My Last Duchess by Robert Browning.

English B30 Essay Sumeet Choksi Mr. Armstrong English 30B May 9, 2007. My Last Duchess by Robert Browning That's my last duchess painted on the wall, Looking as if she were alive. I call That piece a wonder, now: Frà Pandolf's hands Worked busily a day, and there she stands. Will't please you sit and look at her? I said "Frà Pandolf" by design, for never read Strangers like you that pictured countenance, The depth and passion of its earnest glance, But to myself they turned (since none puts by The curtain I have drawn for you, but I) And seemed as they would ask me, if they durst, How such a glance came there; so, not the first Are you to turn and ask thus. Sir, 'twas not Her husband's presence only, called that spot Of joy into the Duchess' cheek: perhaps Frà Pandolf chanced to say "Her mantle laps "Over my lady's wrist too much," or "Paint "Must never hope to reproduce the faint "Half-flush that dies along her throat": such stuff Was courtesy, she thought, and cause enough For calling up that spot of joy. She had A heart-how shall I say?-too soon made glad, Too easily impressed; she liked whate'er She looked on, and her looks went everywhere. Sir, 'twas all one! My favor at her breast, The dropping of the daylight in the West, The bough of cherries some officious fool Broke in the orchard for her, the white mule She rode with

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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By what means and how effectively does the poem present the monologist?

Robert Browning - By what means and how effectively does the poem present the monologist? Robert browning was a poet writing from 1812 to 1889. In his poem, 'My Last Duchess', there is a story of love and loss told to us by a single narrator, the Duke. This dramatic monologue talks of the marriage of 'Alfonzo Duke of Ferrara' and the fourteen year old daughter of the 'Medici' household, in Italy, 1558. We obtain a direct insight in to the thoughts of our monologist, regarding his relationship with the girl in question, as he tells his story to whom we later come to assume is the envoy acting on behalf of a Count, in who's daughter the Duke has shown an interest. The Duke first introduces us to the lady in question in his referral to her as 'My last Duchess'. Immediately we learn that the Duchess may no longer be his Duchess, for reason unknown at this point in the poem. We can also gather that the Duke views the lady as a possession, indicative in his speaking of, 'My last Duchess', followed with, '...painted on the wall'. I feel that to paint someone is to capture and keep them as a memory, or to 'freeze' them as an object, in the sense that you can transform a person in to a muse at which to look at, in to a thing of pure aesthetic beauty, without the portrayal of possible protest or strife that may be present in true life. I believe the latter thought to be very

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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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

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Types of Love in Donne's Poetry

By looking closely at Donne's "The Sunne Rising", and at one other appropriately selected poem by either Donne or another poet, examine the methods the poet or poets use in exploring different kinds of love. N.B. Equal marks are available for your discussion of each poem. 'The Sunne Rising' by John Donne is a celebration of the importance and timelessness of love. The fundamental message in this poem is that Donne and his lover's love is the most important thing in the universe, and surpasses anything else. In the fist stanza Donne personifies and trivialises the sun as a 'busy old fool, unruly sun'. He addresses the sun directly, and the language is conversational - which creates an effect of Donne actually talking to the sun. The tone is indignant; Donne asks why the sun has disturbed him and his lover by peering through the windows and curtains. An original and outrageous idea, he asks the sun 'Must to thy motions lovers' seasons run?' Their love does not concur with the movements of the sun and its seasons; Donne is almost suggesting that their love is above it, a clear example of hyperbole. Donne then adopts a rather contemptuous mocking tone, and tells the sun to busy itself with 'late schoolboys' and 'sour prentices', for the sun should be concerned with ordinary people, not lovers. whose love is not affected by the constraints of time: 'Love, all alike, no

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Discuss Blake's treatment in the Songs of the forces that hinder human potential

Discuss Blake's treatment in the Songs of the forces that hinder human potential "If the doors of perception were cleansed, we would see everything as it is - infinite". These were Blake's words on the detrimental action of unnatural impositions on the human imagination. He saw forces at work in the world around him that were working to limit the extents of human potential, clashing with the dominant scientific view at the time. Blake presents a range of forces as a hindrance to this human potential, which is not something he believed could be rationalised by a scientific explanation. Thus science and the imposition it placed on children through education was one of these hindering forces, in conjunction with his rejection of the organised system of religion that was in place at the time. This was closely linked to the system of governance. Oppressive religion spilled over into everyday life, encouraging a negatively paternalistic approach to the family and society, being perhaps responsible for the break down of parent child relationships. Whilst these ideas are more usually glimpsed in the Songs of Experience through both stark presentation and more subtle somewhat ironic indications, his views are made most clear when contrasted with the Songs of Innocence's idealistic presentation. The forces of science Blake believed to be acting against the imagination. Although a

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The country pleasures which John Donne mentioned in The Good Morrow is an example of the physical pleasures which the poet seeks to satisfy in physical activities.

