REFERENCE
(i) Poem: The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales
(ii) Poet: Geoffrey Chaucer
(ii) Poet: Geoffrey Chaucer
CONTEXT
(i) Occurrence: The Prioress (Lines 119-121/858)
(ii) Content:
It is the month of April in circa 1390. A group of twenty-nine pilgrims gathers at a tavern in Southwark called Tabard Inn. The goal of their journey is the shrine of St. Thomas a Becket in Canterbury. The narrator, Chaucer, encounters them there and becomes one of their company. The narrator seeks to describe their 'condition', 'array' and 'degree'. The Host at the Inn proposes the story-telling contest among the pilgrims.
EXPLANATION
In these lines the poet has described three characteristics of the Prioress; her smile, faith and nick name. The smile of the Prioress is very simple. It is easy to understand, presenting no difficulty. Her smile also makes a pretence of shyness and modesty which intends to be alluring. Thus she is a coquettish woman. Secondly, she has a firm faith in Saint Eloy who was the patron saint of goldsmiths, other metalworkers, and coin collectors. This saint worked for twenty years to convert the pagan population of Flanders to Christianity. Thirdly, she has a romantic name, Madam Eglantine. Eglantine is, in fact, a wild rose native to Eurasia having prickly stem, fragrant leaves, bright pink flowers, and scarlet hips. In Madam Eglantine, Chaucer depicts charm without substance. Thus Chaucer has described the nun in the opposite way to show us, how the nun Prioress had all the characteristics that a nun should not have.
(b) And theron heng .......... Amor Vincit Omnia.
(b) And theron heng .......... Amor Vincit Omnia.
REFERENCE
(i) Poem: The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales
(ii) Poet: Geoffrey Chaucer
(i) Poem: The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales
(ii) Poet: Geoffrey Chaucer
CONTEXT
(i) Occurrence: The Prioress (Lines 160-162/858)
(i) Occurrence: The Prioress (Lines 160-162/858)
(ii) Content: It is the month of April in circa 1390. A group of twenty-nine pilgrims gathers at a tavern in Southwark called Tabard Inn. The goal of their journey is the shrine of St. Thomas a Becket in Canterbury. The narrator, Chaucer, encounters them there and becomes one of their company. The narrator seeks to describe their 'condition', 'array' and 'degree'. The Host at the Inn proposes the story-telling contest among the pilgrims.
EXPLANATION
In these lines the poet has portrayed the Prioress's gold brooch and its motto. A brooch is a decorative jewelry item designed to be attached to garments by a pin or clasp, often to hold them closed. It is worn at or near the neck. The brooch, the Prioress is wearing, is dominated by the letter "A" which stands for Amor i.e. love. Some critics also assume the the brooch is in the shape of the letter "A". However, the most striking quality of the brooch is the Latin inscription on it: "Amor vincit omnia" which means "Love conquers all." This quote is from "Eclogue X" by Virgil. This Virgilian motto is very ambiguous. If it refers to celestial, heavenly love, then the brooch is an acceptable article to be found on the person of a nun. But it represents earthly love between a man and a woman which is absent in nuns. In short, the brooch is a symbol of the Prioress's unchristian character, her connection to laymen and the peasantry, rather than to any religious vocation.
(c) Therefore he was .......... no cost wolde he spare.
(c) Therefore he was .......... no cost wolde he spare.
REFERENCE
(i) Poem: The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales
(ii) Poet: Geoffrey Chaucer
(i) Poem: The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales
(ii) Poet: Geoffrey Chaucer
CONTEXT
(i) Occurrence: The Monk (Lines 189-192/858)
(ii) Content: It is the month of April in circa 1390. A group of twenty-nine pilgrims gathers at a tavern in Southwark called Tabard Inn. The goal of their journey is the shrine of St. Thomas a Becket in Canterbury. The narrator, Chaucer, encounters them there and becomes one of their company. The narrator seeks to describe their 'condition', 'array' and 'degree'. The Host at the Inn proposes the story-telling contest among the pilgrims.
(ii) Content: It is the month of April in circa 1390. A group of twenty-nine pilgrims gathers at a tavern in Southwark called Tabard Inn. The goal of their journey is the shrine of St. Thomas a Becket in Canterbury. The narrator, Chaucer, encounters them there and becomes one of their company. The narrator seeks to describe their 'condition', 'array' and 'degree'. The Host at the Inn proposes the story-telling contest among the pilgrims.
