The Island of Circes

The Reading Log for The Enchantress Circe:

Glade: a clearing in the middle of a forest.

Beguiling: (be gi ling): bewitching, tricking through beauty and charm. Guile: trickery, slyness, subterfuge

Swinish: having to do with swines or pigs. Attributes of swines: greedy, gluttonous, dirty, muddy, fat, lazy

Ambrosial: drink of the gods; from the word ambrosia

Ambrosial: adjective meaning having to do with the gods or of Mount Olympus.

Tidbits: morsels, tiny little delicious bits of food

Fond: with affection, with liking

Fawned: to show excessive affection for someone

Pigsty: a pen where pigs are kept

Foreboding: a sense of doom

Odysseus sends 23 men on a scouting expedition to explore the island. The men find Circe's cave, which is filled with beautiful and exotic animals that seem very human. Beautiful wild animals look at the twenty three warriors with eyes which seem human, unsettling so, which seem to plead with them to do something…. The men are disturbed by these animals with eyes which seem to hold the light of human intelligence, but the men shake off this odd feeling when they spot a beautiful woman singing an enchanting song while weaving ambrosial fabric.

Why do Odysseus’ men find the animals so unsettling? Do you think the animals may turn into humans? Or do you think the enchantress may turn Odysseus’ men into animals?

The beautiful enchantress offers the men something to eat and drink, which the men greedily accept - they have, after all, been on board boats for a very long time – and all of them gobble the food down, except for one, Polites, who senses a trap.  Suddenly, before his eyes, he sees his friends turn into pigs!

 The Enchantress, whose name is Circe, turns the men into their “totem animal” with her magic potion. The totem animal is the internal animal that represents the secret hidden nature of the person. Odysseus’ men are sometimes driven more by their carnal needs than by their intelligence and so the animal that represents the men’s real nature is the swine, noted for its sensual indolence and huge appetites.

Polites, horrified, runs to the ship to tell Odysseus the terrible news. Before Odysseus goes to save his men, Hermes, the messenger god arrives to give him “moly” which is believed to be a sort of garlic to protect him from the witches’ power.  (Who knew that twenty five hundred years ago, garlic was not only effective against vampires but also evil witches (;-)? Odysseus runs to Circes’ cave where she tries to give him the magic potion with the hope that such a fine man as he would be turned into a lion, or some other sexy beast.  But when Odysseus eats the potion without incident, she knows she has met her match.  When he tells Circe to either turn his men back into humans or he will kill her, she replies, “Do and you will never see your men again.” Realizing he has met his match, Odysseus resheaths his sword and she agrees to turn his men back into men.

 Reaching a sort of détente, Circe, Odysseus and his men begin to celebrate for what the humans think is a wild five day party. After five days of this celebration, Odysseus informs Circe that they appreciate her hospitality (after all, she did turn them back into men) but after five days it’s time for them to head back to sea.  Circe is amused by this for she knows that on her island of sensuality and indulgence, time bends and lose its shape, which humans are particularly vulnerable to. Humans become victim to their senses and of time, and five days can stretch out to…..five years!  Odysseus doesn’t believe her when she tells them they have wasted five years of their lives on food, drink and sex on her island.  It’s not until she shows him the five years of sand that’s accumulated on their ships that he believes her. 

What important lesson do you think the chapter holds for us humans?

But first, before he leaves, Circe tells him he must go to the “Land of the Dead” to seek out Teresias, the blind oracle to learn his fate. Circe warns him that he must go, unaccompanied by his men, and that he must carry a black lamb to attract the attention of the dead prophet.

Persephone: Her mother is Demeter or Ceres. The myth of Persephone and Ceres explains the seasons.

Myths: Stories made up by ancient peoples to explain naturally occurring phenomena, such as the changing of the seasons, rain, the sunrise, etc.

Teiresias is a blind Greek seer who predicts the future. He was also the only man who knew what it was like being a woman for he had spent seven years as one. One day he was walking down a road and saw two snakes mating. For some reason, he was turned into a woman. Seven years later, walking down the same road he saw two snakes - maybe the same ones - mating and he was turned back into a man. There is also a belief that the blind, who are denied sight of the material world, are compensated by having sight or knowledge of the psychic or unknown world - the future, the past and those worlds that are unknown to the sighted living world.

Teiresias is a very important character in Greek literature for many different writers in the Greek era used him as a prophet to predict the future, provide hidden information about the past and to provide guidance and advice to other characters.

