English 2201H OSU Final
Unferth
A Danish warrior who is jealous of Beowulf, Unferth is unable or unwilling to fight Grendel, thus proving himself inferior to Beowulf. Killed his brother. Engages in flyting with beowulf.
"The Hunting of the Hare" Margaret Cavendish
Anthropomorphizes a rabbit (focuses on its thoughts and actions - hiding from a hunting dog -i.e. fear, hiding, tired from running, etc). The dogs catch him. Man thinks everything was made for him - also hypocrisy of man.
1066 CE
Norman conquest of England/Battle of Hastings
Important questions/themes in paradise lost
Satan as a hero Feminism/sexism (Eve portrayed as lesser - won over by compliments - Angels never talk directly to her - etc etc). Are eve and adam only good because they are ignorant Can there be a good tyrant (God)
Paradise Lost Book 4
Satan briefly considers repentance - this is how uriel knows he's not a cherub because all cherubs have permanent looks of joy. He then transforms into a bird and perches in tree of life - sees Adam and Eve. He notes how he could have loved them. Adam is talking to eve - mentions they have so much good from God with only one constraint: not to eat from tree of knowledge. Eve talks about her first day of life - she was distracted by her own image. Satan thinks he can get Adam and Eve to break God's one rule. Uriel in the meantime goes to tell Gabriel about the sketchy cherub. Adam and Eve make love without sin. Satan transforms into a toad and whispers stuff into Eves ear - the angels catch him and he prepares to fight but gets a sign from heaven that he would not win so he goes back.
1509
When did Henry VIII become king?
Iambic pentameter
a poetic meter that is made up of 5 stressed syllables each followed by an unstressed syllable
old english poetry uses alot of?
alliteration imagery
Alexander Pope
an 18th c. poet. Used the worst Qualities of his society to his advantage. Satirist. Wrote works like: The Rape of the Lock, Essay on Man, The Dunciad, etc.
Wife of bath and the bible
emphasized "go forth and multiply" "if we were meant to be virgins - wouldn't have different genitals - also god would have damned weddings" Arguing for her cause in a way that is facsimile to preaching
aicill-rhyme
end of one line rhymes with the beginning or middle of another
17th c.
english civil war (1642)
Colerie
group of people that share literary audiences
Ashera
hrothgar's favorite retainer killed by grendel's mother in retaliation for them killing her son
kennings
imagistic compound words or phrases (i.e. the whale's road = the sea)
"The Altar" by George Herbert
AABBCC... Written in the shape of an alter Link physical alter with human heart
The Wife of Bath's Prologue
"Leave virginity to the perfect" Insinuates she can have as many husbands as she wants because... god didn't say no exactly. Uses sexual power over her husbands. Of her five husbands, first three were good (rich old and submissive). Her fourth husband was bad, he had a mistress (paramour). She was always trying to make him jealous. Fifth husband: she loved him and he treated her like shit. He was poor. She married this dude after her fourth dies. He was 20 and she 40. He wouldn't take her abuse and abused her back. He read from the "wicked book of wives" to her every night. He hits her when she rips pages out of the book - they come to a truce when he signs his estate over to her.
Werglid
"money for a man"; the value of a person in money, depending on social status; in Germanic society, a fine paid by a wrongdoer to the family of the person he or she had injured or killed
Jonathan Swift
(1667-1745) was a scornful critic of England's rising merchant class. He wrote great satires, often wrote in prose. Also wrote political pamphlets, essays, and poems. Published works under pseudonyms. Gulliver's Travels and A Modest Proposal in which he presents human nature as deeply flawed.
The Dream of the Rood
(Anglo-Saxon period). Appears in the vercelli book - Also carved into tthe Ruthwell Cross - Very old poem. Guy has a dream where the wood that became the cross told the story of the crucifixion of christ. Depicts stregnth and loyalty (to god and jesus). Depicts Jesus as the hero for jumping on the cross. Somber and grief-stricken mood/tone. Ends by basically telling people to "be a good christian." Mentioned loaned life again and transience of earthly belongings/joys. Real joy is in heaven.
Dreams in Old English
(Dreams/visions used commonly in old english poetry - i.e. remember bede and Dream of the Rood - because they had a religious and spiritual significance).
Rape of the Lock Summary
(Invocation to a muse) Belinda (obsessed with her beauty) is warned by her sylph of a bad thing that's going to happen - she is distracted by a love letter and gets all prettied up. She goes out on the river Thames and is really pretty - the biggest emphasis on the ringlettes of hair resting on her neck. She has caught the Baron's eye, who wants one of the locks. Boat arrives at Hampton Court Palace. They play cards - Belinda Wins. Coffee is served. The Baron cuts the lock (first few attempts are blocked by the Sylphs and such). She is distraught. Umbriel (a gnome) unleashes more "sighs and sobs" on her which makes this worse. Belinda wants him to return the lock but he won't. Belinda confronts the Baron - but the lock is lost. Poet says it has been projected up into the stars.
