the strength t o follow the priest when he veers off course. The priest knows that if he enters Carmen he will surely be captured, and he lets the mestizo ride on towards the town by himself.

The priest then backtracks to the capital city. He is in disguise, wearing a drill suit, and he tries to procure a bottle of wine so he can say mass. He meets a beggar who takes him to a hotel and introduces him to a man who says he can supply him with th e wine. The man arrives and sells the priest a bottle of wine and a bottle of brandy. But, taking advantage of the priest's offer to share a drink with him, the man proceeds to drink the entire bottle of wine, thwarting the priest's plan. The priest then leaves the hotel but is caught with the bottle of brandy by a state official. After a lengthy chase through the streets of the town, during which the priest unsuccessfully attempts to take refuge at the house of Padre Jose, he is caught and taken to j ail. In jail he speaks with the prisoners, admitting to them that he is a priest. A pious woman, in jail for having religious articles in her home, argues with the priest. The next day, the priest is ordered to clean out the cells and, while doing so, meets the mestizo again. But the mestizo decides not to turn the priest in to the authorities. The priest has another face-to-face encounter with the lieutenant, but again goes unrecognized, and is allowed to go free.

The priest spends a night at the abandoned estate of the Fellows and then moves on to an abandoned village. He meets an Indian woman whose son has been shot and killed by the gringo, an American outlaw who is also on the run from police. He accompanie s the woman to a burial ground and then leaves her there. Fatigued, and almost completely drained of the will to live, the priest staggers on, eventually coming upon a man named Mr. Lehr who informs him that he is out of danger, having crossed the bor der into a neighboring state where religion is not outlawed.

After spending a few days at the home of Mr. Lehr, the priest prepares to leave for Las Casas. But before he can depart, the mestizo arrives, informing him that the gringo has been mortally wounded by the police and is asking for someone to come and hear his confession. The priest, aware that he is walking into a trap, finally agrees to accompany the mestizo back across the border. There he meets the gringo, who refuses to repent for his sins and then dies. Then, as expected, the lieutenant arrives and ta kes the priest into custody. The two men have a long conversation about their beliefs and then, when the storm front clears, the lieutenant takes the priest back to the capital city for his trial.

On the night before the priest is to be executed, the lieutenant goes to the home of Padre Jose to see if he will come and hear the confession of the captured priest. Padre Jose refuses and the lieutenant returns to the police station with a bottle of bra ndy for the priest. That night, the priest tries to repent for his sins, but finds he cannot. He wakes up the next morning afraid of the impending execution.

The next day, Mr. Tench watches the execution from the window of the jefe's office. Later that night the boy hears about what happened to the priest and realizes that the man is a martyr and a hero. He dreams about him that night, and wakes up to the sound of knocking at the door. Opening the door, he finds a man seeking shelter, and when the boy learns that the man is a priest, he swings the door wide open to let him in.

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Chapter Summaries

The Pilgrim's ProgressBy John BunyanBook Summary

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Part 1

In this section events are reviewed according to principal scenes of action. Place names appear in the order in which major incidents occur.

City of Destruction

The city stands as a symbol of the entire world as it is, with all of its sins, corruptions, and sorrows. No one living there can have any hope of salvation. Convinced that the city is about to be blasted by the wrath of God, Christian flees and sets out alone on a pilgrimage which he hopes will lead him to Mount Zion, to the Celestial City, where he can enjoy eternal life in the happy company of God and the Heavenly Host.

Slough of Despond

A swamp, a bog, a quagmire, the first obstacle in Christian's course. Pilgrims are apt to get mired down here by their doubts and fears. After much difficulty and with some providential help, Christian finally manages to flounder across the treacherous bog and is on his way again.

Village of Morality

Near the village Christian meets Mr. Worldly Wiseman, who, though not religiously inclined, is a friendly and well-disposed person. He tells Christian that it would be foolish of him to continue his pilgrimage, the end of which could only be hunger, pain, and death. Christian should be a sensible fellow and settle down in the Village of Morality. It would be a good place to raise a family, for living was cheap there and they would have honest, well-behaved people as neighbors people who lived by the Ten Commandments.

More than a little tempted by this, Christian decides that he should at least have a look at Morality. But along the way he is stopped by his friend Evangelist, who berates him sharply for having listened to anything Mr. Worldly Wiseman might have to say. If Christian is seriously interested in saving his soul, he would be well advised to get back as quickly as possible on the path to the Wicket Gate which Evangelist had pointed out to him before.

Wicket Gate

Arriving almost out of breath, Christian reads the sign on the gate: "Knock and it shall be opened unto you." He knocks a number of times before arousing the gatekeeper, a "grave person" named Good-will, who comes out to ask what Christian wants. After the latter has explained his mission, he is let through the gate, which opens on the Holy Way, a straight and narrow path leading toward the Celestial City. Christian asks if he can now be relieved of the heavy burden a sack filled with his sins and woes that he has been carrying on his back for so long. Good-will replies that he cannot help him, but that if all goes well, Christian will be freed of his burden in due course.

Interpreter's House

On Good-will's advice, Christian makes his first stop at the large house of Interpreter, a character symbolizing the Holy Spirit. Interpreter shows his guest a number of "excellent things." These include a portrait of the ideal pastor with the Bible in his hand and a crown of gold on his head; a dusty parlor which is like the human heart before it is cleansed with the Gospel; a sinner in an iron cage, an apostate doomed to suffer the torments of Hell through all eternity; a wall with a fire burning against it. A figure (the Devil himself) is busily throwing water on the fire to put it out. But he would never succeed, Interpreter explains, because the fire represents the divine spirit in the human heart and a figure on the far side of the wall keeps the fire burning brightly by secretly pouring oil on it "the oil of Christ's Grace."

The Cross

Beyond Interpreter's House, Christian comes to the Cross, which stands on higher ground beside the Holy Way. Below it, at the foot of the gentle slope, is an open sepulcher. When Christian stops by the Cross, the burden on his back suddenly slips from his shoulders, rolls down the slope, and falls into the open sepulcher, to be seen no more. As Christian stands weeping with joy, three Shining Ones (angels) appear. They tell him all his sins are now forgiven, give him bright new raiment to replace his old ragged clothes, and hand him a parchment, "a Roll with a seal upon it." For his edification and instruction, Christian is to read the Roll as he goes along, and when he reaches the Pearly Gates, he is to present it as his credentials a sort of passport to Heaven, as it were.

Difficulty Hill

The Holy Way beyond the Cross is fenced in with a high wall on either side. The walls have been erected to force all aspiring Pilgrims to enter the Holy Way in the proper manner, through the Wicket Gate. As Christian is passing along, two men Formalist and Hypocrisy climb over the wall and drop down beside him. Christian finds fault with this and gives the wall-jumpers a lecture on the dangers of trying shortcuts. They have been successfully taking shortcuts all their lives, the intruders reply, and all will go well this time.

Not too pleased with his company, Christian proceeds with Hypocrisy and Formalist to the foot of Difficulty Hill, where three paths join and they must make a choice. One path goes straight ahead up the steep slope of the hill; another goes around the base of the hill to the right; the third, around the hill to the left. Christian argues that the right path is the one leading straight ahead up Difficulty Hill. Not liking the prospect of much exertion, Formalist and Hypocrisy decide to take the easier way on the level paths going around the hill. Both get lost and perish.

