What’s the meaning of sonnet 21 in Sonnets From the Porteguese
she wants to be told she’s loved because she doubts herself, lover thinks it’ll lose meaning if he says it too often, wants real love she can count on even when it’s not spoken, seems needy
Who wrote Sonnets from the Porteguese
Barret Browning
Why does Browning doubt lover’s profession of love in sonnet 32?
he’s spoken it so quickly
How did Browning wrong lover in sonnet 32?
She thinks she’s a worn out instrument, but wronged him by assuming he’d be the type to turn her away
The first poem (21) is more -, the second (32) is more -
subjective, contemplative (looks at benefits and pitfalls, wants someone because she has self doubt) and it’s needy (he’s so great, you’re so low)
Which sonnet is one of the most famous love poems?
sonnet 43
What are sonnets 21 and 32 about?
doubt of his love than her love
In 43, Browning -
contemplates love after death
21 and 32 are worrying because of
self deprecation
43 is more like something who would read to one another?
husband and wife
Who wrote “no thank you John”?
Rosetti
Who wrote Promises Like Pie Crust?
Rosetti
Who wrote Judge Not According to Appearance?
Rosetti
Who wrote Goblin Market?
Rosetti
What’s No, Thank You, John, about?
it’s like John has reached stalker status, harsh but probably necessary
What does the “I have no heart” line in No Thank You, John imply?
she’s responding, implied that he’s listening
What’s the main point of Promises Like Pie Crust?
if we promise love, we might feel restless and like we’ve trapped ourselves
What support does Rosetti use for argument in Promises Like Pie Crust?
You don’t know my past, I don’t know yours, so we can’t trust the situation
What is Judge Not According to Appearance about?
looking beyond the surface, in the end seeing God in all things
What things does Rosetti want us to see in Judge Not According to Appearance?
a tree from a seed, a bird in an egg, a butterfly in a shroud, God in all creatures, and to hear God’s word
Who wrote Dover Beach?
Arnold
What’s the visual in Dover Beach?
looking out on english channel, can see cliffs of Dover and French channel (beautiful scene)
What are sounds in Dover Beach?
stones being tossed on surface
Why does Arnold mention Sophocles in Dover Beach?
makes him think of sophocles in aegean, thinks of sea of faith as something that holds everything together
what are shingles in dover beach?
pebbles on the beach
Why does arnold repeat “nor” in dover beach?
emphasis on negativity on world around them
What image does Dover Beach leave us with?
2 people clinging to one another as they’re surrounded by 2 armies fighting in the dark
What’s the overall theme of Dover Beach?
love is escape from the rest of the world, what starts as love poem ends about how world sucks,
Why is the theme of Dover Beach relevant to Victorians?
with scientific studies, things that usually could’ve been counted on are gone, some can’t necessarily find solace in faith anymore, but they can find solace in love
Who wrote Invictus?
Henley
What’s the tone of Invictus?
proud, triumphant, defiant (sense of shaking fist at everything)
what’s the religion in invictus?
faith in oneself
Does Henley believe in an afterlife?
nope, just death
Who wrote “No Coward Soul Is Mine?”
Bronte
What is the tone of no coward soul is mine? why?
hopeful; death doesn’t end things for Bronte, power behind God’s changing is love
What’s a creed as stated in “no coward soul is mine?”
manmade statement of belief (not like God delivered it)
What’s Bronte’s view of death and existence?
because God is immortal and invincible, nothing ceases to exist; even death doesn’t destroy what exists
What does Bronte find hope in?
a God more powerful that holds all things together
What’s Bronte’s view of religion?
not necessarily worth anything
distinction between faith and religion, distinction between God and scripture
Because God is within her, she puts experience with God over scripture (or creeds)
Contrast Henley’s and Bronte’s view of God
Henley: angry God (if there is one)
Bronte: presents God as loving
Why does, perhaps, Bronte get courage from God?
she believes God encompasses all, and that he’s loving, so this causes her to have courage
What does Invictus remind people?
that they are responsible for their own selves
Who wrote Lucifer in Starlight?
Meredith
what images are presented in lucifer in starlight
lucifer and the stars
What happens in Lucifer in starlight?
Lucifer is flying through the sky, possibly terrorizing humans, he went out because he’s tired of hell, he reaches “middle height”, looks at stars, and falls (sank)
how big is Lucifer in Lucifer in Starlight?
huge
what does Meredith mean when he says “poor prey”
they are not really good/satisfactory, they were to be pitied
What about stars causes Lucifer to sink?
they can be thought of as most powerful feature of humanity, so they can be most powerful part of heaven, they relate to there being a divine being that put the order of the stars into the world (suggests that there’s evil, but also something that holds this evil in its place)
What does Meredith mean by “army of unalterable law: ?
world is never changing, stars are unalterable because they’re always in the same place
Who wrote The Latest Decalogue?
Clough
The Latest Decalogue is a modern version of what?
the 10 Commandments
What is The Latest Decalogue doing?
criticizing society for how they uphold commandments
How do Henley, Bronte, and Meredith, and Rosetti, and Clough view God/religion?
Henley: definite about no God
Bronte: less traditional Christian views
Meredith/Rosetti: very religious, takes Christianity seriously
Who wrote Flower in a Crannied Wall?
Tennyson
What is Tennyson saying in Flower in a Crannied Wall?
if he could understand why the flower is growing in the crannied wall, he could understand other improbabilities
“If I can comprehend this in entireity, I can comprehend God and man.”
Religiously, what are Tennyson’s presented views?
not traditionally Christian or atheistic, wants something in-between where he can wander about more mystical things in universe
science/biology can’t truly explain everything
What does Rosetti want to see in Judge Not According to Appearance?
wants to see potential of what something could become, then, by extension, she wants to see God in these things (wants to see God saying, “fear not”)
What is Rosetti’s message about God in Judge Not According to Appearance?
kinda scary things are a product of a loving God, which can bring comfort
Who wrote Goblin Market?
Rosetti
What’s the moral of Goblin Market?
family (esp sisters) are always important and can help you
What happened to Jeanie in Goblin market?
ate goblin fruit, couldn’t find them again, wasted away and died
What happens if you eat the fruit in Goblin Market?
goblins are no longer visible or audible, no life can come from you “gone deaf and blind”
What sister eats the fruit in Goblin market?
Laura
