Oxford World's Classics: Basic Overview for Students

Wednesday, 12 October 2011

The Prince, by Machiavelli

Machiavelli, Niccolo. The prince, New York: Oxford World Classics, 1998.

Published in 1532, The Prince is a political treatise and is widely regarded as the first modern work of political philosophy. Written by Noccolo Machiavelli, a political strategist, diplomat and historian, The Prince is focussed on crossing the lines of politics and ethics, leadership, dominion, the Catholic Church and a pro-monarchical slant, but also a book advising the reader how to manipulate and decieve and thus enter dominion and rulership in statesmanship.

Niccolo Machiavelli

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, Machiavellianism, a term now used in a mainly negative sense, is rendered as meaning "the employment of cunning and duplicity in statecraft or in general conduct", and many modern corporations and empires owe some of their success to the study of this masterpiece of political advice.

There is no doubt that students of politics and those interested in politics (and the motives of politicians) in our modern era will find this short but comprehensive work both intriguing and educational, if not frightening.

Question for consideration:

What part did The Prince and Machiavellian concepts play during the French Revolution?

Thursday, 8 September 2011

The Satires, by Juvenal

Rudd, Niall. Juvenile: The Satires, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991.

"I get an itch to run off beyond the Samartians and the frozen sea,

every time those men who pretend to be old time paragons of virtue and live an orgy,

dare to spout something about morals."

Satire II: Hypocrites are Intolerable

-Juvenal

This Oxford World Classic introduces the reader to the Satirical works of one of the Roman Empire's most witty and politically observant citizens, Juvenal. Juvenal wrote between 110-130 C.E. and the modern phrase "political satire", or any other type of satire can be traced directly to him and his life's work.

Juvenal and Perseus

Containing in this collection of five books sixteen satirical poems, students of Juvenal may notice that each of the poems in all five books appear not to follow any precise order and can therefore be confusing since the works are generally ordered in the same fashion. Don't be confused: there is no particular order. Each of Juvenal's works are precisely ingenious due to the wide variety of topics he commentated upon.

Although containing a core central thread of moral-maxims (and despite the seriousness of such) Juvenal's writings can be quite humorous, however, his message is timeless and students may find themselves comparing some of Juvenal's characters to the modern day social but especially political arena of Statesmanship. This collection of satires is a must read in the historical development of social commentary, politics and history in the western hemisphere.

Myths from Mesopotamia, by Stephanie Dally

Dally, Stephanie. Myths from Mesopotamia, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1989.

This translation by Stephanie Dally includes a number of Mesopotamian (middle-eastern) sacred, symbolic and historical stories, with the Epic of Gilgamesh-noted by scholars as the oldest known narrative in the world-contained within. The Babylonian and Sumerian Epic of Creation, but also the Descent of Ishtar into the Netherworld have also been translated into english in this Oxford World Classic edition. Although pre-dating Homer's The Odyssey and Beowulf, students will need to assess this collection of stories against the aforementioned texts in order to identify literary techniques, literary devices and forms but also genres and themes which run through the ancient texts of humanity. To study these is to study the Humanities.

"You will never find that life for which you are looking. When the gods created man they alloted to him death,but life they retained for their own keeping." -Epic of Gilgamesh

As these collection of ancient writings, sacred scriptures and poetic utterances of myths and legends pre-date most religious canons, students may find it interesting to find stories such as that of a man who put animals on an ark before a universal flood took place (like the biblical Noah's Ark), or perhaps the creation myths which state that the son of the first two humans murdered his brother (like the biblical Cain and Abel), but also the presence of the Jinn notable in the Qu'ran and Islamic beliefs.

Selected Poetry, by John Keats

Keats, John. Selected Poetry, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006.

"I almost wish we were butterflies

and liv'd but three summer days

-three such days with you I could fill

with more delight than fifty

common years could ever contain."

-John Keats, Love letter to Fanny Brawne.