Halfway up Difficulty Hill, so steep in places that he has to inch forward on hands and knees, Christian comes to a pleasant arbor provided for the comfort of weary Pilgrims. Sitting down to rest, Christian reaches into his blouse and takes out his precious Roll. While reading it, he drops off to sleep, being awakened when he hears a voice saying sternly: "Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise."

Jumping up, Christian makes with all speed to the top of the hill, where he meets two Pilgrims coming toward him Timorous and Mistrust. They have been up ahead, they say, and there are lions there. They are giving up their pilgrimage and returning home, and unsuccessfully try to persuade Christian to come with them. Their report about the lions disturbs Christian, who reaches into his blouse to get his Roll so that he may read it and be comforted. To his consternation, the Roll is not there.

Carefully searching along the way, Christian retraces his steps to the arbor, where, as he recalls, he had been reading the Roll when he allowed himself to doze off in "sinful sleep." Not finding his treasure immediately, he sits down and weeps, considering himself utterly undone by his carelessness in losing "his pass into the Celestial City." When in deepest despair, he chances to see something lying half-covered in the grass. It is his precious Roll, which he tucks away securely in his blouse. Having offered a prayer of thanks "to God for directing his eye to the place where it lay," Christian wearily climbs back to the top of Difficulty Hill. From there he sees a stately building and as it is getting on toward dark, hastens there.

Palace Beautiful

A narrow path leads off the Holy Way to the lodge in front of Palace Beautiful. Starting up the path, Christian sees two lions, stops, and turns around as if to retreat. The porter at the lodge, Watchful, who has been observing him, calls out that there is nothing to be afraid of if one has faith. The lions are chained, one on either side of the path, and anyone with faith can pass safely between them if he keeps carefully to the middle of the path, which Christian does. Arriving at the lodge, he asks if he can get lodging for the night. The porter, Watchful, replies that he will find out from those in charge of Palace Beautiful. Soon, four virgins come out to the lodge, all of them "grave and beautiful damsels": Discretion, Prudence, Piety, and Charity. Satisfied with Christian's answers to their questions, they invite him in, introduce him to the rest of the family, serve him supper, and assign him to a beautiful bedroom Peace for the night.

Next morning, the virgins show him the "rarities" of the place: First, the library, filled with ancient documents dating back to the beginning of time; next, the armory, packed with swords, shields, helmets, breastplates, and other things sufficient to equip all servants of the Lord, even if they were as numerous as the stars in the sky. Leading their guest to the roof of the palace, the virgins point to mountains in the distance the Delectable Mountains, which lie on the way to the Celestial City. Before allowing Christian to depart, the virgins give him arms and armor to protect himself during the next stretch of his journey, which they warn will be dangerous.

Valley of Humiliation

Here Christian is attacked and almost overcome by a "foul fiend" named Apollyon a hideous monster with scales like a fish, wings like a dragon, mouth like a lion, and feet like a bear; flames and smoke belch out of a hole in his belly. Christian, after a painful struggle, wounds the fiend with his sword and drives him off.

Valley of the Shadow of Death

This is a wilderness, a land of deserts and pits, inhabited only by yowling hobgoblins and other dreadful creatures. The path here is very narrow, edged on one side by a deep, water-filled ditch in which many have drowned; on the other side, by a treacherous bog. Walking carefully, Christian goes on and soon finds himself close to the open mouth of Hell, the Burning Pit, out of which comes a cloud of noxious fumes, long fingers of fire, showers of sparks, and hideous noises. With flames flickering all around and smoke almost choking him, Christian manages to get through by use of "All-prayer."

Nearing the end of the valley, he hears a shout raised by someone up ahead: "Though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I will fear none ill, for Thou art with me." As only a Pilgrim could have raised that cry, Christian hastens forward to see who it might be. To his surprise and delight he finds that it is an old friend, Faithful, one of his neighbors in the City of Destruction.

Vanity Fair

Happily journeying together, exchanging stories about their adventures and misadventures, the two Pilgrims come to the town of Vanity Fair, through which they must pass. Interested only in commerce and money-making, the town holds a year-round fair at which all kinds of things are bought and sold "houses, lands, trades, titles, . . . lusts, pleasures, . . . bodies, souls, silver, gold, pearls, precious stones, and what not." Christian and Faithful infuriate the merchandisers by turning up their noses at the wares offered them, saying that they would buy nothing but the Truth. Their presence and their attitude cause a hubbub in the town, which leads the authorities to jail them for disturbing the peace. The prisoners conduct themselves so well that they win the sympathy of many townspeople, producing more strife and commotion in the streets, and the prisoners are held responsible for this, too, though they have done nothing.

It is decided to indict them on the charge of disrupting trade, creating dissension, and treating with contempt the customs and laws laid down for the town by its prince, old Beelzebub himself. Brought to trial first, Faithful is convicted and sentenced to be executed in the manner prescribed by the presiding judge, Lord Hate-good. The hapless Faithful is scourged, brutally beaten, lanced with knives, stoned, and then burned to ashes at the stake. Thus, he becomes another of the Christian martyrs assured of enjoying eternal bliss up on high.

Doubting Castle and Giant Despair

In a manner only vaguely explained, Christian gets free and goes on his way but not alone, for he has been joined by Hopeful, a native of Vanity Fair who is fleeing in search of better things. After a few minor adventures, the two reach a sparkling stream, the River of the Water of Life, which meanders through beautiful meadows bright with flowers. For a time the Holy Way follows the river bank but then veers off into rougher ground which is hard on the sore tired feet of the travelers. Wishing there were an easier way, they plod along until they come to another meadow behind a high fence. Having climbed the fence to have a look, Christian persuades Hopeful that they should move over into By-path Meadow, where there is a soft grassy path paralleling theirs.

Moving along, they catch up with Vain-confidence, who says that he is bound for the Celestial City and knows the way perfectly. Night comes on, but he continues to push ahead briskly, with Christian and Hopeful following. Suddenly, the latter hear a frightened cry and a loud thud. Vain-confidence has been dashed to pieces by falling into a deep pit dug by the owner of the meadow. Christian and Hopeful retreat, but as they can see nothing in the dark, they decide to lie down in the meadow to pass the night.

Next morning, they are surprised and seized by the prince of By-path Meadow, a giant named Despair. Charging them with malicious trespassing, he hauls them to his stronghold, Doubting Castle, and throws them into a deep dark dungeon, where they lie for days without food or drink. At length, Giant Despair appears, beats them almost senseless, and advises them to take their own lives so that he will not have to come back to finish them off himself. When all seems hopeless, Christian suddenly brightens up, "as one half amazed," and exclaims: "What a fool am I, thus to lie in a stinking dungeon when I may as well walk at liberty. I have a key in my bosom called Promise which will (I am persuaded) open any lock in Doubting Castle."

Finding that the magic key works, the prisoners are soon out in the open and running as fast as they can to get back onto the Holy Way, where they erect a sign warning other Pilgrims against being tempted by the apparent ease of traveling by way of By-path Meadow.

Delectable Mountains

Christian and Hopeful next come to the Delectable Mountains, where they find gardens, orchards, vineyards, and fountains of water. Four shepherds Experience, Knowledge, Watchful, and Sincere come to greet them, telling them that the mountains are the Lord's, as are the flocks of sheep grazing there. Having been escorted around the mountains and shown the sights there, the two Pilgrims on the eve of their departure receive from the shepherds a paper instructing them on what to do and what to avoid on the journey ahead. For one thing, they should not lie down and sleep in the Enchanted Ground, for that would be fatal.

