Spirituality

 Literary Blog Entry 4

    A person’s relationship with nature, largely depends upon culture, upbringing, and perception. Many Native Americans are thought to have a love for nature. In “The Night Chant,” a Navajo ceremony for healing, it becomes evident how important nature was to this group of people. “With beauty before me I walk, with beauty behind me I walk, with beauty all around me I walk.” Nature was a huge influence on Native Americans in their worship and spirituality. Another piece written by Leslie Silko, “Yellow Woman,” seems to hold nature in high regard as a woman who finds herself in a Navajo camp of old, seems to be taken aback by all the beauty that is engulfed around her. Perhaps it changed the way she viewed nature as a result.

     Teaching spirituality in nature could be challenging for some teachers. It is important that everyone have a set of values, ethics, and beliefs. A Prezi presentation on “The Night Chant,” could be helpful in teaching students about nature and spirituality. Teachers could poll students and ask questions like What morals are important? Why should we have ethics? Do our values define who we are as individuals? Students could also write a paragraph about why basic goodness from within is important, or how they view spirituality.

    One way to reach high school students is through music. Taking time to understand lyrics instead of trashing them can go a long way. Rapper Kanye West, has recently put out a new album devoted to God and spirituality.

Works Cited

Bing. (2020). Retrieved from: https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIP.F5w-xNF54Rzo_de4nTF8hwAAAA?pid=Api&rs=1

Biography. (2020). Retrieved from: https://www.biography.com/musician/kanye-west

National Catholic Reporter. (2020). Retrieved from: https://www.ncronline.org/news/opinion/walking-good-red-road-takes-intriguing-look-nicholas-black-elk

Navajo Ceremony (2014). The Night Chant. Contemporary World Literature. The Norton Anthology World Literature. Second Edition- Vol. 2. New York: W.W. Norton & Company: Puchner

Prezi. (2020). Retrieved from:https://prezi.com/dashboard/next/#/library/view/ldNNvSh5RcmJ-7IQg5kvuw/3579096

Silko, L. (2014). Yellow Woman. . Contemporary World Literature. The Norton Anthology World Literature. Second Edition- Vol. 2. New York: W.W. Norton & Company: Puchner

Unsplash. (2020). Retrieved from: https://unsplash.com/s/photos/native-american

 

Choice relating to virtue

Literary Blog Entry 3

After reading “Diary of a Madman,” by Lu Xun, “Sealed Off,” by Zhang Ailing, and “Man of La Mancha,” by Chu-T’len-Hsin, there seems to be a common theme: choices. In Eastern Asian writings, a trend was used among philosophers such as Confucius, who wrote about people making virtually sound decisions, and how they could become more virtuous. In between the 1920’s and 1930’s there was a noticeable change in writing styles as they began to take a more Western turn.  

To teach on the topic of choices in Contemporary Eastern Literature in the classroom I would have students learn about Chinese culture and how it impacts the choices the characters in the afore mentioned books made. Students could read passages and interpret the meaning and write how Chinese culture and traditions may or may not affect decision making and possible different outcomes.  “Sealed Off,” talks about situations people were faced with daily. “Inside the tram, people were fairly quiet. They had somewhere to sit, and though the place was rather plain, it still was better, for most of them, than what they had at home.” Students could compare “Diary of a Madman,” “Sealed Off,” and “Man of La Mancha,” how being in the war during that time may have affected human relationships.

By bringing popular culture into the classroom, such as having students read a book from a “manga” series that reflected Chinese or Japanese culture and traditions, giving students a modern perspective how culture can influence decision making. Students could also write a sequel using a manga style format.

                                                        

Works Cited

Ailing, Z. (2014). Sealed Off. Contemporary World Literature. The Norton Anthology World Literature. Second Edition- Vol. 2. New York: W.W. Norton & Company: Puchner

Frontiers in Psychology. (2020). Retrieved from https://thetecsite.com/free-manga-websites-to-read-manga-online

Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://iep.utm.edu/confuciu/

Shen Yung Performing Arts. (2020). Retrievedfrom: https://www.shenyunperformingarts.org/explore/view/article/e/RfnBu8uCUfg/the-phoenix-of-the-orient.html 

The Tec Site. (2019). Retrieved from https://thetecsite.com/free-manga-websites-to-read-manga-online

T’len-Hsin, C. (2014). Man of La Mancha. Contemporary World Literature. The Norton Anthology World Literature. Second Edition- Vol. 2. New York: W.W. Norton & Company: Puchner

YunnanGateway. (2006). Retrieved from: http://english.yunnan.cn/html/2018/culture_0405/13945.html

Xun, L. (2014). Diary of a Madman. Contemporary World Literature. The Norton Anthology World Literature. Second Edition- Vol. 2. New York: W.W. Norton & Company: Puchner

 

 

Integrity

Literary Blog Entry 2

After reading Early Chinese Literature and Thought, Classics of Poetry, Confucius, Du Fu, and The Story of Yingying, by Yuan Zhen, one theme stands out: integrity. Integrity is different for everyone interprets it differently. Giants of Ancient Chinese Literature wrote about standing up for what was right with corrupt leaders in government. Some Ancient Chinese authors wrote about what it means to have integrity, others used nature and the elements as metaphors.

