Things Fall Apart Critical Lens Essay

Things Fall Apart Critical Lens Essay
The essence of a literature, in most cases, parallels life's mysteries. As Ernest Hemingway put it, "To be truly memorable, a book must have at its
core one of life's great quests: the quest for love, truth, or power." In other words, the very heart of a text must show its readers the pursuit of
self–fulfillment. Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe, reveals through the customs and traditions of Ibo culture, as well as the choices and
consequences made by each character that a body of work is only worthwhile if there is a search for love, truth, or power. First, the customs and
traditions of Ibo culture illustrate that a novel is only memorable if it sets forth a quest for truth. For example, Obierika sought truth after burning down
...show more content...
Uchendu humbles him with the truth that when a woman dies it is good for no one. Moreover, the idea that "Mother is Supreme" is a fundamental
part of the customs and traditions of Ibo culture. In essence, the customs and traditions of each character in Things Fall Apart further the search for
truth, love, and power. Secondly, the choices and consequences made by the characters demonstrate that a book is meaningful when there is a
journey of love, truth, or power. For example, the men from Abame chose to kill the white man on the horse who arrived in their village. This
proved foolish as a few weeks later the village was decimated by whoever the white man had been associated with. Uchendu reflects on this by
saying, "Never kill a man who says nothing." He also emphasizes his point with the story of Mother Kite. The choices and consequences made by the
men from Abame progresses the plot. In effect, it also progresses the quest for truth and power because the deaths of these men made the impending
threat of European settlement real. Another example is when Okonkwo killed one of the court messengers. In doing this, he strove to regain power that
the tribe had lost. Okonkwo desired to root out Christianity for the betterment of the tribe, but already so many tribesmen had been converted. Prior to
this occurrence the speaker at the meeting explicated, "Men shoot without missing their mark and I have learned to fly
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Loved At All Critical Lens
The quote by Alfred Lord Tennyson "'tis better to have loved and lost than to have never have loved at all." is very powerful and very true. From
the story How Much Land Does a Man Need? by Leo Tolstoy provides evidence of the truth of this quote and is also presented in the story The
Fault in Our Stars by John Green. These two stories highlight the life lessons of loving something and losing it compared to not having had it at
all. This quote can also be put into real life because everyone needs to make a few mistakes in order to learn and losing something allows for life
lessons as well. Tennyson's quote can be applied to a lot of things in life, like literature and even reality. Tennyson's quote is very truthful in the way
that loving something and losing it can provide life lessons like learning to grieve and healing from the loss. It also proves to be truthful through the
short story by Leo Tolstoy, which portrayed a man who was hungry for land even when he had all that he needed. If he had not loved having all that
land and losing it Poham would not have learned the lesson that land is not a necessity and that land really isn't...show more content...
This opinion has been proven within this entire paper. With The Fault in Our Stars by John Green people have learned that losing somebody can
be something to learn from and become strong with. From How Much Land Does a Man Need? by Leo Tolstoy the reader learns that lessons can
be taught through the lose of a loved object, such as land, and things that are not necessities in life. Lastly people learned that it is always better to
have loved and lost in reality so they can learn compared to not have had the thing in the first place and not learning from the loss. Loving and losing
is bitter sweet, but it makes for a great story and allows for people to

Critical Lens In 1984
When analyzing 1984 through a critical lens, a reader may be able to look through the historical lens to understand what was happening in the
world around the author and how it influenced their writing. There are quite a few things that helped Orwell write this masterpiece of a novel, and
a lot of it can stem back to the historical period as to which 1984 was written. 1984 is a novel that is placed in the future where propaganda is the
main theme. 1984 was written during World War II was taking place, therefore greatly impacted the writing and material that was used in 1984.
Orwell wrote this book as sort of a warning to make sure that another Hitler would not come into power. Orwell, in an essay titled, "Why I Write," he
had stated that...show more content...
1984 has all types of fiction: science fiction, social science fiction, political fiction, and dystopian fiction. Two of the biggest and most apparent
types of fiction in this novel is dystopian and political fiction. The whole novel is set in this dystopian world where the government controls most all
things that the people think, say, or do. They are all forced to use a whole new vocabulary in order to cut down on the citizens saying things against
the government. Not only that but the government is referred to as Big Brother, and branching off of Big Brother are the Ministries of Truth, Love,
Plenty, and Peace. They control education, maintaining the laws and keeping order to the people, and they control what is allowed to be seen as far as
media and fine

Critical Lens Essay
Britanee Gugel "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly", was once said by Antoine De Saint–Exupery. This is an accurate quote to live by and
refer to daily since following your instincts is usually the best decision for yourself. It leads you to do exactly what you want to do, instead of anyone
getting to your mindset. This quote can also be shown in literature–characters go through hardships within there own minds. But when a third party
expresses their own opinion of the problem then the character becomes confused and eventually withdrawled from what they really want. Accordingly,
two works of literature that best show how following your heart(mind) is the better decision would be Tennesse Williams play The Glass...show more
content...
Even though Elizabeth knew something was going on she didnt admit to the court. John could give her no signals on behalf of him being turned
around, unable to tell her it's okay if she admits it. Even after this took place many more lives were sacrificed, until Proctor was presented with an
opportunity to save his life. Danforth demanded him to sign an agreement stating that he was compacted with the Devil. At this time, Elizabeth was
prenate and had a family back home. So Proctor had to make a wise decision– to be with his famiy and his name be ruined, or to die with the name he
was destined to be. Johns true being took over him, he saw "rightly" and didnt let Danforth win over his heart. He remained entitled with his
"goodness" and was then hung in front of all the Salem community. His name was in tact and he died as a hero, with his name and sole in the right
place. To conclude, both Tennessee Williams and Arthur Miller showed the readers that it takes true being to pull out the "right" parts of your heart.
John Proctor and Tom wingfield expierinced the hardships of being true to thereselves and making the right decisions. Characters or not, this quote
once said by Antoine can relate to real life also– since both Miller and Williams are the writers they brought out their own hearts on paper to show