This edition of Keats' poems is an entirely new selection of his poems and letters in comparison to the many translations of his work published to date. Not only have the most famous of his works been included in this edition, but John Keats less well known works and surviving fragment poems have also been included, including Hyperion which was never completed due to the author's untimely death due to tuberculosis.

Students will appreciate the extensive notes contained in this edition to aid them in appreciating the contexts, language and rich imagery this profoundly inspired man mused and used to communicate to the world. A poetic Romantic, and indeed, champion of the Romantic genre, Keats died at age 25 in the year 1820 and is best remembered for his Odes, with one of the most emotive, Ode to a Nightingale being included in this Oxford World Classic. Students will find the notes include an explaination of the literary devices used by Keats and students may want to cross reference these with the earlier works of Beowulf, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight,and of course Shakespeare.

Further Biographical reading for students:

Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare

Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet, Oxford: Oxford World Classics, 1991.

Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight!/ For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night."
- William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, 1.5

Another Tragedy play from the quill of William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet is also of the romance and modern action genres. A mix of the original play written by Arthur Brook in 1562 and entitled The Tragic History of Romeus and Juliet and William Painter's 1582 play The Palace of pleasure, Shakespeare capitalized on both and reproduced Romeo and Juliet with additional characters and is now known as the author of this tragedy.

The most famously overly-quoted poem of teenage love and soulmateship, forbidden love, family allegiances and wars, friendship, bloodshed, suicide and tragedy, Romeo and Juliet is the composition which contains it all. Romeo and Juliet revolves around two powerful families and their supporters and henchmen/ soldiers, the Montagues and Capulets, and whilst waging a war for dominance, in their midst a forbidden love arises between the children and heirs of family; that of Juliet from the House of Capulet and Romeo of the House of Montague. Their love and friendship amidst the violent turf wars of their parents' speaks volumes on both innocence of these teenagers and their love and worldview. Of course, in the nature of tragedy, the hero's do not always win, sadly. Romeo and Juliet is as powerful as it is tragic.

Beowulf, Translation by Kevin Crossley-Holland

Crossley-Holland, Kevin. Beowulf, New York: Oxford University Press, 1999.

Dating to at least the 8th Century C.E., Beowulf is possibly one of the most valuable poems to survive the mass burning of pre-Christian literature in the 14th Century C.E., due to it's occasional references to Christianity. Set in Scandinavia but imported to Britain, this Anglo-Saxon poem tells the tale of the champion warrior of the Geats, Beowulf (lit."Bear-hunter") whose adventures lead him to engage in three deadly victories for freedom and kingship.

After defeating the brutish Grendel, a moster-like man whose attacks against the warriors of Hrodgar King of the Danes and Mead Hall had left the nation in fear, but also slaying Grendel's mother, a demonic-type woman, the hero Beowulf becomes the Swedish king of Geatland and the nations supreme victor. His final victory against a dragon takes place 50 years after his first two battles, where he is finally left mortally wounded.

Beowulf also makes mention of the battles and wars over the five Gold Rings of the Scandinavian Kings, a historical factor which J.R.R. Tolkien used to formulate the basic plot for the Lord of the Rings (students may also see other references in the Beowulf translation which were used by Tolkien: hint* Bilbo and Smorg the dragon).

Although an adventure with exploits that are fanciful and filled with pre-Christian pagan mythology, scholars have questioned over the centuries if the original Beowulf poem had any references to Christianity at all when first composed, and if certain passages had been inserted by pious monks who wished to Christianize the overtly pagan text.

This translation by Crossley-Holland is easy to follow and includes notes on the translation, including the origins of the mythological imagery and historical period.

Further Reading:
www.nationalgeographic.com/ngbeyond/rings/myth.html

Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte

Bronte, Charlotte. Jane Eyre, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte is the third novel by one of the three Bronte sisters which students will discover in the Literature and Composition major stream. A classic of English literature, this novel was published in 1847, and has been called a Byronic novel and an influential pro-feminist text respectfully.

