Plato’s “Parable of the Cave” Glossary/Important terms: Discursive Prose—Focused writings that define a culture’s thoughts and attitudes. These writings pursue truth and knowledge. Allegory—a form of extended metaphor Scaffolding—Learning by degrees Recognition (Aristotle’s definition)—Movement from ignorance to knowledge Characters: Socrates: Main speaker and teacher of Glaucon, teller of the parable Glaucon: Socrates’ student, listening to the parable of the cave and occasionally chiming in to agree with Socrates The Prisoners: in the parable, being held captive in the cave. We know not by whom or for what reason The Instructor: Frees one of the prisoners and ‘shows him the light’ A few important notes: This is a work of discursive prose. Discursive prose is seen first with the Greeks. It is a focused writing that pursues a specific train of thought or seeks to reveal a truth. The writing defines the culture’s thoughts or attitudes Format of the text: This is written as a conversation between two people: Glaucon and Socrates Gilgamesh—Brief Plot Overview: Tablet I: -Introduction to Gilgamesh -Gilgamesh is a great and powerful conqueror, but his people are tired of always waging war, so they pray to the gods. Aruru, the goddess of creation, creates a doppelgänger for Gilgamesh (Enkidu), someone who is as strong and powerful as he is, to balance power and let the people live in peace. -Enkidu is described by his hair to emphasize his wild and natural state. He is without family or people. He encounters a hunter at a watering hole who was frightened by Enkidu. -The hunter tells his father about Enkidu through a description that the father then uses to describe Gilgamesh—the father tells the hunter to go to Uruk and tell Gilgamesh about Enkidu. Gilgamesh tells the hunter to bring a woman (Shamhat) with him to the watering hole who will seduce Enkidu. The idea is that once Enkidu engages with her in sexual intercourse, the animals will leave him behind because he will be initiated into the human world. -Shamhat gets naked and seduces Enkidu. They have sex for a week! Enkidu's animal friends shun him and he is now less strong than he used to be. His body is more human. He is sad, but also thinks fondly of the week of sex. Shamhat tells him they’ll go to Uruk to meet Gilgamesh, whom Enkidu then longs to be friends with. -Gilgamesh dreams of Enkidu as a threat to his power and discusses the dream with his mother. Tablet II: Enkidu and Shamhat travel to Uruk. Along the way Enkidu learns more and more about being human. He is celebrated when he reaches Uruk. Enkidu confronts Gilgamesh about his sleeping with women who belong to other men. Enkidu and Gilgamesh fight. Being evenly matched, the fight goes on for hours until Enkidu calls an end to it. Tablet III: Enkidu and Gilgamesh become best friends. It is prophesied that they will go confront the monster-god Humbaba, Enkidu is worried, Gilgamesh persuades him to go by pointing out that everyone must die at some point, so why worry! Even if Gilgamesh were to die, his reputation would live on. The people of Uruk are worried about their king going on this journey and the elders give him advice. The two friends depart for the forest where Humbaba lives. Tablet IV: They go on their journey and encounter guards set up by Humbaba. Enkidu is wounded in combat with the guard. Gilgamesh gives him words of encouragement. Tablet V: Gilgamesh has more dreams. They slay Humbaba and return to Huruk. Tablet VI: Gilgamesh returns from battle, cleans up, and is propositioned by the goddess Ishtar. He rejects her with a funny but really mean song, basically slut-shaming her. Best here is the rhyme of “penis” with “heinous”. Ishtar is upset and complains to her father, Anu. Anu sends a bull down to earth to shake the ground and Enkidu and Gilgamesh battle and slay it. Ishtar appears and damns Gilgamesh. He hurls thigh meat at her. Everyone celebrates, but Enkidu has an ominous dream. Tablet VII: Enkidu tells Gilgamesh of his dream: that the gods had decided one of them should die for their actions. Enkidu falls ill. He curses the hunter and Shamhat. The god Shamash reminds him how good Shamhat was to him and that Gilgamesh will make sure everyone is sad after Enkidu’s death. Thus Enkidu’s anger is quelled. Enkidu tells Gilgamesh he has seen the underworld and describes it to him. Tablet VIII: Gilgamesh mourns Enkidu’s passing. Tablet IX: Gilgamesh broods on death and his own eventual passing. Decides to go to Utnapishtim to seek immortality. Sleeps and dreams of killing lions with an ax! Encounters the poison scorpion guardian. They talk and the guardian lets him pass. Gilgamesh continues his journey and at last meets Siduri. Tablet X: Siduri sits by the sea and makes wine. Gilgamesh looks rough from his journey and sorrow, and Siduri takes precautions against him. Gilgamesh explains to her why he’s sad. She tells him about the boatman, Urshanabi, who Gilgamesh then forces to take him across to Utnapishtim. Once there, Gilgamesh tells Utnapishtim about his troubles and desires. Utnapishtim tells him these things are out of man’s control. Tablet XI: Utnapishtim tells Gilgamesh the story of the great flood. Take note of the name of the mountain where his boat landed! His lesson