18 Questions
What does 'oppressed' mean?
Burdened by abuse of power or authority
Who are the two main classes described in the text?
Bourgeoisie and Proletariat
What is the key difference between equality and equity?
Equality means giving the same resources, equity means giving different resources
What is the key focus of the feminist approach to literature?
Gender relationships of characters
Who was Karl Heinrich Marx?
A German philosopher, economist, and socialist revolutionary
What is the focus of the historical approach to literature?
Considering the text as a reflection and product of the historical context
What is the primary purpose of argumentative writing?
To persuade the reader to accept a particular viewpoint
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of strong argumentative writing?
Using emotional language to sway the reader
In the story of Orpheus, what instrument did he use to sway the emotions of living things?
A lyre
Who was Eurydice in the story of Orpheus?
Orpheus' wife and an oak nymph
What was the punishment of Tantalus in the Underworld?
Standing near food and water but unable to satisfy hunger or thirst
Which character in the story of Orpheus was a muse?
Calliope
Why did Athene not give in to the group that was gathered before her?
She was obstinate and proud
What was the material that Athene and Arachne were using to weave their patterns?
Wool
What colors were the skeins of material that Athene and Arachne had to use?
White, gold, and scarlet, with other varied shades
What did the spectators realize as they looked at the glowing colors on Athene's loom?
That Athene was weaving a last warning to Arachne
What was the pattern that Athene was weaving into her loom?
A border of twined branches of the olive tree
What was the main reason that the spectators realized the skill of both Athene and Arachne was nearly equal?
They were impressed by the speed of their weaving
Study Notes
Social Classes and Oppression
- Oppressed means burdened by abuse of power or authority or historical and organized patterns of mistreatment.
- Bourgeoisie refers to the class that owns the means of production.
- Proletariat refers to the class that works for the bourgeoisie.
Karl Marx
- Karl Heinrich Marx was a German philosopher, economist, historian, sociologist, political theorist, journalist, and socialist revolutionary.
Equality and Equity
- Equality means giving each individual or group the same resources or opportunities.
- Equity recognizes that each person has different circumstances and allocates resources to achieve equal outcomes.
Gender Equality
- Gender equality means measurable equal representation of women and men.
- It does not imply that women and men are the same, but that they have equal value and should be treated equally.
Feminist Approach
- Focuses on gender relationships in stories.
- Advocates for gender equality, particularly towards women.
- Examines patriarchal aspects of culture.
Historical Approach
- Sees literature as a reflection and product of its time and circumstances.
- Examines the historical context of a literary work.
Argumentative Characteristics
- Features opposing and qualifying ideas.
- Presents strong evidence to support a claim.
- Aims to change people's viewpoints or influence them to accept a new perspective.
Orpheus and Arachne
Characters
- Orpheus: son of Calliope, a muse, and the greatest musician in Greek mythology.
- Eurydice: Orpheus' wife, an oak nymph who dies on their wedding day.
- Hades: God of the Underworld.
- Persephone: Wife of Hades, Goddess of Spring.
- Calliope: A muse and Orpheus' mother.
- Tantalus: Punished in Tartarus for eternity.
Story of Orpheus and Arachne
- Orpheus' wife, Eurydice, dies on their wedding day.
- Orpheus attempts to retrieve her from the Underworld but fails.
- Arachne, a mortal, challenges Athena, a goddess, to a weaving contest.
- Arachne's skill is remarkable, but Athena is quicker and weaves a pattern warning Arachne.
Test your knowledge on the concepts of bourgeoisie and proletariat, economic and social realities, and the role of power, politics, and money as discussed by Karl Marx. Learn about the German philosopher's views on oppression, class struggle, and socialist revolution.
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