Description Of A City Shower Flashcards
What political party did Swift affiliate with?
Tory
How did Tories view trade and commerce?
They were sceptical of it.
How did Whigs view trade and commerce?
They celebrated it
City Shower fits into what genre of poetry? (Of many)
Anti-pastoral
Quote from City Shower about the flood.
The flood comes down / threatening with deluge this devoted town
In what images is the commerce presented in City Shower?
‘Careless quean’
‘Pretend to cheapen goods’
What is the final triplet in City Shower?
Sweepings from butchers’ stalls, dung, guts and blood /
Drowned puppies, stinking sprats, all drenched in mud, /
Dead cats, turnip tops, come tumbling down the flood.
Suggestions of the importance that final lines are a triplet rather than couplet in City Shower.
Concluding voice
Draws together the imagery. (?)
The rhyme suggests harmony, a sense of fondness, despite the filth.
How is the prostitute figure described?
‘Careless quean’
What’s the quote about coffee houses from City Shower?
Sauntering in coffeehouse is Dulman seen; /
He damns the climate and complains of spleen.
Importance of the name ‘Dulman’.
‘Sauntering in coffeehouse is Dulman seen; /
He damns the climate and complains of spleen’
A type name: Dull man
Coffeehouse associated with dull men.
What was ‘spleen’ associated with?
‘Damns the climate and complains of spleen’
Melancholy
What themes are particularly shown in Description of a City Shower?
London
British identity
What year was Swift’s A Decription of a City Shower published?
1710
Three years after the union of Britain and Scotland.
Where is Dulman seen and what’s he up to?
Sauntering in coffeehouse is Dulman seen; /
He damns the climate and complains of spleen.
