Work in Translation Help [Zorba the Greek]

[Brainiac777]

Hello, I am trying to complete my WIT but I've run into a problem, my essential question is:

To what extent is Zorba a wise character in the novel "Zorba the Greek" by Nikos Kazantazkis?

My teacher gave me the go ahead (and said that "This has potential") but I have no idea how to approach this question (that I've made). My thesis (of which I have no idea how I made it): The extent to which Zorba is a wise character in the translated novel, Zorba the Greek, can be assessed by his actions, judgments, and experience. The problem I face is understanding and answering the question. Wise is a subjective term that means different things to different people, and that's the major problem that I face. My teacher said to work on my argument and said that it is "too weak to be arguing just whether his is wise as too often the response can be subjective". I don't understand what I should be arguing and how to approach the question.

My Outline:

Novel chosen: Zorba the Greek

Essential questions: To what extent is Zorba a wise character in the novel “Zorba the Greek” by Nikos Kazantzakis?

Thesis Statement: The extent to which Zorba is a wise character in the novel “Zorba the Greek” can be assessed by his actions, judgments, and experience. (Elaborate: [How does one assess these factors?] [Why are these factors important in determining if a person is wise?])

Outline:

Introduction

● Introduce the narrator and Zorba

● Define wise and wisdom

● Describe context of novel (time period, society, human culture)

● Introduce the idea of presentism (You cannot apply concepts and ideals from present day to history)

● Thesis statement

● Transition Sentence

Body Paragraph #1 (Actions)

● Define actions

● How the narrator and the other characters in the novel view and respond to Zorba’s stories and actions

● Context of time period allows the narrator to appreciate and understand Zorba’s actions

● Is the rationale behind Zorba’s actions wise in the context of the time period?

● Narrators perspective (style of writing) influences (limits/bias) the way Zorba is portrayed

● How does learning from one’s actions and mistakes make him wiser? Does Zorba do this?

● Transition Sentence

Body Paragraph #2 (Judgments)

● Define judgments

● The rationale behind Zorba’s actions

● How Zorba views/judges women, god, and intellect

● How Zorba judges the narrator and by extension, intellect?

● How has society influenced Zorba’s judgments?

● Do these judgments make Zorba wise and why?

● How does being a work in translation affect the portrayal of Zorba’s judgments

● Transition Sentence

Body Paragraph #3 (Experience)

● Define experience and knowledge

● Why are the stories told by Zorba significant and does it help Zorba become wiser?

● Does Zorba realize the limitations of his experience and knowledge? (Dunning-Kruger effect)

● “Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance” -Confucius

● Does Zorba learn from/reflect upon his mistakes?

● Is Zorba’s simplicity on life evident of his wisdom?

● How experience can be related to the reader and the narrator in spite of it being a work in translation

● Transition Sentence

Conclusion

● Restate Thesis

● Is Zorba wise or not or sometimes?

● Appreciation of wisdom

● Address limitations and reflect upon analysis

● Open ending statement