Country of Beulah

This is a happy land where the sun shines day and night, flowers bloom continuously, and the sweet and pleasant air is filled with bird-song. There is no lack of grain and wine. Christian and Hopeful stop to rest and enjoy themselves here, pleased that the Celestial City is now within sight, which leads them to assume that the way there is now clear.

Dark River

Proceeding, they are amazed when they come to the Dark River, a wide, swift-flowing stream. They look around for a bridge or boat on which to cross. A Shining One appears and tells them that they must make their way across as best they can, that fording the river is a test of faith, that those with faith have nothing to fear. Wading into the river, Hopeful finds firm footing, but Christian does not He is soon floundering in water over his head, fearing that he will be drowned, that he will never see "the land that flows with milk and honey." Hopeful helps Christian by holding his head above water, and the two finally achieve the crossing.

Celestial City

On the far side of the river, two Shining Ones are waiting for the Pilgrims and take them by the arm to assist them in climbing the steep slope to the Celestial City, which stands on a "mighty hill . . . higher than the clouds." Coming to the gate of the city, built all of precious stones, Christian and Hopeful present their credentials, which are taken to the King (God). He orders the gate to be opened, and the two weary but elated Pilgrims go in, to find that the streets are paved with gold and that along them walk many men with crowns on their heads and golden harps in their hands.

Part 2

Christian's wife, Christiana, misses her husband, and, hearing how well he is doing in Heaven, regrets that she did not go with him when he set out on his pilgrimage, as she had been urged and invited to do. She makes up her mind to follow him after receiving from a visitor a note from the Lord, written "in letters of gold," inviting her to come to the Celestial City. Though her neighbors try to dissuade her, citing the great dangers of such a journey, Christiana sets out from the City of Destructions with her children four sons and is joined by Mercy, a comely young woman of the town.

Passing through the Slough of Despond with much less difficulty than Christian encountered, the Pilgrim party comes to the Wicket Gate, the entrance to the Holy Way, the straight and narrow path leading to Mount Zion. Christiana and the children are immediately admitted by the gatekeeper, but Mercy is left outside. Thinking herself abandoned, Mercy swoons. On Christiana's plea, the gatekeeper comes out, helps Mercy to her feet, and leads the party to a pleasant summer parlor, where the Lord soon appears to assure Mercy that she is welcome as a Pilgrim.

Leaving the Wicket Gate, the party is still within sight of it when the women are accosted by two villainous men who try first to seduce them and then to rape them, which results in a "very great scuffle," with the women crying "Murder! murder!" Hearing this, one of those at the Wicket Gate come running to the rescue and chases away the villains, who escape by leaping over a wall into Satan's garden.

Coming to Interpreter's House, the party is well entertained there and shown the sights, including some that had not been shown to Christian. On the eve of the departure, Interpreter assigns Great-heart, a stout and well-armed Christian soldier, to be their conductor for the rest of the way. Surmounting difficulty Hill with its many steep ascents, the party approaches the land leading to Palace Beautiful. Here are two chained lions, as Christian had found. But now there is also a giant, one Grim, or Bloody-man, who emerges from a cave and blocks the way. Great-hear advances, whacks off his head, and leads the party into Palace Beautiful, which is filled with songs of joy. Christiana and her group like it so well here that , upon being invited, they stay a month, enjoying much feasting and godly discourse with the palace virgins.

During their stay, Mercy is courted by a Mr. Brisk, but he soon jilts her upon discovering that the clothes she is always so busily making are not for sale, not to make money, but to be given away to the poor. Obviously, she would not make a thrifty, prudent housewife. But Mercy will not long remain a maiden, for she is soon "given" in marriage to Christiana's oldest son, Mathew.

Descending from Palace Beautiful into the Valley of Humiliation, where Christian had been attacked and almost killed by the monster Apollyon, Christiana and her party meet with no trouble there, nor much in the Valley of the Shadow of Death, though Great-heart has to drive away some devils and a lion there, and has to slay another giant, one Maul, and take off his head. Going on, the party comes upon an old man asleep under a tree. Recognizing him as a Pilgrim by his clothes, staff, and girdle, they awaken him. He proves to be Old Honest from the Town of Stupidity, on his way to the Celestral City. Joining the party, he directs them to a tavern kept by Gaius, a "very honorable disciple."

The stay of Gaius' Inn, lasting a month or more, is very pleasant. Gaius informs Christiana of her husband's illustrious ancestry. His forebears, it appears, were St. Paul, St. Peter, St. Stephen, and many another ancient prophet, saint, and martyr, including St. Marcus of Arethusa, who "was hanged up in a basket in the sun for the wasps to eat." It is at Gaius' Inn that Mercy is "given" in marriage to Christiana's oldest son, Mathew, and Gaius gives his daughter Phoebe to another son, James.

Here, too, Great-heart gets himself another giant, one Slay-good. He finds the giant rifling the pockets of a captured Pilgrim named Feeble-mind, intending later to eat him. Great-heart takes off the giant's head as another trophy and rescues Feeble-mind, who joins Christiana's party. Another Pilgrim joins her party Mr. Right-to-halt, who is so crippled that he has to hobble along on crutches.

Coming to the town of Vanity Fair, where Christiana and Faithful had been so harshly treated, Faithful having been burned at the stake there. Great-heart leads the party to the house of a friend, Mnason, a native of the island of Cyprus. There are more marriages here, with Mnason giving daughters to Christiana's two unwedded sons, and Great-heart goes after another monster, a beast having a dragon's body topped with "seven heads and ten horns." Great-heart does not succeed in taking off the monster's seven heads, but so injures him that everybody expects him to die of his wounds.

When Christiana's party comes to By-path Meadow and Doubting Castle, where Christian and Hopeful had been so pummeled by Giant Despair, Great-heart suggests that it might be a good idea if they took time off to kill the giant and demolish his castle. They do this, taking a week to tear down the castle, bringing back two captured Pilgrims they found in the dungeon Mr. Despondency and his daughter Much-afraid. These two join the party, which now numbers sixteen, having become so large that it has to walk in column along the straight and narrow path.

The Celestial Mountains are much the same as they were when Christian and Hopeful visited, except that the shepherds have built a palace there, which seems rather incongruous. In any case, there is a palace, so Bunyan tells us, and in its dining room a looking glass that Mercy covets, saying that if it is denied her, she may have a miscarriage. The shepherds happily present her with the marvelous mirror, which held one way, shows "the Prince of Pilgrims himself . . . the very Crown of Thorns upon his head, . . . the holes in his hands, in his feet, and his side."

Leaving the Delectable Mountains, the Pilgrims come upon a man standing in the road with drawn sword and his face all bloody Valiant-for-truth, who has just routed three villains who attacked him. Valiant-for-truth joins the party as it proceeds into the Enchanted Ground, where no Pilgrim should rest and sleep if he hopes ever to wake again. Here they find a man kneeling in the roadway, his hands upstretched toward Heaven, praying mightily to God to rescue him from the clutches of a Madam Bubble, who has been persistently trying to seduce him.

The prayerful man, Stand-fast, joins the party as it goes on into the Land of Beulah, where "the sun shineth day and night" and flowers bloom in profusion the year round. Beulah Land, as presented in this part of the book, is sort of a receiving station for those Heaven-bound. Here Pilgrims wait until they are personally summoned to come up to the Celestial City. In her party, Christiana is the first to be summoned, then the others in order, and all wade through the Dark River, the River of Death, and are whisked up to the Celestial Gate in chariots driven by angels all but Christian's four sons and their pregnant brides who are left behind to propagate "for the increase of the Church in that place they were for a time.