Jane Eyre and Mr. Rochester in the
BBC adaption of the novel, Jane Eyre.

The story begins with a young woman, Jane Eyre who becomes orphaned and goes to live with her Aunt and Uncle. After the death of her uncle she is treated in a Cinderella type fashion/ scenario and is sent to an institution where she, after going through many trials, becomes a teacher. Taking up a position as Governess for a young French girl at a property called Thornfield Hall, she strikes up a most unusual relationship between herself and the master of the house, Mr.Rochester (her employer). After bizarre and frightening incidents, she learns that she is not the only woman in the house and desiring to break free what from what is a dysfunctional and unfair set of circumstances, her travels
take her to the point of death, yet also elevation as a woman
and in class and the story becomes one of redemption and healing for all
involved.

Students should take note of the themes running through this book such as the role of the Governess, feminism, female empowerment and challenging of social class proprieties. Expect that the literary devices and forms used by all three Bronte sisters and their works will be compared in your final Assessments.

An excellent movie adaptation of Jane Eyre is also available online and is fairly loyal to the written work:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XsB22Qjz3A&noredirect=1

Agnes Grey, by Anne Bronte

Bronte, Anne. Agnes Grey, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998.

Anne Bronte

The first novel by Anne Bronte of the Bronte sisters, this debut work of Victorian Literature was first published in 1847 and, like the novels by her sisters Charlotte and Emily, has drawn wide acclaim and ongoing criticism. Viewed as a novel in comparison with works by Jane Austin and hailed by some writers as the 'most perfect prose narrative in English letters', it is a much more gentler novel than those written by her sisters and contains no hints of the Gothic genre. It does however have a strong feminist centered thread and demonstrates the cruelty and inhumane treatment of women in the Victorian era, as well as animals. Supposedly, Anne Bronte does not allow her characters to reach maturity purposely with the intention of imposing boundaries for ideological reasons.

The plot is historically of interest. It contains strong Protestant views, and is believed to resemble the same experiences which Anne Bronte had as a Governess herself. It is therefore an autobiography of sorts. Agnes Grey's family falls into financial destitution and as strong Christian and daughter of a minister with noble upbringing, she takes it upon herself to become employed as a Governess of wealthy children. Throughout the novel Agnes battles against the decadence in the children and their parents and fights to remain the moral and Christian conscience of those around her. In keeping with a life dedicated to social adhesion and family-values, Agnes Grey eventually opens a school and marries a man who accepts her despite wealth and social status.

Macbeth, by William Shakespeare

Shakespeare, William. Macbeth, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002.

The Tragedy of Macbeth or Macbeth was written between the years 1603-1607 and possibly refers to the historical accession of the Stuart bloodline of Scotland. Although thought to contain Gothic elements such as witches and ghosts, the truth is that readers and listeners of this play have drawn inferences which are not in fact referred to in the work itself. This work is of the Tragedy genre through and through.There are elements of superstition in this work, but it is a work concerning a well culminated plan of murder and usurpation and the rightful Ascension to the throne.

It begins in the darkness of twilight with three 'Weird Sisters' (not witches) who give a prophetic message to the play's antihero Macbeth, who on hearing good tidings of his future Kingship and buoyed by his wife, Lady Macbeth, murders Duncan the rightful King. The play consists of the aftermath of his murder and the eventual fight between Macbeth and Macduff and the accession of the next rightful heir to the throne, Malcom.

Students may find the notes in this Oxford World Classic edition of Macbeth of historical and literary importance, especially when once widely used but almost forgotten linguistics appear in this translation. An example question for beginning student reflection on linguistics may be appropriate to kick-start the brainstorming and research:

What does the term used in Macbeth, "not of woman born", mean?

Additional reading:

http://www.gradesaver.com/macbeth/

http://www.nosweatshakespeare.com/movies-films/macbeth/

Dracula, by Bram Stoker

Stoker, Bram. Dracula, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998.

