6 March 2007 - Literature Using Algebra

Upper Sec Assembly - An anaylsis of Lord Jim (Joseph Conrad) Using Algebra

The Upper Secondary students had a real interesting hall assembly by Mr Simen today about Joseph Conrad's literature classic 'Lord Jim'. It was about the analysis of literature using algebraic formulas and equations. The central message was about always having an interdisciplinary approach to any topic or subject, and constantly churning any difficult idea at the back your mind (and sometimes in front of it too) until you have a clear, well thought-out and coherent answer to your questions.

Jim is a promising young man who goes to sea as a youth. He rises quickly through the ranks and soon becomes chief mate. Raised on popular sea literature, Jim constantly daydreams about becoming a hero, yet he has never faced any real danger. He serves aboard a vessel called the Patna, carrying Muslim pilgrims to Mecca, when the ship strikes an underwater object and springs a leak. Jim, not thinking clearly, abandons the ship with the rest of the crew. The Patna does not sink and Jim, along with the rest of the officers, is subjected to an official inquiry by his fellow seamen. It is at this inquiry, where Jim is stripped of his officer's certification . Joseph Conrad suspends judgement on the character of Jim and uses a tecnique called narrative inquiry to prod into the true character of Jim. One of the key themes of the book was whether Jim was "Knowable".

The Use of Art History in analysis - Art History and its movement from the realist art forms of Leonardo Da Vinci and Rembrandt to the impressionist art forms of Salvador Dali was used to explain the style of writing Joseph Conrad employs. Conrad uses an 'impressionist' style. The argument is that literary giants are usually the last to 'catch' the intellectual movements of the preceding century, in this case Renaissance realist art forms.

The Use of Algebra in analysis - Algebra was used to understand whether Jim was 'Knowable'. For example, it was easy to prove that he was good and cruel (x +-x), which negates each other and adds a contradiction to the character of Jim. However to prove that he was 'knowable' and had other qualities, you had to add a y element to it (+y) and so on and so forth.

Good Ideas Come in the Dead of Night - Another central message was that good ideas strike you suddenly and in the dead of night. So, keep a notebook always handy for your ideas when it strikes you like a thief in the night.

Good Introductions and writing - To capture any audience's attention, the introduction is always the most important element in good writing. The introduction to Lord Jim was analyzed in this manner to demonstrate the Joseph Conrad had probably mulled over his choice of words and method of introduction to eventually craft the best introduction possible for his magnus opus. Good introductions make the best essays.

His flexible use of the language also enabled him to utilize such expressions like 'apparalled'. Good language skills requires reading of the classics and having mastered it, comes the creative use of the language in literary texts.