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The Cyclops

Page 660; Polyphemus the Cyclops

This is in “media res” which means that we start the story in the middle. Remember that Odysseus is sitting in the court of Alcinous telling the story of what happened during the last ten years.  This part of the story is in flashback!

Remember the ties between the host and guests are sacred. Who violated these ties in The Cyclops?

What did Odysseus and the men do when they found themselves in the Cyclop’s cave?
What did the Cyclops do when he came into the cave?
Did the Cyclops know that Odysseus and his men were there?
What did he do when he first saw them?
What did Odysseus say that offended the Cyclops?
The Cyclops took it as a rebuke (scolding) or that Odysseus was scolding him.
What is the Cyclop's attitude about the gods?
What clever lie did Odysseus tell the Cyclops and why did he tell it?
What did the Cyclops do next?
The men were described as two small puppies struggling in the hands of the Cyclops.  “Like squirming puppies....” This is an example of a simile.

“When the young Dawn with fingertips of rose lit up the world....” This is an example of personification for Dawn or sunrise does not have fingertips.
The Cyclops ate two more men for breakfast ;-(

Cap a quiver - the cap or top of a case of arrows.  To cap a quiver means to put the cap or top back on the case of arrows.

The Cyclops put a huge boulder in the door of the cave like an ordinary person would put a cap back on a quiver of arrows so that the men couldn’t escape.

Then men, under Odysseus’ direction, find an olive tree which has already had its branches cut off by the Cyclops.  It looks like a huge mast on a ship.  They sharpen one end of it so that it is very sharp. What do you think they are going to do with that sharp stake?

When the Cyclops comes back, he eats two more men. Odysseus offers him some wine which the Cyclops likes. He likes it soooo much he gets drunk!
Reeling: to stumble around
Seer: to burn on the surface.

The Cyclops:

Please answer in complete sentences:

After the Cyclops eats some of Odysseus’ men, what plan does Odysseus hit upon to escape?

What clever trick did Odysseus use to deceive the Cyclops?

Describe the effect Odysseus’ plan had on the Cyclops.

How did Odysseus and his men escape from the cave?

What foolish thing did Odysseus do after he and the men got on board the boat?

What is the weird?  What was the prediction the ancient wizard foretold about the Cyclops’ fate? Why is it ironic?

How did the Cyclops curse Odysseus?  What effect is it going to have on the rest of the story? 

Polyphemus the Cyclop

Polyphemus the Cyclop

Vocabulary:

Boughs: tree branches
Achaeans: (ah kee uns) Greeks
Ewe: (uu) female sheep
Bleating: Baaa-baaa; the sound a sheep makes
Hewn: to shape an object, usually of wood, with a knife.
Ambrosia: drink of the gods
Smithy: a blacksmith’s workshop
Adz: a tool with a long curving blade
Sage: wise or a wise person
Rosy fingers of Dawn: personification
Death sat there large: metaphor
Kinky: short, tightly curled hair or wool
Pectoral: chest
Carrion: road kill; dead animal body
Rogue: an unscrupulous person, an untrustworthy fellow; George Bush is a rogue.
Adversary: enemy; an opponent
Lob: to throw a heavy object like a rock or a grenade
Stern: the back of a boat
Girdle: to encircle

What was one of the most important things to the Greeks? The ties between the guests and the hosts.
Polyphemus: son of Poseidon.

According to the critic Erwin F. Cook, THE ODYSSEY portrays a series of contrasts between metis (cunning intelligence), and bie or bia (violent might). Odysseus demonstrates metis throughout his adventures, as does his patron, Athena. Poseidon and other figures who oppose Odysseus represent bie. Cook argues that in THE ODYSSEY and in other works, Poseidon and Athena are opposed to each other. They represent the "Greek polarization of nature and culture". Poseidon represents the brute force of nature and Athena represents the ingenuity which renders that power useful or protects us from it.

Symbols: The olive pole, which was used as a weapon by Odysseus against Polyphemus, the son of Poseidon, is a symbol associated with the goddess Athena. According to Greek myth, Athena and Poseidon once competed for sovereignty over Attica, the region in which Athens is located, by offering gifts. Poseidon produced water in the barren Acropolis; Athena produced an olive tree. The Olympian gods who judged the competition, decided that Athena's olive tree was a better offering than Poseidon's water and declared her the winner. The contemporary audiences of THE ODYSSEY would be very familiar with this myth and would have recognized the use of the olive pole as another triumph of Athena over Poseidon, the triumph of the intellect over brute force.