The Famous tale of the vampire from Transylvania was written in 1897 by Irish author Bram Stoker. This novel has been allotted the privelidge of introducing vampire literature to 19th Century Europe and has been designated as representing three distinct genres and literary forms with those being: gothic novel, horror fiction and invasion literature interestingly. Most vampire literature has its roots in Dracula and there have been many film adaptations of this work also.

In this tale, a young Englishmen and solicitor, Jonothan Harker is sent to Transylvania to aid Count Dracula in a real-estate transaction but is kept more or less a prisoner of Dracula's castle, and falls vistim to the three brides of Dracula: vampires. Nevertheless, Dracula resues the young solicitor because he intends to extract all information he can of England, its society and people. Desiring to invade, Dracula stows away to England to begin his devlish plot, but unbeknown to him, Harker escapes and employs the aid of Van Helsing who is well aware of the art od fighting vampires. There is only one catch: Dracula is obsessed with Harker's wife and thus the grounds are set for the ultimate battle between good and evil.

Dracula adaptations and further reading:

www.ovguide.com/movies_tv/bram_stoker_s_dracula.htm

http://www.vampiregenre.com/about/

Alice's adventures in wonderland through the looking glass, by Lewis Carroll

Carroll, Lewis. Alice's adventures in wonderland through the looking glass, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998.

Penned in 1865 by English author Charles Lutwidge Johnson and under the pseudonym name of Lewis Carroll, Alice's adventure in wonderland through the looking glass has been of uuquestionable influence to writers of the fantasy genre due to its freely creative apects in what is commonly reffered to as the literary nonesense genre. Although drawing inferences from companions of the author and known figures of the 19th century C.E, and despite the plethora of essay's and investigations into the 'real meanings' of the characters and aspects of this novel, this novel, although a social commentary,has nonetheless been afforded the grimacingly unfortunate designation of a children's classic by some, due to the timeless Disney adaptation of the novel, Alice in Wonderland.

Whilst sitting by the river with her sister, a young teenager named Alice spots a white rabbit rushing and muttering to himself, and intrigued, follows him-down the rabbit hole. On this decision, Alice finds herself in Wonderland, a bizzare alternate world complete with a King of Queen (of cards), soldier deck of cards; finds herself in many socially odd predicaments including a tea party with a mad-hatter and finds herself charged and brought before the terrible Queen of Hearts for trial.

A Chinese Opium pipe from the late 1800's

But wait! Why are all the animals in wonderland speaking, and why doesn't Alice see this as strange? Adult student may read between the lines when some of the characters, and indeed, some of Alice's own experiences demonstrate something with more than a little dark spice from the Victorian age: the blue Caterpillar smoking opium; The pills that make you larger and smaller; magical mushrooms; the deck of cards (gambling) and of course-Alice chasing the white Rabbit! Yes to the horror of some students who may remember the childlike and harmless fantasy of Alice, it is actually a book filled with chronic drug use and some very disturbing themes (think of Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum telling the warped children's story about the Walrus grooming and then eating all the young clams).

Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum

Film adaptations (trailers):

Original Disney adaptation:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=InSn2BLDwfQ

2009 Adaptation with Johnny Depp as mad hatter:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkuvgxkcw2c

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

Cooper, Helen. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998.

Welcome to the Court of King Arthur, Knightly chivalry, Holy quests, tests of love and loyalty, and of course the climax of this tale which is possibly history's worst kept secret. In case you don't know the twist to this narrative it wont be mentioned here, and students would benefit from discovering it by reading the work itself (and not simply skipping to end of the book).