somewhat learned, Gilgamesh travels back. As he’s rowing away, Utnapishtim yells to him a secret about a hidden plant that contains eternal life. Gilgamesh retrieves the plant. Before he can consume it, a snake steals it from him! Gilgamesh—Partial Character List Gilgamesh: the hero and king of Uruk Enkidu: Gilgamesh’s new friend and doppelgänger Ninsun: wise goddess and mother of Gilgamesh Shamhat: sacred girl who brought the two friends together Anu: father of the gods and patron of Uruk Humbaba: monster god who must be killed Ishtar: goddess of love + war; seeks revenge when Gilgamesh rejects her Enlil: god of the air, wind, and earth; unleashes the great flood Siduri: goddess of wine and brewing; barmaid with worldly advice Urshanabi: the boatman who gives passage to paradise Utnapishtim: Survivor of a flood sent by the gods to destroy humanity; the gods granted him eternal life Shamash: a god associated with the sun and human laws Textual Analysis Grading Rubric Exceeds Expectations Formatting/Quo tation/Length (10 points possible) • Follows the formatting guidelines perfectly • Integrates quotations seamlessly into sentences—not awkwardly introduced. Perfectly punctuated. • Meets length guidelines Meets Expectations Satisfactory Falls Short of Expectations Needs Improvement • A few formatting mistakes • Slightly too short • A few formatting mistakes • Improperly formatted • Attempt to integrate quotations into sentences, maybe slightly awkwardly executed • A few formatting mistakes • Quotes improperly punctuated and/or left as a standalone sentence • 12 points • Awkward quotations • 16 points • Meets length guidelines • Too short (or much too long) • 14 points • 18 points • 20 points Introduction • Introduction grabs attention and provides meaningful context to a persuasive argument • Names all texts and authors with proper formatting • Sparks some interest and effectively introduces a reasonable argument • Introduction provides context for the argument but is obvious and/or basic • 18 points • 16 points • Improper formatting of titles and/or missing information • 20 points Evidence • Chosen the best evidence to support claims • Evidence is persuasive and effective in supporting claims • Creative/original ideas and insights based on the textual evidence • Extensive commentary that goes beyond the obvious or basic • 40 points Sentence structure/gram mar/mechanics • 1 or 2 minor errors • Sophisticated vocabulary and sentence variety • 40 points • Introduction fails to introduce the texts and the analysis topic • No introduction or insufficient introduction • 12 points • 14 points • Your evidence is believable and convincing and supports your argument • 36 points • Evidence is present, but superficial • 32 points • 40 points Analysis • Introduction fails to contextualize the texts and explain them in relation to the topic, or does so inadequately • Evidence chosen does not support thesis/topic sentences • Insufficient evidence • 24 points • Textual evidence is irrelevant or arbitrarily chosen • 28 points • Analysis is believable and convincing, a few assertions may lack specific examples, but assertions are still clearly connected to the argument • Analysis is present, but ideas are obvious and basic • Ideas lack development; misunderstanding of prompt or text; illogical claims • Analysis not present; simply plot summary • 32 points • Strays from main topic • Analysis does not address the prompt • 28 points • 24 points • Several distracting problems with spelling, grammar, punctuation, coherence, etc. • Serious problems with coherence/sentence clarity; most sentences need revision • 36 points • Attempting advanced vocabulary and clear attention paid to correct and various sentence structure • 36 points • Sentence structures lack variety—basic and obvious • Minor problems with coherence, grammar, spelling, punctuation, but does not interfere with the understanding of paper • 32 points • Problems with sentence clarity, redundancy; some vague sentences; little attention to vocabulary or sentence variety • 28 points • Major usage errors that distract and interfere with understanding of paper • 24 points Topic sentences and transitions • Topic sentences contribute to the highly persuasive nature of the argument • Topic sentences articulate precise argument; logically linked to thesis • 20 points • 18 points • Topic sentences are present and make an argument connected to the thesis; however, ideas are obvious and basic • 16 points • Topic sentences are not linked to the thesis/main topic • Topic sentences show misunderstanding of prompt or text • Topic sentences are not evident • Topic sentences are facts or summaries • 12 points • 14 points Conclusion • Conclusion effectively restates the argument, but fresh language and meaningful insight leaves reader wanting more • Conclusion restates arguments, but uses new language and shows understanding of the big picture • 20 points • 18 points • Conclusion restates arguments, but recycles previous statements more or less verbatim • 16 points • Does not flow with the argument of the paper • Contains blanket or vague statements • 14 points • No perceptible conclusion or inadequate conclusion • 12 points
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