EXPLANATION
In these lines the poet describes the Monk's favourite pastimes; riding horses and hunting hares. A monk is a member of religious community of men typically living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. However, Chaucer's Monk is corrupt. He does not follow the rules of the monastery which say that monks should not hunt. This Monk prefers to go hunting. He has many galloping horses and coursing greyhounds. The greyhounds are as fast as birds in flight. They can run at a speed of 64 kilometers per hour. He uses these greyhounds to track his preys. He usually hunts hares which are very innocent animals. This shows the Monk's cruel nature. To ride the horses and hunt the hares was a source of pleasure for him. He would do it whatever the cost. In short, he is a "monk out of his cloister" who is not "worth an oyster".
(d) Full wel biloved .......... wommen of the toun;
(d) Full wel biloved .......... wommen of the toun;
REFERENCE
(i) Poem: The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales
(ii) Poet: Geoffrey Chaucer
(i) Poem: The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales
(ii) Poet: Geoffrey Chaucer
CONTEXT
(i) Occurrence: The Friar (Lines 215-217/858)
(i) Occurrence: The Friar (Lines 215-217/858)
(ii) Content: It is the month of April in circa 1390. A group of twenty-nine pilgrims gathers at a tavern in Southwark called Tabard Inn. The goal of their journey is the shrine of St. Thomas a Becket in Canterbury. The narrator, Chaucer, encounters them there and becomes one of their company. The narrator seeks to describe their 'condition', 'array' and 'degree'. The Host at the Inn proposes the story-telling contest among the pilgrims.
EXPLANATION
In these lines the poet describes the Friar's intimacy with the franklins of his country and noblewomen of his town. The main duty of a friar is to live among the poor, to beg on their behalf and to give his earning to aid their struggle for livelihood. However, Chaucer's Friar is corrupt. He has acquaintance with franklins; the landowners of free but not noble birth. Moreover, he has familiarity with the noblewomen of the town because he has the power of confession. He is highly liked by these opulent people. In short, the Friar likes to hang out with wealthy people instead of living the life that St. Francis, the first friar, prescribes, he would spend time with the poor and sick.
(a) Of Man's first disobedience, .......... restore us.
REFERENCE
(i) Poem: Paradise Lost
(ii) Poet: John Milton
CONTEXT
(i) Occurrence: Book I (Lines 1-5/798)
(ii) Content: Satan lies dazed in a lake of fire that is totally dark. Next to him is Beelzebub, Satan's second-in-command. Satan speaks to him and laments their current state. Satan suggests that they should leave the burning lake and find shelter on a distant shore. Beelzebub asks Satan to summon his armies. Satan takes up his armor and calls to his legions to join him on land. He addresses his legions and commits himself to continue his fight against God. With their supernatural powers, the devils construct a massive temple, Pandemonium, for meetings.
EXPLANATION
In these lines the poet describes Man's first disobedience, his exile from Eden, and his eventual redemption through Jesus Christ. The word "of" is a generative case. It echoes how the events described in the work brought forth the rest of mankind as we know it today. The words "Man's first disobedience" foretell the theme of the poem. In the Western traditions, the very first line or even words of the poem are often used as a sort of a frame; the essence of the work, the main theme and pivot. Thus the Iliad begins with "Anger (menis) of Achilles", the Odyssey with "The ingenious (polu-tropos) man" and Dante's Divine Comedy with "Midway on the road of our life". "Forbidden Tree" is a reference, obviously, to Adam and Eve being tempted by the serpent in the Garden of Eden to eat the forbidden fruit. When they relished the "mortal taste" of this fruit; sin, mortality and woe entered the world, and they were cast out of Paradise. Fortunately, "One greater Man", which is an implicit reference to Jesus, came and saved humanity.
(b) Nine times the space ......... confounded though immortal.
(i) Poem: Paradise Lost
(ii) Poet: John Milton
CONTEXT
(i) Occurrence: Book I (Lines 1-5/798)
(ii) Content: Satan lies dazed in a lake of fire that is totally dark. Next to him is Beelzebub, Satan's second-in-command. Satan speaks to him and laments their current state. Satan suggests that they should leave the burning lake and find shelter on a distant shore. Beelzebub asks Satan to summon his armies. Satan takes up his armor and calls to his legions to join him on land. He addresses his legions and commits himself to continue his fight against God. With their supernatural powers, the devils construct a massive temple, Pandemonium, for meetings.
EXPLANATION
In these lines the poet describes Man's first disobedience, his exile from Eden, and his eventual redemption through Jesus Christ. The word "of" is a generative case. It echoes how the events described in the work brought forth the rest of mankind as we know it today. The words "Man's first disobedience" foretell the theme of the poem. In the Western traditions, the very first line or even words of the poem are often used as a sort of a frame; the essence of the work, the main theme and pivot. Thus the Iliad begins with "Anger (menis) of Achilles", the Odyssey with "The ingenious (polu-tropos) man" and Dante's Divine Comedy with "Midway on the road of our life". "Forbidden Tree" is a reference, obviously, to Adam and Eve being tempted by the serpent in the Garden of Eden to eat the forbidden fruit. When they relished the "mortal taste" of this fruit; sin, mortality and woe entered the world, and they were cast out of Paradise. Fortunately, "One greater Man", which is an implicit reference to Jesus, came and saved humanity.
