The Picture of Little T.C. in a Prospect of Flowers .

The Picture of Little T.C. in a Prospect of Flowers The civil war disrupted the very idea of the Renaissance love lyric. The idea of tenderness itself - whether as a component of love or as the sweet music of verse that expressed love. Mid-century Britain witnessed physical violence produced by radical religious ideas of spiritual tenderness so that the violence seemed to be appearing out of tenderness itself. This idea of tenderness producing pain already had its literary equivalent in the sequence of poems of Petrarch's Canzoniere. Marvell takes this literary tradition and uses it to examine the political and religious struggle taking place during his lifetime. Marvell explored the relationship of tenderness and a spiritual ideal in poems such as "On a Drop of Dew", "The Coronet", "Clorinda and Damon" and "Bermudas" but there is one poem where the Petrarchan ideals of tenderness and delicacy are most apparent. By beginning with a young girl or nymph lying in the grass, Marvell opens the poem in Petrarchan mode, just as Petrarch had first met his Laura, and where he was to return both physically and mentally in order to re-enter the paradise of meeting her and hope for her return. Indeed Marvell's poem can be read as a fairly simple witty retelling of the Petrarchan story of love describing a young girl's movement through the stages of naivety, chastity, refusal,

  • Word count: 1871
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Analysis of lines 125 - 300 of The Merchant's Tale

The Merchant's Tale // In Depth Analysis [Lines 125 - 300] The themes explored in the extract, lines 125 - 300, are that of love, deception and honour; both in general, and involving friends and women, religion in order to support and undermine marriage, and the overall purpose of marriage. The extract shows the fabliau nature of 'The Merchant's Tale' and the positive images of love contradict everything the Merchant has written about until this point. The fact that he commends the conveniences of marriage from another man's point of view, Januarie, initially displays a change in heart from the Merchant about the whole idea of marriage. It is really the start of a heavily ironic piece of poetry. A comical picture of the complete obedience of women in lines 130 to 134 'She kepeth his good ... She seith nat ones 'nay'' recaptures the fact that Patient Grisilde's story mentioned a few lines previously in the poem, 'Bitwix Grisildis grete pacience', is likely to be very unrealistic. The Merchant seems to dramatise the section and a sense of ridicule is felt by the way he is describing the level of obedience shown by women. We know the Merchant does not trust women and so the few lines are clearly sarcastic. The Merchant's ability to write about women in a positive light in lines 145 - 149 and the implication that men should follow their 'wyves reed', their wives advise as they

  • Word count: 1829
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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How appropriate is it that the character of the Pardoner tells the tale?

"How appropriate is it that the character of the Pardoner tells the tale?" The Pardoner is a sinner preaching about sin. He takes on the role of the priest in order to take money for himself. His relics and documents are all fake, which suggests that he is exploiting God. As a result, God has make him physically and sexually ambiguous, "This Pardoner hadde heer as yelow as wex, But smothe it heeng as dooth a strike of flex." This portrayal of the Pardoner adds irony to the tale, which is why it is appropriate for him to be telling the tale. On the other hand, the Pardoner is immoral and should not preach what he does not do himself, "Is al my preeching, for to make hem free To yeven hir pens, and namely unto me." He constantly pretends to be something he is not, "I stonde lyk a clerk in my pulpet". He also compares himself to a serpant, "Thus spitte I out my venym under hewe", which is a paradox as he has just compared himself to a dove. Therefore, his immorality can suggest that he is inappropriate to tell this tale. The pilgrims are blinded by his immorality and listen to his moral stories. He is attempting to show off his power of rhetoric to make himself appear to be above the pilgrims, "And in Latin I speke a wordes fewe, To saffron with my predicacioun, And for to stire hem to devocioun." He could be trying to convince the pilgrims that he is a priest as

  • Word count: 1826
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Quotes from the Miller's Tale

Quotes from the Miller's Tale CHARACTERS John "A riche gnof"p33 A new emerging class bringing conflict to hierarchy emphaised trough word gnof lots of different words Chaucer uses analogue "deemed himself been lik a cokewold" p34 Prolepsis foreshadows tale builds tension takes away sympathy for John "he knew nat Cauton" p34 Shows he is not intelligent or educated due to allusion "Myn housbande is so ful of jalousie"p36 One of John's flaws emphasised through simile "The carpenter was goon till Osenay"p39 Associates him with religion and lack of knowledge as large abbey there "I am adrad, by Seint Thomas, It stondeth nat aright with Nicholas. God shilde that he deid sodeeinly"p40 Black death cliché Men shoulde nat knowe of Goddes privitee."p41 Proleptic warning John did not want vernacular bible as reduced Catholic churches power to tell people what to do "Jhesu Crist and Seinte Benedight, Blesse this hous from every wikked wight, For nightes verye, the whire pater-noster! Where wentestow Seinte Petres soster?"p42 This is part of the night spell part rubbish it is a satirical comment by Chaucher on John embracing his ignorance "I shal it nevere telle To child ne wyf" p43 Irony as does tell "As dooth the white doke after hire drake"p45 Emphasises john's childlike nature as there is a childlike expression and simile employed for him "to his wyf he tolde

  • Word count: 1800
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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How do these three poems use the conventions and limitations of the sonnet form to explore the relationship each is discussing?