THE RIME OF THE ANCIENT MARINER SUMMARY

BACK

NEXT

Three guys are on the way to a wedding celebration when an old sailor (the Mariner) stops one of them at the door (we'll call him the Wedding Guest). Using his hypnotic eyes to hold the attention of the Wedding Guest, he starts telling a story about a disastrous journey he took. The Wedding Guestreallywants to go party, but he can't pry himself away from this grizzled old mariner. The Mariner begins his story. They left port, and the ship sailed down near Antarctica to get away from a bad storm, but then they get caught in a dangerous, foggy ice field. An albatross shows up to steer them through the fog and provide good winds, but then the Mariner decides to shoot it. Oops.Pretty soon the sailors lose their wind, and it gets really hot. They run out of water, and everyone blames the Mariner. The ship seems to be haunted by a bad spirit, and weird stuff starts appearing, like slimy creatures that walk on the ocean. The Mariner's crewmates decide to hang the dead albatross around his neck to remind him of his error.Everyone is literally dying of thirst. The Mariner sees another ship's sail at a distance. He wants to yell out, but his mouth is too dry, so he sucks some of his own blood to moisten his lips. He's like, "A ship! We're saved." Sadly, the ship is a ghost ship piloted by two spirits, Death and Life-in-Death, who have to be thelastpeople you'd want to meet on a journey. Everyone on the Mariner's ship dies.The wedding guest realizes, "Ah! You're a ghost!" But the Mariner says, "Well, actually, I was the only one who didn't die." He continues his story: he's on a boat with a lot of dead bodies, surrounded by an ocean full of slimy things. Worse, these slimy things are nasty water snakes. But the Mariner escapes his curse by unconsciously blessing the hideous snakes, and the albatross drops off his neck into the ocean.The Mariner falls into a sweet sleep, and it finally rains when he wakes up. A storm strikes up in the distance, and all the dead sailors rise like zombies to pilot the ship. The sailors don't actually come back to life. Instead, angels fill their bodies, and another supernatural spirit under the ocean seems to push the boat. The Mariner faints and hears two voices talking about how he killed the albatross and still has more penance to do. These two mysterious voices explain how the ship is moving.After a speedy journey, the ship ends up back in port again. The Mariner sees angels standing next to the bodies of all his crewmates. Then a rescue boat shows up to take him back to shore. The Mariner is happy that a guy called "the hermit" is on the rescue boat. The hermit is in a good mood. All of a sudden there's a loud noise, and the Mariner's ship sinks. The hermit's boat picks up the Mariner.When they get on shore, the Mariner is desperate to tell his story to the hermit. He feels a terrible pain until the story had been told.In fact, the Mariner says that he still has the same painful need to tell his story, which is why he stopped the Wedding Guest on this occasion. Wrapping up, the Mariner tells the Wedding Guest that he needs to learn how to say his prayers and love other people and things. Then the Mariner leaves, and the Wedding Guest no longer wants to enter the wedding. He goes home and wakes up the next day, as the famous last lines go, "a sadder and a wiser man.

THE RIME OF THE ANCIENT MARINER SUMMARY

BACK

NEXT

Context

Summary

Characters

Summary & Analysis

Chapters 1 and 2

Chapters 3 - 5

Chapters 6 and 7

Chapters 8 - 12

Chapters 13 - 18

Chapters 19 - 23

Chapters 24- 27

Chapters 28 -33

Chapters 34 - 36

Chapters 37 and 38

Chapters 39 - 42

Chapters 43 -45

Analysis

Study Questions

Review Quiz

Further Reading

How to Cite This SparkNote

LORD JIMJoseph Conrad

Summary

Lord Jimis the story of a man named Marlow's struggle to tell and to understand the life story of a man named Jim. Jim is a promising young man who goes to sea as a youth. He rises quickly through the ranks and soon becomes chief mate. Raised on popular sea literature, Jim constantly daydreams about becoming a hero, yet he has never faced any real danger. Finally, his chance comes. He is serving aboard a vessel called thePatna,carrying Muslim pilgrims to Mecca, when the ship strikes an underwater object and springs a leak. With a storm approaching, the crew abandons her and her passengers to their fate. Jim, not thinking clearly, abandons the ship with the rest of the crew. ThePatnadoes not sink, however, and Jim, along with the rest of the officers, is subjected to an official inquiry by his fellow seamen. It is at this inquiry, where Jim is stripped of his officer's certification, that he first meets Marlow.

Seeing something in Jim that he recognizes, or perhaps fears, in himself, Marlow strikes up a tortured friendship with Jim. Jim tells him his story, and Marlow helps him obtain a series of jobs. ThePatnaincident haunts him, though; each time it is mentioned, Jim flees his current situation, enlisting Marlow's help once again. Finally, with the help of Stein, an expatriate trader, Marlow gets Jim situated as post manager in the remote territory of Patusan. Jim is initially captured by one of the warring factions of the area, but soon escapes and finally becomes a hero by defeating a local bandit. He falls in love with Jewel, the beautiful, half-native stepdaughter of the previous trading post manager, a bitter little man called Cornelius. Jim becomes the spiritual leader of Patusan. Its citizens place their trust in him and rely on him to enforce justice.

One day, Gentleman Brown, a pirate, shows up in Patusan with his crew in search of provisions. A skirmish ensues, and Brown holes up atop a hill. Cornelius, annoyed by Jim's success and his own failures, secretly meets with Brown and a conspiracy, including a dissenting Patusan faction, is formed against Jim. Jim, unaware of the plot, agrees to let Brown leave the area peacefully (Brown guesses at Jim's dishonorable past, and Jim decides it would be still more dishonorable to kill Brown simply because Brown knows the truth about him). Cornelius guides Brown down an alternate river channel, which leads him to the camp of Dain Waris, the son of Jim's closest ally, Doramin. Brown and his men ambush the camp, killing Dain Waris. Jim, realizing that he has still not been able to escape his initial failure aboard thePatna,ignores Jewel's pleas and goes to Doramin's compound, where the grieving father shoots and kills him.

Much of the novel is concerned with Marlow's attempts to piece together Jim's story from a variety of sources. Finally, he recounts the story to a group of acquaintances. At this point in time, though, Brown has not yet come to Patusan, and the story remains unfinished. Once events are completed, Marlow writes them down in manuscript form, which he then sends to a member of the audience of the first part of the story. The novel fragments time, and Marlow juxtaposes different, non-chronological pieces of Jim's story for maximum effect, all the while seeking to discover the source of his own fascination with Jim and the meaning behind the story.

Context

Summary

Characters

Summary & Analysis

Chapters 1 and 2

Chapters 3 - 5

Chapters 6 and 7

Chapters 8 - 12

Chapters 13 - 18

Chapters 19 - 23

Chapters 24- 27

Chapters 28 -33

Chapters 34 - 36

Chapters 37 and 38

Chapters 39 - 42

Chapters 43 -45

Analysis

Study Questions

Review Quiz

Further Reading

How to Cite This SparkNote

LORD JIMJoseph Conrad

Summary

Lord Jimis the story of a man named Marlow's struggle to tell and to understand the life story of a man named Jim. Jim is a promising young man who goes to sea as a youth. He rises quickly through the ranks and soon becomes chief mate. Raised on popular sea literature, Jim constantly daydreams about becoming a hero, yet he has never faced any real danger. Finally, his chance comes. He is serving aboard a vessel called thePatna,carrying Muslim pilgrims to Mecca, when the ship strikes an underwater object and springs a leak. With a storm approaching, the crew abandons her and her passengers to their fate. Jim, not thinking clearly, abandons the ship with the rest of the crew. ThePatnadoes not sink, however, and Jim, along with the rest of the officers, is subjected to an official inquiry by his fellow seamen. It is at this inquiry, where Jim is stripped of his officer's certification, that he first meets Marlow.