When teaching integrity in the secondary classroom, teachers could have students write an essay on what integrity means to them. Teachers could incorporate integrity into character building lessons, discussing certain scenarios that could take place and have peer groups where students could discuss what their outcome would be. Students could do community service work, learning to help others while instilling character qualities such as integrity.

Students could watch a video about Zhou dynasty, to learn about history, corruption and inconsistencies that took place during that time in history. I would have students read some of the writings of Confucius, From Analects Book II, Duke Ai asked: “What should I do to win the hearts of the people?” Confucius replied: “Raise the straight, and set them above the crooked, and you will win the hearts of the people. If you raise the crooked and set them above the straight, the people will deny you their support.” Students could interpret some of the lines of poetry written by Confucius, how it applied to the Zhou dynasty, and how Confucius showed integrity.

    

                                                                            Works Cited

Chinese-Word. (n.d.). Retrieved from:https://www.google.com/search?

q=chinese+word+for+integrity&safe=active&sxsrf=ALeKk004lvorUdBC0gCR4obpAiA7fvzkZQ:1601236735300&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjH3bvWj4rsAhUugK0KHQrCDOcQ_AUoAXoECA4QAw&biw=1920&bih=943

Puchner. (2020) Classics of Poetry. Norton Anthology of World Literature, Third Edition-Vol. 1

 New York: W.W. Norton & Company: Puchner. 

Puchner. (2020). Confucius. Norton Anthology of World Literature, Third Edition-Vol. 1 New York: W.W. Norton & Company: Puchner.

Puchner. (2020). Dufu. Norton Anthology of World Literature, Third Edition-Vol. 1 New York: W.W. Norton & Company: Puchner.

Shutterstock. (2020). Retrieved from: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/integrity-typed-words-on-vintage-typewriter-526617763

YouTube. (2015). Chinese History: The Zhou Dynasty. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkNMZoHlUzw

YouTube. (2018). Ethics Defined: Integrity. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bD8Vc6Y6EIQ

Zhen, Yuang. (2020). The Story of Yingying. Norton Anthology of World Literature, Third

Edition-Vol. 1 New York: W.W. Norton & Company: Puchner.

 

 

Morality

Literary Blog Entry 1

            After reading the short stories “The Metamorphosis” by Kafka, “The Guest” by Camus, “Requiem” by Akhmatova, and “Faust” by Goethe the reader senses  the vulnerability of man's struggle to overcome situations that may or may not be because of his or her fault. One theme that appears to occur in the afore mentioned stories is morality. Many times, people end up in predicaments through no fault of their own and are faced with a choice: either overcome the obstacles faced before them or be overcome by the situation itself.

At the high school age, students are bombarded with temptations. The classroom is a perfect place to teach on how decisions can affect the rest of your life. “Faust” is a good example of how choosing pleasure over the everyday drudgery of life, can lead to dreadful consequences. Students can watch the film and work in groups to answer questions related to “Faust” and consequences. Explaining how sacrificing pleasure for ordinary circumstances is not always beneficial. “The Guest” is a different example about having morals, doing the right thing, and giving people the chance to make better choices in life. There are many online resources available for teaching “The Guest.”

To connect with high schoolers, try bringing popular culture into the classroom, this will make them more likely to listen, and learn from you. “Requiem” talks about war, grief, and choosing to live instead of living in gloom. I would relate “Requiem” to war related video games allowing students to better relate to the poem.

WORKS CITED

Akhmatova. (2013).  Requiem. Norton Anthology of World Literature, Third Edition-Vol.2 New York: W.W. Norton & Company: Puchner.

Book Rags. (2020). The Guest, Lesson Plans for Teachers. Retrieved from: http://www.bookrags.com/lessonplan/theguest/#gsc.tab=0

Camus. (2013). The Guest. Norton Anthology of World Literature, Third Edition-Vol.2 New York: W.W. Norton & Company: Puchner.

Cornell University, (2018). Retrieved from: https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2018/11/choice-may-not-feel-choice-when-morality-play

Forward. (2018). Retrieved from: https://forward.com/scribe/394413/is-morality-really-that-difficult/

Getty Images. (2020). Retrieved from: https://www.gettyimages.co.nz/detail/news-photo/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-faust-illustration-showing-dr-news-photo/171395945?adppopup=true

Goethe. (2013). Faust. Norton Anthology of World Literature, Third Edition-Vol.2 New York: W.W. Norton & Company: Puchner.

Istock. (2020). Retrieved from: https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/wrong-or-right-ethical-question-gm151514336-17356047

Kafka. (2013). The Metamorphosis. Norton Anthology of World Literature, Third Edition-Vol.2 New York: W.W. Norton & Company: Puchner.

Pruehl, Karsten. (2020). Gothe’s Faust. [Motion Picture]. Germany: Picturus Produktion. Retrieved from https://pro.imdb.com/title/tt3996898?rf=cons_tt_atf&ref_=cons_tt_atf: