Small World 2

1) What does all the intercourse show you in response to knighthood?

- I feel that the intercourse has a lot to do how we interpret knighthood throughout all of the other texts. These men seem to find themselves in awkward situations such as the mile high participant and the threesome with the asian woman and her husband. I feel that this shows a trend of the knights going on quests and fulfilling their needs much like the knights in previous stories.

2) How do the different lives all lead to the same type of conventions?

- Each of these people take very separate journeys to get to the all important conferences. It is important to jump from story to story in order to show us the adventures of the men, and how they plan on obtaining the "Grail". Some use papers while others basically waste their days away. Each knight has a separate journey in order to gain the same goals

Small World

2) I think that Persse is presented as somewhat of a quiet but intelligent character. He is run by his emotions and falls in love quickly with Angelica at an early point in the book, without hardly knowing her. He seems to be able to handle some of the intellectuals at the conference though social settings are not necessarily his greatest asset. Obviously a college graduate who has just finished is Masters thesis on T.S. Elliot.
3) The conference is a ton of hustle and bustle with Persse not understanding a lot of what is going on around him. The parallels are that of a grand precession and the introduction of Angelica in which he falls immediately in love with. Persse is a young man straight out of college and put into a place that he is not ready for at the time.

Grail last day

3) The hermit rightfully tells Perceval to be more charitable in his ways, he is in dire need of being a better person and has yet to do so. He has almost never acted charitably in his quest for the grail and he has absolutely acted egocentrically in his goals. The most charitable act discussed in class was that of Jesus Christ giving up his life for the sins of all of us. Perceval can not ever get the grail becuase of all of his inpurities.
4)Gawain also goes on a quest of sorts a journey much like all of the Knights we have read about do. His is similar to Percevals in that most of his acts are done under a separate name or under falsehoods. After meeting his mother he does not give up his identity and does not act as charitably as possible. He only decides to fight when he has to defend his honor and seems to have a love interest like the one Perceval has with Blancheflore.

Grail 2

2) The grail precession deals alot with mystery for many reasons. First of all, few know of an actual holy grail and this one is to symbolize Perceval's entire quest. He is immediately curious about the grail and does not know of the maiden carrying it. The meal is presented as one of the best ever, full of tons of food and merry talks along with great fruit and even better wine. Again this symbolizes the intensity and honor the quest for the grail entails.
3) I think the face of Blancheflor is vivid in Percevals mind even if it is only contained in three drops of blood. The white flower obviously being the snow that surrounds the blood, and Perceval can not draw his attention away from it. I feel that the blood symbolizes doom in her case and possibly his own. Blood is always connected with death and Perceval has very little idea of what is in store for him. The red blood may also symbolize passion as red is the color of love. His burning desire for the quest may bleed into Blancheflor.

The Grail

1) Chretien once again has a lengthy speach at the beginning of the tale that tells us a little about the text and alot about how good of a writer and story teller he can be. He talks alot of God's good will, such as the concept of hiding the charity done so that only God knows you are worthy of his kingdom, and uses your own abilities to get you where you need to be in the world. Smarts are key, and as we find out early on Percival has few street smarts.
2) Percival first sees the knight's and is dumbfounded by what he beholds. He of course has zero street smarts and has no idea what a knight is. The knights on the other hand are seen as the most gentle and chivalrous characters. They answer everyone of Percivals somewhat dumb questions without haste and ask very little of him. This does not fit the descriptions of past knight's in that they have rarely been upstanding people. They conflict in that Percival knows very little of what is in store for him if he does go on this grail quest.

movie

1) I think the title of the film suits it perfectly in that no one actually ever got what they wanted, but in fact were burdened by their desires throughout the entire movie. The man did not ever get to sleep with the young girl, though that seemed to be his only desire throughout the whole film. She in return never settled down, her desire was never fully figured out because she seemed to hate the man and only use him for his money. He also had trouble pulling himself away from watching her make love to the young man. His desire was so obscure that his mind became twisted.
5) Matheiu is the narrator for a few reasons. First of all it is used as a device to set the scene, it is much easier to tell the story with little background of the characters when a story is being told. Maybe a few months past in the only necessity to tell a story. Also we see the man as a generally smart person, so to relive his acts it makes sense to have a therapist sitting next to him and analyzing all of his mishaps. I think it is a very easy way to have someone deal with the awful issues and the unbelievable lies that the woman puts him through.

last day Celestina

1) The dead of the night represents how untrue their love actually is. The night always speaks to acts of disrespect and mischief much like the two of them sleeping around. The objects of light are representative of the small pieces of guiding light that seem to lend themselves to their meetings. Although they should not be meeting like this there is plenty to say for having a lover and desiring someone. Both of them understand that it is wrong and therefore need darkness to cover their wrong doings.
2) The love that the two of them share for each other is a falsehood. Each one only has desire for the chase, and lust for the sex and neither exhibits true love. The reason for keeping the wooden doors shut the first time was to prolong the chase, and to say that one loves another after meeting for merely minutes is impossible. I do not feel that any characters exhibit true love. Even his servants keep up a false act with their prostitutes of choice and all of it is based on lust only. I think the idea of love is so appealing that the text uses it so much to convey basic hormonal needs as appose to actual love.

Celestina

1) The speech by Calisto illudes to a magical moment for him. He even says that Lucrecia should stay to witness this great part in his life. It is everything he had planned on and therefore was estatic with how it played out, even afer he finds out his men have died.
"how tardy came my pleasure how quickly my greif"! Melibea says after learning of the misfortune Calisto suffers while leaving her place. The death of Calisto burdens her deeply and we are completely convinced that she did indeed love him and loved the desire they shared.