The Hello Thread (act II)

[foral]

Well, I was referring to the fact that I'd read the Iliad before reading the Aeneid, and the similarities to the Iliad and the Odyssey are staggering. For instance, having the main character travel to the underworld. Both Odysseus and Aeneas do so. Both the Aeneid and the Iliad have a warrior that is significantly taller than the others (Achilles and Turnus), and then there's the matter of the immortal mother of the main characters of the Iliad and the Aeneid having Hephaestus(or Vulcan in the Roman) make a suit of armor for them. Both having ornate shields with symbolic pictures on them. And I'm sure there are more. I have a friend who has Greek ancestry(in fact has family in Greece) who is very offended by the story line. It's more the plot than the writing. Like I said, I haven't read the original Latin, since I can't read Latin. I like the story myself, but it smacks of "borrowed" ideas to me.
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"In the end, it's only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass, and a new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you, that meant something."

[Duncariel]

lolkay.
GENRE STUDY TIME.

readmeplz. <--- that'd be a semi-useful link.

The Epic. Genre of literature. I wish I weren't so tired or I'd wander forever, 'cause I friggan looooove the epic. The Illiad, The Odyssey, The Aeneid, Beowulf, The Faerie Queene, The Divine Comedy, Paradise Lost: aaaaalll epics. And you will find drastically similar facets in all of them. Hero, invoking muses, long lists of .... stuff, long speeches, descents into the underworld in some form or another. Since you've read greek epics I assume that'll all sound pretty familiar. The Lord of the Rings is an epic, as well.

The reason the god-stuff all sounds familiar is because the Romans borrowed very, very heavily from the Greeks. Historically they like to say that the Romans may have conquered the Greeks militarily, but the Greeks conquered the Romans culturally. Hephaestus was basically the armorer of the gods, so it would make sense that he would serve a similar function in both poems.

Originally epics were all in the oral tradition; these ones are primary epics. those'll be poems like The Illiad and The Odyssey. Secondary epics are pieces of literature intentionally written in the epic form, like LotR and Star Wars.

It's really a pretty awesome genre. If you've never read Beowulf I'd suggest looking it up in some form. Totally badass.
I'll quit lecturing, now. XD
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[Warious]

Nicely lectured though. Very nice. I don't have anything to add to that.
.... *sees locations of Foral and Dun*
Did you guys change that when I changed mine or were they always there?
Rocky horror opens tomorrow. We have a preview tonight.
And maybe a production meeting one hour before call. This leaves no chance of getting food for me. Yay. >P
And an 8:40 class...
Joy.
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"Knowledge comes from finding the answers, yes, but understanding what the answers mean is what brings wisdom. Men who didn’t understand the difference have been the ruin of some of the world’s greatest civilizations." ~ Lionel Luthor

[foral]

I'm actually going to be reading Beowulf...*goes to check syllibus*...right after Thanksgiving and it will be the last thing read for Lit this semester. My history professor's oldest son actually tried to prove that Beowulf was from Denmark and not England, but didn't find proof either way.

Oh, and my location actually means Belhaven, the name of my school. Though I'm sure some of the students here would probably accept your equation
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"In the end, it's only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass, and a new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you, that meant something."

[Duncariel]

I've always just assumed Beowulf originated on main continent Europe, the Northwesternish area. can't remember why I'd think that, though. it seems like I know what area it's from and now it's bugging the heck out of me.

gah. some article when I was writing my last paper on it was talking about geography very similar to the poem's, but I can't think of where.... frick. oh wait. lol. Beowulf himself is Scandinavian, according to his tribe/familygroupthing/etc; the poem is thought to have been composed around 1000 in Anglo-Saxon England.

I always forget the stupid thing is sitting on my shelf. /facepalm

and lol, HELL EVERYWHERE AHH.
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[Ironscarf]

Beowolf originated on the continent if you want to talk about the original source material, but I think we Brits can lay claim to it.
You could argue that jazz came from Europe, or Africa, or both, by the same token, but it didn't - it's all American.

My old physics teacher came from somewhere on the continent and he used to say, "as sure as god made little apples, you won't stand a snowball in hell's chance of passing this exam".
Mixed metaphors -if they're good enough for Shakespeare they're good enough for Mr. Lomaz.
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[foral]

May I make a random note and say that my Advanced Freshman English class just read the poem that is in your sig, Ironscarf? That's a rather freaky coincidnece....
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"In the end, it's only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass, and a new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you, that meant something."

[Warious]

On that same ranom note: People quote that poem at me all the time due to the name I actualy go by... 'cept I spell it right and the poet does not.

Worst Audience Ever. Some came drunk and were rude AND loud.
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"Knowledge comes from finding the answers, yes, but understanding what the answers mean is what brings wisdom. Men who didn’t understand the difference have been the ruin of some of the world’s greatest civilizations." ~ Lionel Luthor

[Duncariel]

AAAHHH BLAKE.

that's all I had to say. haven't slept much lately. lol.
OHHH I remember.
that is a magical mix of metaphor. I appreciate.
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[Tiana Calthye]

Love your new avatar, Dun.

