THE WELL EDUCATED MIND
Chapter 1
We should go back to the classic way of learning, to taste, swallow and digest a book. As Francis Bacon said "Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed and some few to be chewed and digested" (pg 18). This way we wont only be reading, we will be learning. Learning by applying the trivium´s three stages: grammar, logic and rhetoric.
Page 20 mentions we can learn from a book, like a medieval tutor and his pupil. That is the problem we have today, we all read but we get our conlusions out of it, not the conclusion that the author is telling us.
Page 20 mentions we can learn from a book, like a medieval tutor and his pupil. That is the problem we have today, we all read but we get our conlusions out of it, not the conclusion that the author is telling us.
Chapter 2
Reading throuhg the passages mentioned in chapter two and the timing execersice, I guess I am not a bad reader.
Nichomachean Ethics , which I thought I wasn´t going to understand, actually went pretty well. I understood the main message at least.
Now, the passage of Jane Austen, (hmm what a good book) I understood perfectly. but maybe it was because I had already read the book and was already familiar with the language Austen writes with. But when I started reading the book, I remember I had a little trouble with some of the words she uses and that old style language as well, but reading this passage has made me realize I have made it a long way. and that I want to read pride and prejudice again.
Nichomachean Ethics , which I thought I wasn´t going to understand, actually went pretty well. I understood the main message at least.
Now, the passage of Jane Austen, (hmm what a good book) I understood perfectly. but maybe it was because I had already read the book and was already familiar with the language Austen writes with. But when I started reading the book, I remember I had a little trouble with some of the words she uses and that old style language as well, but reading this passage has made me realize I have made it a long way. and that I want to read pride and prejudice again.
Chapter 3
The most important thing about this chapter was how and why to keep a journal.
"In your journal, you will record your own summaries of your reading: this is your tool for understanding the ideas you read".
I really can´t believe keeping reading journal is as easy as writing specific phrases, sentences, paragraphs, our reactions, questions and thoughts.
"In your journal, you will record your own summaries of your reading: this is your tool for understanding the ideas you read".
I really can´t believe keeping reading journal is as easy as writing specific phrases, sentences, paragraphs, our reactions, questions and thoughts.
Chapter 4
"Serious reading is hard work".
My summary for this chapter would be the following:
in order to read and understand a book you have to follow these steps (the trivium):
1. Understand (what is the author telling me?)
2. Evaluate (why is the author telling me this?)
3. Opinion (How do I feel about what the author is telling me?)
I loved this chapter, but I have to say, I don´t really agree with Susan when she says that an autobiography reveals the soul of an entire society, not just of an individual person. I do think literature helps us understand history and gives us an idea of the time it was written in, but I also think that some books, specially autobiographies are guided by human perception.
My summary for this chapter would be the following:
in order to read and understand a book you have to follow these steps (the trivium):
1. Understand (what is the author telling me?)
2. Evaluate (why is the author telling me this?)
3. Opinion (How do I feel about what the author is telling me?)
I loved this chapter, but I have to say, I don´t really agree with Susan when she says that an autobiography reveals the soul of an entire society, not just of an individual person. I do think literature helps us understand history and gives us an idea of the time it was written in, but I also think that some books, specially autobiographies are guided by human perception.
Chapter 5
Novel
The first novel written was Don Quixote, but the first ones that started the novel movement were Defoe (Robinson Crusoe), Richardson (Pamela) and Fiedling (Joseph Andrews).
Definition of a novel: a book that tells the story of everyday situations . To portray the real life of people. To portray another world.
BASICS TO READING A NOVEL
Main questions.
Who are the characters? What happens to them? How are they different afterwadrs?
1. Grammar
Table of contents.
Lists of characters.
Short summary of important events of each chapter.
Make notes on passages that seem interesting.
Give the book a new title and subtitle.
2. Logic
Am i transported?
Do I feel this other world?
Can I sympathize with the people who live there?
Do I understand their wants and problems?