(b) Nine times the space ......... confounded though immortal.
REFERENCE
(i) Poem: Paradise Lost
(ii) Poet: John Milton
CONTEXT
(i) Occurrence: Book I (Lines 50-53/798)
(ii) Content: Satan lies dazed in a lake of fire that is totally dark. Next to him is Beelzebub, Satan's second-in-command. Satan speaks to him and laments their current state. Satan suggests that they should leave the burning lake and find shelter on a distant shore. Beelzebub asks Satan to summon his armies. Satan takes up his armor and calls to his legions to join him on land. He addresses his legions and commits himself to continue his fight against God. With their supernatural powers, the devils construct a massive temple, Pandemonium, for meetings.
EXPLANATION
In these lines the poet portrays the scene of the fiery lake of Hell where Satan and his cohorts lay unconscious for nine days. Satan and other rebel angles, after their revolt against God, were cast down from Heaven into Hell. In Hesiod's Theogony, the Titans take a similar fall at the hands of Zeus. Interestingly, though Milton alludes to the fall of the Titans here, he likens their nine-day fall, not to the fall of the rebel angels, but to the time they spend in the flaming lake of Hell after their fall. "Horrid crew" means the dreadful and hideous followers of Satan. The word "horrid" permeates the whole poem; "horrid Vale", "horrid silence", "horrid Kings", "horrid crew" and so forth. Satan and his "horrid crew" lay defeated thoroughly in the flaming waves of the lake of Hell. They lay unconscious, rolling like dismasted hulks. However, they were dammed "immortal". They did not die and remained alive. In short, God Almighty put Satan and other rebel angels into a state of dormancy in the flaming lake of Hell for nine days.
(c) A dungeon horrible, .......... discover sights of woe.
(i) Poem: Paradise Lost
(ii) Poet: John Milton
CONTEXT
(i) Occurrence: Book I (Lines 50-53/798)
(ii) Content: Satan lies dazed in a lake of fire that is totally dark. Next to him is Beelzebub, Satan's second-in-command. Satan speaks to him and laments their current state. Satan suggests that they should leave the burning lake and find shelter on a distant shore. Beelzebub asks Satan to summon his armies. Satan takes up his armor and calls to his legions to join him on land. He addresses his legions and commits himself to continue his fight against God. With their supernatural powers, the devils construct a massive temple, Pandemonium, for meetings.
EXPLANATION
In these lines the poet portrays the scene of the fiery lake of Hell where Satan and his cohorts lay unconscious for nine days. Satan and other rebel angles, after their revolt against God, were cast down from Heaven into Hell. In Hesiod's Theogony, the Titans take a similar fall at the hands of Zeus. Interestingly, though Milton alludes to the fall of the Titans here, he likens their nine-day fall, not to the fall of the rebel angels, but to the time they spend in the flaming lake of Hell after their fall. "Horrid crew" means the dreadful and hideous followers of Satan. The word "horrid" permeates the whole poem; "horrid Vale", "horrid silence", "horrid Kings", "horrid crew" and so forth. Satan and his "horrid crew" lay defeated thoroughly in the flaming waves of the lake of Hell. They lay unconscious, rolling like dismasted hulks. However, they were dammed "immortal". They did not die and remained alive. In short, God Almighty put Satan and other rebel angels into a state of dormancy in the flaming lake of Hell for nine days.
(c) A dungeon horrible, .......... discover sights of woe.
REFERENCE
(i) Poem: Paradise Lost
(ii) Poet: John Milton
CONTEXT
(i) Occurrence: Book I (Lines 61-64/798)
(ii) Content: Satan lies dazed in a lake of fire that is totally dark. Next to him is Beelzebub, Satan's second-in-command. Satan speaks to him and laments their current state. Satan suggests that they should leave the burning lake and find shelter on a distant shore. Beelzebub asks Satan to summon his armies. Satan takes up his armor and calls to his legions to join him on land. He addresses his legions and commits himself to continue his fight against God. With their supernatural powers, the devils construct a massive temple, Pandemonium, for meetings.