Page 660; Polyphemus the Cyclops

This is in “media res” which means that we start the story in the middle. Remember that Odysseus is sitting in the court of Alcinous telling the story of what happened during the last ten years.  This part of the story is in flashback!

Remember the ties between the host and guests are sacred. Who violated these ties in The Cyclops?

What did Odysseus and the men do when they found themselves in the Cyclop’s cave?

What did the Cyclops do when he came into the cave?

Did the Cyclops know that Odysseus and his men were there?

What did he do when he first saw them?

What did Odysseus say that offended the Cyclops?

The Cyclops took it as a rebuke (scolding) or that Odysseus was scolding him.

What is the Cyclop's attitude about the gods?

What clever lie did Odysseus tell the Cyclops and why did he tell it?

What did the Cyclops do next?

The men were described as two small puppies struggling in the hands of the Cyclops.  “Like squirming puppies....” This is an example of a simile.

“When the young Dawn with fingertips of rose lit up the world....” This is an example of personification for Dawn or sunrise does not have fingertips.

The Cyclops ate two more men for breakfast ;-(

Cap a quiver - the cap or top of a case of arrows.  To cap a quiver means to put the cap or top back on the case of arrows.

The Cyclops put a huge boulder in the door of the cave like an ordinary person would put a cap back on a quiver of arrows so that the men couldn’t escape.

Then men, under Odysseus’ direction, find an olive tree which has already had its branches cut off by the Cyclops.  It looks like a huge mast on a ship.  They sharpen one end of it so that it is very sharp. What do you think they are going to do with that sharp stake?

When the Cyclops comes back, he eats two more men. Odysseus offers him some wine which the Cyclops likes. He likes it soooo much he gets drunk!

Reeling: to stumble around

Seer: to burn on the surface.

The Cyclops:

Please answer in complete sentences:

After the Cyclops eats some of Odysseus’ men, what plan does Odysseus hit upon to escape?

What clever trick did Odysseus use to deceive the Cyclops?

Describe the effect Odysseus’ plan had on the Cyclops.

How did Odysseus and his men escape from the cave?

What foolish thing did Odysseus do after he and the men got on board the boat?

What is the weird?  What was the prediction the ancient wizard foretold about the Cyclops’ fate? Why is it ironic?

How did the Cyclops curse Odysseus?  What effect is it going to have on the rest of the story? 

November 7, 2011 - November 10, 2011
Ninth Grade Honors English Agenda

Monday, November 7th:
Finish the Propaganda presentations.
Begin reading "The Cask of Amontillado"

Tuesday, November 8th:
Shortened day!
Finish reading "The Cask of Amontillado"
Pass out the irony and vocabulary packet for "The Cask of Amontillado"

Wednesday, November 9th:
Please bring your VOCABULARY WORKSHOP and your HOLT HANDBOOK (blue grammar book)
Unit 2 in your vocabulary book will be assigned today and will be due on Tuesday, November 15th.
"Independent and Subordinate Clauses"; pages 98 - 100; exercise 1 will be assigned today and will be due on Monday, November 14th.
Begin reading "The Most Dangerous Game".

Thursday, November 10th:
Warm-up!
Using three words from your Unit 3 vocabulary, write three sentence using subordinate clauses.
Continue reading "The Most Dangerous Game"

Island of Laestrygonians, The Wind God

Reading Log for the Island of the Wind God:

The men and Odysseus land on the Island of Aeolia, the land of the Wind God, Aeolus. Aeolus gives Odysseus a bag of the trade winds, which would keep Odysseus from reaching home. He tells Odysseus not to open the bag for the trade winds will be released, keeping Odysseus from reaching Ithaca. Odysseus stashes the bag under the seats without telling the men the contents in the bag and sets sail for home. The men are curious about what might be in the bag and thinking that it is filled with gold, open it. Unfortunately, the men open the bag just as they are in sight of Ithaca. The trade winds are released and blow the ships off the coast of Ithaca and back out to sea.

The theme of the story is__________________________.

Ignorance leads to destruction.

Distrust can lead to destruction.

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The Reading Log for the Island of the Laestrygonions:

Island of Laestrygonions: The ships land on an island filled with huge cannibals who devour all the ships but one. The ship manned by Odysseus manages to get away and lands on the Island of Aeaea, the land of the beautiful enchantress Circe.