Seeing something in Jim that he recognizes, or perhaps fears, in himself, Marlow strikes up a tortured friendship with Jim. Jim tells him his story, and Marlow helps him obtain a series of jobs. ThePatnaincident haunts him, though; each time it is mentioned, Jim flees his current situation, enlisting Marlow's help once again. Finally, with the help of Stein, an expatriate trader, Marlow gets Jim situated as post manager in the remote territory of Patusan. Jim is initially captured by one of the warring factions of the area, but soon escapes and finally becomes a hero by defeating a local bandit. He falls in love with Jewel, the beautiful, half-native stepdaughter of the previous trading post manager, a bitter little man called Cornelius. Jim becomes the spiritual leader of Patusan. Its citizens place their trust in him and rely on him to enforce justice.

One day, Gentleman Brown, a pirate, shows up in Patusan with his crew in search of provisions. A skirmish ensues, and Brown holes up atop a hill. Cornelius, annoyed by Jim's success and his own failures, secretly meets with Brown and a conspiracy, including a dissenting Patusan faction, is formed against Jim. Jim, unaware of the plot, agrees to let Brown leave the area peacefully (Brown guesses at Jim's dishonorable past, and Jim decides it would be still more dishonorable to kill Brown simply because Brown knows the truth about him). Cornelius guides Brown down an alternate river channel, which leads him to the camp of Dain Waris, the son of Jim's closest ally, Doramin. Brown and his men ambush the camp, killing Dain Waris. Jim, realizing that he has still not been able to escape his initial failure aboard thePatna,ignores Jewel's pleas and goes to Doramin's compound, where the grieving father shoots and kills him.

Much of the novel is concerned with Marlow's attempts to piece together Jim's story from a variety of sources. Finally, he recounts the story to a group of acquaintances. At this point in time, though, Brown has not yet come to Patusan, and the story remains unfinished. Once events are completed, Marlow writes them down in manuscript form, which he then sends to a member of the audience of the first part of the story. The novel fragments time, and Marlow juxtaposes different, non-chronological pieces of Jim's story for maximum effect, all the while seeking to discover the source of his own fascination with Jim and the meaning behind the story.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God

A monument inEnfield, Connecticutcommemorating the location where this sermon was preached.

Author

Jonathan Edwards

Country

British Colonies

Language

English

Genre

Sermon

Publication date

8 July 1741

Text

Sinners in the Hands of an Angry GodatWikisource

"Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" is asermonwritten byBritish ColonialChristian theologianJonathan Edwards, preached to his own congregation inNorthampton, Massachusettsto unknown effect,[1]and again on July 8, 1741 inEnfield, Connecticut.[2]Like Edwards' other works, it combines vivid imagery ofHellwith observations of the world and citations of thescripture. It is Edwards' most famous written work, is a fitting representation of his preaching style,[3]and is widely studied byChristiansand historians, providing a glimpse into the theology of theGreat Awakeningof c. 17301755.

This is a typical sermon of the Great Awakening, emphasizing the belief that Hell is a real place. Edwards hoped that the imagery and message of his sermon would awaken his audience to the horrific reality that awaited them should they continue without Christ.[4]The underlying point is that God has given humanity a chance to rectify their sins. Edwards says that it is the will of God that keeps wicked men from the depths of Hell. This act of restraint has given humanity a chance to mend their ways and return to Christ.[5]

Contents

[hide]

1Doctrine

2Purpose

3Application

4Effect and legacy

5See also

6Notes

7References

8External links

Doctrine[edit]

Edwards, Rev. Jonathan (July 8, 1741),Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, A Sermon Preached at Enfield

"There is nothing that keeps wicked men at any one moment out of hell, but the mere pleasure of God."

Most of the sermon's text consists of ten "considerations":

1. God may cast wicked men intohellat any given moment.

2. The Wicked deserve to be cast into hell. Divine justice does not prevent God from destroying the Wicked at any moment.

3. The Wicked, atthismoment, suffer under God's condemnation to Hell.

4. The Wicked, on earth - at this very moment - suffer the torments of Hell. The Wicked must not think, simply because they are not physically in Hell, that God (in Whose hand the Wicked now reside) is not - at this very moment - as angry withthemas He is with those miserable creatures He isnowtormenting in hell, and who - at this very moment - do feel and bear the fierceness of His wrath.

5. At any moment God shall permit him,Satanstands ready to fall upon the Wicked and seize them as his own.

6. If it were not for God's restraints, there are, in the souls of wicked men, hellish principles reigning which, presently, would kindle and flame out into hellfire.

7. Simply because there are not visible means of death before them at any given moment, the Wicked should not feel secure.

8. Simply because it is natural to care for oneself or to think that others may care for them, men should not think themselves safe from God's wrath.

9. All that wicked men may do to save themselves from Hell's pains shall afford them nothing if they continue to reject Christ.

10. God has never promised to save us from Hell, except for those contained inChristthrough the covenant of Grace.

Purpose[edit]

One church in Enfield, Connecticut had been largely unaffected during theGreat Awakeningof New England. Edwards was invited by the pastor of the church to preach to them. Edwards's aim was to teach his listeners about the horrors of hell, the dangers of sin and the terrors of being lost. Edwards described the shaky position of those who do not follow Christ's urgent call to receive forgiveness.

Application[edit]

In the final section of "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," Edwards shows his theological argument throughout scripture and biblical history. Invoking stories and examples throughout the wholeBible. Edwards ends the sermon with one final appeal, "Therefore let everyone that is out of Christ, now awake and fly from the wrath to come." According to Edwards, only by returning to Christ can one escape the stark fate he outlines.

Effect and legacy[edit]

Jonathan Edwards was interrupted many times before finishing the sermon by people moaning and crying out, "What shall I do to be saved?" Although the sermon has received criticism, Edwards' words have endured and are still read to this day. Edwards' sermon continues to be the leading example of a Great Awakening sermon and is still used in religious and academic studies

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Saturday, August 21, 2010THE POOR CHRIST OF BOMBA by Mongo Bti

If you're interested in African colonial history or cross-cultural evangelism or feminist sociology, or if you'd just like to read a good character study told from an interesting viewpoint, you might want to try to find a copy of Mongo Bti's shocking 1956 novel,The Poor Christ of Bomba. It probably won't be in your library, but you can getan English translation from Amazonorthe original French from www.amazon.fr.The Reverend Father Superior Drumont is a complicated man. He is a true believer, a Frenchman who has devoted over 20 years of his life to working in rural Cameroon. He is also a rigid moralist, a self-righteous minor despot, and a criminally negligent administrator. He knows something is terribly wrong, and he feels tired and confused and guilty. But he fails to understand his own role in a shocking web of corruption that comes to light during three weeks in February.On the surface,The Poor Christ of Bombais about Father Drumont. On the very first page Denis, the 15-year-old narrator, says that according to his father, Jesus Christ and Drumont are one and the same. The book's title probably refers to the priest, though it could be an ironic commentary on the collapse of the Bomba mission. Denis, however, does not foresee the impeding crisis. He is loyal to the Catholic church and adores Father Drumont. Through his naively admiring eyes, the reader comes to know the conflicted priest.Besides being an engaging character study, the novel is a trenchant commentary on colonialism. The setting is Southern Cameroon in the 1930s, a country that became a German colony in 1884 and then livedunder French rulefrom World War I until 1960. Father Drumont has been trying to turn Cameroon people into Christians without understanding their traditional religions, their social systems, or their mores. At the same time his friend Vidal, a French administrator, is trying to turn the colony into a profitable venture without understanding or caring about the effects his actions will have on the indigenous people.Reading the novel over 50 years after it was written, I was struck by its women. From the outset, Drumont is unsympathetic to them. During mass he drags a woman to the altar and forces her to kneel in penance; the narrator has no idea what she has done. He demands that mothers immediately take fussy babies outside. He campaigns (unsuccessfully) against unwed mothers, and he insists that polygamous men abandon all their wives except the one they like the best.By the end of the book, his rigidity has turned into something close to sadism, though Drumont doesn't see it that way. In fact, he almost seems to understand the sin he and the other men have been committing against women. Listen to him muse to another white priest:*

