Key Terms/Context Flashcards
What is an Epic poem?
A lengthy narrative poem about a serious subject.
What are characteristics of an Epic poem?
A hero figure with social or cultural importance.
Principle character of a demigod or descendant of deities.
Wide geographical or temporal settings.
Blend of history and myth.
Lengthened Homeric simile.
Long formal speech to emphasise change.
Decent into underworld.
Begin with media res, then retell story.
Elevated language.
Who was Aristotle
384-322 BC
Greek Philosopher.
First to focus on literary and art theory.
Different meter, melody, harmony, and rhythm changes how narrative is presented.
Catharsis-purgation of emotion.
What is a soliloquy?
A character speaking thoughts out alone regardless of hearers showing the characters state of mind to the audience.
Milton’s early life
Born in London 1608, in a working class family.
His businessman father was a trustee at the theatre Shakespeare’s last plays were performed.
Studies French, Italian, Hebrew, Bible, Literature.
Sailed to Italy in 1638
Mother died in 1637 (buried the wrong way around)
Plague in city, fire ruined print trade which prevented the books’ releases.
Milton’s political beliefs
Didn’t like the way that the country was run.
Wrote political pamphlets to change others beliefs.
Defended the beheading of King Charles I
This became treason to Charles II, He became a political prisoner in 1660.
Milton’s religious beliefs.
Wrote Lycidas- rages about church corruption.
Loathes Bishops and denounces the interlinking of state and church.
God bores him?
Doesn’t want to justify God’s ways.
Machiavellian Characteristics
Male, Justify own actions, Alienated from others, Revelatory in soliloquys, resourceful and flexible, use others to carry out plan, remorseless, obsessive in pursuit of goals, narcissism.
What is a malcontent character?
A character that often appeared in early modern dramas.
Discontent with social structures.
Outsider who observes and complains.
May acknowledge they are in a play.