Margaret Cavendish (1623-1673)
* Upper Class woman - published under her own name because she wanted the fame and notoriety. -Pioneers naturalism -academy rejects her because they only allow males. They allow her to attend one meeting although still disable her from joining even after they admit that she's intellectually capable -Rebelled against the Patriarchy -Founded naturalism -Same philosophies as Hobbes and Hume although isn't credited for it -inspires Key philosophers & female scientists *English natural philosopher who developed her own speculative natural philosophy. She used this philosophy to critique those who excluded her from scientific debate.
important themes in beowulf
- lord and retainer relationship (lord protects and give gifts, retainer serves in military) - reciprocity - notability after death - difference between being a hero and being a good king - christianism versus paganism (Beowulf mentions creation / sacrifices made when trying to get rid of Grendel / also glory and fame don't match up with christian values)
why was beowulf a bad king?
-doesn't prep anyone to succeed him - hero first king second - doesn't do anything about dragon proactively - instructs treasure to be burried with him which could have been used by his ppl to pay others to leave them alone
George Herbert
1593-1633 Works: The Altar, A Priest to the Temple, The Sacrifice., Easter Wings Theme: Religion Style: Hymn like poems and witty proverbs. Important Info: Some of his poems are modern hymns, and his proverbs are sayings of today. Celebrated for his piety - poems for the glory of god
Olaudah Equiano
1745-1797: Wrote The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano (first slave narrative written in English). Kidnapped at age 11 and sold into slavery. Huge abolitionist. Narrative: Began by describing the culture in which he lived (Eboe, Africa). Detailed his kidnapping from family - described slavery conditions in Africa to be tolerable (talked about this in class) - slaves in Africa have most rights as others apart from eating with their master. The one mistress (female master) he had let him eat with her and her son though, treated him like family. However, once on slave ship he was treated as sub-human. Denied fresh air, was close to death and sick, witnessed brutal floggings (trans-atlantic slave trade = dehumanizing, talked about this in class). Separation from sister is when he described the most pain, sobbed for days. Moreso fear when on slave ship than saddness.
Marie De France
1155-1215 earliest known French woman poet of noble birth historical origin unknown wrote Bisclavert and other lais
Queen Elizabeth I
1533-1603 (ruled 1558-death) *Protestant successor to Queen Mary (England) *Popular leader and the first woman to successfully hold the throne *Invested in English raids on the Spanish New World; Spain responded with the Spanish Armada *Established Protestantism in England and encouraged English business *Wrote poetry
Robert Herrick
1591-1674 Cavalier Poet Works: To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time. Hesperides. Delight in Disorder. His Farewell to Sack Theme: Life is short, love is beautiful, have fun. Style: Easier to understand than contemporaries, simple ABAB rhyme scheme. Important Info: Wrote in the "carpe diem" genre, "seize the day."
Grendel
A demon descended from Cain, Grendel preys on Hrothgar's warriors in the king's mead-hall, Heorot. Because his ruthless and miserable existence is part of the retribution exacted by God for Cain's murder of Abel, Grendel fits solidly within the ethos of vengeance that governs the world of the poem. * King of Cain * eats people because he's sick of hearing how great god is
The Wife of Bath's Tale
A knight rapes a young beautiful woman, and he is sentenced to be beheaded. The queen intercedes and says that if he can tell her what women want most his life will be spared. He has one year, and can't get a consistent answer. Eventually he happens across an old ugly witch, and she says she will give him the answer in exchange for him. He says okay, his life is spared, he's now married to the old hag. Old hag gives him a choice of her being beautiful but unfaithful or faithful but ugly. He says she can pick and she turns into a beauty and faithful because he gave her what women want most (power of choice/control over their husbands).
The Canterbury Tales
A series of stories, some serious and some satirical, by Geoffrey Chaucer, written in Middle English vernacular about a group of pilgrims traveling from London to Canterbury to see the shrine of the martyr St. Thomas Becket
Delight in Disorder, Robert Herrick
A sweet disorder in the dress Kindles in clothes a wantonness; A lawn about the shoulders thrown Into a fine distraction; An erring lace, which here and there Enthrals the crimson stomacher; A cuff neglectful, and thereby Ribands to flow confusedly; A winning wave, deserving note, In the tempestuous petticoat; A careless shoe-string, in whose tie I see a wild civility: Do more bewitch me, than when art Is too precise in every part.
Wiglaf
A young kinsman and retainer of Beowulf who helps him in the fight against the dragon while all of the other warriors run away. Wiglaf adheres to the heroic code better than Beowulf's other retainers, thereby proving himself a suitable successor to Beowulf.
The Description of Cookham
Aemilia Lanyer 1611 Writing to Margaret Clifford and her daughter Anne Clifford - these are wealthy women. Writer is seeking patronage (from female countesses - weird?). The work flatters the two women and the estate. i.e.: - Cookham is serving you its inhabitants - Physical reactions to Anne and Margaret leaving - "Robbed" the tree of Anne's kiss Written in rhymed couplets AABBCCDD.....
The Rape of the Lock
Alexander Pope (1712). Used to restore good humor to the families feuding over a stolen lock of hair. A satire on a scandal about an impertinent haircut given by Lord Petre to Arabella Fermor (Arabella becomes Belinda in the poem). Contains versions of the epic invocation, the epic feast, the epic battle, the interference of the gods, and the epic simile--the epic feast is a tea serving, the epic battle is at cards, and the gods become dead demi-mondes. *Written in rhyming couplets*
Sir Walter Raleigh
An English adventurer and writer, who was prominent at the court of Queen Elizabeth I, and became an explorer of the Americas. In 1585, Raleigh sponsored the first English colony in America on Roanoke Island in present-day North Carolina. It failed and is known as " The Lost Colony."