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I Am Laertes' Son

Odyssey Notes:

I am Laertes' Son.

Princess Nausicaa takes him to the palace where her parents greet this striking stranger (whom Athena has made appear taller, more massive, with red gold crisping hair like hyacinth) with great politeness. Like all good Greeks who respect the laws of their gods and know that the ties between guests and hosts are sacred, the King and Queen offer the stranger wine and food. After he has eaten his fill, the court minstrel asks him what topic of song he would like the minstrel to sing. The stranger requests a song about the exploits of the Greek hero Odysseus at Troy, and his endless wandering, and his men lost at sea. As the minstrel begins to sing tears begin to fall from the stranger's eyes. The King can no longer hide his curiosity and asks, "Who are you?" The stranger's words, "I am Laertes'son, Odysseus, I mean..." are met with shock and amazement. Here is the great Greek warrior long thought dead, found alive at last seating in our palace!

Odysseus begins recounting his ceaseless attempts to return home after the fall of Troy twenty years ago.

The story is told in "Medea Res" which means in the "middle of". Notice that the book picks up ten years after the fall of Troy and after the occurrence of most of the events. Odysseus tells the story to the Court of Alcinous in flash back format. The stories of the Island of the Cicones, the Land of the Lotus Eaters, The Bag of Winds, the Island of Polyphemus the Cyclops, Circe the Witch, the Land of the Dead, back to the Island of Circe the Witch, the Sirens, Scylla, Charybdis and Thrinakia, the Island of Helios, the Sun God, all are recounted by Odysseus to the Court of Alcinous, and we the audience experience these stories in flashback. The real time occurrences are The Island of Calypso, The Court of Alcinous and his return to Ithaca where he struggles to regain his home.

Princess Nausicaa

THE PRINCESS NAUSICAA

HOMERIC SIMILE: A long comparison between two unlike things.

Imagery is descriptions that appeal to the senses.

Strategist: (root word: strategy) a very clever person who creates a plan of attack to accomplish a goal.

The Nymph Calypso releases Odysseus who builds a boat and sets sail for Ithaca. However, Poseidon whips up yet another storm which leaves him shipwrecked on the shores of the Phaeacians.

The Princess Nausicaa

Meanwhile, in the Court of Alcinous, we meet the beautiful young Princess Nausicaa. She is the daughter of King Alcinous who rules over the island of Scheria, on whose beach Odysseus is now lying, exhausted from his twenty rough days at sea, locked in the deep embrace of sleep.  We see the Princess sleeping in her bed before dawn. The Goddess Athena disguises herself as the best friend of the princess to wake her up so that she will go down to the beach to wash clothes and discover Odysseus passed out at the shore.

Graces: The three beautiful goddesses who govern beauty, charm, and pleasure in human life.

Common Motif in Greek literature and mythology: The gods disguise themselves as mortals. Athena disguises herself as a mortal again. The first time Athena disguises herself in THE ODYSSEY is when she appears as on old man named Mentor, to give advice to Telemachus. MENTOR is where we get the word "mentor", which is an older, wiser advisor. Now in Book 6 of THE ODYSSEY, Athena appears as Dymas' daughter, Nausicaa's best friend, to awaken her without frightening her to tell her to go to the beach today.

The Greeks believed that the gods frequently interfered in the lives of humans in this way - by disguising themselves as mortals to make suggestions, or to direct our feet along a certain path so that fates and destinies may be fulfilled.

Distaff yarn: Princess Nausicaa's mother was already at work, spinning wool onto a spindle to make cloth.

Nausicaa is probably about fifteen, marriageable age for a young Greek girl at that time. She tells her father she wants to wash the family linen for the dances her brothers must attend in order to find suitable wives.

Drubbed: to hit the clothes against rocks to clean them.

Nausicaa and her hand maids ride to the beach in a little cart with the laundry. There at the beach, they wash the clothes, they picnic, they run races, they swim, they sun bathe, and they play sports. While they are playing a game of catch, Athena causes the ball to go out of bounds and bounce next to Odysseus, waking him up.

Odysseus is a much older man - and naked - and he is confronted with a problem - how does he get what he needs - food, clothes and help - without frightening the young girls. He thinks quickly - should he prostrate himself (lie down flat on the ground) and touch the princess's knees to show submission or should he stand tall and humbly ask for her help? He decides that touching her may frighten her so he decides on the latter course. He breaks off an olive branch to hide his nakedness and begins to flatter her, saying she reminds him of Artemis (the goddess of virginity - a wise choice which shows he recognizes and respects her youth and virginity).

