Compare and Contrast three of the “Best Words” poems on love relationships. Examine the natures of the relationships conveyed and the ways in which the poets present them. Which of the poems most interests you? (provide your reason).
Compare and Contrast three of the "Best Words" poems on love relationships. Examine the natures of the relationships conveyed and the ways in which the poets present them. Which of the poems most interests you? (provide your reason). The three poems that I have chosen to examine are: 'Ballad', which is anonymous, 'Shall I Compare Thee...' by William Shakespeare and 'La Belle Dame Sans Merci' by John Keats. The three poems have both their similarities and their contrasts, which makes them a good selection to study. The first and most obvious contrast, and reason for contrast between the three pieces is the time they were written- with the Ballad being anonymous, we cannot say when it was written, but the other two were written a couple of centuries apart. 'Shall I Compare Thee...' during either the sixteenth or seventeenth century and 'La Belle Dame Sans Merci' in the nineteenth. This gap, in the times they were written, means that some of the language used in the poems is different, both from each other and from language spoken now. A further reason for the contrast in language used is the audiences they were written for. The Ballad was passed down from generation to generation by word of mouth, and would have most likely been told in inns and taverns. 'Shall I Compare Thee...', being written by William Shakespeare was aimed at people who attended the theatre. This ranged
How does the poet convey his admiration for the young man's beauty in sonnets 7 and 19? Collectively, the first section of Shakespeare's sonnets tends to primarily
How does the poet convey his admiration for the young man's beauty in sonnets 7 and 19? Collectively, the first section of Shakespeare's sonnets tends to primarily consist of similar themes and ideas. The three key themes are time, love and poetry, together allowing the power of the poet's feelings towards the young man to be illustrated. One way, possibly one of the most effective techniques Shakespeare uses to do this, is by using the young man's beauty. Sonnet 7 is largely made up of an extended metaphor. Shakespeare compares human life to the daily journey of the sun, from sunrise to sunset. The sun's rising in the morning symbolizes the young man's youthful years. Just as the rest of the world watch the "sacred majesty" of the ever-heightening sun, this is how the poet views the young man, showing how in awe of the young man the he is. The sun's highest point in the sky resembles "strong youth in his middle age", however, after the sun reaches its peak, it has to descend. This downward movement represents "feeble age" in the youth. This stage in life is not only when beauty begins to fade, but when the people who looked with admiration at the youth's beauty will "look another way" when he has become old. Where is says "Unlook'd on diest" it is saying, in death, he will not be remembered. Then, as seen in some of the previous sonnets, the Shakespeare argues that the
How are the characters in The Miller(TM)s Tale(TM) punished for their actions and do they deserve this punishment?
How are the characters in 'The Miller's Tale' punished for their actions and do they deserve this punishment? Of all of the major character in 'The Miller's Tale', only Alison is physically unpunished. Each of the other characters - John, Nicholas and Absolon - receives some kind of physical punishment for a flaw in their personalities or a mistake that they make. John receives punishment in the form of a broken arm which he obtains "with the fal". In the middle ages, medicine was nowhere near as developed as today, and broken bones would take a long time to heal. For John, a carpenter, use of his arms is vital to his livelihood, and so this physical punishment is a lot more damaging to him than one might expect. If his arm did heal, he would be out of work for a considerable amount of time. Not only this, but he has to suffer humiliation, as all of the neighbours "turned al his harm unto a jape", believing him to be mad. The reason that John is punished is that he has taken a wife much younger than him - "she was wilde and yong, and he was old". The Miller pokes fun at the carpenter because he does not know that "man sholde wedde his similitude". It is unnatural for a man as old as John to take such a young wife, and to keep her "narwe in cage" when she is lively and a creature of appetites that must be satisfied. The Miller suggests that John deserves to be cuckolded
In the poem, 'To His Mistress Going to Bed,' John Donne, in the form of first person dialogue, uses various themes and extended metaphors to illustrate the seductive, witty events occurring
English Commentary Elegy XX - To His Mistress Going to Bed by John Donne In the poem, 'To His Mistress Going to Bed,' John Donne, in the form of first person dialogue, uses various themes and extended metaphors to illustrate the seductive, witty events occurring between the speaker and his mistress. The metaphysical nature of the themes and imagery introduces a lot of complex ideas, parallelism, and concentrated language within the poem. Such themes are revolved around the events of the poem. The mistress is 'willingly' stripping nude for the speaker and is doing so in a submissive yet seductive manner, which is powered by a single force of sexual desire. The structure follows a chronological set of events. Each of these events holds a unique image which is linked with the other poem's images through some fundamental themes. Such themes include eroticism, excitement, adventure and pureness, which is illustrated through the many kinds of images used. The poem begins with a seemingly rather colloquial and arrogant tone from the speaker, saying to the woman, "Come, all rest my powers defy; until I labour, I in labour lie." Firstly the exclamation to the woman creates more demand for attention which compels the reader to continue. For the lines, they not only suggest that the woman is a prostitute with authoritative and colloquial language but it introduces the speaker's
In what ways is The Merchant's Tale a response to The Clerk's Tale?
