English Final
What is the central line in The Tyger? What is the message?
"Did he who made the Lamb make thee?" - Questions nature of God - you think nice bc of lamb, but then he makes fierceness. If creation is a reflection of god, what kind of god is he? You think god is king but then bad things happen to make u question things
What is the correct title of "When I consider how my light is spent"? What does the title suggest?
"On His blindess"; suggest that it is an ode
What type of work is Death be not proud?
A sonnet - specifically Petrarchan (Italian) sonnets. Divided into octet and sestet - 8 lines then 6 lines. Despite not really being broken up visually, it's still broken up. ABBA
What pleasures can Death bring? (Death be not proud)
Allows the body to rest and delivers the soul from the bondage of the body. When you go to heaven you overcome it - eternal life
What is noticeable about the lines in Easter Wings? Does the message change? What is the message? What is being seen after the "rise" line?
As lines progress they get shorter. Message is the same- God created humans with wealth and store, Lost original state w original sin, So we became thinner and thinner, less connected to God. Shape goes w this. After the rise line, lines grow, person is joining himself with God
Is Swift speaking in Modest Proposal? Describe the speaker. What is the tone of the speaker, what is the tone of Swift?
Author creates persona - he himself doesn't actually agree with the speaker. Speaker - all business - looking at facts and figures, not looking at anything but that, Taking in the account of others - advised from people of other countries, trying to make it seem like he's done his research. Speaker - cold, serious, apathetic tone. Swift - satirical
What type of imagery is seen in stanzas 3 and 4 of The Tyger? What does it relate the tiger to?
Blacksmith imagery - interesting. Relates to making the tiger an adult, a fierce thing
How did Blake view the world? How does that relate to the tyger?
Blake saw the entire material world as a set of signs or symbols representing religious or mystical realities. Any one of Blake's symbols—the "tyger," for instance—has such a rich array of meanings that we can never expect to understand fully what such a symbol meant to him. It is possible the tiger represents a strong revolutionary energy that can enlighten and transform society: a positive but volatile force Blake believed was operating in the French Revolution.
What questions are brought up in the last line of On his blindness? What lesson has the speaker learned?
Can we serve god and not be active? Can we have a passive life and serve god? He's learned the virtue of patience, that's the lesson he learned from his blindness
Explain the metaphor Jonson uses in lines 3-4 of "On My First Son." What does this comparison say about how Jonson views life?
Compares his son to a loan. Shows he sees life as temporary - could show he's religious and trusts in God's plan. Fate - idea of everything happening for a reason
What kind of poem is Easter Wings? What does the shape imitate? What is the shape meant to do?
Concrete poem - Shape imitates subject, Meant to emphasize the message, Helps us get message out
How is Death a slave to desperate men? (Death be not proud)
Death is a slave to desperate men bc if they are desperate enough to want to kill themselves, Death has to do what they desire - Death therefore has no influence in how the person dies, just has to take part in the action of the person dying. Death isn't free to choose all the time . Other stuff - war - you kill other ppl, Kings - they have execution powers
What is the theme of Song? Evidence?
Don't trust women; Not just impossible for him, but others as well
What kind of work is On My First Son? Why use this? What is the dramatic situation?
Extended apostrophe - talking to his son. Why use it? (child is already dead) - makes it personal, speaking towards him, probably recently after boy died, more emotional. Apostrophe like this can be used to heighten emotion. Farewell directly makes us emotional - idea that he can't hear anymore makes it sadder. Apostrophe - speaking to dead person, absent person, quality, inanimate object, or death - when people do that they're typically in an emotional state situation - speaker's son died, son is already gone
What is the relationship between stanzas in Song?
First one seems to be a unit onto itself - comparing impossible love to impossible things Second stanza - He could go on and on and on but you'd never find a woman with both qualities; IF = theoretical, hypothetical
Describe how the speaker has changed from his first visit five years ago in Lines Composed...What does this go along with?