Odysseus says that if she helps him, he will wish a happy home and marriage for her - things that were very important to the Greeks.

Nausicaa says, "You know Zeus mets out fortune / to good and bad men as it pleases him."

Nausicaa says that Zeus gives bad things to both good and bad people - which is the Greek philosophy explaining the randomness of life. Good things happen to bad people and bad things happen to good people.

She decides to help him and orders her maids to bathe him, and to give him food and clothes.

Note again how important it is to treat your guests with respect.

Odysseus responds in a gracious, respectful and wise manner by saying it is not appropriate that these young girls should see him in his nakedness so he will bathe himself without their help.

Again, Athena intervenes by making him rockstar glamourous looking - fit for an action hero.

Hyacinth: a flower that is reddish gold. This is the color to which Athena restores Odysseus' hair.

Hephaestus: black smith to the gods. Look up the Myth of Hephaestus.  He was an exceptionally ugly god - so ugly in fact that his mother, Hera, threw him off Mount Olympus because he was such an ugly baby.  He landed at the bottom of the ocean and began gathering up the pearls, diamonds, rubies and emeralds he found there to make gorgeous jewelry.  When Hera saw the beautiful rings and bracelets he was making, she reconsidered and brought him back to Olympus.  So overjoyed was she by the beauty of his jewelry, she gave him Aphrodite, the most beautiful goddess on Olympus, to marry, which is another example of irony - the ugliest god is married to the most beautiful one.

Back to the story of the Princess Nausicaa:

Nausicaa tells Odysseus to walk behind the cart with her maids back to the palace. They will pass by the marina where construction workers and sailors are building ships. She warns Odysseus that the men will be quite rude and make speculative comments about their relationship. The men are quite bitter that she has rejected all of them as possible suitors or husbands.

Again, Nausicaa exhibits the highest level of appropriate Greek behavior - she does not want to do anything that will shame her parents.

"And I myself should hold it shame / for any girl to flout her own dear parents, / taking up with a man, before her marriage."

Flout: to scorn, to insult, to show contempt for.

Calypso's Island,

Odyssey Notes:

Calypso's Island

We first meet Odysseus in Book 4 where he is sitting on the shore of the lovely Calypo's island weeping with longing for his wife and son whom he has not seen in twenty years. It seems that Odysseus has grown tired of the beautiful goddess and wishes to go home to Penelope. Athena, the goddess of Wisdom, his patroness, takes pity on Odysseus and goes to Zeus to beg for his safe return to Ithaca. Zeus sends Hermes, the messenger of the gods, to give the seductive Calypso an offer she cannot refuse - either give up Odysseus and allow him to go home to his beloved Penelope - or Zeus will send her island plummeting to the bottom of the ocean. Calypso reluctantly agrees, but before allowing him to leave, Calypso offers Odysseus a romantic little dinner for two and over candlelight she asks him the age old questions, "What does she have that I don't?" Odysseus, the wiliest of all the Greeks - which is why he is the favorite of Athena, the goddess of Wisdom - casts his far ranging mind for an answer and comes up with this answer - although Penelope, being a mere mortal, cannot compare to the beauty of a goddess, he misses his quiet wife and wishes to grow old with her. Calypso reluctantly gives him permission to build a small boat to set sail for home, and bids him adieu.

But Poseidon, the god of the sea, still has not forgiven Odysseus for blinding his son, Polyphemus the Cyclops, and once again sends storms and winds to keep him at sea for weeks. Finally, Odysseus is shipwrecked on an island and exhausted from his weeks of battling sea storms, falls into a deep sleep. Meanwhile, Athena is up and about, setting the stage for his rescue.

October 31, 2011 - November 4, 2011
Weekly Agenda for 9th Grade Honors English

Monday, October 31st:
Handouts will be given today on propaganda techniques.
We will break into groups and create a political commercial and a product commercial using two of the propaganda techniques.
For homework: watch television tonight and find examples of some of the propaganda techniques we have discussed today in class.

Tuesday, November 1st:
Present your two commercials today to the class.