Andrew Marvell (1621-1678)
An English puritan poet and politician educated at Cambridge. He was John Milton's assistant when Milton was Latin Secretary of the Commonwealth. Wrote "To his Coy Mistress" and The Coronet.
The Coronet
Andrew Marvell ABBA... Poet wants to make ammends to Christ - by crafting him a really nice flower crown (really this is a symbol for good poetry) - but this has been tainted. (by poet's desire for fame). Asks Christ for help.
To His Coy Mistress
Andrew Marvell, metaphysical, 1681 Speaker is trying to win over a virgin lover (this is also a seize the day poem) "Quick love me back we are running out of time"
Wyrd
Anglo-Saxon word for fate. (Old English) (Very present in exeter book elegies)
Beowulf was produced in the time of
Bede or Alfred or AElfric
Chaucer's Tales
BORING on purpose to emphasize the other pilgrim's tales 1. tale of sir topaz (too long - cut off by host) 2. debate between melabel and his wife on what to do about their daughter
Hrethel
Beowulf's grandfather
Hygelac
Beowulf's uncle, king of the Geats
Christopher Marlowe (1564-1593)
Born in Canterbury His plays set precedents for English history plays, tragedy, and heroic drama Wrote in blank verse (unrhymed Iambic Pentameter) Maybe a spy for the queen? Weird death Doctor Faustus - completed in 1592 or 1593
Comitatus
Bond of loyalty between warriors and their king. - importance of mead-hall (where singing/sleeping/gift giving takes place)
What was benson's main argument
Canterbury tales was a collection of different types of poetry - series of literary experiments rather than drama of personalities. NOT focused on the pilgrims but instead on the poetry
Lais
Celtic tales of romance with strong female focus Focus on personal desire of characters Octosyllabic rhyming couplets
The General Prologue
Chaucer's account of meeting a group of 29 pilrims at the Tabard Inn in Southwark. They decide to have a contest on the way to Canterbury: whoever tells the best tales wins a free dinner (each will tell two stories). Characters he met: Knight (honorable), Squire (Knight's son - lovestruck and young), Yeoman (servant of the knight and his son), Prioress (a nun who ran a covenant - cared a lot about appearing polite and wore her heart on her sleeve), Monk (who loved to hunt and rejected church's rules that he shouldn't enjoy secular things), Friar (Hubert - beggar who got lots of money from people and would never give it to the poor - also took bribes), Merchant (appeared rich but was actually in debt), Clerk (entrenched in his books), Sergeant of Law (very busy and wise about laws), Franklin (traveled with the judge, loved to entertain at his home, obsessed with food and wine), Workingmen's guild (HABERDASHER—a hatmaker—a CARPENTER, a WEAVER, a clothing DYER, and a TAPESTRY MAKER), Cook (brought by the guildsmen), Shipman (wise and practical), Doctor (good doctor, loved gold), Wife of Bath (had 10 husbands, wanted to be the best, gap in teeth). Parson (priest: actually a good one - led by example). Plowman (parson's brother), Miller (strong - wrestled people), Manciple (clerk in charge of buying provisions for the inner temple - good with money), Reeve (looked over land), Summoner (bailiff in a religious court - pimples and boils on his face - ladies man). Pardoner (rode with summoner, sold pardons, fake holy objects, HOST from Inn. Knight drew the short straw - had to go first
313-381
Christianity in the roman empire
Notes/themes within Oronooko
Cultural "Othering" Colonialism: - interest in material pleasures Anti-slavery or Pro-monarchy? - Oronooko was of royal blood - everyone acts like he's a monarch Superiority of Europeaness: - Oronooko and his lady have european features - BUT the europeans in Suiname are aweful Slavery: - degrades all equally, but some have to fall farther than others - Slave traders are not all universally bad Infantillizing of the natives: - they're like adam and eve -couldn't treat them as slaves because outnumbered Imoinda: - enslaved by her beauty Bad vs Good Monarchy - Bad: original king - Good: Oroonoko (princliness can't be lost even through slavery) Aphra Behn was not anti slavery - but instead pro-monarchy * The narrator carves out a moral high ground for herself - this is a slippery slope
1517
Date: Martin Luther and 95 Theses Protestand reformation
Characteristics of Old English Poetry
Divides into half lines, each including two stressed syllables but a variable number of total syllables. Un rhymed
Me and White Pangur
Early Irish Poem. compares activities of an ecclesiastical scholar to those of a cat. (i.e. pangur trapping mouse and scholar trapping obscure principle)
Fair lady, will you go with me (A Bé Find, in rega lim)
Early Irish Poem. Describes the otherworld - home of the fairies who lived in ireland before coming of the Gaels (Human-Otherworld interactions). Exerpt from Tochmarc Etaine. Etaine is a woman of the otherworld - ends up married to human king of Tara. Her otherworld husband Midir comes to take her back and uses this poem to try to win her over. Describes how awesome the other world is -- i.e. it's not a sin to copulate --
The Lament of the Old Woman of Beare
Early Irish Poem. Dramatic monologue by a courtesan royal consort who has become a nun in her old age. Contrasts of pleasures of secular life versus the monastic one. Laments about her old age - describes the pleasures of secular life - longing to be taken back to His (God's) home. Everyone is born to die - doesn't regret secular life. "An old cloak never worn doesn't mean brand new" might as well enjoy life. Says she was practicing christian charity and religion before she even knew it. "Ebbing" and "flooding" and "waves" imagery. Thinks no one cares she's dying.
