Referring to either The Flea and/or The Broken Heart do you think that it is fair to say that Donnes choice of metaphor is nothing other than a desire to startle.

Referring to either 'The Flea and/or 'The Broken Heart' do you think that it is fair to say that Donne's choice of metaphor is nothing other than a desire to startle. "The greatest thing by far, is to have a command of metaphor. This alone cannot be imparted by another; it is the mark of genius, for to make good metaphors implies an eye for resemblance." Aristotle states how successfully creating a metaphor shows true talent in a poet. Many poets throughout the years have used striking metaphorical images for different purposes and John Donne is an excellent example of this, he chooses unusual and often startling metaphors in order to validate his opinion and perhaps to shock his audience. In 'the flea' he uses the conceit of a flea in order to illustrate his lust towards his mistress. Arguably using a flea in order to persuade and seduce his lover to sleep with him is far-fetched and hyperbolic. Immediately we see Donne having a conversation with his lover and saying to her 'in this flea our two bloods mingled be.' This demonstrates Donne is using the flea to represent the mixing of two people. Donne is viewing the flea as a sexual symbol which seems implausible and startling. He goes on to use it as a symbol for pregnancy as it 'swells with one blood made of two'. Donne seems jealous of the flea as it gets 'pamper'd' and wonders freely over his mistress' body and he

  • Word count: 1927
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
Access this essay

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

  • Word count: 1355
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
Access this essay

My Last duchess - review.

My Last duchess Summary This poem is loosely based on historical events involving Alfonso, the Duke of Ferrara, who lived in the 16th century. The Duke is the speaker of the poem, and tells us he is entertaining an emissary who has come to negotiate the Duke's marriage (he has recently been widowed) to the daughter of another powerful family. As he shows the visitor through his palace, he stops before a portrait of the late Duchess, apparently a young and lovely girl. The Duke begins reminiscing about the portrait sessions, then about the Duchess herself. His musings give way to a diatribe on her disgraceful behaviour: he claims she flirted with everyone and did not appreciate his "gift of a nine-hundred-years- old name." As his monologue continues, the reader realizes with ever-more chilling certainty that the Duke in fact caused the Duchess's early demise: when her behaviour escalated, "[he] gave commands; / Then all smiles stopped together." Having made this disclosure, the Duke returns to the business at hand: arranging for another marriage, with another young girl. As the Duke and the emissary walk leave the painting behind, the Duke points out other notable artworks in his collection. Form "My Last Duchess" comprises rhyming pentameter lines. The lines do not employ end-stops; rather, they use enjambment--that is, sentences and other grammatical units do not

  • Word count: 787
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
Access this essay

Robert Browning - 'The Last Duchess' - 'Write a letter to the count whether or not he should let his daughter marry the Duke'.

RASHID ZAMIR RESPONSE TO LITERATURE- POETRY (PRE-1900) ROBERT BROWNING- 'THE LAST DUCHESS' 'Write a letter to the count whether or not he should let his daughter marry the Duke' Dear Count I have visited the duke at his home and have come to a conclusion. I don't think you should give your daughter to him. When I visited him he sounded happy and joyful. I thought he was a nice guy and a perfect match for your daughter. But all things changed. Whilst touring around his home, he took me downstairs to a dark room. When he turned the lights on, all I saw was loads of amazing pictures surrounding the room. Whilst looking at the pictures one specific picture caught my eye. It was covered in a red distinctive curtain. I wondered what was behind it and before I knew it the duke dragged me across the room towards the painting. He then took off the red curtain and revealed to me a portrait of a beautiful woman. He said 'That's my last duchess painted on the wall, looking as if she was were alive.' When I heard this quote I was quite surprised, because he said that she was looking, as she was alive, which makes me assume that she is dead. I then started to compliment the portrait because the woman was amazing in it, I couldn't get my eyes off it. When the duke saw me staring at the picture he quickly dropped the curtain and started to talk about the artist who painted it. He

  • Word count: 979
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
Access this essay

Discuss one of Robert Browning's better known poems, "My Last Duchess."

