Poems Flashcards
1
Q
ALEXANDER POPE
A
AN ESSAY ON A MAN
- Most famous poem is THE RAPE OF THE LOCK, a mock epic.
- Humanism: humans should spend more time on themselves than in the relationship with God.
- Oxymorons like darkly wise; rudely great
- Talks about being a human born to die, alike in ignorance, chaos of thought and passion created 1/2 to use 1/2 to fall
2
Q
SONNET 130
“MY MISTRESS’ EYES ARE NOTHING LIKE THE SUN”
A
- He’s not making fun of her, he’s making fun of silly love comparisons.
- Makes fun of her eyes, lips, breasts, hair, etc.
3
Q
SONNET 29
“WHEN, IN DICGRACE WITHH FOURTUNE AND MEN’S EYES”
A
- He’s throwing a pity party because Lady Fortuna is “spinning the wheel”.
- He’s alone, not powerful or artistic, no one listens to him, etc.
- But then he remembers his love.
4
Q
SIR THOMAS WYATT
A
WHOSO LIST TO HUNT
- Wyatt is credited for bringing the 14-line sonnet from England to Italy
- He had no desire to publish his poems
- Writes about someone who’s hard to hold onto, it useless to try
"In a net I seek to hold the wind"
5
Q
ROBERT HERRICK
A
TO THE VIRGINS, TO MAKE MUCH OF TIMES
- A priest and a poet
- Carpe Diem
- Go out and get married/ have sex young while you’re still pretty and fresh
6
Q
WILLIAM WORDSWORTH
A
Lines composed a few miles up often turn Abby
- Most famous romantic poem, it starts the movement
- Enjambment and lyrical ballad
- Very calm and tranquil beginning, thanks of this place when he needs peace and it restores him
- Slow down to enjoy life
- We cannot go back in time, but struggles you face no make up for it
7
Q
ANDREW MARVELL
A
To his coy mistress
- We had all the time in the world, I would. But…
Warms will take your long preserved virginity (so we have to have sex now) - “Thus, though we cannot make our sun stand still, yet we will make him run”
8
Q
JOHN MILTON 1
A
When I consider how my life is spent
- Second best author in the English language
- If you can bear the load God gives you and stand up gracefully, he will understand
- Patient answers him
9
Q
JOHN MILTON 2
A
Paradise lost
- Epic: elevated story, book-length
- Blank verse and Iambic pentameter
- Explains presence of evil in the world, satan’s fall from grace
- Beelzebub is Satan’s worst demon. He is allowed to exist so he continually damns himself
- Satan’s proud of being in charge of hell rather than being a servant in heaven
10
Q
SIR WALTER RALEIGH
A
The nymphs reply to the Shepherd
- Queen Elizabeth confidential secretary
- First bold Englishman to smoke tobacco
- Sentenced to death
- Girl in the poem realizes boy is lying. Nothing lasts forever, but tone changes to wistful and hopeful
11
Q
THOMAS GRAY
A
Elegy written in church courtyard
- He’s close friend died and it took gray nine years to cope
- Elegy; pastoral
- No matter your wealth or tombstone, we all die the same. His epitaph says he was depressed but he was kind-hearted
12
Q
CHRISTOPHER MARLOWE
A
The passionate Shepherd to his love
- Died in a barfight
- Alive at the same tame as Shakespeare
