History of Writing10th Grade World Literature

Cuneiform in Mesopotamia: from 3100 BC

Means “wedge”

Clay tablets

Keeping track of animals/trade

We are readingEpic of Gilgamesh

Hieroglyphs and papyrus in Egypt: from 3000 BC

directly pictorial

hieros and glypho mean 'sacred' and 'engrave' in Greek (coined c. 500 BC) 

Decrypted with the Rosetta stone the 19th century

We are readingEgyptian Poetry

The seals of the Indus valley: from 2500 BC

Not yet deciphered

Seals carved in stone

Chinese characters: from 1600 BC

Still in use today

We are reading: The AnalectsTao Te ChingThe Art of War

Phoenician alphabet: from 1400 BC

recorded the spoken sound of a word (phonetic)

Basis for Aramaic and Hebrew

Only the consonants are written

Greek: from 700 BC

Added vowels to the Phoenician system

Added letters to total 24

We are reading: Antigone The Dialogues of PlatoPyramus and Thisbe

Your Turn!

Pick your ancient language

Write!

Brief Timeline of Literature

c. 2000 BC Babylon: Epic of Gilgamesh

c. 1500 BC India: Rig Veda

c. 1400 BC Palestine: Torah [1st 5 books Old Test.]

c. 750 BC Greece: Iliad / Odyssey (Homer)

c. 550 BC China: The Analects (Confucius)

c. 500 BC China: Tao Te Ching (Lao Tzu)

c. 460 BC Greece: Histories (Herodotus)

Brief History of Literature

441 BC Greece: Antigone (Sophocles)

423 BC Greece: Comedy (Aristophanes)

c. 400 BC Greece: Dialogues (Plato)

c. 400 BC China: The Art of War (Sun Tzu)

c. 350 BC India: The Mahabharata

c. 300 BC India: The Ramayana

Quick Write:

What do you use to guide your everyday life? How do you know what is right and what is wrong?

Finished? Turn to “The Analects” pg.591 in your purple Glencoe Textbook

The Analects and The Tao Te Ching:

Maxims (short saying about general truth or practical advice)

The Analects pg. 591

Read

Pick 3 of your favorite “stanzas” and summarize

The Tao Te Ching pg. 595

Read

Pick 3 of your favorite “stanzas” and summarize

1. These were some of the first words written down. Why do you think these men chose to write?

2. Consider your own moral guidelines. How do these compare? Do you agree with Confucius and Lao Tzu? Why or why not?

3. These texts were written in the 6th century BC. Are these ideas still relevant today? Why or why not?

TODName the writing systems we discussed in chronological order. What came first, second, etc.?

What were the main reasons that writing developed? Why write at all?

Questions/Comments

Sun Tzu Documentary

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maOFYVR8B40

(4:34- 7:30)

Write down 5 notes from the video

ReviewWhat was the Art of War originally written on?

Thin pieces of bamboo bound together

What are the 3 key principles? Know your enemy and know yourselfSubdue the enemy without fighting (outwit)Avoid what is strong and attack what is weak

How long are Sun Tzu’s tactics kept secret?

1000 years (appears in Japan and then leaked worldwide)

Brainstorm

Brainstorm a list of basic ideas for winning a war

Think about your enemy, your men and the people back homeHow do you conquer and return home victorious?

War and Love in Ancient China

The Art of WarWhat are the five constant factors to consider when planning a battle?

Does Sun Tzu favor flexibility with planning? Which number indicates this? Cite in MLA format

What examples does Sun Tzu give about knowing your enemy?

How prepared should you be, according to Sun Tzu?

River Merchant’s Wife pg.600

How did the speaker feel about her husband:

Childhood

Marriage

After marriage

After he leaves

Find a sentence that shows how the husband felt about leaving. Cite in MLA format

Why would “paired butterflies” hurt the speaker?

1. Consider the question from yesterday: “Why do people write?” What are Sun Tzu’s and Li Po’s purpose in writing?

2. Connect! Are these text still relevant today? Why or why not?

TOD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czXCAx6ECEY

Li Po (Li Bai) Biography

5 notes from video

Brainstorm: What makes an epic hero?

Create a list of traits that you associate with heroes.