Critical Lens Layout Essay
Critical Lens Essay Format.
Directions: The critical lens is a formulaic essay that consists of 4–6 paragraphs and explores two works of literature and two literary elements from
each work of literature. Use the format below to help you write your essay using Homer's epic poem The Odyssey and Richard Connell's short story
"The Most Dangerous Game".
Introduction Paragraph:
Copy the quotation exactly as it appears and include the author (1 sentence) "Henry Ward Beecher once said, "Greatness lies not in being strong, but in
the right using of strength."
Own words. Put the quotation in your own words. (2–3 sentences) "This quotation means that..."
Agree or disagree with the quotation as you have interpreted it....show more content...
"One major theme in Homer's The Odyssey is ______________...." (Explain this literary element in 4–5 sentences using specific text–based support)
Tie it back to the quotation. "This proves the quotation is true because..." (2–3 sentences)
Body Paragraph #2 (literary element #2 from the 1st work of literature):
Transition statement: "Another literary element from The Odyssey that proves the quotation is true is _________________." (literary element #2 from
work of literature #1– use literary elements such as theme, conflict, and characterization) (1 sentence)
Name the literary element you will use and define it. (1 sentence) "Conflict is a struggle between two opposing forces that is important to the plot."
Show this element in the first story you will talk about. "A major conflict in Homer's The Odyssey is ____________________..." (Explain this literary

element in 4–5 sentences using specific text–based support)
Tie it back to the quotation. "This proves the quotation is true because..." (2–3 sentences)
Body Paragraph #3 (literary element #1 from the 2nd work of literature):
Transition statement: "Throughout ______________ (the second work of literature), _______________ (the author) uses many literary elements to
help connect the ______________(genre) to the critical lens. Two examples are ______ and ________." (list two literary

Critical Lens
In the process of writing, regardless of the form it takes, thesis or narrative for example, the purpose of the piece has several lenses that shape how
the reader perceives the material. Of the less important lenses that shape the piece, mood, word choice, and rhetoric are only a few. These elements
of the work, while minimal in a relative sense, accomplish the same as other, more important components, they influence how the reader perceives
the material, how it is understood. If one is to effectively convey the message of the piece, one must first look at how the any reader perceives any
text. This idea of how the reader perceives is a culmination of all the devices employed by the author. The idea is for the author to craft an aggregate
...show more content...
This idea of crafting a mask in literature is an old concept, though rarely discussed directly as it can even be seen in Corinthians where, as discussed by
Stephan Joubert, Paul acts as, "...an encoded author...", that can be typified also as, "...the 'ideal portrait' which the real author entertains to his
flesh–and–blood readers" (Joubert). This concept of an author for an author is another concept that must be taken into account when the mask is
discussed. Where Killingsworth suggests that the author crafts, "...the mask of the author...", he also crafts, "...a mask for the audience..." (Killingsworth
34–35), Joubert argues that the mask of the reader is simply a result of the authors own mask as, "...a potential reader is expected to play in order to
actualize the text..." (Joubert) reacting only to the text and crafting their own mask. While the reader also has a mask in Joubert's theory, it is a reaction
to the text, rather than them slipping into one of the authors design, the author only being able to influence their mask from an external and past,
perspective. I implore both students and faculty to focus on these points throughout a work, as they will show the reader the perspective that the author
is crafting. Weather to use this mask is up to the reader's discretion, though from an analytical view, being bias only harms the process. Regardless, it
remains important that the student not only identify but act upon these

Anne Frank Critical Lens
Norman Mailer once stated, "For what does it mean to be a hero? It requires you to be prepared to deal with forces larger than yourself." This
quotation means that there are some things that certain people will not be able to face head on. It takes them a while to physically and mentally
prepare themselves for what forces lie ahead. This quotation is valid because there are going to be certain things people just can't face or they aren't
strong enough to face them. The film, The Fighting Sullivans and the film The Diary of Anne Frank prove the interpretation because both of the films
are about a group of people who have to deal with forces that are bigger than themselves. The film The Diary of Anne Frank supports the critical lens
about Norman Mailer's quote because they had to go into hiding, hiding from the Germans which in this case were the bigger force. The first...show
more content...
The first example from the film that proves the critical lens is valid is that the war is a much larger force that the Sullivan brothers weren't
prepared to lose their lives for. This example proves that the critical lens statement is true because when the five Sullivans went into the war they
didn't know what they signed up for, meaning they weren't prepared for the consequences of the war. In the Fighting Sullivans, the film uses
literary elements of symbolism and theme. What is being symbolized is love because this story shows you how close a family can be. The theme in
The Fighting Sullivans is represented by having a family that is there for you and close to you. This effects the story because it shows you how
quickly the ones we love can be taken away from us so quickly and how having a family is the key to life. Ultimately, the film The Fighting Sullivans
shows symbolism and theme and proves the critical lens

Things Fall Apart Critical Lens Essay

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