Going to Rome
Early Irish Poem. pithy comment on the fraught relationship between the Irish church and rome. Won't get anything out of going to rome
The First Satire
Early Irish Poem. prototypical example of satire in the early Irish sense - formalized assault on the reputation of the poem's subject. Poet visited King Bres and was put in a crappy hut - the poet roasted the king and Bres's fortune tanked.
The Wind is Wild Tonight
Early Irish Poem. work of a monk from the Viking Age (vikings began to target monasteriesin irish in the 9th century)
1485 CE
End of the War of roses - end of the middle ages
Geoffrey Chaucer
English poet remembered as author of the Canterbury Tales (1340-1400) Medieval English Writing
The Seafarer
Exeter Book Elegy - First person account of being at sea, describes the storms and salty waves. Describes the sea as the whales home. The journey he is on is one of spiritual discovery. Narrator states that everyone feels sorrow at some point. Mention of the transience of life on earth (i.e. loaned life), stating that everyone dies from age, attack, or illness. Goes on to describe the "terror" of God and states everyone should be afraid. Ends on a more homiletic note - preaching praise for God.
The Wanderer
Exeter Book Elegy - First person narrative of the suffering they encounter having lost their Lord. Missing the days of the mead-hall and is in exile because they can't find a new lord. Mentions that those who want to be heroes "bind their emotions in their chest." A LOT of imagery around abandoned / desolate buildings (maybe representing the emptiness in their lives without a lord??). Makes mention of wyrd (fate) and that if fate damns you you're screwed basically. Ends poem saying that salvation is in the Father in heaven where "all stability stands."
The Wife's Lament
Exeter Book Elegy - woman lamenting having a lack of home after being forced into exile. Her "Lord" (love?) left and she is along. Themes of exile, importance of belonging to a lord/community/loss of loved one. Author unknown to be man or woman. Women did not write, but was it meant to be from a woman's perspective?
The Ruin
Exeter Book Elegy Describes the ruins of what was once a great city that was destroyed by wyrd (Fate). Mention of the meadhall and men's joys. Poem trails off into incoherent ruins.
Doctor Faustus Act II
Faustus debates on selling his soul - the evil angel convinces him he can earn honor and wealth. Mephastophilis says the devil accepted his offer (because he wants humans so suffer as he has) - Faustus signs his name in blood (his blood clots which makes signing difficult - and a saying appears on his arm that again prompts second thoughts). Faustus is given a book of spells, and again debates on repentance. He begins to repent because the good angel says it is not too late - but the Devil, Mephastophilis, and Beelzebub come to stop him and show him a play of the 7 deadly sins. Faustus asks to see hell and keeps learning about dark magic. Robin (a stabelhand) found one of faustus's books and is trying to learn spells. HE interacts with Rafe).
Doctor Faustus: Act I
Faustus debates on what the most rewarding type of scholarship is - goes through logic, medicine, law, religion, eventually falls on magic. He fetches for Valdes and Cornelius to learn magic. A good and evil angel each try to sway him their way. When scholars lean he is consulting with Valdes and Cornelus - they know he's pursuing dark magic (not good). Faustus chants in latin and 4 devils + Lucifer watch him - Mephastophilis comes to him (faustus tells him to come back looking like a friar) - complies because he wants Faustus's soul. Faustus asks a bunch of questions about hell, and offers his soul to lucifer for 24 years of service from Mephastophilis. Also at the end Wagner gets a clown to be his servant (this dumb guy found the book of spells and was using it) and scared people with devils.
Doctor Faustus Act IV - End
Faustus has returned to Germany - and has developed fame. German emperor (Charles V) heard of this and invites him to his palace. He conjures alexander the great and his lover for the emperor. Benvolio (emperor's bud) resolves to ambush and attack faustus - taking his treasure. He tries to kill Faustus and fails - because Faustus cannot die as he belongs to the devils. He orders this guy to be dragged through thorns and thrown off a cliff. Faustus sells a crappy horse - plays a trick on an old man. He is summoned by Duke of Vanholt. Robin and Rafe listen to people talk about faustus. Robin wants to seek out faustus. Meanwhile, Faustus puts on a display for the Duke of Vanholt and his wife. Chorus conjectures that Faustus is about to die - has given Wagner all his wealth. Faustus is socializing with some scholars - produces Helen of Troy. Old man enters and tries to get Faustus to repent. Faustus gets upset - Mephastophilis gives him a dagger. Threatens to shred faustus if he doesn't comply with the contract. Faustus wants meph to hurt old man - but he says he can't bc old man is protected by god. On his final night - Faustus tells scholars of the deal. He is carried off into hell - regrets his decision. Chorus says don't go after forbidden knowledge.