How do these three poems use the conventions and limitations of the sonnet form to explore the relationship each is discussing? 'If thou must love me, let it be for nought/Except for love's sake only'. What was 'love's sake,' and how was it to be expressed? Conventionally it was through the idealised and equally limiting form of the Petrarchan sonnet. Its tight knit structure of metre, rhyme and lineation however left the space for expression severely restricted. The relationships in the three sonnets stated, nethertheless use this structure, only to undermine it in particular ways, tying its 'blue thread' of convention into a complicated knot. This knot when unwound, shows how each of the sonnets confronts the limitations of the conventional sonnet form, using them either to tell their lover how they feel, or to explore an illicit affair, or even the breakdown of a marriage. Traditionally the sonnet is fourteen lines long, and in iambic pentameter. Barret-Browning uses this metrical convention to her advantage, ensuring that the alterations that she makes enhance her own voice. Refusing to 'fall in well' with the limiting sonnet tradition, she deducts from her fourth line a syllable, leaving only nine instead of the traditional ten. She is demonstrating that as a woman she does not fit in to the male perspective. Instead the syllable is placed in the last line, to create a

  • Word count: 1793
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Compare ‘Shall Icompare thee to a summer’s day?’ by W. Shakespeare, ‘How do I love thee? Let me count the ways’ by E. Barrett Browning, and ‘Sonnet’ by Drayton - Which of the three sonnets made the strongest impression o

Compare 'Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?' by W. Shakespeare, 'How do I love thee? Let me count the ways' by E. Barrett Browning, and 'Sonnet' by Drayton. Which of the three sonnets made the strongest impression on you? Explain your preference. All three of the sonnets are love poems. They are all dramatic monologues in which a poet apparently addresses a person he/she loves. Both Drayton and Shakespeare wrote Shakespearian sonnets whereas E Barrett Browning chose to write a Petrarchan sonnet. Drayton and Shakespeare also include a reversal of meaning in their sonnets but E Barrett Browning has no reversal. Shakespeare and E Barrett Browning also consider that love relates to time and think about the immortality of love. E Barrett Browning's Petrarchan sonnet is unconventional as it is written by a lady to a man. It's also unconventional because it is sincere and has no Volta which emphasizes the authenticity of her love to her husband. On the other hand Drayton and Shakespeare's sonnets are conventional and conform to the structure of a typical sonnet. They both start with one meaning and then cleverly change to another. Another similarity between Shakespeare and Drayton's sonnets is that they use a great deal of elaborate imagery. Yet E Barrett Browning uses direct and tender language and very little imagery. She also sets a romantic and sincere mood. While

  • Word count: 1788
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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“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,

  • Word count: 1783
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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The franklins tale raises issues about what it really means to be "noble" Consider how this tale forms an examination of the values that held medieval society together and how this is subtly questioned by Chaucer.

January 31st 2006 Joshua Gray - The Franklins tale essay The franklins tale raises issues about what it really means to be "noble" Consider how this tale forms an examination of the values that held medieval society together and how this is subtly questioned by Chaucer. INTRODUCTION Chaucer raised many questions through the Canterbury Tales dealing with events of the time including marriage, a woman's place in the world and changing attitudes. In the Franklins tale the most prominent issue he raises is to deal with what it means to be noble. Chaucer is questioning the social class system throughout England in Medieval society and raises many questions for the reader about it. To be a noble in Chaucer's time you had to be born into nobility. To be a noble meant you were able to bear arms and were responsible for the protection of the whole community. They generally lived in castle, owned land and were supported in peace and war by inferiors. However, a knight might own a scrubby patch of land and have a small house in the country, but if he could trace his family back to nobility he was still declared a 'noble'. Gentillesse was a code of behavior associated with the noble class. This included a number of qualities. Generosity, chivalrous or gentlemanly deeds, bravery, social graces, delicacy of feelings, integrity and many others. A man could appear to be

  • Word count: 1753
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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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

  • Word count: 1745
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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The History of the Sonnet

The History of the Sonnet The word "sonnet" is derived from the Italian word "sonneto", meaning little sound. It is a fourteen line poem, written in Iambic Pentameter, meaning short beat, long beat rhythm. The first word or syllable is unstressed, while the second is stressed, as in "delight". A line in a sonnet has five of these, meaning there are ten syllables to a line. Different poets change the structure slightly or dramatically, not because they are incapable of writing a sonnet like that, but because they want to call attention to the change or use it differently. This difference in structures is called the pattern of rhyme. The Italian, or Petrarchan sonnet was perfected by Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch). It consists of two parts, and octave (eight lines) and a sestet (six lines). The octave addresses one theme or thought, turning on the Volta or shift, and the poem ends dramatically in the last six lines. The pattern of rhyme is generally abba abba cde cde. An example of an Italian or Petrarchan sonnet, by Christina Rossetti: O Earth, lie heavenly upon her eyes; Seal her sweet eyes weary of watching, Earth; Lie close around her; leave no room for mirth With its harsh laughter, nor for sounds of sighs. She hath no questions, she hath no replies, Hushed in and curtained with a blessed dearth Of all that irked her from the hour of birth; With stillness that is

  • Word count: 1733
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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