DB week 4

ENG 325 Week 4 Unit A

1. Discussion board: Candide (200 words)

Reading 1: Candide

Attached pdf of Candide; Chapters 1-18 (up to page 25).

Reading 2: A Candid View of Candide

Short, very readable piece from 2011, published in The Guardian newspaper, about the enduring appeal of Candide.  Highly recommended.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2011/jul/01/candide-voltaire-rereading-julian-barnes

Discussion question:

How does Voltaire portray El Dorado (Ch. 17-18)? How does it differ from 18th C. Europe, and what are the religious beliefs of the people?

Why does Candide decide to leave?

2. Weekly wiki (150 words)

Students will choose a short excerpt / quote from one of the readings of that week, type it in, then add a short (150 words or so) explanation for your choice. Was your selection important because it:

· is an example of beautiful or striking language?

· exemplifies a particular theme or character?

· makes the reader think about something in a new way?

· is typically "American" in some way (and in what way)?

· was just something that you liked?

Try not to use the same quote that someone else already has; if you must, make sure that what you say about it is original.

For example:

"My country is the world, and my religion is to do good."  Thomas Paine.  

I chose this quote because I think it is a good example of Enlightenment thought which was very popular during the late 1700's.  Paine is rejecting formal ties to any specific country or any particular religion (humanist world view).  He is focused on the here and now, not an afterlife, and this concern is evident in his writing about social and political systems that influenced the thinkers behind the American Revolution.  The language is simple and straightforward.

3. Write responses for another student’s work. (75 words)

Montaigne’s “Of Repentance” encourages readers to not listen to others’ opinions about what they have to say about you. From his quote, “You yourself only know if you are cowardly and cruel, loyal and devout: others see you not, and only guess at you by uncertain conjectures, and do not so much see your nature as your art; rely not therefore upon their opinions, but stick to your own."” Montaigne suggests you, yourself should determine what is right or wrong, and in other words you should create your own guidelines and not follow the footsteps of others. Everyone thinks differently, one might think is right but another might think it’s wrong. Others don’t know you as well as yourself and will judge you by certain actions which may not be true. They only judge you on your actions when you’re out publicly and don’t know what happens at home. He is emphasizing to not to listen to the opinions of the others and stick to your own heart and know the rights and wrongs. I believe his philosophical thought is ideal for the society, even today. 

The quote from Hamlet is pretty similar to Montaigne’s, the message is to be true to yourself. People will judge you by one single mistake that you’ve made and you’re done. They won’t give you a second chance or see the good things you’ve done. The road to happiness is to be true to yourself and to others. The message urges us not to pretend and just be ourselves.