Phillis Wheatly (1754-1784)
First African author to publish a book of poetry in English. Was a slave - writes about those experiences. Wrote often in heroic couplet. Her poetry challenged racism in western culture. She was freed by her masters once her poems gained notoriety.
793
First Vikings' raid on England
410
Goth's Sack of Rome
Providence
God's plan for and protection of all creation *foreknowledge of what's going to happen
Hildeburh
Her story in recounted during the second feast for Beowulf at Heorot. She is an ancient Danish princess who was married into the Frisian royalty. Her brother and her son were both killed in a war with the Frisians at Finnesburh.
Heorot
Hrothgar's mead hall
Wealhteow
Hrothgar's wife
Wealhtheow (Dane)
Hrothgar's wife, the gracious queen of the Danes.
Queen of the Geats
Hygd
"Death be not proud, though some have called thee / Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so."
John Donne - Sonnet 10
"I am a little world made cunningly Of elements, and an angelic sprite, But black sin hath betrayed to endless night My world's both parts, and (oh) both parts must die. You which beyond that heaven which was most high Have found new spheres, and of new lands can write, Pour new seas in mine eyes, that so I might Drown my world with my weeping earnestly, Or wash it, if it must be drowned no more: But oh it must be burnt; alas the fire Of lust and envy have burnt it heretofore, And made it fouler; let their flames retire, And burn me O Lord, with a firey zeal Of Thee and Thy house, which doth in eating heal."
John Donne - sonnet 5 Wants God to purify him (via burning)
Paradise Lost
John Milton 1667 Epic - long narrative verse - foundation myth - "hero" - pride was his downfall - Cataloguing (of angels) - invocation to a muse (the holy spirit) - preparation for battle *Is god cruel *Do people have free will Also works as an allegory for the gov't (God = monarch / Satan = parliament ) Note that god is outside of time Satan as a hero: "ambitious" rose up against "tyrant in heaven"
When I consider how my light is spent
John Milton; English Renaissance Sonnet 19 After Milton's loss of eyeseight - feels unable to complete tasks god has for him - BUT God does not need human help - there are many ways to serve him SALVATION COMES FROM FAITH - NOT WORK
Lady's Dressing Room
Jonathan Swift 1700s Describes the filth of a lady's dressing room - satire on the expectations of women
Description of a City Shower
Jonathan Swift 1710 Describes London During a rain shower and how disgusting it is.
Was the wife of bath a feminist?
Kinda. Defied gender roles for her time - but stated that what women wanted most was dependent on their husbands (ability to control husband). Also gives the rapist knight a happy ending She didn't need a husband for financial need. She's a feminist in medieval times - not modern day.
Hrothgar
King of the Danes
Easter Wings, George Herbert
Lord, who createdst man in wealth and store, Though foolishly he lost the same, Decaying more and more, Till he became Most poore: With thee O let me rise As larks, harmoniously, And sing this day thy victories: Then shall the fall further the flight in me. My tender age in sorrow did beginne And still with sicknesses and shame. Thou didst so punish sinne, That I became Most thinne. With thee Let me combine, And feel thy victorie: For, if I imp my wing on thine, Affliction shall advance the flight in me. ABAB... rhyming scheme in the shape of easter wings our sinning gave jesus something to die for
Women's Literacy
Many jobs for men did not require literacy - so women had more pragmatic literacy Women were also more familiar to vernacular than latin (It was overall more difficult for men to be literate - unless involved in church)
A Dialogue Between an Oak and a Man Cutting Him Down
Margaret Cavendish Again written in rhymed couplets Oak lists all the good deeds he's done for man - why would man cut him down? Man says stop being so grumbly. Oak says why should I be happy? Don't cut me down. Man says the tree will gain knowledge if cut down (you'll become a ship!) Oak says "I'm good." I'm content with what nature has given me. Man says, okay what about a house? Oak says NOPE more honor is in being in nature. Man says how can you be happy just sitting here. Oak says I am happy. Man doesn't cut it down. Parallel to Monarchy - (pro-monarch) - what happens after you cut down the monarchy
Nature's Cook
Margaret Cavendish Goes through different kinds of meats and how they are prepared. De-centers humans and reduces them to the bodies of animal carcasses.
A Dialogue Betwixt the Body and the Mind
Margaret Cavendish Written in rhymed couplets Body and mind complaining at eachother Mind wins: the emotions you hate are the essential social glue - and you'd miss me if I were gone
Bisclavert
Marie De France Bisclavert is a knight that goes away for three days at a time - his wife asks why - he says he's a wearwolf. She takes his clothes from the path so he can't come back and she takes a new lover. King finds the wearwolf and likes him - keeps him as is pet. Wearwulf never shoes aggression towards anyone until he sees his wife and her lover - bites her nose off. King tortures wife so she tells him. Kind gets knight to transform back into human and banishes his now ex-wife and her lover - her children are born without noses.