Am I moved?
What does the character want? Whats in their way? What strategy do they take to overcome the block?
Who is telling the story? Where is the story set? What style does the writer employ? Images and metaphors? Beginnings and endings?
3. Rhetoric
Our own morals, ideas, culture and perspectives come in.
Do you sympathize with the characters?
Is the novel self reflective?
Did the writers times affect him?
Is there an argument in this book?
I have to say I agree with everything and that I can´t wait until we begin Reading these novels.
Books that I consider missing:
Wuthering heights
Ulysses
Hemingway
The brothers karamazov
The first novel written was Don Quixote, but the first ones that started the novel movement were Defoe (Robinson Crusoe), Richardson (Pamela) and Fiedling (Joseph Andrews).
Definition of a novel: a book that tells the story of everyday situations . To portray the real life of people. To portray another world.
BASICS TO READING A NOVEL
Main questions.
Who are the characters? What happens to them? How are they different afterwadrs?
1. Grammar
Table of contents.
Lists of characters.
Short summary of important events of each chapter.
Make notes on passages that seem interesting.
Give the book a new title and subtitle.
2. Logic
Am i transported?
Do I feel this other world?
Can I sympathize with the people who live there?
Do I understand their wants and problems?
Am I moved?
What does the character want? Whats in their way? What strategy do they take to overcome the block?
Who is telling the story? Where is the story set? What style does the writer employ? Images and metaphors? Beginnings and endings?
3. Rhetoric
Our own morals, ideas, culture and perspectives come in.
Do you sympathize with the characters?
Is the novel self reflective?
Did the writers times affect him?
Is there an argument in this book?
I have to say I agree with everything and that I can´t wait until we begin Reading these novels.
Books that I consider missing:
Wuthering heights
Ulysses
Hemingway
The brothers karamazov
Chapter 6
Autobiography
First real autobiography: Agustine´s confessions
There are two types of autobiographies : spiritual and skeptical
In an autobiography people can recreate their own life and add meaning to it.
Stages for reading an autobiography:
1. Grammar
Title, cover, table of contents.
Central events in the life.
Historical events that coincide.
Most important person/ events that form the outline.
New title and subtitle.
2. Logic
What to look for:
Theme (spiritual/skeptical).
Life´s turning point.
Apology.
The ideal of the persons life (should be).
The end.
3. Rhetoric
Who is the writer writing for?
3 moments/frames.
Writers judgements.
Our conclusion vs. the writers.
What we learned.
First real autobiography: Agustine´s confessions
There are two types of autobiographies : spiritual and skeptical
In an autobiography people can recreate their own life and add meaning to it.
Stages for reading an autobiography:
1. Grammar
Title, cover, table of contents.
Central events in the life.
Historical events that coincide.
Most important person/ events that form the outline.
New title and subtitle.
2. Logic
What to look for:
Theme (spiritual/skeptical).
Life´s turning point.
Apology.
The ideal of the persons life (should be).
The end.
3. Rhetoric
Who is the writer writing for?
3 moments/frames.
Writers judgements.
Our conclusion vs. the writers.
What we learned.
Chapter 7
History
Task: to explain why it happened/to tell a story about facts.
Phases:
Ancient history (greeks)
Medieval history (God)
Renaissance (why/story of men)
Enlightened/Rational (truth/science)
Positivism (historian = professional) - Progressism (changing) - Multiculturalism (Social history)
Romanticism (mystery/national identity) - Relativism (Subjective) - Skepticism (no conclusions)
Postmodernism (various elements and impulses)
BASICS TO READING HISTORY
1. Grammar
Title, cover, table of contents
Purpose
Major events
Who is the story about?
Challenge/problem
Cause of the problem
Actions
Movement
Times/dates
Place
2. Logic
Major assertions
Questions asked by historian
How does the historian answer
Evidence
Genre (political, intellectual, social)
Historians qualifications
3. Rhetoric
Purpose
Understanding of mans nature
Relationship to social problems
Other possible explanations
Task: to explain why it happened/to tell a story about facts.