Five years ago when he first visited, he was awed by nature. Sees that there's something besides that now, More like love. Initially just abt beauty, but then you make personal connections. His perspective changes as he grows older. Goes along with certain things change and stay the same- Sometimes, places don't change when you continue to visit, but YOU change
The wing shape in Easter Wings suggest the subject. What is the idea?
Further your flight if you connect yourself to god - Wings enhancing idea. Gets smaller when people sin, less going on
What pattern is seen in the second stanza in Easter Wings? Is this also seen in first stanza?
General thing then parallel to personal thing. Seen in first stanza - that's why wings are the same
What happens to Tom Dacre in the Chimney Sweepers and why? Talk about what he sees in his dream (songs of innocence)
Has his head shaved so it wouldn't catch fire, catch bugs. Speaker is charged with being the older chimney sweeper. Tom's dream - Thousands of sweepers - makes the horror of it realistic, child dreaming with this detail, shows the issue of children being in indentured servitude, Coffins of black = chimneys
How is rationalization used in this poem? (On my first son)
He kind of finds hope in his son dying, a type of comfort; with the whole thing about son escaping pain and rage of the world, he's psychologically making the death okay
What is Wordsworth saying about his sister in lines 115-146 of Lines Composed...? Is he talking to her about his thoughts?
He says she will mature and grow like him and change as she gets older. He's thinking these things, not talking to her - he hopes that nature is always a refuge for her; that nature will be there in times of trouble, like it has been for him
Does the speaker in To a Mouse only blame himself for what happened? What is he apologizing for? What does he say mice have the right to do? How does the language change from the first stanza in the second?
He's apologizing abt human beings; Saying people have broken nature's social union - Broken our bond with nature - industrial revolution. Saying mice have the right to have ill opinion towards people. Language gets more regular here - high English instead of colloquial
When he recognizes this in his sister, how does he feel abt the experience? (Lines Composed) How does he feel about having her there?
He's so appreciative to come back there to see the place, also happy to share the experience with her. fulfilling (if he came back alone, it wouldn't be as fulfilling)
In the first line of "On his blindness" what 2 things does light mean (double entendre)? Paraphrase both.
His sight (it's spent, used up); his life - He can't see to write anymore. Sight - when I think about how I went blind; life - when I think about my life being over
If they all do their duty, they shouldn't fear getting hurt? --How is the perspective of innocence seen in the Cimney Sweepers from the Songs of Innocence?
If they all do their duty, they shouldn't fear getting hurt? - NO. That is a lie! Speaker isn't seeing the bigger picture - Too young and too innocent. Perspective of innocence seen here as he doesn't see the bigger lens
Example of situational irony
In Ah are You digging - lady thiknks dog is loyal and visiting, he's not
Example of paradox
In Death be not proud (holy sonnet 10) - "Death thou shalt die" - Death dying
Example of connotation
In Lyric 7 of In Memorium, the speaker chooses words with negative connotation to show his mood
How does Swift write Modest Proposal?
In this essay, Swift does not write in his own voice but rather uses a persona, that of a "projector" who is an economic planner. Swift pretends to be objective, sensible, even sensitive and kind. The difference between the essay's sober, straightforward style and its appalling content, however, gives the proposal its ironic force. At times, Swift seems to drop the persona and speak in his own voice, expressing his fury and indignation.
As you read, you noted Wordsworth's philosophy about nature. What assumptions about nature does he express in this poem? Support your answer with examples. (Lines Composed)
Line 110 - nature protecting him, source of his moral being and moral truth; Lines 25-30 - restoration, even out of that setting you can still use it as spiritual food. Nature never did betray the heart that loved her - talking abt his sister - Not just him, everyone
What are lambs typically associated with? What is seen in the first and second stanza of The Lamb? How is the perspective of innocence seen in this poem?
Makes you think of Jesus - allusion. They're also calm and innocent, need to be guided. First stanza - Repetition - makes it childlike and innocent, Simple structure, easy rhyme, Regular meter. Second stanza - A blessing due to linking between god and his child. Perspective of innocence - this lamb can't do anything independently, It's very vulnerable; Someone literally has to tell the lamb what it is - so innocent
How is To a Mouse Romantic?
