Emily's Super Cool Blogs (try to enjoy!)

Find three examples of formulaic language (include them here) and explain how you think these might have been helpful when singing or speaking the Odyssey in the oral tradition. Throughout the book, Odyssey, there are many examples of formulaic language. Three examples that I saw were; godlike Odysseus, Athena the Grey-eyed One, and red-haired Menelaus.  The reason for formulaic language in this book is to remind the reader who the character is. In the Odyssey, there are so many characters and the formulaic language helps people remember who that character is. Formulaic language gives imagery as well. I think that formulaic language can help people when singing the Odyssey because of how long it is and would be to sing it. It emphasizes the character's role and in general, who the are.

Prompt: In the first four books, we are also introduced to Telemachus' mother and Odysseus' wife, Penelope. Using textual evidence, discuss her role in the story so far.      In the first four books Penelope, Odysseus’ wife is introduced to the audience. Throughout the book Penelope is very sad and depressed due to her missing husband. On page 66 the book states, “So the old nurse soothed Penelope's grief and let her eyes dry.” This quote means that she is sad throughout the first 4 books. I feel like Penelope was a character who was a motivation to many of the people in the book. Telemachus’ motivation to find his dad was driven by the Gods as well as the motivation to keep his travels secret from people was partially because he was trying to prevent his mother from becoming more sad. The suitor’s motivation to stay at Odysseus’ house is clearly that all of them want to marry Penelope.  They also enjoy using Odysseus's resources instead of their own. The reason w...

Prompt:  Write about anything having to do with the book that interested about which you did not get to write or discuss yet. In the book, Narrative Life of Frederick Douglass, I found it interesting that all of the overseers had a last name that related to something bad. For instance Mr. Severe and Mr. Gore. When Douglass was held as a slave by these overseers his life wasn't very good. I find it interesting that most of the bad overseers had a name that related to something bad. When Mr. Severe died he was replaced with another overseer. The book says that the new overseer was a good overseer (not that any overseer is actually good but he was better than Mr. Severe).  His name didn't relate to something bad. His name was Mr. Hopkins and he was considered a good overseer because he didn't take pleasure in whipping the slaves.