Beowulf is pretty cool. Not that I ever read all of it but I read some of it. Woo, Old English literature. I'd love to study it more, but tiiime, I needs it. I suppose I ought to change my location or signature or avatar to go with all the rest of you conspirators...

But I'm too tired to!

NaNoWriMo is coming up in less than 24 hours for me, so wish me luck! D:
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[Warious]

Kick butt Tiana. You're up against some of my friends in England and they are hardcore. (They went abroad for the school year).
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"Knowledge comes from finding the answers, yes, but understanding what the answers mean is what brings wisdom. Men who didn’t understand the difference have been the ruin of some of the world’s greatest civilizations." ~ Lionel Luthor

[foral]

I'm entering the insanity that is NaNoWriMo as well... I'm scared lol
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"In the end, it's only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass, and a new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you, that meant something."

[Duncariel]

GOOOOD LUUUUCK!!!!!

I thought about it for like eight seconds and then I realized that I've already written about a novel's worth for academia this semester and we're only half-way through it and that I'd probably die.

so no. XD
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[Ironscarf]

I never heard of NaNoWriMo until you guys just mentioned it, but what a fantastic construct - I love it!

Of course, such an endeavour could prevent you from posting on this forum, so here's my solution: Open up a sub forum and write the whole thing as an ongoing series of posts right here! We all get to not miss you as well as reading daily doses of your insane blathering genius!

Okay; you don't want to do that. Perhaps we could start up our own, slightly more relaxed in house writing project at some juncture: seeing this forum spark back into life has been my happiest moment since my youngest first plunged into daylight and uttered the immortal words,

"Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh!"

Not particularly original, but I think he captured the moment quite nicely and I know that after about 40'000 words, you'll be saying the exact same thing!
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[Tiana Calthye]

[Warious]

Boring homelife iron?

Good luck to the two of you. I dunno which thing they're doing but they have to write a lot each day. I never really asked. I don't have the creativity required at this moment to even consider such an endeavor. Theater interferes with my life. And before anyone suggest's play writing, NO. Already took that class. Never again.
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"Knowledge comes from finding the answers, yes, but understanding what the answers mean is what brings wisdom. Men who didn’t understand the difference have been the ruin of some of the world’s greatest civilizations." ~ Lionel Luthor

[foral]

Heh, I'm taking a playwriting class some semester. It's one of the electives of which I have to take like three of or something like that. Yay, Creative Writing major.
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"In the end, it's only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass, and a new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you, that meant something."

[Ironscarf]

[Warious]

Death shows himself in strange ways to particular people.
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"Knowledge comes from finding the answers, yes, but understanding what the answers mean is what brings wisdom. Men who didn’t understand the difference have been the ruin of some of the world’s greatest civilizations." ~ Lionel Luthor

[Ironscarf]

Oh don't say that! :O I'm writing it off as unhappy coincidence and if I have any dreams about this forum I'm keeping mum!

Wonder how they're getting on with their novels? I feel inspired to embark on a new creative venture, but that would just be an excuse to stop embarking on the current one.
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[foral]

If I can just write five hundred words tonight I'll be on track to finish by the twenty fifth! But on top of that I have two weeks to memorize my lines for Someone From Assisi...
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"In the end, it's only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass, and a new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you, that meant something."

[Warious]

Hah. Try having to direct 2, count them, 2 shows at the same time. one due before the other >P
Rocky horror finishes this weekend though so thats good....
You have dreams about people on this fourum?
Have we finally corrupted your subconsious? Mahahahahhahahahahaahha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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"Knowledge comes from finding the answers, yes, but understanding what the answers mean is what brings wisdom. Men who didn’t understand the difference have been the ruin of some of the world’s greatest civilizations." ~ Lionel Luthor

[ragdoll127]

No no, dears, I'm afraid I've got the worst. Midterms, two weeks to memorize lines for one show, four to memorize a monologue for an audion for another, a two page research paper due in four days, full time student, part time job, heading up the new drama department at church, AND i'm still more than 5k words behind on my NaNo novel.

Coincidentally, HAI GUYS!

Edit: Sorry, I just realized how condescending that sounded. Wasn't my intention, honest. Please don't shoot me...
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With regards to the work of Poe: Tis not madness, i think, to cage one's own insanity on a cell of paper with bars of ink. Anyone who thinks differently has full leave to call me mad as well.

[Warious]

Hah. I don't bother listing all the things I'm doing because its not the most immediate issue. I'm doing as much as you are except in different aspects starting on Monday.

And why in the name of the seven hells do you have middies this late in the season?
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"Knowledge comes from finding the answers, yes, but understanding what the answers mean is what brings wisdom. Men who didn’t understand the difference have been the ruin of some of the world’s greatest civilizations." ~ Lionel Luthor

[ragdoll127]

Um. Because I'm going to a tech school and we work on the quarter schedule. So I get three middies a year, instead of two... Four if I take summer classes, which WILL NOT happen. I don't care if it means I graduate half a year early, I'm not doing school through the summer.
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With regards to the work of Poe: Tis not madness, i think, to cage one's own insanity on a cell of paper with bars of ink. Anyone who thinks differently has full leave to call me mad as well.