In what ways is The Merchant's Tale a response to The Clerk's Tale? Chaucer's establishment of the Clerk in the General Prologue as a committed scholar who prioritises his academic studies over material wealth contrasts sharply with the description of the Merchant's 'bargaines' and his 'chevissaunce'. In placing The Clerk's Tale immediately before that of the Merchant and exploring similar themes within both, Chaucer introduces to his readership a likelihood of the second tale being a response to the first. The differing attitudes and outcomes of the tales, whilst having significant links in their subject matter, provoke comparison of the narrators in their personal discussions and the protagonists become the embodiment of their views towards marriage in the tales. Walter is presented by the Clerk as a largely stereotypical marquis, whose qualities of humility and understanding in his proposal to Griselda are linked to the distinct lack of irony in the introduction to his character. The Clerk narrates in praise of the protagonist, "Handsome and young and strong; in him were blent High honour and a gentle courtesy." It is then admitted that Walter did show certain faults ("He was indeed to blame...") although the fact that he is named so shortly after the beginning of the tale resounds importantly in the Merchant's prologue, where Chaucer admits to having forgotten the
“Love, time, death and loss have all been the inspiration for sonnets.” Discuss how this applies to the sonnets you have studied and comment on their technical variety.
"Love, time, death and loss have all been the inspiration for sonnets." Discuss how this applies to the sonnets you have studied and comment on their technical variety. The themes of love, time, death and loss are often and easily linked for obvious reasons. As far back as poetry and writing date, these themes will be clear within them. Often the inspiration for tragic or despairing poetry, one should perhaps observe the sonnets which are particularly linked to such subject matter. William Shakespeare's Sonnet 73 is about time bringing forth potential loss of love and the unavoidable consequences of age. The sonnet opens with a revelation of the time of year, imagery of autumn, the end of the year and the autumn of his own life. It is reflective almost to the point of wallowing; the sun is fading, the yellow leaves "do hang" and there is a poetic link to singing birds, highlighting the ever-present bitter sweet melancholy within the piece. The first quatrain begins to set the tune of the sonnet, using the concept of time within the seasons with an almost literal landscape foundation; the descriptions of nature are at their oldest, ravaged by time and nearing their ending. Shakespeare uses various parallels, drawing one in as the almost literal portrayal being in the 'autumn' of his own life. The second quatrain is also a careful parallel within these concepts of time,
The poem " My Last Duchess" by Robert Browning is a fascinating poem exposing a flawed and sinister character.
