Friday, 10/2/15: A Propitious Homecoming

* Open

• propitious (adj.)
• presenting favorable conditions; auspicious; favorably inclined
• Latin: propitius "favorable, kind, gracious, well-disposed"
• Examples (copy one)
• "The horizon [was] bounded by a propitious sky, azure, marbled with pearly white." -- Charlotte Bronte
• "And the tax-gatherer, having stood afar off, would not even the eyes lift up to the heaven, but was smiting on his breast, saying, 'God be propitious to me -- the sinner!' " -- Luke 18:1 (Young's Literal Translation)

• No voice divine the storm allay'd,
           No light propitious shone;
  When, snatch'd from all effectual aid,
           We perish'd, each alone:
  But I beneath a rougher sea,
  And whelm'd in deeper gulfs than he. (William Cowper in "The Castaway")
  
  
  Now please compose your own sentence with an introductory clause or phrase.
   

Journal: Sir Gawain and the Jolly Knight (G. K. Chesterton)

• First:  Some people think that we should not read tales like Sir Gawain and the Green Knight because such fiction fills our minds with false fears, superstitions, or lies.  Let's read a bit by G.K. Chesterton on fairy tales. 
• Questions from fairy tales
• 1.  Chesterton is saying that fairy tales (such as SGGK) are ________ for children to read (choose one)
• a. bad
• b. fine, ok
• c. good 
• d. very good

• 2.  Defend your answer above with three examples.  

• Second:  Consider Chesterton's thoughts on fragments.
• 3.  What are the chief problems with staring blankly at others?
• 4.  What is the chief problem with modernity or the modern world?
• 5.  (Based on your answer in #4.)  Find a subject, school of thought, or aspect of modern life that seems to have gotten fragmented from the larger picture. How is the fragmented version of what once was more whole and wholesome proving now to be hurtful or inhumane? Explain.
• 6. How does staring blankly at something relate to fragments and wholeness?  Why would he open an essay on fragments that way?  How might "staring blankly at things" be a way of redeeming ourselves or the world for a more humane life?
• 7. Remember, in Part II of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, where Gawain's virtues are fold-five held in balance--one cannot dominate the others?  How does Chesterton's idea about fragments relate to Gawain?  What does the conclusion of Sir Gawain (end of Part III and Part IV; the last interaction with Lady Bercilak and the ensuing events) mean for the balance of his virtues?

HW: Finish Journal Questions 1-7