A 14th century C.E. poem originally composed in the Middle English and Welsh dialects, the entire composition would have been recited by bards in the traditionally courtly manner of the medieval and middle ages of England. Although containing strong ties to ancient Celtic and Brittany mythology, it is however a Christian romance by genre, yet also an adventure. The language used in the tale is rich with different forms of expression, and students should seek to identify the literary devices used which give this tale its momentum and ability to build climatological contextualization. One such device is that of the "Bob and Wheel" and students would benefit from hearing the traditional recitation of the work in order to grasp how the device works to reveal the tale's vivid and colourful imagery.

The tale begins with the intrusion into the Court of King Arthur of a demonic man-The Green Knight who, on testing the Court's bravery on the bequest of Morgan La Fey, offers a challenge which is met by Sir Gawain, King Arthur's loyal Knight who cuts off the Green Knight's head. Surviving the beheading, the Green Knight gives Sir Gawain 12 months to find him and let his neck be challenged to a courageous beheading. Sir Gawain ends up going on several tests and trials throughout his adventure to meet the Green Knight whom he finally fulfills his destiny with. .

The lessons of this tale have been hypothesized by feminists, Christian advocates and scholars of pagan mythology alike. The following extra-readings will give students some insight into the history behind and contained in this text:

csis.pace.edu/grendel/projs3a/sggk01.html

www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/8069.html

Vatsyayana Kamasutra

Mallanaga Vatsyayana. Vatsyayana Kamasutra, translation by Wendy Donniger, New York: Oxford University Press, 2003.

Widely known in the Western world as the Kamasutra, the Vatsyayana Kamasutra is the Hindu book of love, based upon Nandi the sacred bulls meditative insights into the divinity of husband and wife relationships.

Belonging to the ancient Kama Shastra collection of Hindu Sanskrit writings collated in the 2nd century C.E, the Vatsyayana Kamasutra contains 1250 verses, 36 chapters and is divided into 7 parts . Although believed to be much older, the Vatsyayana Kamasutra acts as a manual for those engaged in Hindu wisdom, philosophy and the principles of Kama and Bhakti (Hindu devotion to deities), and covers human sexuality within Hindu terms.

Shiva and Parvati

It begins with Nandi, a bull employed by the Hindu deity Shiva as a door-guard, who when hearing the Lord Shiva making love to his wife and consort Parvati, receives countless spiritual lessons on the divinity of human sexuality when practiced according to the principles of Kama and tantric spiritual transcendentalism and devotional-ism (Bhakti). It is a book which teaches how intricate human morality, spirituality, carnal and pleasurable desires can be brought into alignment with deity and purified in a transcendental and holy state.

Lord Shiva and Nandi the sacred bull

The Canterbury Tales, by Geoffrey Chaucer

Chaucer, Geoffrey. The Canterbury tales, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998.

A satirical work perhaps centuries ahead of it's time, the 14th century C.E. The Canterbury tales gives a mainly scathing view of Britain's middle ages, and is therefore a surprising work due to the complex and somewhat brutally honest opinions of Chaucer which can be surmised throughout the narrative.

Understanding and appreciating the content of this work is a 'read between the lines' scenario, which means that Chaucer's opinions on serious issues such as feminism, politics, the Church, moral and ethical civility (or lack of) and sexuality are all discussed albeit under the guise of the book's characters.

The Canterbury tales see's a mixture of English men and women gather to take part in a mass pilgrimage, with the most infamous of the characters being the Wife of Bath, The Pardoner and The Summoner ; but if you want proof of a tale more surprising than that of the Wife of Bath, then try the story from the chapter entitled The Miller's Tale.

A surviving 14th Century manuscript of the Canterbury Tales
University of Texas

Each of the travellers have a tale to tell and it is generally one of moral-maxims, and if not, immoral-maxims! It is not all heavily laden though, there are romances, knights on journeys which mimick the Merlin sagas and the crusades, but the reflection of 14th century Brittany is one that it vivid and portrays a quasi realism which may surprise some of it's readers.

There is further reading on this work and students may wish to cross-reference it as a genre and also many of it's subject contents with Chaucer's Gulliver's travels and Homer's: The Odyssey.

