In Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, the element of irony is frequently used in order to enhance the moral principles of the tales and to mock the flaws in society.
In Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, the element of irony is frequently used in order to enhance the moral principles of the tales and to mock the flaws in society. This usage of irony is noticeably seen in the Wife of Bath's tale of a knight whose penalty for raping a maiden is to discover what women truly desire above all. Irony is present in the interceding of the queen, the offers of the old hag, and the transformation of the hag into a beautiful young woman. First and foremost, the knight comes upon an unaware maiden and takes advantage of her resulting in the serious punishment of beheading. Immediately the reader shall recognize and think it strange that the knight is indeed the traditional hero of the story although he happens to be a rapist. The queen then speaks upon his behalf and presents him with the challenge to find what women want most in the world. This is ironic itself considering the fact that although the knight rapes a woman, it is yet another woman who "importuned the king so long for mercy that in the end he granted him his life and gave him to the queen to dispose of" (Chaucer 241). Furthermore, the king is the one who gave all of his power into his wife's hands, allowing her to do as her will with the knight. Thus, the king symbolizes the idealness that the knight is lacking. The queen's proposal is clearly also ironic due to the fact that
To what extent are Nicholas and Absolon courtly lovers?
To what extent are Nicholas and Absolon courtly lovers? Nicholas and Absolon both execute elements of the courtly love tradition, though the elements they express differ from each other and from the ideal courtly lover. Both Nicholas and Absolon attempt to use the language of the courtly lover to win Alison. When Nicholas attempts to seduce Alison into sleeping with him, he declares "For deerne love of thee, lemman, I spille." At first glance this may appear to be the elevated language of courtly love, with Nicholas revealing to Alison that he loves her so much that if she were to reject him, he would die. Upon closer inspection, however, we notice that his term of affection for Alison is "lemman" which was often used in medieval times in a sexual context. Furthermore, the word "spille" can mean to die, though its cruder meaning (and the meaning more fitting with Nicholas' physical treatment of Alison in this section) is to ejaculate. Here, the overall impression that Nicholas gives is that he uses the language of courtly love to cloak his dishonourable intentions. Absolon uses the language of courtly love in a different way. He utilises more romantic terms of endearment than Nicholas, such as "hony-comb", "faire brid" and "sweete cinamome" and at the same time, unknowingly, uses highly unromantic imagery to describe himself. He tells Alison "for youre love I swete",
English society of Chaucer's time
Most people in the English society of Chaucer's time, about 600 years ago, viewed the world in a similar way and accepted the same beliefs. People then believed that behind the chaos and frustration of the day-to-day world there was a divine providence that gave a reason to everything, even though that reason wasn't always obvious. When you've got faith in an overall system like that, it's easier to accept and understand the world around you. People in Chaucer's society could feel, at least much of the time, a sense of security about the world, knowing that it was following a divine plan. They trusted the system they believed in; it was true, and they felt no need to question it. So behind all of Chaucer's satire and social put-downs in the Canterbury Tales is an unshaken belief in a divine order. It's easier to make fun of something when, underneath, you know you take it seriously. Also, as Chaucer knew, it's easier to write for a group of people who at least roughly share the same set of values, whether they be a cook, a parson, or an upper-class prioress. Those values were represented in the medieval world by two structures: the class system and the church. People believed both setups were established by God, and each went unchallenged. A peasant, like Chaucer's Plowman, wasn't "upwardly mobile" as in our society, and didn't aspire to become a knight. He may want to buy
Immortality in Shakespeare's Sonnets. Sonnets 65,104,108, and 116 demonstrate how he has defeated Time with imagery, love, and admiration
Jennifer Garcia Literature of the English Renaissance Immortality in a Sonnet The idea of immortality will either fascinate or scare you; fascinate you in the way that something could stay the same forever or scare you because nothing lives forever. Shakespeare felt true love was eternal despite anything and beauty was everlasting through his words. He believed Time was the taker of all things, but if his words and love were powerful enough, they could defeat Time. Sonnets 65,104,108, and 116 demonstrate how he has defeated Time with imagery, love, and admiration. Shakespeare gives credit to Time in these four sonnets by displaying it’s ability to make things decay, fade, and die. He says right away, “Since brass, nor stone, nor earth, nor boundless sea, but sad mortality o’ersways their power.” I imagine brass becoming rusty, stones perishing, the earth decaying, and the sea evaporating all with this first line. He then proposes a question we all might ask, “How with this rage shall beauty hold a plea, whose action is no stronger than a flower?” (65) A flower is delicate in every way. If held by the petal the petal will tear, if shaken the petals will fall, if stepped on the flower will die. A tone of despair continues though out this short sonnet while he contemplates ways to defeat Time. “O, fearful meditation, where, alack, shall Time’s best
Beowulf, Themes of Honour and Perseverance.
