1. According to the background reading by Stearns, what were some similarities in the ways in which Jews,
Christians, and Muslims responded to the Black Death?
2. How does Heinrich of Herford describe the “cruciferians” or flagellants?
3. Why doesn’t Konrad of Megenberg believe the popular rumors that Jews caused the Black Death?
Living through a pandemic
In the middle of the fourteenth century a devastating pandemic of plague, commonly known in European history as the Black Death, swept through the entire Mediterranean world. This cataclysmic event caused a dramatic demographic decline in Muslim and Christian countries and provoked definable communal responses. The cause of the plague was unknown and, in accordance with the general understanding of the Middle Ages, was attributed to supernatural forces and, primarily, the will or wrath of God. People reacted with hopeful cures and responses based on religious belief, folklore and superstition, and medical knowledge, all of which were informed by catholic Christianity in the West and Islam in the Near East.
illustrates ow Daisy is angelic with an appearance of purity an innocence. Since Daisy comes from old money, she is depicted as a goddess from another world, who is above of everyone. In addition, to build up the presence of how Daisy is from another world, Fitzgerald states that she is “charming”contains a “thrilling voice” and is “sad but lovely”(9). Daisy is shown as a character who is captivating and unforgettable when anyone sees her beauty. She also acts as a paradox since even though she is a lovely person, she presents the aspect of depression in a time where females had very little power. Overall, Daisy is a melodic character who receives all of Gatsby’s attention later on.
Tom who is Daisy’s husband attended Yale with Nick in their early days. For example, Nick describes Tom as a “football figure” who achieved “excellence at twenty-one” and is “enormously wealthy”(6).Tom is shown as a character who seeks adrenaline to be satisfied. But since his peak of his life was at twenty-one it left him with a search of power.This is why Tom cheats with Myrtle behind Daisy’s back in order to be satisfied. In addition, Nick continues to say that Tom is “hardmouth”, “aggressively”, “supercilious”, “dominance”, “fractiousness”, “pack of muscle”(7). Through diction, Fitzgerald reveals how Tom wants control over everything being the dominant male. Tom is characterized negatively by Nick, how he is extremely competitive because he has always been guarded by power. Overall, Tom is an abusive person who will impede against Gatsby in order to keep Daisy’s heart.
2. The valley of ashes is introduced at the beginning of chapter two. It is located halfway between West Egg and New York and is described as a negative environment.For example, Fitzgerald explains how the valley of ashes is “grotesque”, “crumbling” location filled with “ash grey men “, “leade