Classics/Foreign Lit, Period 2, 4/06

[game-of-you.livejournal.com]

Dream stands before class dressed in his robes. He seems to be in a good mood -- at least, he has provided coffee and pastries for the students.

"Hello. The assignments I have for you today may require some concentration; if the classics students wish to go work in the library, that is fine."

Classics: "Select a story from The Metamorphoses and write your own translation. This is classwork and homework, with the results due next Thursday."

Foreign Lit: "We are transitioning into a brief unit on Arabic literature."

The Arabic word used for literature is adab which is derived from a word meaning "to invite someone for a meal" and implies politeness, culture and enrichment. Adab -- or arabic literature -- is the writing produced, both prose and poetry, by speakers of the Arabic language. It does not usually include works written using the Arabic alphabet but not in the Arabic language, such as Persian literature and Urdu literature.

Arabic literature emerged in the 6th century of the common era, with only fragments of the written language appearing before then. It was the Qur'an in the 7th century which would have the greatest lasting effect on Arabic culture and its literature."

Dream continues with his lecture.

Comments

Sign in, Classics/Foreign Lit, 4/6

[game-of-you.livejournal.com]

...

As you do.

Classics/Foreign Lit classwork, 4/06

[game-of-you.livejournal.com]

Work on your translations, listen to the lecture, ask questions, pass notes, etc...

After class, 4/6

[game-of-you.livejournal.com]

Dream has a few moments before Creature Languages, should you have questions.

OOC

[game-of-you.livejournal.com]

Anyone want detention? *bright shiny smile*

Re: Sign in, Classics/Foreign Lit, 4/6

[nadiathesaint]

Nadia signed in for Foreign Lit

Re: Classics/Foreign Lit classwork, 4/06

[nadiathesaint]

Nadia sat, listening with only half an ear to the lecture, while doodling circles and formulas and scribbling half intelligible notes in her notebook.

Re: Sign in, Classics/Foreign Lit, 4/6

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

Anders signs in for Classics. With jazz hands, per the icon.

Re: Classics/Foreign Lit classwork, 4/06

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

Anders picks the story of Lycaon being turned into a wolf (http://www.tkline.freeserve.co.uk/Metamorph.htm#_Toc64105461) and spends the rest of the period writing, scratching things out, writing some more, and occasionally throwing out the entire (cornerless) piece of paper and starting over.

By about halfway through class he's visibly frustrated and chewing through his pencil, but he keeps going.

Re: Classics/Foreign Lit classwork, 4/06

[game-of-you.livejournal.com]

Soundlessly, Dream stood over Anders' shoulder. "What troubles you so?"

Re: Classics/Foreign Lit classwork, 4/06

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

Anders jumped a little bit at Dream's apparently sudden presence. "Maybe I'm just crazy," he said, jabbing the point of his pencil at his paper, and wincing when it snapped off. "But the translation just doesn't sound right to me. Maybe I'm trying too hard, or maybe I just don't know the words I really want to use yet."

Re: OOC

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

Somehow the name "Dream" and the phrase "bright shiny smile" do not play well together in my head. *boggles* :D

Re: OOC

[game-of-you.livejournal.com]

Why ever not? *blinks innocently*

Re: Classics/Foreign Lit classwork, 4/06

[game-of-you.livejournal.com]

Dream leaned over the paper, reading the lines. "This is not bad," he said. "But you have used the incorrect verb tense here, and here." He pointed out a few other minor gramatical errors, then read the whole thing to himself again.

"You have selected a difficult passage. What drew you to it?"

Re: Classics/Foreign Lit classwork, 4/06

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"Lycaon was a jerk," Anders said, shrugging. "And he pretty much got what he deserved. I guess I thought that was kind of satisfying."

He looked up at Dream and managed a small smile. "I'll get it all fixed up by next class, though."

Re: Classics/Foreign Lit classwork, 4/06

[game-of-you.livejournal.com]

"REvenge is a satisfying motif," Dream agreed. "Let me know on Tuesday if you need further guidance."

Re: Classics/Foreign Lit classwork, 4/06

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"I will, sir, thanks," said a suddenly disturbed-looking Anders.

Re: Sign in, Classics/Foreign Lit, 4/6

[apocalypsesoon.livejournal.com]

John is actually awake.

Re: Sign in, Classics/Foreign Lit, 4/6

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

Elizabeth signed in for foreign lit.

Re: Classics/Foreign Lit classwork, 4/06

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

Elizabeth took notes on the lecture, occassionally doodling in her notebook.

Re: Sign in, Classics/Foreign Lit, 4/6

[ihatedenmark.livejournal.com]

Hamlet signs in.

Re: Classics/Foreign Lit classwork, 4/06

[ihatedenmark.livejournal.com]

Hamlet pays close attention to the lecture and takes notes.

"So professor, would you say that the Qur'an had the same impact on the medieval Arabic language as Biblical translations into the vernacular had on languages such as German and English in the Renaissance era?"

Re: Classics/Foreign Lit classwork, 4/06

[game-of-you.livejournal.com]

Dream contemplated this for a moment. "I would say the Koran was more important than the bible," he said. "There was more English and German literature before the bible became widely available than there was Arabic literature."

[OOC: Not a classics scholar, so Dream may be wrong like a wrong thing on this point.]