The indigenous woman, the docile little black woman - what an ideal machine! No need to oil her, you see! No need even to check from time to time to be sure she isn't rusting in the little garage we've stuffed her in.. .. She takes care of her own maintenance, and she asks for work to do.... The worst thing is that we figured this out. Long before we came, the natives already knew that women make a fine machine; don't think for a minute that they're stupider than we are. So here we come - Christians, Christ's messengers, bearers of civilization. And what do you think we do? Do we give women back their dignity? Not a chance. Oh no. We keep them in servitude. But nowwe'rethe ones who profit.

Drumont's understanding does not seem to improve his behavior, however. When he finally figures out that something terrible is happening on his watch, he summons over 50 women who live on the compound to tell him what is going on. Predictably, they are afraid to talk - they have already been repeatedly victimized and fear reprisals. So Drumont has them beaten until they give in. But when they finally tell him what has been going on, he sends them away, even if they have nowhere to go. Knowing that many of them are ill, he provides no medical care. They are at the bottom of the food chain, and it seems not to occur to Father Drumont that his whole approach to evangelization has created a truly hellish situation for his most faithful followers.Mongo Bti's characters may be literally black and white, but this story is not about villains and saints. Father Drumont's perceptions change as the story progresses, and at times he is almostsympathique. The colonist Vidal is often likable. The narrator's sidekick, Zacharie, is both amusing and appalling. Only the catechist Raphal comes across as totally corrupt, and he is African - though, to be sure, an African who works for white missionaries. Evil lies not so much in the individuals as in the way power is allocated and used in colonial Cameroon. And in the end, the women suffer more than anyone else

The Song of Hiawatha

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about the Longfellow poem containing a fictional character named "Hiawatha". For the trilogy of cantatas bySamuel Coleridge-Taylor, set to words from Longfellow's poem, seeThe Song of Hiawatha (Coleridge-Taylor). For theIroquoisleader, seeHiawatha.

Hiawatha and Minnehahasculpture byJacob FjeldenearMinnehaha FallsinMinneapolis, Minnesota.

The Song of Hiawathais an 1855epic poem, introchaic tetrameter, byHenry Wadsworth Longfellow, featuring aNative Americanhero. Longfellow's sources for the legends and ethnography found in his poem were theOjibweChiefKahge-ga-gah-bowhduring his visits at Longfellow's home;Black Hawkand otherSacandFoxIndians Longfellow encountered onBoston Common; Algic Researches (1839) and additional writings byHenry Rowe Schoolcraft, an ethnographer and United StatesIndian agent; and Heckewelder's Narratives.[1]In sentiment, scope, overall conception, and many particulars, Longfellow's poem is a work of American Romantic literature, not a representation of Native American oral tradition. Longfellow insisted, "I can give chapter and verse for these legends. Their chief value is that they are Indian legends."[2]

Longfellow had originally planned on following Schoolcraft in calling his heroManabozho,the name in use at the time among the Ojibwe of the south shore ofLake Superiorfor a figure of their folklore, atrickster-transformer. But in his journal entry for June 28, 1854, he wrote, "Work at 'Manabozho;' or, as I think I shall call it, 'Hiawatha'that being another name for the same personage."[3]Hiawatha was not "another name for the same personage" (the mistaken identification of the trickster figure was made first by Schoolcraft and compounded by Longfellow), but a probable historical figure associated with the founding of theLeague of the Iroquois, the Five Nations then located in present-day New York and Pennsylvania.[4]Because of the poem, however, "Hiawatha" became the namesake for towns, schools,trainsand a telephone company in the westernGreat Lakes region, where noIroquoisnations historically resided.[5]

Contents

[hide]

1Publication and plot

2Folkloric and ethnographic critiques

2.1General remarks

2.2Historical Iroquois Hiawatha

2.3Indian words recorded by Longfellow

2.4Inspiration from the FinnishKalevala

3Cultural response

3.1Reception and influence

3.2Music

3.3Artistic use

3.4Parodies

4Notes

5Bibliography

6External links

Vv

Plot[edit]

As an English teacher at Albert Mission College, Krishna has led a mundane and monotonous lifestyle comparable to that of a cow, but this took a turn when his wife, Susila, and their child, Leela, come to live with him. With their welfare on his hands, Krishna learns to be a proper husband and learns how to accept the responsibility of taking care of his family. He felt that his life had comparatively improved, as he understood that there's more meaning to life than to just teaching in the college. However, on the day when they went in search of a new house, Susila contracts typhoid after visiting a dirty lavatory, keeping her in bed for weeks. Throughout the entire course of her illness, Krishna constantly tries to keep an optimistic view about Susila's illness, keeping his hopes up by thinking that her illness would soon be cured. However, Susila eventually succumbs and passes away. Krishna, destroyed by her loss, has suicidal thoughts but gives them up for the sake of his daughter, Leela. He leads his life as a lost and miserable person after her death, but after he receives a letter from a stranger who indicates that Susila has been in contact with him and that she wants to communicate with Krishna, he becomes more collected and cheerful. This leads to Krishnas journey in search of enlightenment, with the stranger acting as a medium to Susila in the spiritual world. Leela, on the other hand, goes to a preschool where Krishna gets to meet the Headmaster, a profound man who cared for the students in his school and teaches them moral values through his own methods. The Headmaster puts his students as his top priority but he doesnt care for his own family and children, eventually leaving them on the day predicted by an astrologer as to be when he was going to die, which did not come true. Krishna gets to learn through the Headmaster on the journey to enlightenment; eventually learning to communicate to Susila on his own, thus concluding the entire story itself, with the quote that he felt 'a moment of rare immutable joy

The Doll's House SummarySummary(Comprehensive Guide to Short Stories, Critical Edition)

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One day Isabel, Lottie, and Kezia Burnell are given a beautiful dollhouse by a houseguest. After it is placed in a courtyard so that its paint smell will disperse through the remainder of the summer, the children lift back its entire front wall to examine its contents. Its beauty overwhelms them. Kezia particularly loves a little lamp, filled with oil, that stands in the middle of the dining room table. To her, the lamp is real.

Burning to boast about their new dollhouse to classmates, the girls go to school the next morning. They are permitted to bring other girls home, two by two, to see the dollhouse in the courtyard. As girls surround the Burnells during a school recess, the eldest sister, Isabel, describes the dollhouse. The girls crowd in to get as close as possible, but two girls do not join the ring; they are the little Kelvey girls, who know better than to try to approach the Burnells.