Mouse is elevated, farmer is degraded in a way - Speaking to the mouse as an equal - "fellow mortal", "thy earthborn companion", Almost making himself sound like a mouse, Lowering himself and raising mouse - this is challenging rationalism. It's also Romantic bc of focus on nature - Bond broken between human and nature
How is the narrator in the Chimney Sweeper from Songs of Experience different from the other speaker? What is there in this poem that is not seen in the previous work? What is the tone of the sweeper?
Narrator here is different from the previous one. First 3 lines - observer, not necessarily a chimney sweep. Little black thing = the children sweeping. Criticism of the system in this one. Experienced eye telling us what things are. Tone of chimney sweeper - bitter, dejected, upset
Describe the structure of the poem Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey
Not separation of stanzas really, until line 23; No rhyme scheme. In blank verse (Shape of it gives that away - all the lines are around the same length) Enjambed lines - lines that break, Necessary bc of iambic pentameter. Iambic pentameter - gives poetic qualities to something that doesn't rhyme
Discuss the speaker in The Chimney Sweeper from the Songs of Innocence. What is he supposed to be saying in the "weep, weep, weep" line and how is there a pun here?
Perspective of innocence - Sounds very young - diction is simple and straight forward, Talks about "when he was young" - means he feels older, Still young now - adds pathos to the narrative in this poem bc we see he's not actually old. Weep, weep, weep line - he's actually supposed to be saying "sweep". There's a pun here - not for humorous elements. He's literally crying - "could scarcely cry" - he's actually crying not just screaming
From what stage of Donne's life is Song probably from?
Probably from the first stage of his poetry - very much about finding the perfect woman
Donne uses the word true twice in "Song," then ends with the word false. How does this contrast affect the meaning of the poem?
Relates to idea of being true but then they cheat; unfaithful after initially under the assumption of being true; Appearance vs reality - cynical or bitter message from someone who is so young. emphasizing the speaker's point in that women can appear true and faithful in the beginning, but will suddenly reveal their true nature, which is the opposite of what they appear to be. They can initially seem loyal, but this ends up being false.
"Five years have passed; five summers, with the length//Of five long winters!" (Lines Composed...) What repetition is seen here, why say the same thing 3 times? What difference between two things is seen here? What type of sentence is this, and what does that suggest to you?
Repetition of the word five; say the same thing 3 times to emphasize that time has passed and he's changed. Difference between summer and winter - Archetypically summer is lighter, winter is colder and darker. Could show he was deprived of relationships in winter; Winter = more hardships. Five long winters = things have happened to him - wasn't all great those 5 years, but he's here again. It's an exclamation, and suggests that it's important how many years have passed; Shows he's been thinking about it for five years - exclamation is release of tension
Describe literature during Romantic period - what it arose as a response to, what literature became based around, what other kind of literature had appeal during this time
Romanticism arises as a response to social and economic changes caused by Industrial Revolution. Literature based on imagination, idealism, and emotion, as well as interest in nature. Gothic lit had appeal w its eerie, supernatural style, reflects the renewed interest in mysticism during this time period
How is sarcasm seen in Song in the first part of the poem? Describe relationship with demands of first stanza. Describe Relationship with first and second stanza
Sarcasm - doesn't actually want ppl to do things he says Relationship with demands of first stanza - they're not possible Relationship with first and second stanza - Stating impossible things, then applying this to the woman problem in 2nd stanza-If/Then situation, Applying logic to love
How does assuming the persona of an economic planner help Swift achieve his purpose? (Modest Proposal)
Shows the lack of concern in a funny way. Characterize the diction - sophisticated word choice, we trust him and what he's saying - makes him believable. Done for larger effect of shock when we hear the proposal
What does the speaker see in his sister that makes him more aware of what he "was once" (lines 120-121)? (Lines Composed) What idea does this create?