The Picture of Dorian Grey, Oscar Wilde

Wilde, Oscar. The picture of Dorian Grey, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1994.

"That Shadow was a Dark distorted Self"

Oscar Wilde, 1854-1900

Oscar Wilde pulls no punches in this metaphorical description of human depravity and aristocratic indulgence which leads to self destruction. Combining otherwise taboo subjects of the Victorian era, murder, self-worship, idolatry, suicide, sexual licentiousness, adultery and the notable central thread of rampaging throughout life without reason and accountability is the 'moral' of this tale which puts human nature, but moreover, the wealthy circles of Britain's aristocracy on trial. The picture of Dorian Grey is debated as symbolizing the need of a society to look in the mirror and view the destruction of their souls and the true price of non-accountability.

In this fictional classic, a young Dorian Grey is painted a self portrait which turns out to be anything but an inanimate reflection of himself. When introduced to the high life of British aristocracy, complete with cigar totting, brothel visiting and opium dens, and the suicide of his wife to be and subsequent death of the child she was carrying due to Dorian's new found sensual pleasure, he is shocked to see that the effects of such are not staining or branded his conscience or soul, but are in fact changing his portrait. Complete with cuts and bruises, the darkening of his portraits image and the eventual monster it becomes due to his Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde lifestyle, the tale consists of his revelry and eventual downfall. A powerful and horrific tale which Oscar Wilde, it is thought, gave to the world in order to prod a soul-searching effect on its reader.

For further reviews and trailer of the book's adaption into film:

War and Peace, by Leo Tolstoy

Tolstoy, Leo. War and Peace, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997.

Published in 1869 and containing four volumes, Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace is regarded as a masterpiece of world literature. This novel is, like many Russian works, EPIC, not only in character development, but the length of this book makes it one of the longest novels ever written, demonstrating a somewhat uniquely Russian style character. Students will no doubt feel a little daunted by the thickness of this work, but don't fret: students have two weeks to read it. This novel is classed as belonging to the genre of Historical Fiction. It also contains other literary genres such as romance and drama.

War and Peace covers the period of the French invasion into Russia, Napoleon era and Tsarist controversy, and of course the main characters of the novel who experience and tell the story of these events- five Russian aristocratic families.

Further and suggested reading, essays and reviews on War and Peace for students:

http://quarterlyconversation.com/war-and-peace-by-leo-tolstoy-review

http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/atlarge/2007/11/26/071126crat_atlarge_wood

http://faculty.ed.uiuc.edu/westbury/paradigm/documents/warpeace.pdf

Anna Karenina, by Leo Tolstoy

Tolstoy, Leo. Anna Karenina, New York: Oxford University Press, 1998.

Anna Karenina, a collosal work by renound Russian writer Loe Tolstoy was first published in segments in a Russian newspaper between 1873-1877 but comes togeather in this Oxford World Classic as the complete set. Given the standing of realistic fiction, despite the story belonging to the Drama genre, this work underscores the greatness of Russian literature, due to its size and the intricate magnitude of its character developments and subject contents.

The tragic story of Anna Karenina begins with the desire of a young and handsome soldier named Vronsky who is infatuated with Anna, a married woman. Succumbing to a friendship with Vronsky, Anna falls in love and finds herself in an adulterous relationship which threatens her family and her once noble and even saintly position in Russia's high Society. The story also revolves around, mainly, two Russian families who also have marital dramas and the royal family of Russia (tsarist) also figure in this story. Anna Karenina is an amazing journey into the aristocratic society of Russia's 19th century nobility, and the tagic tale of Anna underscores the destructive outcome of adultery for Anna and those connected to her. The treatment of women in this novel is a central thread to the meaning of this book.

*Anna and Vronsky* Link of interest: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZE417ZtnWu83
Sean Bean playing the role of Vronsky in the 1997 adaptation film Anna Karenina

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Wednesday, 12 October 2011

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