The Burnell girls are not allowed to speak to the Kelveys, whose mother is a washerwoman and whose father is rumored to be in prison. Lil Kelvey, the elder sister, is a stout, plain child, with big freckles. Her younger sister, Else, follows her everywhere, holding onto her skirt, which she tugs when she wants anything. The Kelvey girls wear bits given to their mother by the people for whom she works. Lil wears a dress made from an old tablecloth belonging to the Burnells, and her feathered hat once belonged to the postmistress. Else wears a white dress that looks like an old nightgown. She never smiles and rarely speaks.

The Kelvey sisters hang about around the...

Many people, generally those who have never read the book, considerWuthering Heightsto be a straightforward, if intense, love story Romeo and Julieton the Yorkshire Moors. But this is a mistake. Really the story is one of revenge. It follows the life of Heathcliff, a mysterious gypsy-like person, from childhood (about seven years old) to his death in his late thirties. Heathcliff rises in his adopted family and then is reduced to the status of a servant, running away when the young woman he loves decides to marry another. He returns later, rich and educated, and sets about gaining his revenge on the two families that he believed ruined his life.

Prologue

Chapters 1 to 3

Mr Lockwood, a rich man from the south, has rented Thrushcross Grange in the north of England for peace and recuperation. Soon after arrival, he visits his landlord, Mr Heathcliff, who lives in the remote moorland farmhouse called "Wuthering Heights". He finds the inhabitants of Wuthering Heights to be a strange group: Mr Heathcliff appears a gentleman but his manners and speech suggest otherwise; the mistress of the house is in her late teens, an attractive but reserved, even rude woman; and there is a young man who appears to be one of the family although he dresses and talks like a servant.

Being snowed in, he has to stay the night and is shown to an unused chamber where he finds books and graffiti from a former inhabitant of the farmhouse called "Catherine". When he falls asleep, his dreams are prompted by this person and he has a nightmare where he sees her as a ghost trying to get in through the window. He wakes and is unable to return to sleep so, as soon as the sun rises, he is escorted back to Thrushcross Grange by Heathcliff. There he asks his housekeeper, Ellen Dean, to tell him the story of the family from the Heights.

The Childhood of Heathcliff

Chapters 4 to 17

The story begins thirty years before when the Earnshaw family lived at Wuthering Heights consisting of, as well as the mother and father, Hindley, a boy of fourteen, and six-year-old Catherine, the same person that he had dreamt about and the mother of the present mistress. In that year, Mr Earnshaw travels to Liverpool where he finds a homeless, gypsy-like boy of about seven whom he decides to adopt as his son. He names him "Heathcliff". Hindley, who finds himself excluded from his father's affections by this newcomer, quickly learns to hate him but Catherine grows very attached to him. Soon Heathcliff and Catherine are like twins, spending hours on the moors together and hating every moment apart.

Because of this discord, Hindley is eventually sent to college but he returns, three years later, when Mr Earnshaw dies. With a new wife, Frances, he becomes master of Wuthering Heights and forces Heathcliff to become a servant instead of a member of the family.

Heathcliff and Cathy continue to run wild and, in November, a few months after Hindley's return, they make their way to Thrushcross Grange to spy on the inhabitants. As they watch the childish behaviour of Edgar and Isabella Linton, the children of the Grange, they are spotted and try to escape. Catherine, having been caught by a dog, is brought inside and helped while Heathcliff is sent home.

Five weeks later, Catherine returns to Wuthering Heights but she has now changed, looking and acting as a lady. She laughs at Heathcliff's unkempt appearance and, the next day when the Lintons visit, he dresses up to impress her. It fails when Edgar makes fun of him and they argue. Heathcliff is locked in the attic where, in the evening, Catherine climbs over the roof to comfort him. He vows to get his revenge on Hindley.

In the summer of the next year, Frances gives birth to a child, Hareton, but she dies before the year is out. This leads Hindley to descend into a life of drunkenness and waste.

Two years on and Catherine has become close friends with Edgar, growing more distant from Heathcliff. One day in August, while Hindley is absent, Edgar comes to visit Catherine . She has an argument with Ellen which then spreads to Edgar who tries to leave. Catherine stops him and, before long, they declare themselves lovers.

Later, Catherine talks with Ellen, explaining that Edgar had asked her to marry him and she had accepted. She says that she does not really love Edgar but Heathcliff. Unfortunately she could never marry the latter because of his lack of status and education. She therefore plans to marry Edgar and use that position to help raise Heathcliff's standing. Unfortunately Heathcliff had overheard the first part about not being able to marry him and flees from the farmhouse. He disappears without trace and, after three years, Edgar and Catherine are married.

Six months after the marriage, Heathcliff returns as a gentleman, having grown stronger and richer during his absence. Catherine is delighted to see him although Edgar is not so keen. Isabella, now eighteen, falls madly in love with Heathcliff, seeing him as a romantic hero. He despises her but encourages the infatuation, seeing it as a chance for revenge on Edgar. When he embraces Isabella one day at the Grange, there is a argument with Edgar which causes Catherine to lock herself in her room and fall ill.

Heathcliff has been staying at the Heights, gambling with Hindley and teaching Hareton bad habits. Hindley is gradually losing his wealth, mortgaging the farmhouse to Heathcliff to repay his debts.

While Catherine is ill, Heathcliff elopes with Isabella, causing Edgar to disown his sister. The fugitives marry and return two months later to Wuthering Heights. Heathcliff hears that Catherine is ill and arranges with Ellen to visit her in secret. In the early hours of the day after their meeting, Catherine gives birth to her daughter, Cathy, and then dies.

The day after Catherine's funeral, Isabella flees Heathcliff and escapes to the south of England where she eventually gives birth to Linton, Heathcliff's son. Hindley dies six months after his sister and Heathcliff finds himself the master of Wuthering Heights and the guardian of Hareton.

The Maturity of Heathcliff

Chapters 18 to 31

Twelve years on, Cathy has grown into a beautiful, high-spirited girl who has rarely passed outside the borders of the Grange. Edgar hears that Isabella is dying and leaves to pick up her son with the intention of adopting him. While he is gone, Cathy meets Hareton on the moors and learns of her cousin and Wuthering Heights' existence.

Edgar returns with Linton who is a weak and sickly boy. Although Cathy is attracted to him, Heathcliff wants his son with him and insists on having him taken to the Heights.

Three years later, Ellen and Cathy are on the moors when they meet Heathcliff who takes them to Wuthering Heights to see Linton and Hareton. His plans are for Linton and Cathy to marry so that he would inherit Thrushcross Grange. Cathy and Linton begin a secret and interrupted friendship.

In August of the next year, while Edgar is very ill, Ellen and Cathy visit Wuthering Heights and are held captive by Heathcliff who wants to marry his son to Cathy and, at the same time, prevent her from returning to her father before he dies. After five days, Ellen is released and Cathy escapes with Linton's help just in time to see her father before he dies.

With Heathcliff now the master of both Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange, Cathy has no choice but to leave Ellen and to go and live with Heathcliff and Hareton. Linton dies soon afterwards and, although Hareton tries to be kind to her, she retreats into herself. This is the point of the story at which Lockwood arrives.

After being ill with a cold for some time, Lockwood decides that he has had enough of the moors and travels to Wuthering Heights to inform Heathcliff that he is returning to the south.