Sister's voice - how he used to feel. Her eyes - how he left standing on top of the landscape 5 years ago. He's prob 20 something, she seems a lil younger than him. Maybe she's the age he was when he visited the place. He sees in her the same appreciation for things. Idea of looking at someone younger and recognizing how you were - pathos almost
What kind of imagery is being used for humans in Modest Proposal? What element of satire is seen in that imagery? How is the imagery used significant?
Speaking about humans like animals - Seems less cannibalistic if they're talked about like cows. Makes it funny however bc we know children are being talked about. How people of Ireland are being looked at - animals. Hyperbole being used to show low status of the poor - Animal imagery = hyperbole
What does the speaker in On his blindness want to do? What's the problem? How is talent used?
Talent = Story from the bible where manager gave talents (money in this context) - message like what do you do with your money from god. Used as like a pun. To hide the talent is death (from Bible story). Double entendre
Explain the line "My sin was too much hope for thee//had you for 7 years" in On My First Son
Talking about loans - after a certain time you pay back. God lent him his son for 7 years and had to pay him back
Discuss "Child of my right hand" from On My First Son
That's what the child's name meant - epithet for him (Benjamin = child of my right hand) Religious element - Jesus at right hand of the Father - biblical illusion. Right hand man idea
In Easter Wings, what is the speaker talking about when he says "the fall"? What does Easter focus on?
The fall - the fall of man, himself personally. Easter - deals with resurrection and dying
Describe a difference between Romantic period and age of reason
The religion in both time periods; Age of Reason - movement called deism proposed that God could be discovered through the use of reason (reflects emphasis on logic during this time period), Romantic period - renewed interest in mysticism (personal relationship with God) (reflects on the focus of the individual during romanticism)
Explain "Will man lament the state he should envy— To have so soon 'scaped world's and flesh's rage, And if no other misery, yet age?" in On My Fist Son
The state = death. By dying, the child has escaped the pain and rage of the world. Flesh's rage - sickness, things that happen to your body to make you suffer. Personification - the idea that flesh could be raging. World's rage - things that make you suffer in the world
Background of "On My First Son"
This poem is about Ben Jonson's son Benjamin, who died of the plague on his seventh birthday. Jonson wrote "On My First Son" as a farewell to his child. The name Benjamin in Hebrew means "child of the right hand" and, ironically, connotes a "lucky, clever child." The epigraph, or inscription that appears on a grave, is in quotation marks at the end of the poem.
How is the speaker/tone in the World is Too Much different from the Tintern Abbey poem?
Tone: upset bc people aren't giving the proper attention and respect to nature. Attitude towards materialism - ashamed/disgusted/disappointed by people, Critical above all, Not praising getting and spending. He's passionate, longing for change
Example of carpe diem poetry
Ulysses
Is the whole person being considered in Modest Proposal? If not, what is only being considered?
Whole person wasn't considered, monetary value considered only. Selling their kids to rich people. Poor in Ireland seen as valueless - only money seen found in the "meat" of them, They have no money besides the value their bodies can bring
What is the background of The World Is Too Much with Us?
Wordsworth wrote the final draft of this sonnet in 1804, at a time when he realized that his imaginative powers were beginning to fail. Although he continued to compose new works and to edit The Prelude, a long poem published after his death, he knew he was no longer responding to nature with the youthful passion that had inspired his earlier poems. This sonnet counterattacks ferocious criticism that Wordsworth was receiving from conservative reviewers who thought the poet was conspiring against society, brooding needlessly over problems "instead of contemplating the wonders and pleasures which civilization has created for mankind."