In Donne's poetry, individual desire operates on two levels: on one level, it is the desire which is born out of the lower self and seeks gratification in the pleasures of the senses. On another level desire is spiritual and it seeks to transcend the physical. The "country pleasures" which John Donne mentioned in "The Good Morrow" is an example of the physical pleasures which the poet seeks to satisfy in physical activities. However such kinds of pleasures are only mere illusions, that is, "fancies". The desire to love is felt like an inner urge in the poet. It is a spiritual force which transcends the physical to meet at a higher level and brings about a unity of souls. His only desire was to be united with his beloved: "If ever any beauty I did see, Which I desired, and got, 'twas but a dream of thee". The strong urge of the desire to love is enacted effectively by the tone of the last two lines in the first stanza of "The Good Morrow". The caesuras after "see" in line 6 of the first stanza and in line 7 of the first stanza enacts forcefully the inner urge which the poet feels. The "desire" starts in a dream to have a "beauty" and that desire is fulfilled majestically. The use of metaphysical conceits dominate the last two stanzas. The lovers see worlds of their own reflected in the pupils of each other. Here we can see that the desire is not sensual

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Donne uses a variety of poetic methods in The Flea and Elegy XIX: To His Mistress going to Bed to show his desires of a physical intimacy with the woman.

By referring closely to ‘Elegy XIX: To His Mistress going to Bed’ and ‘The Flea’ and making use of relevant external contextual information on metaphysical poetry, examine the poetic methods which Donne uses to write about sexual relationships with women. Donne uses a variety of poetic methods in ‘The Flea’ and ‘Elegy XIX: To His Mistress going to Bed’ to show his desires of a physical intimacy with the woman. These poems share a common theme of seduction and are written with the idea that the female is, to a degree, attainable, although it can be argued that she progressively becomes attainable. Donne makes use of many poetic metaphysical characteristics present in both poems through the structure of stanzas, the focus on the physical rather than the spiritual, use of conceits, imperatives and wit. Mainly in ‘Elegy XIX: To His Mistress going to Bed’, there are references to the time period of the metaphysical poets such as exploration and the Ptolemaic theory. Although the poems are alike, it is apparent that ‘The Flea’ is much more of an erotic joke intended to be shared with Donne’s male friends rather than a sensual and passionate poem as seen in, ‘Elegy XIX: To His Mistress going to Bed’. ‘The Flea’ is a dramatic monologue that directly addresses the reader and is divided into three stanzas. Metaphysical poets were known for their

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What impression do you receive from the Songs of Blake's own religious beliefs?

Sophie Lakes. What impression do you receive from the Songs of Blake's own religious beliefs? In your answer write about the themes, tone and style of not more than five poems. William Blake was incredibly spiritual and certainly a strong Christian, although he disliked organised religion as he saw it to be an oppressive tool. His brother died of consumption at quite a young age, and this had a profound effect on Blake, who is said to have seen his soul 'ascend heavenward clapping its hands for joy'. I feel it is fair to argue that Blake used his poetry to express his religious views, and criticise the Church's repressive nature. Blake Songs of Innocence and Experience certainly contain many poems with religious overtones. Blake uses various techniques to show his own feelings for, in particular, organised religion and the church. Animal imagery is particularly prominent. Holy Thursday, from Songs of Innocence depicts an image of children visiting St Paul's Cathedral. The title itself suggests the celebration of the day Jesus' friend Judas betrayed him, and as a result he was taken on the following day, now known as 'Good Friday' to be killed. On this day Jesus gave the commandment 'That ye love one another as I have loved you.' It is this feast that the children, usually from Charity Schools, seem to be celebrating. The children are described by Blake as 'walking two

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To what extent does religious poetry appeal to readers who hold religious beliefs?

To what extent do you agree that religions poetry appeals only to readers who have religious beliefs? Poetry in general appeals to anyone who is interested in knowing what the poet is talking about for different purposes which could be educational, religious, political or historical. It is like a way of expressing ideas based on various issues of concern which could be child slavery, religion, education, personal feelings and thoughts like Sylvia Plath and so on. Poetry has three meaning; the first meaning is one that the reader gets from the poem, the second meaning is contextual meaning or the meaning relating to the way of life in the period it was written and received in. finally, the last meaning is based on personal values. Religion is a big institution that affects everyone and everything in generally from the government, society, parents and so on. Blake's poems illustrate this and some of the poems from Robert frost although both poets show a contrast in their ideas. Blake's poems talks about everything, from social altitudes to child slavery, marriage, religion, nature and the industrial state. In other words, it appeals to a wide audience and talking wide audience. Blake's poem "the chimney sweep" from the collection of songs of experience illustrates the social attitudes towards children and the church, parents and the church is involved in it. In the poem,

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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

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  • Subject: English
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