The poem " My Last Duchess" by Robert Browning is a fascinating poem exposing a flawed and sinister character. The Duke, in his revealing monologue is ordering his new Duchess. I was intrigued by his egotism and evil behaviour. I intend to explore the extent of his character unwitiningly exposed by him in this dramatic monologue. The poem is a monologue, the continuous speech of a Duke to the envoy of a count whose daughter is to be the next Duchess. The Duke immediately reveals his egotism and possessiveness when he draws back the curtains to expose to the envoy a fine life-like painting of his previous wife. "........(since none puts by The curtain I have drawn for you, but I)" The repetition of "I," is obvious here, it continues through out the monologue, which even ends with the words "for me." The Duke refers to the painting as though referring to a living person, and goes on to explain the Duchess's behaviour. It requires little interpretation of the Dukes words to discover that his last Duchess was not only beautiful but charming, romantic and one who delighted in nature and the simple things of life "Sir, 'twas all one! My favour at her breast, The drooping of the daylight in the West, The bough of cherries some officious fool Broke in the orchard fro her, the white mule She rode with round the terrace" Unfortunately, for the Duchess she seems naive and
Compare the ways in which the poets express strength of feeling in "Spring" and "Holy Sonnet 10"
ENGLISH COURSEWORK Compare the ways in which the poets express strength of feeling in "Spring" and "Holy Sonnet 10" "Spring", written by Gerard Manley-Hopkins, employs the ideas of the beauty of the season. Manley-Hopkins introduces references to his faith, portraying a religious approach. The feelings experienced within the sonnet are very intense, and the reader becomes progressively more engrossed amid the lines of the sonnet, as the poet delves into the peril that spring might be spoiled, and the innocence of youth might be lost. Manley-Hopkins addresses the Lord, in the hope that all sinning might cease forever, and hence the beauty of the season of spring might be maintained eternally. "Holy Sonnet 10", written by John Donne, similarly refers to the poet's faith. The strength of the feeling shown here is colossal, as Donne challenges to address Death as a coward. The sonnet is powerful, as Donne dares to think Death to be weak and feeble. The poet is so confident within his faith of God, and his apparent belief in the afterlife, that he is self assured that no harm will come to him from this one vain beast. Death will eventually be overcome; it is nothing to fear. The poet's feelings are vivid, and dangerous, and the reader is thrown into a reverie of shadows as such immoral thoughts are taken in. "Spring", a Petrarchan sonnet, contains an octave, which sets the
Beowulf risks his life for his people a number of times. One of the warriors risks his life for Beowulf, his leader, in the act of loyalty. This all shows the blending of Christian traditions in the epic, Beowulf.
Shpendi Jashari Beowulf "Alone shall fight for me, struggle for life against the monster, God must decide who will be given to death's cold grip. Grendel's plan, I think, will be what it has been before, to invade this hall and gorge his belly with our bodies." (Lines 268-273) This quote was said by Beowulf a little while before he fought Grendal. This quote shows that Beowulf is ready to risk his life to save his people from a monster that has killed many people. He does this throughout this epic; fighting battles with different monsters that put his people's lives in danger. Also during some of the fights he has faith in God and he believes that God will be there to help him when he needs it. Beowulf is a blending of Christian traditions and beliefs such as loyalty and faith during a time when your life is in great danger like death. Grendal was an evil creature that killed many people in the Herot when darkness fell. Everyone was scared of him and no one was able to kill him, until Beowulf came. He knew of the dangers of Grendal and he knew of the people killed by this evil creature. He was ready to put his life at great risk by fighting this creature so no more people will be killed and that the people would not be scared of him anymore. "...Now he discovered once the afflicter of men, tormentor of their days what it meant to feud with God: Grendal saw that
John Donne - Batter my Heart
Batter My heart If some of poems in the Anthology were to be changed, which poem would you most like the keep in the selection? Justify you choice of poem, using literary and linguistic concepts and approaches. If I were to choose a poem to remain the selection I would choose Sonnet: 'Batter My Heart' by John Donne. The reason I would choose the poem is because of the remarkable emotion portrayed and the strong, powerful imagery used. 'Batter my heart' is a religious poem, ultimately addressing god himself. It is a plea to god from the perspective of a sinner as he desperately tries to establish faith through argument. Trying to convince himself as much as god. The theme of desperation grows from anger to a apologetic tone. The poem is written in a colloquial fashion and true to Donnes metaphysical side, seen in his other poems. The poem is written in first person, and this is used to create a heart felt and disturbing account of Donne's thoughts. The poem is in the form of Shakespearian sonnet, this is ironic, due to sonnets being used primarily to express love. Donne uses this to shock and further the extremity of the piece. The form of the poem splits between being imperative and apologetic. The poem begins with imperative sentences such as " make mee new" and " o'erthrow me". The use of imperative sentences give an aggressive and demanding feel. Yet as I reader I can
