(II) The Renaissance: Poem: On My First Son (Jonson)
characteristics of epigrams
1. short lines with bouncy rhythms 2. paradoxical twists 3. parallel phrases or clauses
When did he die?
Age 7 in 1603
What does the speaker say is Ben Jonson's best piece of poetry?
He is saying that his son is the best piece of poetry or the best, most wonderful thing he had ever created.
In the poem "On My First Son," what is the "best piece of poetry"?
Jonson's son
"Here doth lie / Ben Jonson his best piece of poetry" means —
Jonson's son, not his poetry, was his greatest creation
His son was his greatest creation
Metaphor
Line 12--hurts too much when taken away
Paradox
what is the speaker's sin
The speaker had too much hope and love for his son and now as a result the speaker suffers in sorrow
Why does the speaker question lamenting the death of his son?
The speaker says that he actually should be jealous of his son because the son has escaped the hardships of the world and misery of growing old
Which of the following is true of all epigrams?
They contain a hidden truth.
Based on your reading of "On My First Son," whom can you hypothesize is the speaker of this poem? Explain why your answer choice is correct.
a, Explanation: In line 10, Jonson asserts that he is the speaker of this poem. Answer (b) is incorrect because there is no evidence to support this answer. Answer (c) is incorrect because, while line 1 gives us the idea that the speaker is a father, it is more specifically Jonson who is speaking as the father of the dead child (line 10). Answer (d) is incorrect because there is no evidence to support this answer.
Which of the following is true of all epigrams?
a. They contain a hidden truth.
What is the theme of "On My First Son"?
a. the death of a child
The lines "for why / Will man lament the state he should envy" mean that —
although people grieve, death is not really sad
The speaker he should not mourn because: (3)
(1) his son is in heaven (2) his son has escaped sin of the world (3) his son will not age
In "On My First Son," the speaker tries to comfort himself over the loss of his son. Why does he suggest that his son's death is a "state he should envy" (line 6)? Support your answer with one other line from the poem.
Because his son's untimely death prevents the son from suffering worldly harm, physical pain, and aging, the speaker feels that he should not regret his son's death (line 2).
Line 1:"child of my right hand" means what?
Benjamin
Name of his son?
Benjamin
Tone
Bitter, resigned
Which of the following statements best summarizes the epigram of "On My First Son"?
Children are often our best accomplishments.
Epitaph Verse commemorating someone has died
Epitaph
Which of the following epitaphs can be considered epigrammatic?
First in war, first in peace, first in the hearts of his countrymen[wrong]
How are the last two lines paradoxical?
From now on, Ben Johnson vows that whatever he loves, he won't like too much. Initial contradiction: how do you love something when you don't like it? he actually means he just won't become too attached to it because he is afraid of getting hurt like this again
In "On My First Son," the speaker reveals to the reader a lesson he has learned from the loss of his son. What twist in meaning exists in the following line: "What he loves may never like too much" (line 12)?
Jonson has learned a painful lesson about tempering his love for another person—in this case, his son. His unlimited love for his son has caused him great sorrow (line 2).
Died of what?
Plague
In "On My First Son," the speaker tries to comfort himself over the loss of his son. Why does he suggest that his son's death is a "state he should envy" (line 6)? Support your answer with one other line from the poem.
Sample answer: Because his son's untimely death prevents the son from suffering worldly harm, physical pain, and aging, the speaker feels that he should not regret his son's death (line 2).
In "On My First Son," the speaker reveals to the reader a lesson he has learned from the loss of his son. What twist in meaning exists in the following line: "What he loves may never like too much" (line 12)?
Sample answer: Jonson has learned a painful lesson about tempering his love for another person—in this case, his son. His unlimited love for his son has caused him great sorrow (line 2).
In "On My First Son," the speaker mourns the loss of his young son. Explain what the speaker means when he says, "Seven years thou wert lent to me, and I thee pay, / Exacted by thy fate, on the just day" (lines 3-4)?
Sample answer: The speaker's son was seven years old when he died suddenly. Jonson uses the metaphor of a loan to describe this sudden death of a child. The child was "lent" to the speaker, who as the recipient of his son, "repays" this loan when "fate" takes the child away (lines 3-4).
What characteristics of an epigram are present here?
Short bouncy lines Paradoxical twists Parallel structure lines: two syllables at the end of the lines
When Ben Jonson lost his first son, he could have written a long, formal poem of praise and mourning, as other poets had done in honor of the dead. Instead, he chose to write an epigram, a brief, informal poem. Write an essay discussing your ideas about why Jonson chose to write an epigram rather than a longer poem. How is an epigram suitable as a poem of mourning? Would a longer poem have better expressed Jonson's grief? Support your ideas with details from "On My First Son."
Students should mention that the brevity of an epigram forces the poet to compress emotion into a few lines, making it all the more intense. Students may cite lines 1-2 and lines 9-10 as examples of how Jonson powerfully expresses his grief. Students may mention that while a longer poem might include more details about the boy, the intensity of emotion expressed by Jonson may become watered down.
