How is the tension between imagination and reality in The Odyssey used to make the story timeless?
- Chronicle fantastical journey?
- Vehicle to express themselves?
- Compensate for lack of scientific knowledge?
- How is it established?
How does The Importance of Being Earnest use humor to explore the tension of individualism in a conservative society?
How are covert interactions employed in response to the intolerant society in The Importance of Being Earnest?
- innuendos (bunburying), Lady Bracknell’s tacit acceptance (tolerance) of Algernon’s absurd lies, allusions, humor, stage directions
Facades:
- Cyrano supposedly courageous but in fact timid and cowardly; for someone supposedly prized for their intellect, quite shallow and rash
- Christian supposedly foolish, but was he aware of Cyrano’s love for Roxanne? Didn’t care or didn’t know?
- Roxanne supposedly intelligent; did she know, but wanted to keep the best of both worlds? Wanted to know how long they can keep up disguises? Entertained? Or was her intelligence perceived by Cyrano and Christian tempered with their love for her?
Idea of Romance vs. Actual Relationship
- Sublime vs. the banal
- Each individual’s ideal relationship (none could be fulfilled – clashes with each other)
Pride:
- Historical context of play
- Play revolves around each characters’ superiority
A Play of Plays:
- Who’s the player, who’s being played? The audience? Roxanne? Christian? Cyrano?
- All a front? Vulnerabilities? Genuine?
Paired with Fun Home:
- Inversions of each other etc
Libby,
these are mostly questions to yourself . . . a few one-word notes . . . In terms of what might make a good HL essay, I worry a bit that your “facades” topic would limit itself to a character study and, in that sense, would be fairly literal/stuck with these particular characters instead of greater “thematic” meaning . . . the “pride” topic too . . . but maybe.
Hi Mr. Huntington,
I am currently debating between writing about the use of humor to explore the tension between individual and society in The Importance of Being Earnest and the tension between imagination and reality as a means to make the story timeless in The Odyssey (how greek mythologies are used as a vehicle for them to express themselves – cyclops for elephants etc – almost to compensate for a lack of scientific knowledge?). I have since updated the post 🙂