Wednesday, November 2nd:
Please bring your VOCABULARY WORKSHOP and your HOLT’S HANDBOOK (grammar) to class today
Assign Unit 2 of the VOCABULARY WORKSHOP
This will be due on Monday, November 7th
Assign “Independent and Subordinate Clause”; pages 98 - 100; exercise 1; this will be due on Friday, November 4th.

Thursday, November 3rd:
District Assessment on Persuasion

Friday, November 4th:
District Assessment on Persuasion

October 24, 2011 - October 26, 2011
Weekly Agenda for 9th Grade Honors English
Monday, October 24th:
Read essay on Jackie Robinson in PERSPECTIVES in MULTIPLE-CULTURALISM
Test Practice
For homework: Short Constructed Response

Tuesday, October 25th:
"Before You Read"
Vocabulary
Read Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream"
Test Practice
For homework: Short Constructed Response

Wednesday, October 26th:
Handouts will be given out on propaganda techniques
Break into groups and create a political or product commercial using two of the
propaganda techniques from the handouts.

Thursday, October 27th:
Present your group's commercial to class

Friday, October 28th:
Grammar assignment on adverbial clause
The grammar homework will be due on Tuesday, November 1st.
Assign Unit 2 in Vocabulary Workshop: Level D
This will be due on Thursday, November 3rd.

October 17th - October 21st

Weekly Agenda for 9th Grade Honors English

Monday, October 17th:

Go over homework from the weekend: Reading Check, Test Practice and the Constructed Response.

Read before pages 15 - 20; "Before You Read"; "Where I Find My Heroes" and "Heroes with Solid Feet"

For homework: Page 21; "Reading Check", "Test Practice" and "Constructed Response"

Tuesday, October 18th:

Go over homework!

Wednesday, October 19th:

Read pages 22 - 24; "Informational Text" and "Using the Sources"

Read pages 25 - 26; "Before You Read"

Read pages 27 - 29; "Free Minds and Hearts at Work"

Read pages 30 - 31; "Jackie Changed the Face of Sports"

Thursday, October 20th:

Read pages 32 - 35; "Before You Read"; "Jackie Changed the Face of Sports"; "Test Practice" and "Skills Review"

Finish for homework!

Friday, October 21st:

Read pages 37 and 38; "Literary Response and Analysis: Jackie Robinson"

Read page 40; "After You Read"

Rhetoric: Persuasion

Testimonial:

The testimonial is another example of the seven propaganda techniques as identified by the Institute for Propaganda Institute. The testimony can be implied by linking the image of a famous or respected celebrity with the item, or an endorsement or a quotation by a famous or respected celebrity which links the item to the celebrity in the mind of the viewer.

Testimonials are closely linked with the transfer propaganda technique, in that an attempt is made to connect an admirable person to an object. This propaganda technique is frequently used in advertising and political campaigns.

One way to combat this form of propaganda is to – once again – consider the merits of the idea or item independent of the person or organization endorsing it.

Examples of this type of propaganda:

Michael Jordan’s endorsement of Nike sports shoes. The viewer unconsciously links Michael Jordan’s prowess on the basketball court with being knowledgeable about sports shoes.

Wheaties, the breakfast cereal, always has an Olympic star or athletic star on its box which links the ability or star power of the athlete with eating Wheaties. Eating of Wheaties probably has nothing to do with Venus William’s success at Wembledon but seeing her endorsements link her with Wheaties in the mind of the viewers.

Examples of Propaganda Techniques: Plain Folks

It was claimed by some that the vote was swayed for Bill Clinton when he donned a pair of shades and played some sax on the Arsenio Hall Show, proving that he was much cooler than stodgy old George Bush Senior.

Here is Yale, Harvard and northeast prep-school educated son of a former president sitting on the tailgate of a battered pick-up truck. The implication here is that he is just like you and me.

Here is another picture of George W. Bush clearing brush from his ranch in West Texas - just like you and me. After his presidency, Bush moved to a home in a luxurious part of North Dallas where, presumably, there is no brush to clear.

Plain Folks:

Plain Folks is another of the seven propaganda techniques identified by the Institute of Propaganda. The plain folks technique is used by the propagandist to convince the public that s/he is like them, shares their interests, beliefs and needs, and has their best interests at heart.

The propagandist will imitate the speech pattern of the crowd s/he wishes to woo, or use idiom or jokes familiar to that segment of the public. The propagandist will increase the illusion by subtly mispronouncing words or using slight grammatical errors; by mimicking the speech pattern the propagandist shows s/he is just like the audience - plain folks - and not an affected, prissy intellectual who thinks s/he is better than they.

