Sonnet 116 Flashcards
1
Q
what literary movement was shakespeare a part of?
A
- renaissance
lived 1564 - 1616
2
Q
any relevant context for the poem relating to religion, love and infidelity?
A
- Elizabeth I reigned (1558 - 1603) = protestant rule
- marriage not for love, for money wealth status
- marriage and love not considered compatible
- courtly love. influenced attitudes to male infidelity
- literary convention of love overcoming time
3
Q
different themes to gatsby
A
- Shakespeare contrasts true love and romantic love; Fitzgerald argues only motives for love is wealth and status
- love for wealth is fickle (D doesnt come )
- love is essential to our survival “whose worths unknowne”
4
Q
key quotes and methods
A
- “marriage of true mindes” clear allusion to traditional christan wedding ceremony
- implicit rejection of the social construct of marriage
- metaphor of equality/perfect balance
- allusion to divine navigation, guidance. stable, steadfast despite weather
- legal sense of language affirming logic of his argument
- personification of time as the grim reaper. later removes personification, removing its power over love
5
Q
shared themes w gatsby
A
- nature of love as steadfast and unchanging when faced with time -> G
- questions motives of humans regarding marriage
- highlights human artificiality (marriage = status/money)
- love is fickle (for beauty/for wealth)
6
Q
shared themes with other poems
A
remember
- true love
garden of love
- critique of societal/ religious conventions
7
Q
any relevant context for Gatsby love, marriage and social change?
A
- marriage and love not considered compatible
- marriage seen as restricting to a fast paced lifestyle (jazz age)
- mass consumerism. wealth central to 1920s USA
8
Q
relevant methods and quotes from gatsby?
A
- conflict/juxtaposition of romantic ideas with modern 1920s society. allusion to keats’ nightingale: “its romantic, isn’t it, Tom?”
- “shrill” telephone undermines poetic romanticism. love isnt viable in 1920s society
- “hot struggles of the poor”, no equality in relationship
- artificial imagery of G’s party
9
Q
significance of the form of the poem?
A
- shakespearian sonnet. starts by defining what love isn’t to emphasise to audience what love truly is
- iambic pentameter. mimics heartbeat = love is essential for survival
10
Q
meaning of “rosie lips”
A
- alludes to courtly trope of Blazon
- mocks the artifice of beauty-based love