Who is the speaker? Who is being addressed? Evidence from poem? (Song)
Young man, speaking to friend or audience of men. Speaking to someone who is trying to bring up more women. Evidence - if you find one, let me know - conversational
What features of the past are featured in this poem? (The World is Too Much) What is he criticizing? What do we sense from this? What is the speaker actually saying is too much with us, how does this relate contextually?
allusions to Triton and Proteus; Classical allusions, Romanticized things, He's criticizing barbaric time (Pagans uncivilized people). Sense his feeling of disgust with the present, longing for the past. Saying materialism is too much with us - industrial revolution during this time, people more focused on material goods, more than materialism but that's a good word - Consumerism, getting and spending
Is a persona used in To a Mouse? How is this speaker different from those in his field of work? What is he telling the mouse?
assume its a persona. Normally plowmen think of mice as bad bc they'll eat your crops - this is different. Telling the mouse there's no need for it to run away, he would be unwilling to chase the mouse and kill it
What begins the romantic period?
begins w wordsworth, begins w publishing of lyrical ballads in 1798
unrhymed iambic pentameter
blank verse
What are the years of the age of reason?
c. 1660-1780
What brave thing does he do in this poem? (Death be not proud). What other kind of work is this and why do it?
challenges Death and says he's not that powerful. Extended apostrophe - makes it more personal, prob very close to death at this point
How does the speaker in To a Mouse become philosophical in the last two stanzas? What does the line "The best laid schemes o' mice an' men//Gang aft agley" mean? What does the mouse trigger in the speaker, and how can you tell? What does the line "foresight may be vain" mean?
compares mouse with men. That line means - the plans of both animals and humans can go astray. Says mouse is lucky bc it can't look in the past - only looks in the present, Says that humans get more anxiety and worries - mice can't do that - Clearly thinking of his own life. The mouse triggers a thought of what happens in human nature - ends on a human note. That line means - why should we be vain and try to believe we want to control things? (shows its not completely Romantic yet)
how writers control tone; associations and emotions that have become attached to a word
connotation
What are some rhetorical strategies seen in Tilbury Speech by Elizabeth?
convincing - feels that she is below men leaders and needs to gain people's confidence in her leadership repetition - (ex - for my _______) which serves as a tool to show her loyalty/importance affirming people - building them up, making them proud ethos - ethical appeal - God is on her side, shows her ethical character
From lines 1-22 in Lines Composed, what is the speaker doing? What literary device is being used? Which sense is dominant, and what is its effect?
describing what he sees, making a little bit more about it (but not much). Imagery being used; sight is the dominant sense; Moves away from saying how long it's been to what you see - reclaiming what he sees
speech that is characteristic of a particular region or group of people
dialect
Example of incongruity
first sentence in modest proposal - use of the word strolling doesn't work there - incongruity
What is the purpose of a persuasive essay? How is logical appeal used? Emotional? Ethical?
get audience to accept author's message. Logic - facts, statistics, argument through reason. Emotional - moving people to feel certain ways; Charged words - ex: saint, Rhetorical questions - gets us passionate, Moving language, Certain metaphors used. Ethical - Can be appealing to ethical portion of the reader - ex: It's the right thing to do
Why does the speaker say "half my days" in On his blindness? Why is his condition such an issue to his personal life?
he's 35, life expectancy is 70 (from the Bible). He's a Puritan, so he can't just sit around - You need to be busy and serve God in the process
What is the dramatic situation at the beginning of Lines Composed...?
he's in place high up that he hasn't been to in 5 years, 5 years after he had first come, he's with his sister. He has been other places and he's come back to this place
What is an example of synecdoche in Tilbury Speech by Elizabeth?
heart and stomach of a king - part represents the whole she has the emotional strength of a man
a reference to a person, place, or event from history that relates to the topic
historical allusion
a figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion or create a comic effect
hyperbole
units of meter consisting of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable
iamb
the idea that something is incongruous, or inappropriate. doesn't fit
incongruity
What kind of poem is "On his blindness"? What does his condition teach him?
it is a sonnet; condition he's in teaches him a lesson
What kind of piece is "To a Mouse"? What must've just happened before this began? Give lead up also. What is significance?