The Passionate Shepherd to His Love
Marlowe So many people have used this poem to start their own: John Donne, Robert Herrick, C. Day Lewis, and most notably Sir Walter Raleigh. The poem was published after his death in 1599 and was sometimes attributed to Shakespeare. In quatrains (4 line stanzas) of iambic tetrameter. Pastoral lyric: Poetry that expresses emotions in an idyllic setting. It is related to the term "pasture," and is associated with shepherds writing music to their flocks. The tradition goes back to David in the Bible and Hesiod the Greek poet. "Come live with me and be my love, And we will all the pleasures prove That hill and valley, dale and field, And all the craggy mountains yield. There we will sit upon the rocks, And see the shepherds feed their flocks, By shallow rivers to whose falls Melodious birds sing madrigals...."
Doctor Faustus Act III
Mephastopheles and Faustus are in rome - in the pope's chamber. They play tricks on the pope. Robin and Rafe have stolen a cup from a tavern - when asked to return it they summon mephastphilis (who is not happy).
Characteristics of Old Irish poetry
Might be either accentual or syllabic syllabic meters (set total syllables per line) perdominates end-rhyme, line-internal rhyme, and aicill rhyme stressed syllables often rhymed with un-stressed syllables complex system of alliteration - on consonants' underlying form first and last words of a poem would be the same word or homophones
The Miller's Prologue and Tale
Miller says he's going to "quite" (qyte?) the Knight's tale - Reeve and host both try to get him to shut it but he won't (he's pretty drunk). The tale is a fableau (bawdy - comic). Oxford student: Nicholas. Rented a room at an old carpenter's house who was just married to an 18 year old woman (mal mariée). Nicholas gets Alisoun to agree to sleep with him - she is worried John will find out though. So they devise a plan: tell John Nicholas is sick, (John: "that's what you get for inquiring into 'Goddes pryvetee') - Nicholas tells him he had a vission of a flood coming. Nicholas convinces John to fasten "boats" to the roof of a barn to cut down when the flood comes - he sleeps in the boat. Nicholas and Alisoun sneak out and do it. BUT Absolon (another man that loves Alisoun) comes by, and demands a kiss. She says okay, but he kisses her ass. Absolon comes back with a hot poker, Nicholas farts in his face and also gets branded. He screams "water!" and John wakes up and cuts the "boat" down. People think he's crazy once he tells what Nicholas said to him, and Nicholas and Alisoun play dumb.
Paradise Lost Book 9
Milton. Invocation of Urania (invocation of muse). Satan enters garden as snake - sad he can't enjoy garden. Could really love humans. Finds Eve alone because she wanted to work separately from Adam that day. Satan talks to her - flatters her. She eats the forbidden fruit (apple from tree of knowledge). Tells adam - he knows he has to now too bc doesn't want another woman. They fight and try to blame eachother (i.e. Eve said he should have never left her alone). * adam and eve have everything except knowledge and what people want is knowledge
Paradise Lost Book 12
Milton. Michael the angle is telling Adam about mankind after the fall (i.e. Noah's Arc). Nimrod will be a tyrant and construct tower or babel to heaven - so god will make everyone speak different languages. Michael and Adam agree that people should be free. BUT Michael says men only have liberty when they obey "right reason." God chooses Israel to rise above other nations (Abraham - eventually move to Egypt and get stuck under Pharoh - Moses leads them out). So basically saying all that will happen on earth - also talks about Jesus coming to pay for their sins. Adam is more comforted knowing this. Adam and Eve leave the garden sadly.
Paradise Lost Book 2
Moloch: pro-war Belial: wants to prevent war - inaction - so they don't suffer more Mammon: be industrious in Hell Beelzebub: go corrupt God's new race: man (note that throughout this God and freedom are mutually exclusive) *Satan goes to scout this new race Hell is guarded by 9 gates - and a half woman half serpant and another dark shape (Sin and Death). They travel to earth.
Aemilia Lanyer (1569-1645)
Not a noble woman - more okay for her to publish poetry
Richard Crashaw (1613-1649)
On the Wounds of our Crucified Lord Talking about christ's body - bloody - human's debt is paid this way.
Aphra Behn
Oroonoko, or the Royal Slave 1688 An early novella (precursor to the novel)
Daneilson Essay
Paradise Lost necessity versus certainty chutzpah and humility balance issue of the balance between divine knowledge and human free will
Notes on the Pardoner
Pardoner is the definition of a hypocrite BUT he is still inspiring devotion Psychological verisimilitude The Pardoner's take basically equates money with death
Themes in the Exeter Book Elegies
Passage of time Transience of earthly things Pain of exile and separation Ache of absence and longing (Also Images of: abandon buildings, desolate landscapes, storms at sea, darkness, chill of winter)
On Recollection
Phillis Wheatly - written when she was 18. Poem about memory (personifies memory)
On Imagination
Phillis Wheatly: About the power of imagination
To Maecenas
Phillis Wheatly: is a request to receive poetic/divine inspiration from an artistic patron & also an appeal for freedom from slavery. This is evident in the double meaning of the word 'patron' (former slave owner - or someone that gives u money)
To the University of Cambridge, in New England
Phillis Wheatly: renounces sin - religious poem - inspires others to be loyal to jesus
free verse
Poetry that does not have a regular meter or rhyme scheme
597
Pope Gregory the Great sends missionaries to convert Anglo-Saxons
The Bensen Essay
Proto-feminism (women want sovereignetee) Relationship between the Miller's prologue and tale - mirrored eachother - the tales align with one character (qytes knight's tale - woman gets happy ending whereas in knights tale she doesn't) Wife of Bath - her desire for control in 5th marriage connects to her tale ** The Canterbury tales is more about broad stereotypes / professions than individual characters ** critisizes ppl by praising wrong stuff ** too much candidness?