In "On My First Son," Jonson writes about the loss of his young son and how he views this loss. In one or two paragraphs, explain how Jonson views the loss of his son and how he comforts himself about it. Cite examples from the poem to support your response.
The response should indicate that while Jonson is saddened by his son's loss (line 1), he realizes that his pain is due to the fact that he loved his son too much (line 2). While he is not sure that he wants to be a father (line 5), Jonson does comfort himself about his son's untimely death. Jonson concludes that his son is better off dead because the son has escaped earthly suffering, illness, and the pain of aging (lines 7-8). Rather than mourn his son's death, Jonson thinks that he should envy it (line 6). Jonson makes peace with his son's death and vows never to love someone that much again (lines 9, 12).
Why does the speaker say, "Oh, could I lose all father, now?"
The speaker wishes he didn't feel like a father because if he didn't, then he wouldn't be this sad
In "On My First Son," Jonson writes about the loss of his young son and how he views this loss. In one or two paragraphs, explain how Jonson views the loss of his son and how he comforts himself about it. Cite examples from the poem to support your response.
The speaker's son was seven years old when he died suddenly. Jonson uses the metaphor of a loan to describe this sudden death of a child. The child was "lent" to the speaker, who as the recipient of his son, "repays" this loan when "fate" takes the child away (lines 3-4).
In "On My First Son," the speaker mourns the loss of his young son. Explain what the speaker means when he says, "Seven years thou wert lent to me, and I thee pay, / Exacted by thy fate, on the just day" (lines 3-4)?
The speaker's son was seven years old when he died suddenly. Jonson uses the metaphor of a loan to describe this sudden death of a child. The child was "lent" to the speaker, who as the recipient of his son, "repays" this loan when "fate" takes the child away (lines 3-4).
epigram
a short poem in which the writer strives for brevity, clarity, and permanence
Based on your reading of "On My First Son," whom can you hypothesize is the speaker of this poem? Explain why your answer choice is correct. a. Ben Jonson b. a minister c. a father d. a son
a, Explanation: In line 10, Jonson asserts that he is the speaker of this poem. Answer (b) is incorrect because there is no evidence to support this answer. Answer (c) is incorrect because, while line 1 gives us the idea that the speaker is a father, it is more specifically Jonson who is speaking as the father of the dead child (line 10). Answer (d) is incorrect because there is no evidence to support this answer.
what is this particular epigram also
an epitaph
Which of the following statements best summarizes the epigram of "On My First Son"?
b. Children are often our best accomplishments.
Which of the following epitaphs can be considered epigrammatic?
b. First in war, first in peace, first in the hearts of his countrymen (WRONG)
In the poem "On My First Son," what is the "best piece of poetry"?
b. Jonson's son
The lines "for why / Will man lament the state he should envy" mean that —
b. although people grieve, death is not really sad
A good epigram should be written in words that are —
c. memorable
The speaker in "On My First Son" compares the years of his son's short life to —
c. the length of a loan
style of the poem
clear and direct expression of ideas
"Here doth lie / Ben Jonson his best piece of poetry" means —
d. Jonson's son, not his poetry, was his greatest creation
One characteristic of an epigram is ?
d. wittiness
what is the form of the poem
epigram
Just
exact
exacted
forced
who is the epitaph adresses to
his first son who caught the plague and died at age 7
A good epigram should be written in words that are —
memorable
Lines 7-8, "'Twere profanation of our joys / To tell the laity our love," mean —
our love is so sacred that we should not speak of it to others
Thee pay
pay thee back
Father
sense of fatherhood; the need to mourn like a father
Line 10: speaker calls his son his ______
speaker calls his son his best piece of poetry
When Ben Jonson lost his first son, he could have written a long, formal poem of praise and mourning, as other poets had done in honor of the dead. Instead, he chose to write an epigram, a brief, informal poem. Write an essay discussing your ideas about why Jonson chose to write an epigram rather than a longer poem. How is an epigram suitable as a poem of mourning? Would a longer poem have better expressed Jonson's grief? Support your ideas with details from "On My First Son."
the brevity of an epigram forces the poet to compress emotion into a few lines, making it all the more intense. a longer poem might include more details about the boy, the intensity of emotion expressed by Jonson may become watered down.
When Ben Jonson lost his first son, he could have written a long, formal poem of praise and mourning, as other poets had done in honor of the dead. Instead, he chose to write an epigram, a brief, informal poem. Write an essay discussing your ideas about why Jonson chose to write an epigram rather than a longer poem. How is an epigram suitable as a poem of mourning? Would a longer poem have better expressed Jonson's grief? Support your ideas with details from "On My First Son."
the brevity of an epigram forces the poet to compress emotion into a few lines, making it all the more intense. a longer poem might include more details about the boy, the intensity of emotion expressed by Jonson may become watered down.
What is the theme of "On My First Son"?
the death of a child
The speaker in "On My First Son" compares the years of his son's short life to —
the length of a loan
According to the speaker, absence from a lover is easiest to bear when the —
two people are extremely close
One characteristic of an epigram is ?
wittiness
