Literature Part 1

"The Ugly Little Boy"

The short story by Isaac Asimov about a Neanderthal boy brought to the present through time travel technology.

Isaac Asimov

The American author known as the "father of science fiction," celebrated for his contributions to the genre and his series of robot stories and the Foundation series.

Hard Science Fiction

A subgenre of science fiction pioneered by Isaac Asimov, characterized by its emphasis on scientific accuracy and plausible future scenarios.

Bruce Sterling

An American science fiction author known for his works in the cyberpunk genre, exploring themes of technology, futurism, and societal impacts.

William Gibson

An American-Canadian science fiction author closely associated with the cyberpunk genre, renowned for his novel "Neuromancer" and his exploration of the effects of technology on society.

The Difference Engine

An alternate history novel by Bruce Sterling and William Gibson, imagining a world where the computer age arrived a century earlier due to the completion of Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine.

Cyberpunk

A genre of science fiction that focuses on the effects of advanced technology, particularly computers and artificial intelligence, on society and individuals.

Captain Swing

A revolutionary leader in "The Difference Engine" who is seeking possession of mysterious computer punch cards with the power to change the world.

Kurt Gödel

A mathematician whose theorems form the basis of the computer punch cards in "The Difference Engine," which enable complex calculations on matters involving statistics and probability.

The Stink

A meteorological phenomenon in "The Difference Engine" parallel to the London Smog of 1952, used by Captain Swing as a cover for a large uprising.

Steampunk

A literary genre that combines elements of science fiction, fantasy, and historical fiction, often set in a Victorian-era world with advanced steam-powered technology.

Ada Lovelace

Daughter of Lord Byron and considered the world's first computer programmer. In the novel, she delivers a groundbreaking lecture similar to Gödel's incompleteness theorems.

Gödel's incompleteness theorems

Two important results in modern logic that concern the limits of provability in formal axiomatic theories. The first states that there are statements that cannot be proved or disproved within a consistent formal system, while the second states that such a system cannot prove its own consistency.

Karl Marx

The father of communism, in the novel he is portrayed as the founder of the Commune, a communist state on Manhattan Island in the alternative history.

Technology and time

A thematic discussion in the novel about how technology shapes history and time. The invention of the computer and other advanced technologies have far-reaching consequences and alter the course of the Victorian Era.

Power and economy

As technology rapidly changes, the economy also undergoes significant transformations. Power shifts from traditional establishments to those who understand and control technology. This theme explores the relationship between power and technological advancements.

Corruption and chaos

The rapid changes in society lead to a chaotic future, where established systems lose their authority. The novel portrays the unpredictability of societal changes and the conspiracies and corruptions that arise in the face of such chaos.

Symbolism, metaphors, simile, irony

The monarchy symbolizes the past, while the rise of technocrats symbolizes the connection between government and the economy. Sybil represents adaptation and strategic thinking in the face of changing times. These literary devices are used throughout the novel to convey deeper meanings and themes.

Stink

In the novel, "The Stink" symbolizes pollution and climate change, representing the consequences of the Industrial Revolution.

Dramatic Irony

The novel uses dramatic irony to conceal the full weight of the symbol of "The Stink" from the characters, while the reader recognizes it as a reference to climate change.

Regime Change

The novel explores the unexpected consequence of a regime change from an old way of life to a new, chaotic way of life, brought about by the advancements of technology.

History and Irony

The novel uses ironic usage of history to show the reader an objective measure of progress, highlighting the changes brought about by technological advancements.

Power and Adaptation

The character Sybil embodies the ironic reality of power, showing that adaptability and willingness to change are crucial for gaining and preserving power.

Steampunk

Steampunk is a subgenre of science fiction that incorporates retrofuturistic technology and aesthetics inspired by 19th-century industrial steam-powered machinery.

Guy Gabriel Kay

Guy Gavriel Kay is a Canadian writer of fantasy fiction known for his novels that take place in fictional settings resembling real historical periods.

Respecting Cultural Beliefs

Guy Gavriel Kay emphasizes the importance of respecting the cultural beliefs of the time period he writes about, incorporating them into his novels to provide an authentic experience for readers.

"All the Seas of the World"

A novel by Guy Gavriel Kay set in a Renaissance Mediterranean-inspired world, exploring themes of resilience and the challenges faced by the Kindath, a fictionalized version of the Jewish people.

Historical Fiction

Historical fiction fills in the gaps of historical events with fictional stories, providing a personal lens and entertainment value while still being rooted in historical accuracy.