it's an ode, extended apostrophe. On Turning Her Up in Her Nest, with the Plow, November, 1785 - during this time of year, a mouse is finishing or has finished its underground nest to hibernate. Also during this time, people are harvesting their crops, thus turning over fields. the speaker has turned over his field and noticed what he's done and feels bad bc there's no way the mouse will complete a nest before winter and will thus have to suffer. Man feels bad - blaming it on his actions as well as humanity's actions
To what does the speaker of "On My First Son" compare his son?
loan bc loans were for 7 years A poem (lines 9-10)** - his best piece of poetry; both are his own creation
from the Greek word lurikos, from lura, meaning "lyre", is a poem that imaginatively and melodically expresses a speaker's personal thoughts and feelings
lyric
a statement that at first glance seems impossible or illogical, but when examined more closely, it expresses a deeper truth than was first apparent
paradox
Describe Age of Reason - what was considered the most powerful way of approaching the world, how the universe was viewed, how it could be understood
rational thought considered most powerful way of approaching world, Work of Newton and others fostered idea that the universe was a perfect mechanism, set in motion by God, that could be understood through observation and reason
Describe the Romantic period - what caused some radical changes, major events of the time period
revolution began in America - swept across Europe. Caused for some of the most radical changes. French Revolution also took place. British suffered from repressive government policies, England led Industrial Revolution which replaced a lot of human labor with machinery
when what actually happens is the opposite of what is expected or appropriate; a type of irony created when the opposite of an expected event or outcome occurs
situational irony
What kind of claims does the speaker in Modest Proposal make? What does he use a lot of/very little of in terms of appeal?
specious - has ring of truth but is misleading - Having ring of truth makes it funnier - the guy is going on and on, makes it sound more reasonable for us. Uses ethical appeal - Saying he knows his business, gives him more credibility bc he asked various people abt things. Not many emotional appeals - not trying to move us emotionally
What was Wordsworth's definition of poetry?
spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings
Discuss some important literacy advancements during the Restoration and 18th century
theaters reopened in 1660s, paving way for dramatists; journalism emerges, novel finds an audience in the middle class, satire becomes especially popular
Example of blank verse
tintern abbey uses blank verse
Example of verbal irony
title Dulce et Decorum est
Example of understatement
title of Modest proposal
the attitude a writer takes toward the reader on a topic. reflects an author's attitude toward the reader, subject, or a character
tone
What is the meter of Song? What has probably just happened? What does the speaker initially do in the poem that relates to what just happened?
trochaic meter (stressed and unstressed) - in the beginning Speaker probably got cheated on again Speaker initially brings up impossible things to relate to the idea that it is impossible to find a faithful woman - catching falling star, get preggers via a mandrake root
something said in less important way than it is
understatement
What is the title "A Modest Proposal" an example of? How is it funny? What is the melancholy object he is talking about?
understatement- something said in less important way than it is. Title is said in less strong way; this is actually gruesome proposal. Is funny bc when we learn what the proposal is, we're shocked. Melancholy object = people; makes it darkly funny - black humor
What is the purpose of carpe diem poetry?
urge the speakers object to seize the day
What is satire? Name some of the literary techniques of satire
uses wit to ridicule social institutions, human foibles, and social conventions in order to urge reform. Techniques - stereotypes, hyperbole, irony (all types), understatement, caricature, incongruity
Example of hyperbole
using animal imagery to describe people in Modest Proposal
a contrast between what is said and what is really meant
verbal irony
What does "Nor, perchance—If I should be where I no more can hear" from Lines Composed mean?
when he dies
What is the theme of death be not proud?
when you die, you go to eternal life (immortal), so you don't really die, and therefore Death doesn't have victor. Speaker isn't afraid of death bc Death is inferior to a lot of things - Lines 2 and 3 show the theme. Death is proud bc Death thinks it's powerful. The one line says Death isn't going to get him or anyone else. Very logical
What is the subject of Song? What is the tone of the poem? Evidence?
women who are beautiful and faithful. Tone - Cynical - Line 21 - won't go to find her bc he knows she will lose her faithfulness - saying if she's beautiful she's not faithful. Pilgrimage and riding lines - lifelong pilgrimage journey