Phases:
Ancient history (greeks)
Medieval history (God)
Renaissance (why/story of men)
Enlightened/Rational (truth/science)
Positivism (historian = professional) - Progressism (changing) - Multiculturalism (Social history)
Romanticism (mystery/national identity) - Relativism (Subjective) - Skepticism (no conclusions)
Postmodernism (various elements and impulses)
BASICS TO READING HISTORY
1. Grammar
Title, cover, table of contents
Purpose
Major events
Who is the story about?
Challenge/problem
Cause of the problem
Actions
Movement
Times/dates
Place
2. Logic
Major assertions
Questions asked by historian
How does the historian answer
Evidence
Genre (political, intellectual, social)
Historians qualifications
3. Rhetoric
Purpose
Understanding of mans nature
Relationship to social problems
Other possible explanations
Chapter 8
Drama
Phases:
Greeks (tragedy, comedy)
Middle Ages (christianity -> mystery -> morality)
Renaissance (english drama)
Restoration & 18th Century (manners/rejecting hierarchy)
Romantics/Modernists (rejecting classical play structure, theater of the absurd/realistic drama)
HOW TO READ A PLAY
1. Grammar
Title, cover, organization of the play
Stage directions
List of characters
Main events of each scene
Beginning, middle, climax, resolution
point of greatest tension
2. Logic
Unity by: plot/character/idea
Contrasting elements
Characters way of speech
Identity
Theme
3. Rhetoric
How would you direct and stage the play?
Phases:
Greeks (tragedy, comedy)
Middle Ages (christianity -> mystery -> morality)
Renaissance (english drama)
Restoration & 18th Century (manners/rejecting hierarchy)
Romantics/Modernists (rejecting classical play structure, theater of the absurd/realistic drama)
HOW TO READ A PLAY
1. Grammar
Title, cover, organization of the play
Stage directions
List of characters
Main events of each scene
Beginning, middle, climax, resolution
point of greatest tension
2. Logic
Unity by: plot/character/idea
Contrasting elements
Characters way of speech
Identity
Theme
3. Rhetoric
How would you direct and stage the play?
Chapter 9
Poetry
Presence of the poet
Language is meaning
Phases:
Greek epic poetry (Iliad)
Lyric poetry (choral poetry, elegy)
Roman odes
Medieval Poetics (Beowulf)
Renaissance verse/sonnet
Romanticism (Rebellion, natural scenes, emotional states)
American romanticism (self-discovery)
Modernism (irony, attack on the self, chaos)
Alienation (Neo-romantics)
HOW TO READ A POEM
1. Grammar
Read
Title, cover, table of contents
Preface
2. Logic
Narrative strategy
Poem´s form (ballad, elegy, epic, haiku, ode, sonnet, villanelle)
Syntax
Poem´s meter (syllabic, accentual)
Lines & stanzas
Rhyme pattern
Diction & vocabulary
Monologue/Dialogue
3. Rhetoric
Change/choice
Cause/effect
Subject
Self
Sympathy
Presence of the poet
Language is meaning
Phases:
Greek epic poetry (Iliad)
Lyric poetry (choral poetry, elegy)
Roman odes
Medieval Poetics (Beowulf)
Renaissance verse/sonnet
Romanticism (Rebellion, natural scenes, emotional states)
American romanticism (self-discovery)
Modernism (irony, attack on the self, chaos)
Alienation (Neo-romantics)
HOW TO READ A POEM
1. Grammar
Read
Title, cover, table of contents
Preface
2. Logic
Narrative strategy
Poem´s form (ballad, elegy, epic, haiku, ode, sonnet, villanelle)
Syntax
Poem´s meter (syllabic, accentual)
Lines & stanzas
Rhyme pattern
Diction & vocabulary
Monologue/Dialogue
3. Rhetoric
Change/choice
Cause/effect
Subject
Self
Sympathy