Truth in Historical Fiction

While historical fiction aims to entertain, the truth can be twisted or exaggerated to appeal to readers, often through the addition of action, romance, and complex relationships.

Master Storytelling

Master storytellers seamlessly blend fiction and history, creating a deeper artistic appreciation and connecting the two elements for a compelling narrative.

Poem

"A Dog Has Died" by Pablo Neruda, a renowned Chilean poet, diplomat, and politician who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1971.

Dodo

The title of the poem, referring to an extinct flightless bird, symbolizes themes of loss, fragility, and the passage of time.

Evolutionary Adaptations

The poem explores the dodo's poor evolutionary adaptations against men and hunting, highlighting the vulnerability of nature's imperfect animals.

Men as the Enemy

The poem hints at men as the enemy of nature's imperfect animals, emphasizing the destructive impact of human actions on the natural world.

Uselessness

The poem captures the feeling of "uselessness" that all of us experience at times, reflecting on the dodo's extinction as a reminder of our own impermanence.

Loss and Fragility

Through its focus on the dodo's extinction, the poem explores themes of loss and fragility, reminding us of the transient nature of existence.

What’s a dodo

A bird species that is now extinct, symbolizing vulnerability and lost potential.

Quatrains

Four-line stanzas that provide structure and order to the poem "Dodo".

Extinction

The central theme of the poem, highlighting the disappearance of species due to human actions or natural changes.

Imagery

Vivid descriptions used in the poem to create a clear mental image of the dodo bird and its habitat.

Symbolism

The dodo bird and the breadfruit orchards symbolize the transitory nature of existence and the wastefulness of the past.

Tone

The melancholic and reflective tone of the poem conveys a sense of sadness and regret about the dodo's extinction.

Alliteration

The use of alliteration in phrases like "dodo with its delicious plumpness" creates a musical quality in the poem.

Enjambment

The use of enjambment, the continuation of a sentence without a pause, gives the poem a flowing and contemplative quality.

Subjectivity

"Dodo" allows room for interpretation, with the dodo bird and orchards serving as metaphors for various themes such as the fragility of life, human interference, or the inevitability of change and loss.

Nostalgia

The poem begins with a tone of nostalgia, highlighting the dodo's past existence and emphasizing its absence in contemporary times.

Irony

The poem employs irony by stating that the dodo's native ground is still warmed by the sun, despite the bird's extinction.

Personification

The poem subtly personifies the dodo by attributing a voice to it, adding character to the bird and making its absence more poignant.

Finality

The poem's tone shifts to finality in the second stanza, emphasizing the irreversible nature of the dodo's extinction.

Museum

The reference to the dodo's remains in the museum serves as a reminder of its existence and tragic fate, as well as the role of museums in preserving and educating about extinct species.

Comparison

Both "Dodo" and "The Dodo" poems focus on the dodo bird and its extinction, but differ in style, tone, purpose, and atmosphere.

Contrast

"Dodo" by Henry Carlile is a contemporary and reflective poem, while "The Dodo" by Hilaire Belloc is satirical and humorous, using a limerick form.

Nostalgia

"Dodo" by Carlile creates a nostalgic atmosphere, emphasizing the absence of the dodo in contemporary times.

Irony

"The Dodo" by Belloc uses irony to highlight the dodo's extinction despite the unchanged habitat, criticizing human actions.

Purpose

"Dodo" invites reflection on extinction and the transitory nature of existence, while "The Dodo" delivers a social commentary through humor and satire.

Atmosphere

"Dodo" creates a dreamlike and meditative atmosphere, while "The Dodo" establishes a light and comical atmosphere through its playful tone.

Municipal Gallery

Refers to the Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane, previously known as the Municipal Gallery of Modern Art, where the narrator visits and sees various paintings.

Noh plays

Japanese traditional plays that greatly influenced Yeats's later plays, characterized by masks, dance, and music.

Nationalist movement

Refers to the Irish Nationalist movement, which Yeats deplored due to its hatred and bigotry.

Irish Senate

Yeats's appointment to the Irish Senate in 1922.

Nobel Prize

The prestigious award Yeats received in 1923 for his inspired poetry that expressed the spirit of a whole nation.

The Wild Swans at Coole

One of Yeats's volumes of poetry, published in 1919, which contributed to his recognition as an influential poet.

Michael Robartes and the Dancer

Another volume of Yeats's poetry, published in 1921, showcasing his lyric achievement.

