Name: Đỗ Thị Anh Tú – ENG2205 IVAA

ID: 1605638
Class: K19C
Assignments for Session 11

Michel de Montaigne

1. What does Montaigne imply when he writes in the first paragraph of his essay “Of Cannibals” that
“we should beware of clinging to vulgar opinions, and judge things by reason’s way, not by popular
say”?

What the author meant by this sentence was to imply that it should not be based on words and oral
stories that give false opinions about things; it is necessary to look objectively and use reason to
consider things and people carefully.

2. What is “other world” does Montaigne refer to in the first sentence of his essay’s second
paragraph?

The “other world” in this case Montaigne refer to Antarctic France, the world that he doesn’t know
and want to discover. “Other world which has been discovered in our century, in the place where
Villegaignon landed, and which he called Antarctic France”

3. Why does Montaigne say in the last sentence of the paragraph in the top of page 2646 that “I
content myself with his information, without inquiring what the cosmographers say about it”? Who
is he mentioning here in “his information”?

In “his information”, Montaigne mention to his brother - the sieur d’Arsac. Montaigne say in the last
sentence of the paragraph in the top of page 2646 that “I content myself with his information, without
inquiring what the cosmographers say about it”. From this sentence, Montaigne show that he believes
in his brother because his brother was a simple, crude fellow and very honest. In addition to, he at
various times brought sailor and merchants, whom he had known on that trip, to see Montaigne.

4. Why does Montaigne quote some lines of a poem by Propertius in in page 2646? What does he
want to imply here?

When Montaigne quote some lines of a poem by Propertius in page 2646, he wants to imply to the
beauty of nature, nothing can be compared to the powerful and great of Mother Nature.
5. What is Montaigne’s conception of “barbarism”? Why does he entitle his essay as “Of Cannibals”?

Specifically considering a Brazilian tribe of cannibals, he writes: “...I think there is nothing barbarous
and savage in that nation from what I have been told, except that each man calls barbarism whatever
is not his own practice”

He entitles his essay as "Of Cannibals" because he criticizes civilized humans for too easily judging
others as barbarians while ignoring their own barbaric actions or at least the barbarism of their own
society. This criticism deserves consideration and will hopefully provoke self-reflection.

Shakespeare and Hamlet

1. In the beginning of Act 1, Scene 1, what does Horatio refer to in using “this thing” (What, has this
thing appeared again to-night?”) How many times has Marcellus seen the ghost before the night he
talks with Horatio and Bernardo (Act 1 Scene 1) According to Horatio, what does the appearance of
the apparition foretell?

“This thing” refer the ghost of the recently deceased King Hamlet, which they claim has appeared
before them on the castle ramparts in the late hours of the night.

Marcellus has seen the ghost before the night he talks with Horatio and Bernardo for 2 times ( two
past nights).

Horatio in particular sees the ghost as an ill omen boding violence and turmoil in Denmark’s future,
comparing it to the supernatural omens that supposedly presaged the assassination of Julius Caesar in
ancient Rome.

2. In Act 1 Scene 2, how does Hamlet response to the queen (his mother) when she asks him to cast
off the sorrow, stop looking for the image of his father in vain, and love the new king as his father?
How does he analyze the word “seem” his mother uses when she asks him “Why seems it so
particular with thee?”

He answered very succinctly, emphasizing the mother's last point. Seems like an unacceptable
attitude“Seem”; Neither Halmet black clothes nor his heavy sighs, nor his weeping, nor his downcast
eyes, nor any other display of grief can show what he really feel. It’s true that all these things “seem”
like grief, since a person could use them to fake grief if he wanted to. But he’ve got morereal grief
inside him that his mother could ever see on the surface. These clothes are just a hint ofit.

3. In Scene 2 (of Act 1), why does Hamlet say that “Frailty, thy name is woman!”? (What line is this
sentence?)
In Hamlet’s eyes, Gertrude – his mother is a whore who married his uncle simply so she could stay in
power and not lose any of her riches. He also states that all women are frail and can not be alone for
more than a month.Line is 146

4. In Scene 3 (Act 1), what does Laertes advise his sister Ophelia to do in her love with Hamlet?
What does their father Polonius respond when he hears about that story between Laertes and
Ophelia?

-Laetes cautions Ophelia against falling in love with Hamlet, who is, according to him, too far above
her by birth to be able to love her honorably. Since Hamlet is responsible not only for his own feelings
but for his position in the state, it may be impossible for him to marry her.

-Father Polonius sternly echoes Laertes’ advice and forbids Ophelia to associate with Hamlet anymore.
He tells her that Hamlet has deceived her in swearing his love and that she should see through his
false vows and rebuff his affections when he hears about that story between Laertes and Ophelia

5. In Scene 4 and Scene 5 (Act 1), what does the ghost ask Hamlet to do and how does Hamlet think
about that? What does he plan to do after the ghost disappears?

The ghost exhorts Hamlet to seek revenge, telling him that Claudius has corrupted Denmark and
corrupted Gertrude, having taken her from the pure love of her first marriage and seduced her in the
foul lust of their incestuous union. But the ghost urges Hamlet not to act against his mother inany way,
telling him to “leave her to heaven” and to the pangs of her own conscienceAs dawn breaks, the ghost
disappears. Intensely moved, Hamlet swears to remember and obey the ghost. He tells that he may
pretend to be a madman, and he makes them swear not to give theslightest hint that they know
anything about his motives.

