Are there any ways in which you consider that experiences conveyed by the sonnets, by pre-20th century poets differ from those conveyed by the writers of modern sonnets?
English Coursework: Sonnets Question: Are there any ways in which you consider that experiences conveyed by the sonnets, by pre-20th century poets differ from those conveyed by the writers of modern sonnets? * Are there any similarities? * You must consider two pre-20th sonnets. A sonnet is a lyric poem consisting of fourteen lines with a very formal rhyme scheme, they usually express thought, mood, or feeling, and these ideas are usually resolved or summarised in the last lines of the poem. The two main forms of the sonnet are the Petrarchan, which consists of an octave, or eight-line stanza, and a sestet, a six-line stanza. The octave has two quatrains, rhyming a b b a, a b b a; the first quatrain presents theme, the second develops it. The sestet is built on two or three different rhymes, and arranged either c d e c d e, or c d c d c d, or c d e d c d; the first three lines exemplify or reflect on the theme, and the last three lines bring the whole poem to a unified close. Among great examples of the Petrarchan sonnet in the English language are Sir Philip Sidney's sonnet sequence Astriphel and Stella (1591), which established the form in the England, and was incredibly popular during the Elizabethan era. The English, or Shakespearean sonnet, exemplified by the work of Shakespeare, developed as a variation to a language less rich in rhymes than in Italian. This
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
Select two or three portraits from the General Prologue and discuss Chaucer's use of variety of detail in comparing and contrasting characters.
Select two or three portraits from the General Prologue and discuss Chaucer's use of variety of detail in comparing and contrasting characters. It is obvious that what links the friar, prioress and the monk is that they are all members of the religious community and hence should be governed by strict rules of conduct according to their religion. But in all three characters we see their failing to do so. Hence in the General Prologue, they are presented as quite an unworthy trio, all of whom are not what they should be. Love is a key theme when comparing the trio, as love of themselves, material things and lovers are all hinted at throughout their descriptions. The Prioress's name is Elgentine, it means 'wild rose', and in Chaucer's period it was a fashionable name taken from courtly romance rather than from a saint. Therefore the name suggests sensual love already suggesting that she is not naïve but well aware of sexual passions. By not taking a saint's name she is neglecting the ideal of a Prioress and demonstrates that her mind is not totally devoted to her faith. As the name is fashionable, it reinforces the idea that she is yearning to be admired by others. It seems clear that she has a penchant for the more materialistic view because she should have asked herself 'what's in a name' and it seems that the reply she would have given would have been 'quite a lot'. Her
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
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
The pardoners prologue and Tale show human nature to lack any redeeming virtues people are greedy, weak and hypocritical Discuss Chaucers poetic methods and concerns in the Pardoners prologue and tale in ligh
(a) 'The pardoner's prologue and Tale show human nature to lack any redeeming virtues - people are greedy, weak and hypocritical' Discuss Chaucer's poetic methods and concerns in the Pardoner's prologue and tale in light of this comment. PLAN Pardoner - greedy, weak, hypocritical. * Pardoner's greed is emphasised throughout the whole prologue and tale --> his sermons revolve around the latin biblical phrase 'radix malorum est cupiditas' (greed is the root of all evil) yet openly admits to preaching for 'nothyng but for coveityse' - portrays him as a hypocritical character as he is not putting what he preaches into practice. * During medieval times, religion was a way of life - life after death/salvation was more important than life on earth and therefore repenting sins was a way to ensure you went to heaven - pardoner is playing on his audience's weakness/fear for his benefit - shows him as immoral and weak. --> openly admits that he 'rekke nevere/than whan they have been beryed, though that hir soules goon-a-blackberyed!' - negative imagery proves his lack of compassion * Openly admits he is guilty of avarice (which was one of the 7 deadly sins - ironic and hypocritical seeing as he's a preacher and preaches ABOUT gluttony?) ''I preche of no thyng but for coveityse'' (x2) ''myn entente is nat but for to wynn and /no thyng for the correcicioun of synne' * General
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
Compare how the conventions of the sonnet
Compare how the conventions of the sonnet genre combine with figurative language to create meaning in at least two texts. Originating in Italy, the sonnet was established by Petrarch in the 14th century as a major form of love poetry, and came to be adopted in England in the 16th century (Oxford Literary terms). Overtime there have been different types of sonnets written, for example the Italian (Petrarchan) sonnet, the English (Shakespearean) sonnet and the Spenserian sonnet. Each of these sonnets have there own conventions and use different types of poetic language to help create meaning for the reader. For the purpose of this essay we will look at how the conventions of sonnets combine specifically with figurative language to create meaning. We will begin by looking briefly at the three types of sonnet conventions before moving on to look at William Shakespeare's 'Sonnet 18' and 'Sonnet 73' to show how meaning is created through the combination of conventions and figurative language. As earlier mentioned, there are different types of sonnet, the major types being Italian, Shakespearean and Spenserian, each having their own sonnet form. All forms generally have some common features, such as comprising of fourteen lines and being written in iambic pentameter. The Italian sonnet has an eight-line octave, which usually raises an issue/argument followed by a six-line sestet
Write a study of the sonnet, looking at examples by two different poets writing before 1900, showing how they use the form to express their ideas. You should include at least two sonnets written by the same poet. Accompany this with a sonnet of your own.
Write a study of the sonnet, looking at examples by two different poets writing before 1900, showing how they use the form to express their ideas. You should include at least two sonnets written by the same poet. Accompany this with a sonnet of your own. The sonnet form is a poet's most valuable tool. It creates distinctions between parts of the sonnet, and allows whole concepts and ideas to be made with just the layout, without any words. The aim of this essay is to establish an understanding of the different styles and forms of sonnets, to discover how they are different and how they are the same. I will study two of Shakespeare's sonnets, and one by William Wordsworth. William Shakespeare The Shakespearean sonnet form is made up of three quatrains, a couplet. The rhyming scheme is: a;b;a;b;c;d;c;d;e;f;e;f;g;g. The rhyming couplet is useful for creating a particularly bitter, poignant, or thought-provoking point. Because the rhyming scheme involves a lot of alternating between two sounds, two things can be easily compared by them directly answering each other, better than is possible with the Petrarchan form, and descriptions of two things can be easily alternated between, to break each description into smaller pieces. Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? This sonnet is about the beauty of something or someone. It seems to be a woman, whom Shakespeare loves or
Chaucer creates humour by satirising values in religious and courtly love. To what extent do you agree with this statement?
Chaucer creates humour by satirising values in religious and courtly love. To what extent do you agree with this statement? "The Merchant's Tale is only rarely seen as humorous; most often it is noted for its darkness, its "unrelieved acidity"; it is said to offer a "perversion" of the courtly code."1 I disagree with this statement made by J. S. P. Tatlock. Chaucer was successful at creating humour within his narratives, which is partly why his works were, and still are, so popular. Humour can be achieved through a variety of elements including plot, characterisation, language, timing and circumstance. Chaucer used of all these, but largely drew upon the satirical portrayals of both the courtly love genre and religion within The Merchant's Tale. The tale opens with The Merchant who is envious and astringent of all people that are of a higher class than he; therefore, in his narrative, he targets and satirizes the traditions of the knightly class, including the romantic conventions of courtly love often attributed to the upper classes. Another of Chaucer's tales is The Knight's Tale which is about two knights and close friends, Arcite and Palamon, who are imprisoned by Theseus, duke of Athens. Whilst in prison they fall in love with the beautiful sister of Hippolyta, Emily (Emelye). The sense of competition brought about by this love causes them to hate each other. They