871-899
Reign of King Alfred (vernacular - language of the people)
His Farewell to Sack
Robert Herrick Sack = wine Talking about how awesome wine is. Better than all other pleasures. Drank by poets. Etc Etc AABBCC...
To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time
Robert Herrick carpe diem --> seize the day "Gather ye rosebuds while ye may"; "Then be not coy, but use your time"
The Nymph's Reply to the Shepherd
Sir Walter Raleigh; Renaissance; Pastoral "To live with thee and be thy . love"
Batter my heart, three-personed God
Sonnet 14 (batter my heart), John Donne Wants god to ravish him
Elements of supernatural that appear in the Rape of the Lock
Sylphs, Gnomes, Nymphs, and Salamanders
The pardoner's prologue
Tells the pilgrims that he always gives sermons about the evil of greed and covetousness (ironic considering how greedy he is) - admits his relics are fake and that he only cares about money
The Doubt of Future Foes- Elizabeth I
The doubt of future foes exiles my present joy, And wit me warns to shun such snares as threaten mine annoy; For falsehood now doth flow, and subjects' faith doth ebb, Which should not be if reason ruled or wisdom weaved the web. But clouds of joys untried do cloak aspiring minds, Which turn to rain of late repent by changed course of winds. The top of hope supposed the root upreared shall be, And fruitless all their grafted guile, as shortly ye shall see. The dazzled eyes with pride, which great ambition blinds, Shall be unsealed by worthy wights whose foresight falsehood finds. The daughter of debate that discord aye doth sow Shall reap no gain where former rule still peace hath taught to know. No foreign banished wight shall anchor in this port; Our realm brooks not seditious sects, let them elsewhere resort. My rusty sword through rest shall first his edge employ To poll their tops that seek such change or gape for future joy. It concerns her relationship with her cousin and enemy, Mary, Queen of Scots.
The pardoner's tale
Three men try to find death, one poisons the other two and the other two kill the one, everyone dies; they indeed find death, but not in the way they hoped/expected. Pardoner then asks people for payment / worship of his relics - Host gets mad and says he'll make a relic out of the Pardoner's genitals - Knight calms everyone down.
John Donne (1572-1631)
Was an English poet and a cleric in the Church of England. He is considered the pre-eminent representative of the metaphysical poets. His poetry is noted for its vibrancy of language and inventiveness of metaphor, especially compared to that of his contemporaries.
Jordan (1) by George Herbert
Why is poetry so complicated? Why isn't fact and plain vernacular good enough?
Beowulf
Written between 8th and 11th century. Transcribed by Thorkelin. Written like prose and contains 3182 extant lines of alliterative verse. Danish king Hrothgar, (descendant of Scyld), has build the hall Herorot. The hall is terrorized by the beast Grendel. A warrior of the tribe of Geats named Beowulf hears of this and comes to help. He faces Grendel unarmed and tears off its arm. He is showered with gifts by Hrothgar's men. The next night, Grendel's mother returns to aveng her son, killing one of Hrothgar's most trusted retainers. Beowulf follows her to her lair, and kills her with a sword he finds in her cave. He returns to the Danish hall and gets more praise and gifts. HE then returns to his native land and recounts his adventures to his own kind (and uncle) Hygelac. He hands over the treasure given by the danish men to him to his lord Hygelac. Hygelac is killed in a war and his son dies, therefore the throne goes to Beowulf. HE rules for fifty years. When Beowulf is old, a thief disturbs a mound where a dragon guards treasure. The dragon unleashes fury onto the Geats, Beowulf goes to kill the dragon. Wiglaf helps him and he wins but Beowulf is killed in battle. The bury Beowulf with lots of treasure.
Exeter Book Elegies
Written ~1000s (OLD ENGLISH) Elegy meant to be a serious meditative lyric poem - The Wanderer, The seafarer, Deor, Wulf and Eadwacer, The Wife's Lament, The Ruin, The Husband's Message
Egethow
beowulf's father
The author of the poem Beowulf was likely a
christian (explores bridges and chasms between paganism and christianity)
Ecological Criticism
de-centers human characters role of nature/environment as more than just setting grants nature/environment more agency imagining possible alternative environments human ownership or exploitation of nature human exceptionalism/anthropocentrism
Is acher in gaith innocht (The wind is wild tonitght)
early irish poem about the wind and seas
dúnad
first and last words of a poem being the same or rhyming
Rannaigecht
four line stanzas with end-rhyme between at least the second and fourth lines
deibide
four line stanzas with the rhyme scheme aabb
Prosopopoeia
giving human characteristics to inanimate objects i.e. used in Dream of the Rood (tree)
Riddles in old english
often used dream of rood exeter book riddles
Glossing
literate explanation
What is a novel?