6. In Act 2, how does Hamlet treat Ophelia in her account she tells her father? What does Polonius
plan to do to resolve that problem? What is Hamlet’s purpose when he asks the players to read the
speech and perform the drama “The Murder of Gonzago” in front of Polonius?

- Ophelia clings to the memory of Hamlet treating her with respect anf affection, and despite his
violence, she protects and love him to the end. She is incapable of defending herself, yet it is evident
from her hesistant answers that she is in excruciating oain: “Hamlet… I did love you one.

- He and Claudius are going to set up a meeting between Hamlet and Ophelia and then hide behindthe
curtain to spy on them.

- When the players perform the play the next night, Hamlet will write an additionalmonologue for
them to learn and add to the performance. He will have the players put on a play based on his father’s
murder in front of his Uncle Claudius and his mother too see what type of reaction he can elicit from
him to be sure his death of his father.

7. What is the main content of Hamlet’s monologues in the end of Act 2 (after Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern leave) and in the beginning of Act 3 (“To be, or not to be”)?

He immediately begins cursing himself, bitterly commenting that the player who gave the speechwas
able to summon a depth of feeling and expression for long-dead figures who mean nothing to him,
while Hamlet is unable to take action even with his far more powerful motives. He resolves to devise a
trap for Claudius, forcing the king to watch a play whose plot closely resembles the murder of
Hamlet’s father; if the king is guilty, he thinks, he will surely show some visible sign of guilt when he
sees his sin reenacted on stage. Then, Hamlet reasons, he will obtain definitive proof of Claudius’s
guilt. “The play’s the thing,” he declares, “wherein I’ll catchthe conscience of the king”. In the Act 3,
Hamlet did this play.

Cervantes and Don Quixote

1. Summarize the adventures Cervantes underwent in his life.

The author of Don Quixote's (Cervantes) extravagant adventures himself had a most unusual and
eading adventurous life. He was born in Alcalá de Henares, a university town near Madrid. In 1569, he
had left Spain and was living in Rome, for a time in the service of Giulio Acquaviva, who later became a
cardinal.

He enlisted in the Spanish fleet under the command of Don John of Austria and that he took part in
the struggle of the allied forces of Christendom against the Turks. He was at the crucial Battle of
Lepanto (1571), After further military action and garrison duty at Palermo and Naples, he began the
journey back to Spain. However, he were taken as prisoners to Algiers. He repeat- edly attempted to
escape, and attract Pasha to bought him.

In 1580, he was freed and come to Madrid. At this time, he began his literature career. He was in
prison for a while until the first 16th century which define the most obscure in the author’s life.
However, “Don Quixote” has published and brought sucess to Cervantes. In 1615, he continued the
next part of “Don Quixote” and died in 1616.

2. In the prologue of the novel Don Quixote, what does the author’s friend advise him to do when
he starts to write the novel about the knight Don Quixote? What does author (Cervantes) imply in
this passage?
tThe author’s friend advise him about curing the author diffidence and bringing clarity out of the chaos
and confusion in his mind. To make the work appear scholarly, his friend advises him to insert random
Latin phrases among his sentences in the most appropriate contexts. Cervantes must provide
footnotes as well, phrasing these in glib, pseudo-scientific language. Finally, for an impressive
bibliography, he should copy the entire alphabetical index of authors out of some book that has such a
list and incorporate it as part of his own.

Cervantes belittles his novel and denies that Don Quixote is an invented character, claiming that he,
Cervantes, is merely rewriting history.

Cervantes accepts this advice and urges us to enjoy the novel for its simplicity.

3. In chapter 1, what does Don Quixote usually do when he is at leisure? What does he finally decide
to do as the effect of his habit? What does he prepare for his plan?

Don Quixote has sacrificed his usual pastime of hunting and caring for his estate for the all-consuming
passion of reading books of chivalry.

He believed that he can become a knight and collects the effects necessary to his calling. He has
prepared with shines his great-grandfather's armor, devises a visor and cap after working on them
more than a week, and renames his skinny stable horse Rosinante ( a normal horse).

Besides, he has chosen a stranger lady represent for his pure heart, a young country lass named
Aldonza Lorenza.

4. In chapter 2, whom does Don Quixote meet and how does he treat them in his first sally?

In chap 2, he travels all day until he comes to an inn at dusk. Disappointed at having found no
adventure at all, he pleases himself by considering the inn a great castle with buttresses, moat, and
lofty pinnacles. The innkeeper has no food for his strange guest other than salt fish (it is Friday) and
moldy bread, but the Don's madness turns his repast into delicate trout and most excellent bread. The
two prostitutes who wait on him are lovely damsels in his fancied world, and he addresses them as
great ladies. The wenches help the knight undo his armor, but he does not allow them to cut the green
ribbons that secure the headpiece. Don Quixote has received all of their help.

5. In chapter 3, how does Don Quixote get consecrated as a knight?

Don Quixote get consecrated as a knight with the help of the innkeeper. The innkeeper agrees to
perform the ceremony at dawn, and Don Quixote goes about the ritual of watching his arms and
meditating throughout the night. He sets his weapons in a horse trough, and when a carrier
approaches to water his mules, after laying aside the sacred armor, Don Quixote rushes to attack the
poor man. As soon as the fancied enemy is dispatched, another carrier approaches to water his
animals, and he too is laid low next to his companion. Don Quixote now fancies that the place is
infested with his enemies, and he prepares to defend himself against anyone who approaches.