Chris Johnson With Honor Throughout the poem of Beowulf he shows great honor, and loyalty, which was a reason why he is so dominating in battle. “This pattern of loyalty dependency was basic to Anglo Saxon life.” (11); Without Beowulf’s loyalty nobody would be able to trust him. In the Poem King Hrothgar sends calls out for help across the seas to Beowulf, to kill the demon monster Grendel, who has been tormenting Hrothgar’s land, and killing his men. Beowulf answers this plea and sails across the ocean. When he gets there people have mixed emotions, but Beowulf’s is unaltered. When he fights Grendel he does so with no armor or weapons. Grendel’s arm gets ripped from his body, and his arm kept as a trophy hung high in the halls. Beowulf could have used a sword, but his honor would not let him. After Grendel is dead, yet another task arises; Hrothgar asks Beowulf to kill Grendel’s mother who lives in her home deep in the waters. Unwilling to say no be bravely ventures forth and kills Grendel’s mother with the Giant’s sword. Now with two heads as his trophies, and his honor, and loyalty in tact, Beowulf eventually becomes the new King of the Danes. Not much later another villain comes to the land. Beowulf end up sacrificing his life to kill the dragon, while all his men, but one fled with fear. The main theme in this epic story is how Beowulf was able to
Analysis of Sheakespeare's Sonnet 73 "That time of year thou mayst in me behold"
Karabelas Libby Karabelas Mr. Wood AP English Literature and Composition 31 October 2012 Aging Through Symbolism When William Shakespeare wrote his sonnets, a group of 152 poems in all, he focused heavily on the concept of decay over time (CITE). Sonnet 73, “That time of year thou mayst in me behold”, was certainly no exception. In this poem Shakespeare uses metaphors to describe his aging process, invoking three mental pictures of how he interprets this decline. It is clear throughout the poem that the message pertains to the impermanence of youth. But in the last couplet we see that, specifically, Shakespeare is discussing his decline with a loved one, and presuming that this sorrowful loss will strengthen the love they feel. William Shakespeare was not a simple-minded man; that was to be sure. He shows through his complex writing style and use of several simultaneous figures of speech that he is a skillful and creative writer. Indeed, as one of the most well known writers in history, Shakespeare would naturally be adept at conveying his feelings. He is obviously a sensitive, emotional person; his topic displays the inner workings of a highly reflective mind, keenly focused on his mental upset about his aging. It’s a matter of opinion if this intense focus is just a product of his self-pity and introspective nature, or if the worry is more focused
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
'Explore the Nature of Love in The Extasie': John Donne Poetry Analysis
Explore the Nature of Love in The Extasie: John Donne Poetry Analysis In his poem, The Extasie, John Donne describes his own attainment of a state of ecstasy (literally meaning, to stand outside of oneself), through his physical and spiritual proximity to his lover. In his earliest work (for example Elegie: To his Mistris Going to Bed, and The Flea) - which could be loosely termed his 'lust poetry' - Donne's focus tends to be on (or at least around) the sexual act and the beauty of the human (and more particularly the feminine) form, whilst in his later work (such as his Holy Sonnets) he explores religion and death, this poem falls into the transitory phase of what could be termed Donne's 'love poetry' (for example, The Good Morrow). Characteristically then, the main focus of The Extasie is his love for a specific woman (as opposed to women in general, or rather, any random woman - as is the case in his lust poems), and how this love is so transcendent that it leads to a platonic extasie. In the first stanza, the tranquillity of the setting is established, with the imagery of 'a pillow on a bed', a 'reclining head', suggesting relaxation, and the line 'Sat we two, one anothers best', suggesting serenity and the intimacy of the lovers. This continues into the subsequent stanza with the elegant, and yet deeply intense image of 'Our eye-beames twisted, and did thred Our eyes,
To what extent is it true to say that the Countryside is presented in an idealised way? Discuss in reference to "The Mower" compared to "Gardens".
A2 Eng Lit To what extent is it true to say that the Countryside is presented in an idealised way? Discuss in reference to The Mower, against Gardens AO1: Pastoral Concepts AO2: Lang, Form and Structure AO3: Alternative views AO4: Contexts-then and now The recurring theme throughout ‘The Mower, against Gardens’ is that the Garden is unnatural and tainted. It symbolises the ‘luxurious’, indulgency which man pursues. And in doing so has forgotten and left behind the natural paradise that is the Countryside. It can be argued that Marvell presents the Countryside in an idealised way, perhaps to further emphasise the impurity of the Garden. The Garden itself, in modern interpretation would connote a place of beauty and tranquillity. Marvell however looks upon the Garden as an unnatural place, the religious connotations of the Garden of Eden- a place of sin where the ‘Luxurious man’-Adam, ‘Did after him the world seduce’, fell causing the world to fall after him. This reference to the original sin plainly displays the narrators or rather Marvell’s disdain and disapproval of Gardens. The further Allusion of the idea of man being ‘luxurious’ which is another religious reference to lust- one of the seven deadly sins, serves to further highlight the fact that Marvell views the Garden as ‘adulterate’ and a combination of
My Last Duchess.
My Last Duchess My Last Duchess In "My Last Duchess" by Robert Browning, we are introduced to the dramatic monologue. In a dramatic monologue, the speaker unknowingly reveals his personality through his speech. In this poem, the audience listens to a conversation between the Duke and a nameless envoy who are making the final arrangements for the Duke's second wedding. Strangely, the Duke brings out a portrait of his former wife whom he rambles incessantly about. Through the Duke's ramblings, we learn that he is a self-centered, arrogant, and completely chauvinistic man, asserting emotions of both power and weakness. The Duke is a materialistic, proud man. He has a high rank in nobility and a well-respected name. Thus, he tries to portray himself as powerful and sophisticated. But his underlying motives shine through and we see the Duke as jealous and possessive. The Duke was formerly married and this marriage ended tragically. His last Duchess had a wandering eye and a smile for everyone. This infuriated the Duke - "She smiled, no doubt, whene'er I passed her; but who passed without much the same smile?" (line 44). The Duke must have been a Leo because he always had to be in the spotlight, his pride injured when the attention was not there. He felt he should be the only one in his Duchess's life to cause her joy or any sort of emotion, really. "All and each would draw from