The propagandist heightens this affect by dressing in attire similar to his/her targeted audience – simple attire: jeans, boots, flannel shirt, jeans jacket, for example – and by affecting movements which reflect the body language of the people.

Finally, the propagandist will be photographed doing hobbies or leisure activities associated with the hobbies and leisure activities of the targeted audience. Some examples would be George Bush clearing the brush on his ranch (many of his supporters were rural who could relate to the brush clearing activity because that was something they frequently did). Another example would be Barack Obama engaging in sports, such as playing golf or basketball, which shows him to be a regular guy, but also emphasizes his youth, vigor and manliness.

Examples of Propaganda Techniques: Snob Appeal

These images are examples of the "appeal to the inner snob" in all of us - the belief that we are better and smarter than others and our use of these superior products prove our superiority.

Notice that a very distinguished kitty is used to sell an expensive can of cat food.

The Cerebos Salt blatantly states that it is for those of use who desire (and deserve) the very best.

Classical music is tied to the elite. Therefore, a cellist is used to sell a car whose targeted audience is the elite or those who aspire to be the elite.

Snob Appeal:

Snob appeal is a propaganda technique frequently used in advertising which is the opposite of Band Wagon. Snob appeal is just that – it appeals to the snob which resides inside all of us; the secret thought that we are not average or ordinary and that we are superior to everyone else.

This is where an appeal is made to the authority of the few, the aristocrats, the leaders.

Examples of Propaganda Techniques: Transfer

These are examples of the use of "transfer" in propaganda - both political and commercially.

The images, which are positive and/or heroic, are attached to concepts or product the propagandist wants to sell to you.

Notice that this image of Hitler is shot from below, which makes him seem "larger than life', like a giant, and the sky above makes him appear as if he were from Mount Olympus, god-like.

And we do it in our own country as well and on both sides of the political spectrum. Here, President Barack Obama is affiliated with the word "Hope", which implies a better future from the political and economic meltdown of the last four years.

Here is another image of Hitler mounted on a steed which implies a heroic stance in life. This is used to connect heroism and the heroic ideal in the mind of the voter with Adolf Hitler.

This implies that if you are a "real guy" you don't use PCs. PCs are for wimps.

Transfer:

Transfer is another of the seven main propaganda terms first analyzed by the Institute for Propaganda Analysis in 1938. It is a technique used during war time, political campaigns and in advertising. It is a technique, frequently used with images, to link one item with another item in the consciousness of the audience. The second item can have either positive or negative connotations. The technique is to link the primary item (a political candidate, a product a company is trying to sell to the public, or an idea a government is trying to sell to its people) with another item that has a particular quality – again, either good or bad. In this way, the two items are linked in the minds of the viewer. By linking a candidate with the symbol of the American flag or fighter jets, the viewers will unconsciously link the candidate with the qualities associated with the American flag (patriotism) or with fighter jets (strong, forceful, vigilant). But it can also be used negatively as well: by linking a political candidate with the image of an snake oil salesman, the viewer will unconsciously link the candidate with the qualities associated with a crook.

In advertising, the ad agency will use an image as a metaphor to establish a link in the viewer’ mind between the image (usually of an admired object) and the product the ad agency is trying to sell. An example of this is a John Deere commercial in which the product, a red tractor, is being driven by a strong, virile, good looking man dressed in a red jacket. The red jacket connects the man with the red tractor. The viewers will unconsciously link the red tractor with the qualities of the strong, virile, good looking, red jacket-wearing man; the audience will also make the connection that if they drive the John Deere tractor they too will be like the man – strong, virile, and good looking.

The best way to counteract the propaganda technique of transference is by analyzing the item under consideration (the candidate, the product or idea) on its own merits, independent of our emotional reactions to the attached images.

Examples of Propaganda Techniques: Glittering Generalities

GLITTERING GENERALITIES:

This is one of the seven major propaganda techniques identified by the Institute of Propaganda Analysis in 1938. Glittering generalities are used most often in politics and political propaganda. Glittering generalities use words that may mean different things to different people but embody concepts, beliefs and ideas that are generally highly valued in society. Some words that are used in glittering generalities are freedom, liberty, democracy, America, etc. When these words are employed no thought is usually demanded; the word(s) stand alone and evoke an emotional response. When someone is asked to sacrifice in the name of Democracy, the individual will usually be swayed by the appeal, for the word “democracy” (for most Westerners, anyway) is charged with powerful, positive emotions. When one encounters an argument or an appeal that uses glittering generalities, it is important to weigh the argument or appeal (to fight, to sacrifice, to vote a certain way) on its own merits separate from the emotionally weighted words used to sell it.

