Vocab
What is the meaning of aphorism?
a short, memorable saying that expresses a general truth or principle.
Describe a Tragic hero.
(EX: Oedipus) the protagonist of a tragic story or drama, in which, despite their virtuous and sympathetic traits and ambitions, they ultimately meet defeat, suffering, or even an untimely end.
Li Po VS Tu Fu
Li Po: Romantic, Daoist, carefree, loves wine, nature, and freedom, focused on the spiritual, immortality, and living outside convention.
Tu Fu: Confucian, realistic, and a serious social critic, focused on suffering from war, family separation, social injustice, and the changing world.
What is the meaning of the name 'Oedipus'?
Swollen Feet
What is the meaning of Tanka?
a traditional Japanese form of short lyric poetry.
What is a Greek chorus?
a group of performers who commented on the action, provided background, foreshadowed events, and expressed the community's moral or emotional response, often singing, dancing, and speaking in unison or as a leader
Lao Tzu v.s. Confucianism
Taoism emphasizes effortless action, simplicity, and flowing with nature. (inner-world alignment)
Confucius emphasizes the importance of social harmony, ritual, duty, and self-cultivation through virtuous conduct. (ethical societal engagement)
Where did the people of ancient Greece go to seek answers about the problems plaguing their city?
Oracle
What is a Haiku?
a short Japanese poetic form, traditionally three lines with a 5, 7, 5 syllable structure in English, focusing on nature, a specific moment in time.
What is a Allegory?
a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.
Kissing in Vietnamese theme.
Explores intergenerational trauma, love, and memory through the lens of the Vietnam War, contrasting the grandmother's intense, almost desperate kisses with Western notions of affection, revealing how history's violence becomes internalized and shapes family bonds.
Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave”
illustrate the path from illusion to truth, the role of the philosopher as a guide, and the conflict between seeking wisdom and popular belief.
What is Catharsis?
the process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions.
Describe Magical realism.
a literary and artistic style blending realistic settings with magical or fantastical elements, treating the supernatural as normal, not surprising.
What is a Myth?
a traditional, sacred story explaining natural phenomena, humanity's origins, or cultural practices, often featuring gods, heroes, and supernatural beings, serving to provide meaning and a moral compass, though sometimes considered fictional but illustrative, and deeply influencing art, literature, and modern storytelling.
Denotation vs. connotation
Denotation: a word's literal, dictionary definition. Connotation: associated feelings, ideas, or cultural meanings that go beyond the literal meaning, adding emotional "baggage" to words like "home."