Epilogue

Chapters 32 to 34

In September, eight months after leaving, Lockwood finds himself back in the area and decides to stay at Thrushcross Grange (since his tenancy is still valid until October). He finds that Ellen is now living at Wuthering Heights. He makes his way there and she fills in the rest of the story.

Ellen had moved to the Heights soon after Lockwood had left to replace the housekeeper who had departed. In March, Hareton had had an accident and been confined to the farmhouse. During this time, a friendship had developed between Cathy and Hareton. This continues into April when Heathcliff begins to act very strangely, seeing visions of Catherine. After not eating for four days, he is found dead in his room. He is buried next to Catherine.

Lockwood departs but, before he leaves, he hears that Hareton and Cathy plan to marry on NewYear'sDay.

www.wuthering-heights.co.ukv

ANIMAL FARMGeorge Orwell

Plot Overview

Old Major, a prize-winning boar, gathers the animals of the Manor Farm for a meeting in the big barn. He tells them of a dream he has had in which all animals live together with no human beings to oppress or control them. He tells the animals that they must work toward such a paradise and teaches them a song called Beasts of England, in which his dream vision is lyrically described. The animals greet Majors vision with great enthusiasm. When he dies only three nights after the meeting, three younger pigsSnowball, Napoleon, and Squealerformulate his main principles into a philosophy called Animalism. Late one night, the animals manage to defeat the farmer Mr. Jones in a battle, running him off the land. They rename the property Animal Farm and dedicate themselves to achieving Majors dream. The cart-horse Boxer devotes himself to the cause with particular zeal, committing his great strength to the prosperity of the farm and adopting as a personal maxim the affirmation I will work harder.

At first, Animal Farm prospers. Snowball works at teaching the animals to read, and Napoleon takes a group of young puppies to educate them in the principles of Animalism. When Mr. Jones reappears to take back his farm, the animals defeat him again, in what comes to be known as the Battle of the Cowshed, and take the farmers abandoned gun as a token of their victory. As time passes, however, Napoleon and Snowball increasingly quibble over the future of the farm, and they begin to struggle with each other for power and influence among the other animals. Snowball concocts a scheme to build an electricity-generating windmill, but Napoleon solidly opposes the plan. At the meeting to vote on whether to take up the project, Snowball gives a passionate speech. Although Napoleon gives only a brief retort, he then makes a strange noise, and nine attack dogsthe puppies that Napoleon had confiscated in order to educateburst into the barn and chase Snowball from the farm. Napoleon assumes leadership of Animal Farm and declares that there will be no more meetings. From that point on, he asserts, the pigs alone will make all of the decisionsfor the good of every animal.

Napoleon now quickly changes his mind about the windmill, and the animals, especially Boxer, devote their efforts to completing it. One day, after a storm, the animals find the windmill toppled. The human farmers in the area declare smugly that the animals made the walls too thin, but Napoleon claims that Snowball returned to the farm to sabotage the windmill. He stages a great purge, during which various animals who have allegedly participated in Snowballs great conspiracymeaning any animal who opposes Napoleons uncontested leadershipmeet instant death at the teeth of the attack dogs. With his leadership unquestioned (Boxer has taken up a second maxim, Napoleon is always right), Napoleon begins expanding his powers, rewriting history to make Snowball a villain. Napoleon also begins to act more and more like a human beingsleeping in a bed, drinking whisky, and engaging in trade with neighboring farmers. The original Animalist principles strictly forbade such activities, but Squealer, Napoleons propagandist, justifies every action to the other animals, convincing them that Napoleon is a great leader and is making things better for everyonedespite the fact that the common animals are cold, hungry, and overworked.

Mr. Frederick, a neighboring farmer, cheats Napoleon in the purchase of some timber and then attacks the farm and dynamites the windmill, which had been rebuilt at great expense. After the demolition of the windmill, a pitched battle ensues, during which Boxer receives major wounds. The animals rout the farmers, but Boxers injuries weaken him. When he later falls while working on the windmill, he senses that his time has nearly come. One day, Boxer is nowhere to be found. According to Squealer, Boxer has died in peace after having been taken to the hospital, praising the Rebellion with his last breath. In actuality, Napoleon has sold his most loyal and long-suffering worker to a glue maker in order to get money for whisky.

Years pass on Animal Farm, and the pigs become more and more like human beingswalking upright, carrying whips, and wearing clothes. Eventually, the seven principles of Animalism, known as the Seven Commandments and inscribed on the side of the barn, become reduced to a single principle reading all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others. Napoleon entertains a human farmer named Mr. Pilkington at a dinner and declares his intent to ally himself with the human farmers against the laboring classes of both the human and animal communities. He also changes the name of Animal Farm back to the Manor Farm, claiming that this title is the correct one. Looking in at the party of elites through the farmhouse window, the common animals can no longer tell which are the pigs and which are the human beings

CONTENTS

Context

The Sonnet Form

Themes, Motifs & Symbols

Summary and Analysis

Sonnet 1

Sonnet 18

Sonnet 60

Sonnet 73

Sonnet 94

Sonnet 97

Sonnet 116

Sonnet 129

Sonnet 130

Sonnet 146

Study Questions

Bibliography

How to Cite This SparkNote

SHAKESPEARES SONNETSWilliam Shakespeare

Sonnet 116

Let me not to the marriage of true mindsAdmit impediments. Love is not loveWhich alters when it alteration finds,Or bends with the remover to remove:O no! it is an ever-fixed markThat looks on tempests and is never shaken;It is the star to every wandering bark,Whose worths unknown, although his height be takenLoves not Times fool, though rosy lips and cheeksWithin his bending sickles compass come:Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,But bears it out even to the edge of doom.If this be error and upon me proved,I never writ, nor no man ever loved.

Summary

This sonnet attempts to define love, by telling both what it is and is not. In the first quatrain, the speaker says that lovethe marriage of true mindsis perfect and unchanging; it does not admit impediments, and it does not change when it find changes in the loved one. In the second quatrain, the speaker tells what love is through a metaphor: a guiding star to lost ships (wandring barks) that is not susceptible to storms (it looks on tempests and is never shaken). In the third quatrain, the speaker again describes what love is not: it is not susceptible to time. Though beauty fades in time as rosy lips and cheeks come within his bending sickles compass, love does not change with hours and weeks: instead, it bears it out evn to the edge of doom. In the couplet, the speaker attests to his certainty that love is as he says: if his statements can be proved to be error, he declares, he must never have written a word, and no man can ever have been in love.

Commentary

Along with Sonnets18(Shall I compare thee to a summers day?) and130(My mistress eyes are nothing like the sun), Sonnet116is one of the most famous poems in the entire sequence. The definition of love that it provides is among the most often quoted and anthologized in the poetic canon. Essentially, this sonnet presents the extreme ideal of romantic love: it never changes, it never fades, it outlasts death and admits no flaw. What is more, it insists that this ideal is the only love that can be called trueif love is mortal, changing, or impermanent, the speaker writes, then no maneverloved. The basic division of this poems argument into the various parts of the sonnet form is extremely simple: the first quatrain says what love is not (changeable), the second quatrain says what it is (a fixed guiding star unshaken by tempests), the third quatrain says more specifically what it is not (times foolthat is, subject to change in the passage of time), and the couplet announces the speakers certainty. What gives this poem its rhetorical and emotional power is not its complexity; rather, it is the force of its linguistic and emotional conviction.

The language of Sonnet116is not remarkable for its imagery or metaphoric range. In fact, its imagery, particularly in the third quatrain (time wielding a sickle that ravages beautys rosy lips and cheeks), is rather sta