Methods:

The speaker or writer will use metaphors, rhythm, alliteration, repetition, and parallelism with striking imagery to create a flowing river of poetry to hypnotize the audience. The speaker or writer will use emotionally charged words that stir the audience’s heart but upon closer examination the words (which are nouns of intangible ideals such as honor, freedom) are hollow and do not hold any ideas.

The people from the Institute of Propaganda Analysis suggest that when listening to a speaker who is using “glittering generalities” one should ask oneself:

What do the words the speaker is using really mean? What does patriotism mean? What does the word virtue mean to me?

Does the appeal or argument have a true connection to the word(s) being used? For example, is health care truly a right? Or is nationalized health care really socialism?

Is the idea being sold to me by using words I like really serving my best interests?

Leaving these glittering generalities out of the speech or essay, what are the merits of the argument?

Examples of Propaganda Techniques: Card Stacking

Card Stacking:

Alias:

Ignoring the Counter Evidence

Slanting

John Stuart Mills:

He who knows only his own side of the case, knows little of that. His reasons may be good, and no one may have been able to refute them. But if he is equally unable to refute the reasons on the opposite side, if he does not so much as know what they are, he has no ground for preferring either opinion.

From his book, ON LIBERTY

Card stacking, Slanting, Suppressed Evidence

Card stacking, otherwise known as omission, is one of the seven techniques of propaganda as identified by the Institute for Propaganda Analysis. Card stacking is the presentation of information that is favorable to an idea, product or proposal and the omission of information that is not favorable. The use of card stacking is very effective in propaganda, whether it be in commercials, political campaigns, or business proposals. The information presented may be factually accurate but the danger is that negative information is not presented so the message is lop-sided and incomplete. The best way to protect oneself from “card stacking” is by seeking more information from outside sources.

Example:

You’ve spoken about having seen the children’s prisons in Iraq. Can you describe what you saw there?

The prison in question is at the General Security Services headquarters, which was inspected by my team in January 1998. It appeared to be a prison for children – from toddlers to pre-adolescents – whose only crime was to be the off-spring of those who have spoken out politically against the Saddam Hussein regime. The scene was horrific. Actually, I am not going to describe what I saw there because what I saw was so horrible that it can be used by those who would want to promote war against Iraq, and I want to wage peace.

Source: Massimo Calabresi, “Scott Ritter: In His Own Words”, Time Magazine, 9/14/2002.

GLITTERING GENERALITIES:

This is one of the seven major propaganda techniques identified by the Institute of Propaganda Analysis in 1938. Glittering generalities are used most often in politics and political propaganda. Glittering generalities use words that may mean different things to different people but embody concepts, beliefs and ideas that are generally highly valued in society. Some words that are used in glittering generalities are freedom, liberty, democracy, America, etc. When these words are employed no thought is usually demanded; the word(s) stand alone and evoke an emotional response. When someone is asked to sacrifice in the name of Democracy, the individual will usually be swayed by the appeal, for the word “democracy” (for most Westerners, anyway) is charged with powerful, positive emotions. When one encounters an argument or an appeal that uses glittering generalities, it is important to weigh the argument or appeal (to fight, to sacrifice, to vote a certain way) on its own merits separate from the emotionally weighted words used to sell it.

Methods:

The speaker or writer will use metaphors, rhythm, alliteration, repetition, and parallelism with striking imagery to create a flowing river of poetry to hypnotize the audience. The speaker or writer will use emotionally charged words that stir the audience’s heart but upon closer examination the words (which are nouns of intangible ideals such as honor, freedom) are hollow and do not hold any ideas.

The people from the Institute of Propaganda Analysis suggest that when listening to a speaker who is using “glittering generalities” one should ask oneself:

What do the words the speaker is using really mean? What does patriotism mean? What does the word virtue mean to me?

Does the appeal or argument have a true connection to the word(s) being used? For example, is health care truly a right? Or is nationalized health care really socialism?

Is the idea being sold to me by using words I like really serving my best interests?

Leaving these glittering generalities out of the speech or essay, what are the merits of the argument?

         What emotions are aroused by these words and images?