The Tower

A volume of Yeats's poetry published in 1928, highlighting his recurrent themes of art and life contrast, masks, and cyclical theories of life.

The Winding Stair and Other Poems

A collection of Yeats's poetry published in 1933, symbolizing the winding stairs and exploring the ideal of beauty and ceremony.

Last Poems and Plays

Published in 1940, this volume contains Yeats's final works and plays, solidifying his status as one of the most influential English poets of the 20th century.

Contrast of art and life

A recurrent theme in Yeats's poetry, exploring the difference between artistic ideals and the realities of life.

Masks

A motif in Yeats's works, representing the use of masks to conceal or reveal different aspects of human identity.

Cyclical theories of life

Refers to the belief that life follows a cyclical pattern, symbolized by the winding stairs, which is a recurring symbol in Yeats's poetry.

Ideal of beauty and ceremony

A theme in Yeats's poetry, contrasting the concept of beauty and ceremonial traditions with the chaos and noise of modern life.

John Milton

A renowned English poet known for his epic poem Paradise Lost and his exploration of personal, political, and religious freedom.

Epic poem

A long narrative poem that tells the story of a hero's journey or a significant event.

Paradise Lost

Milton's most famous work, an epic poem published in 1667 that explores the fall of man, the temptation of Adam and Eve, and the struggle between good and evil.

English Civil Wars

A series of conflicts in the 17th century between the Royalists (supporters of the monarchy) and the Republicans (supporters of a republic), which influenced Milton's political and religious views.

Polemical works

Controversial writings that argue a specific point of view or engage in debate, such as Milton's works on corruption among the clergy, freedom of the press, and divorce.

Iambic pentameter

A metrical pattern in poetry consisting of five sets of two beats, with the first beat unstressed and the second beat stressed.

Occasional lyric

A poem written for a specific occasion or event, such as Milton's 'On Shakespeare. 1630' written for the preface of the second folio of Shakespeare's complete works.

Second Folio

The second edition of Shakespeare's complete works, for which Milton wrote the preface in 1630.

Legacy

The lasting impact or influence of a person or their work, as seen in Milton's belief that Shakespeare's true tomb lies within his readers who appreciate and remember his work.

Monument

A physical structure or symbol erected to commemorate or honor a person or event, which Milton suggests is unnecessary for Shakespeare as his true monument is his literary work.

Dear son of Memory

Refers to Shakespeare as the offspring of true memory, the heir to his fame.

Weak witness

Questions the purpose of creating something physical for someone as important as Shakespeare, as any witness of this kind would be weak in comparison to his overall legacy.

Slow-endeavoring art

Describes other poets who strive to create work as powerful as Shakespeare's, but their poetry is slow and uninspiring compared to his.

Delphic lines

References Shakespeare's poetry as akin to the poetry of the gods, alluding to the Greek God of poetry, Apollo.

Marble sepulcher

Reveals that Shakespeare's tomb is the memory and works that live within his readers and all those who saw his plays performed, a resting place that will never decay or die.

Haibun

A poetic form created by Matsuo Bashō that alternates fragments of prose and haiku to trace a journey.

Nozarashi Kiko

A haibun sequence composed by Bashō in 1685, also known as Travelogue of Weather-Beaten Bones.

Oi no Kobumi

A haibun sequence composed by Bashō in 1688, also known as The Knapsack Notebook.

Sarashina Kiko

A haibun sequence composed by Bashō in 1688, also known as Sarashina Travelogue.

Oku no Hosomichi

Bashō's most well-known haibun, also known as Narrow Road to the Interior, which recounts his last long walk with his disciple Sora.

Cuckoo

A migratory bird often associated with the arrival of spring and a symbol of renewal and change.

Kyoto

A city in Japan known for its cultural and historical significance, where Bashō was physically present in the poem.

Imagery

The use of sensory details to create vivid mental images in a poem.

Juxtaposition

The act of placing two contrasting elements side by side to create a contrast or comparison.

Symbolism

The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities beyond their literal meaning.

Temporal and spatial dissonance

A sense of conflict or contradiction between time and space in a literary work.

Toa Payoh

A town in Singapore that went through a dramatic transformation from a village to an urban center.

Toa Payoh

A town in Singapore known for its history of vice and crime syndicates during the 1960s-1980s.

Chicago of the East

A nickname given to Toa Payoh due to its reputation for crime and vice, drawing a comparison to the city of Chicago in the United States.

Koh Buck Song

A prominent Singaporean poet, columnist, and political writer known for his works on Singapore's culture and modernization.