In this essay, I would like to discuss one of Robert Browning's better known poems, "My Last Duchess." While some readers may be put off by Browning's language which now seems archaic, his poem is every bit as relevant today as when he wrote it almost two hundred years ago. It is as relevant in the twenty first century as it was in the sixteenth century which serves as the setting for the poet's history lesson. The poem focuses on a sixteenth century Italian duke who is regaling his guest with tales of his deceased wife from which the poem's title is derived. The Duke's guest is the envoy of a count whose daughter the Duke intends to make his next duchess. The poem takes the form of a dramatic monologue. Browning was one of the pioneers of the dramatic monologue in which a speaker's character is revealed to an implied audience through his words alone. Through his speech, the Duke is revealed to be a villain lacking remorse who ordered the murder of his former wife because she did not live up to his expectations. That he can allude to his wife's murder with impunity is testimony to the power held by such despots. Of course, he would not be beyond the reach of the law should he confess to the Count's envoy, which explains why the Duke speaks in ambiguities. As the poem begins, the Duke is discussing a portrait of the deceased Duchess with the Count's envoy who is invited to

  • Word count: 1074
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
Access this essay

Paradise Lost. The epic features of the writing get in the way of Milton's story. Discuss.

Sofia Thuru The epic features of the writing get in the way of Milton's vivid and dramatic story. Milton wrote his epic poem "Paradise Lost" taking deliberately inspiration from the epic poems of Virgyl and Homer. As such, it has distingushable features of the epic genre, such as epic similes, an encyclopaedic scope and the characteristic use of blank verse as opposed to rhyming. These may lead critics to consider Milton's work as having too many digressions from the main plot (a common fault of its Greek counterparts) and as being not very innovative. On the contrary, this essay will argue that Milton's decision to approach such an old literary tradition by renewing it according to his contemporary religious and political ideas was extremely bold and, indeed, innovative. Milton's subject-matter and poetic style are also extremely universal, and yet, they take nothing away from the dramatic story within the poem. As any respectable epic poem, 'Paradise Lost' follows certain conventions, such as having a wealthy amount of information about subjects as varied as religion, politics, astronomy and human psychology. The way this is usually done is through extensive lists and catalogs. Another, much more creative and engaging, way of doing it is through the use of epic similes. For instance, Milton compares the surface of hell to a volcanic landscape, with "liquid fire" and

  • Word count: 1200
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
Access this essay

To what extent is Paradise Lost a gothic text?

Paradise lost-Gothic definitions. If taken at face value, John Milton's poem seems have the purpose of showing religious enlightenment. Milton states in the opening lines, his poem is inspired by a muse and that it attempts to soar above the Aeonian Mount. The references to aeonian mount, that the poem will spiritually "soars beyond" that of the Greek mythology and thus he will show that Christianity is the true religion; The notion that, Milton is a devout Christian trying to give a religious account is emphasised through references to religious places such as "on the secret top of Oreb and Sinai didst inspire the Shepard". This is not only because it seems to imitate the bible but also could be interpreted as Milton suggesting he is being inspired like the Shepard. Milton ends the first verse by stating he will "justify the ways of god to men", again implying the poem will be giving almost a religious insight. On the other hand, the text could be interpreted as being a gothic text and in fact, whilst Milton states he is justifying the ways of god to men, could be said to be concerned with justifying the ways of men, and to a degree Satan. If this is the case, then the poem becomes could be called gothic as becomes interested in characters who have been outcast, and their emotions and motivations. This meets two definitions of the gothic which are "the gothic is

  • Word count: 1128
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
Access this essay

From reading of Paradise Lost(TM) book IX how has Milton portrayed the relationship between Adam and Eve?

From reading of 'Paradise Lost' book IX how has Milton portrayed the relationship between Adam and Eve? What appear to be Milton's main concerns-regarding gender issues? Adam and Eve's relationship is not portrayed as smoothly as some people may have pre-empted. Milton is keen to show the reality of life in his writing of 'Paradise Lost', this is achieved by the disagreement between the couple in book IX. During this period Milton also deals with many social concerns about gender that may have been raised at this period. The relationship between Adam and Eve has been portrayed in a far from perfect way. Some would say that Milton is a Misogynist and tends to personify Eve as a weaker woman character: "Sole Eve, associate sole, to me beyond Compare above all living creatures dear.." This language used by Milton whilst talking to Eve could be seen as patronising and supporting the belief that Milton believes women to be inferior. This belief would be understandable at this time period because most 16th century poets believed women to be the inferior sex, such as Shakespeare's Katherina in 'The taming of the Shrew'. However, Milton's use of language here could simply portray the amount of care and love Adam holds for Eve. This love and care that Adam expresses for Eve is portrayed throughout the poem by Milton. Although Adam disagrees with Eve in her decision to work

  • Word count: 907
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
Access this essay

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

  • Word count: 718
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
Access this essay

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

  • Word count: 788
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
Access this essay