long prose narrative - a single work. These began to surface in the late 17th and early 18th c. in England. A single work - more realistic than a romance (which has more of the elements of the fantastic)
1200 CE
middle english
Paradise Lost Book 1
opens with invocation to a muse (the holy spirit is the muse in this case). Milton says he wants to "Justify the ways of God to men." Milton states that Adam and Eve's disobedience is likely partially due to the serpent's (Satan's) deception. Satan, Beelzebub, and other demons are cast out of heaven (i.e. Moloch, Belial, etc). Satan wants to pervert god's will to make evil out of good. Satan had rebelled because he was jealous of God's power and the son's chosen status. The devils construct a temple: Pandemonium - they hold a summit and debate on how to get back at god. Note that God was the only reason satan and the other devils could get off the burning lake (he allowed it)
Paradise Lost book 3
opens with invocation to muse (this time it's "Holy Light")God is in heaven - he sees Satan flying up towards earth and sees past, present, and future. Humans fell because they had free will - but without free will they couldn't truly love God. God knows he will show mercy and love towards man even after the fall - Jesus is like how can you do this without destroying justice? God says someone must die for their sins - Jesus offers himself. Satan lands on earth - finds staircase that leads to the garden. Satan changes into a cherub and talks to Uriel to get the whereabouts of Adam and Eve.
what was old irish poetry about usually?
paegan otherworld or christian afterlife here and now praise or blame
Narrative of Beowulf (non linear)
prolepsis (foreshadowing) flashback digression (story of sigemund the hero who slayed dragons and heremod the bad king who became a tyrant - here Beowulf was compared to Sigemund) narrative pace
old english poetry does not use
punctuation a lot of rhyming
two broad categories of syllabic meter
rannaigecht and deibide
What drives most of the action in beowulf
reciprocity of: gift exchange, feuds, werglid
Flyting
ritualized insults/outrageous boasting of warriors (Beowulf does this)
Who is Hild?
she was a notable Abbess of the monastery called hereuteu, streaneshalch, and etc. She was very wise. This is the abbess that found Caedmon and made him enter monastic life.
Middle English lyrics
short lines (for musical performance) dichotomy - praised women and put them down elevated mary (this is why more women were in middle english poetry) Affective poetry (making ppl rly feel the suffering)
"Affliction (1)" by George Herbert
the relationship between humans and God. The first-person speaker describes his changing mental and physical state as he tries to get closer to God. When the speaker first decides to devote himself to serving God, he expects to be rewarded. He thinks that life will be an eternal springtime. In the second part of the poem, the speaker begins to face sickness. His friends die off and he feels lonely. This is not what he was expecting, so the speaker begins to question God. He asks why God wants him to suffer. Unable to find relief, the speaker then tries to submit himself to God's will, but just when he's getting used to unhappiness, something worse happens. Finally, the speaker gives up on wanting to feel good or bad. Instead, he just wants to be useful.
Why did beowulf's men run off into the woods after beowulf's death
they were worried about susceptibility to an attack by the swedes
Beowulf may be a descendant of
thor
Oronooko, or the Royal Slave
told from perspective of a female narrator (Aphra Behn?) - written in prose as a proto-narrative. Oroonoko was last descendent of a royal line of an african country called Coramantien. BUT he is currently a slave in Suriname. Emphasis on both Oroonoko's and Imoinda's (the lady he likes, her father saved his life in battle) - emphasis on the fact that they didn't just look african. Oronooko wants to marry Imoinda and asks for his grandfather's blessing - but instead he takes her as one of his concubines. They still remain faithful to eachother. They try to spend a night together - but the kind catches on and sells Imoinda into slavery (though he tells Oroonoko who was at battle that he killed her). Oroonoko is kidnapped by an english sea captain who brings him to Suriname. Trefry buys Oroonoko and gives him the name Caesar - he is reuinited with Imionda who Trefry also owns (she is now named Clemene). They concieve a kid. Oronooko is suspicious of the slave owners - even though promised release he knows this can't be true. He tries to escape, but is captured by the slave owners - who try to say they will make a "contract" - and promise freedom. Instead they whip ceasar and sequester clemene. So Caesar murders clemene to save them from suffering. But is overcome by grief. He wants to kill Byam (one of the slave owners) but is rescued by his friends. An Irishman Banister kidnaps Caesar for Byam an dhe is tied to the stake and dismembered.
Blank verse
unrhymed iambic pentameter
Giolla Bridhde Mac Con Mide
wrote "A theach taire tig ón Róimh" (AKA O messenger come from rome) in response to papal supression of poets. Argued that poets were so gifted that their poetry is so well made that it praises god as well. Wealth on poetry isn't wasted because wealth means nothing without notability (poets have to write about you after you die) - heroes live on in poetry forever
Bede's Story of Caedmon
~ takes place in 660s-70s or earlier. Written in 730 Caedmon had lived a secular life, was not notably versed in singing or poetry. One night he left dinner as he saw the harp being passed towards him, as was customary at the time to sing songs/stories at dinner. He fell asleep and had a dream where a weird dude asked him to sing. All of a sudden he was singing about praising God and heaven. When he awoke he recounted this. Hild told him to join the monastary and he did. He was instructed in religious history and wrote amazing pious poetry. He died among monks in the monastary.