Poems Flashcards

Question

Lament for Andalusian Jewry | By Avraham ibn Ezra

Answer 1

Mourning for Jewish communities of Spain and North Africa destroyed by the invading Almohads ibn Ezra sees the attacks as part of the greater history of Israel in exile and his voices as representing the Jewish people as a whole. Seeing thier tribulations in this historical context should strengthen the new exiles. He mourns the loss of connections to Torah study and forced conversions. Accepts the destruction as a Divine punishment for wrongdoing, but hopes for Devine mercy-continues to show love of God despite distress.

Answer 2

Describes the holiness of the soul and the purpose of it to serve God. He encourages the reader to stop and think about his purpose and put aside worldly pleasures for spiritual ones through which he will merit the world to come.

Answer 3

Uses Biblical style poetry Mixture of emotional turbulence and intellectual analysis. Expresses desire to completely nullify the self before God. There is no source of help and salvation besides god. describes limitations of man. recognizes that sin has only brought harm unto himself and pleades to be excused because it was out of desire, not rebellion.

Answer 4

Depicts oppression of the long Jewish exile Mourns change of leadership from prophets of Israel to harsh gentile rulers Asks G-d through a sense of trembling why He is angry at Bnei Yisrael, citing Moshe as having asked this question, as way of showing permission to talk in such a manner to God

Answer 5

Tochecha for ne’ilah of Yom Kippur Sketches the various stages of man’s life from 5 to 80 and beyond Concludes with the lesson that it is better for one to focus on his soul and reward in the world to come because this life is anyway full of disappointment The swift transition from the pleasant twenties to the entrapped thirties and shaken forties reflects the experiences of his own unhappy life

Answer 6

Constructed in 12 stanzas corresponding the zodiac signs and months of the year

Answer 7

Arranged poetic adaptions from various sources of ethical writing and devided into 22 catagories: wisdom, silence, truth, friends, etc. “Love for the World” - warns the reader not to focus his life on love for the world because this will lead to his downfall - using the comparison to a dog gnawing on bones, when he is sucking his own blood without realizing it “Always be vigilant” - warns not to take anyone for granted, using the example of a fly, which could cause annoyance if it enters throat “If you hear someone insult you” -counsels ignoring insults, two consolations: a. By engaging the person who insulted you, you are likely to face further insult b. Someone who makes a foolish insult is not worth engaging as he will soon fade away “Silence and Speech” - argues for the virtue of silence: a. More talk causes more “headache” - difficult situations result b. Take a lesson from the way man was created, with just one tongue, as opposed to two, shows that one should treat their tongue carefully

Answer 8

Denigrates poets for lying in: praising their powerful patrons and failing to distinguish between right and wrong. (Shows dislike toward the poetic establishment)

Answer 9

Addresses his poem to the recent controversial work Moreh Nevuchim. He clearly rejects the book for having teachings which are "unprecedented" and "extreme". Singles out for attack the idea that some statments in the Bible are parables As a follower of kabbalah, he was opposed to taking a rationalist Aristotelian approach to Torah

Answer 10

Warns writers to be careful with their words and compares the damaging power of the written word to arrows and knives

Answer 11

Stresses the negative aspects of poetry - it leads the poet to flatter his patron in vain, as he seeks gifts and praise

Answer 12

Warns man to speak little. Finds a hint to conserve speech from the fact that man was created with just one mouth unlike other external organs that come in pairs

Answer 13

makes the fool’s mistakes tangible to the reader, by comparing the rejection or ignoring of wisdom to believing that honey is bitter and gall is sweet depicts the danger of failing to pursue wisdom by comparing it to a sick patient who wants to take something that will make him ill rather than taking the doctor’s cure

Answer 14

Illustrates the power of poverty by comparing it to the sword which kills powerless people Describes the insult of poverty - it lacks the honor of a soldier who dies in war

Poems Flashcards

(38 cards)