EXPLANATION
In these lines the poet portrays the traditional topography of Hell. Satan and his cohorts, after their revolt against God, were cast down from Heaven to Hell. They lay unconscious in the fiery lake of Hell for nine day. When consciousness recovered, Satan observes that the region in which they are imprisoned is a horrible, round and fiery dungeon like a great furnace. This simile conjures up the image of the lake of Hell very clear. Satan notices that in Hell there is fire, but no light; it is utter darkness, darkness in extremity, without any remainder, or mixture, or hope of light. It is the blackness of darkness forever. The poet is here using the universal symbolism of light and dark to indicate good and evil. Satan, before his fall, as Lucifer was the brightest of all the angels; as he becomes progressively more evil after his fall, he gradually loses all of his brightness. Satan concludes that these fires would never go and the torture would never end. In short, the Hell described by the poet in these lines is a horrible, fiery and murky region of woe and suffering.
(d) Regions of sorrow, ......... that comes to all.
(i) Poem: Paradise Lost
(ii) Poet: John Milton
CONTEXT
(i) Occurrence: Book I (Lines 61-64/798)
(ii) Content: Satan lies dazed in a lake of fire that is totally dark. Next to him is Beelzebub, Satan's second-in-command. Satan speaks to him and laments their current state. Satan suggests that they should leave the burning lake and find shelter on a distant shore. Beelzebub asks Satan to summon his armies. Satan takes up his armor and calls to his legions to join him on land. He addresses his legions and commits himself to continue his fight against God. With their supernatural powers, the devils construct a massive temple, Pandemonium, for meetings.
EXPLANATION
In these lines the poet portrays the traditional topography of Hell. Satan and his cohorts, after their revolt against God, were cast down from Heaven to Hell. They lay unconscious in the fiery lake of Hell for nine day. When consciousness recovered, Satan observes that the region in which they are imprisoned is a horrible, round and fiery dungeon like a great furnace. This simile conjures up the image of the lake of Hell very clear. Satan notices that in Hell there is fire, but no light; it is utter darkness, darkness in extremity, without any remainder, or mixture, or hope of light. It is the blackness of darkness forever. The poet is here using the universal symbolism of light and dark to indicate good and evil. Satan, before his fall, as Lucifer was the brightest of all the angels; as he becomes progressively more evil after his fall, he gradually loses all of his brightness. Satan concludes that these fires would never go and the torture would never end. In short, the Hell described by the poet in these lines is a horrible, fiery and murky region of woe and suffering.
(d) Regions of sorrow, ......... that comes to all.
REFERENCE
(i) Poem: Paradise Lost
(ii) Poet: John Milton
CONTEXT
(i) Occurrence: Book I (Lines 65-67/798)
(ii) Content: Satan lies dazed in a lake of fire that is totally dark. Next to him is Beelzebub, Satan's second-in-command. Satan speaks to him and laments their current state. Satan suggests that they should leave the burning lake and find shelter on a distant shore. Beelzebub asks Satan to summon his armies. Satan takes up his armor and calls to his legions to join him on land. He addresses his legions and commits himself to continue his fight against God. With their supernatural powers, the devils construct a massive temple, Pandemonium, for meetings.
EXPLANATION
In these lines the poet describes the utter despondency of Satan in Hell. Satan and his cohorts, after their revolt against God, were cast down from Heaven to Hell. They lay unconscious in the fiery lake of Hell for nine days. When consciousness recovered, Satan observes that the region in which they are imprisoned is a horrible, round and fiery dungeon like a great furnace. It is a region of permanent sorrow, misery and suffering. Not a single ray of sun reaches down here; it has "doleful shades", i.e. its utter darkness evokes only sadness. Moreover, there is never a chance of peace and rest here. Above all, hope which comes to all beings is totally absent. It is because hope comes from God, hope is in God and they have revolted against God. Thus there is never a possibility of release for them from Hell. "Hope never comes" is a deliberate echo of Dante's Inferno 3.9: "All hope abandon, ye who enter in!" In short, the Hell described by the poet in these lines is full of endless sorrow, darkness, restlessness and hopelessness.
(i) Poem: Paradise Lost
(ii) Poet: John Milton
CONTEXT
(i) Occurrence: Book I (Lines 65-67/798)
(ii) Content: Satan lies dazed in a lake of fire that is totally dark. Next to him is Beelzebub, Satan's second-in-command. Satan speaks to him and laments their current state. Satan suggests that they should leave the burning lake and find shelter on a distant shore. Beelzebub asks Satan to summon his armies. Satan takes up his armor and calls to his legions to join him on land. He addresses his legions and commits himself to continue his fight against God. With their supernatural powers, the devils construct a massive temple, Pandemonium, for meetings.
EXPLANATION
In these lines the poet describes the utter despondency of Satan in Hell. Satan and his cohorts, after their revolt against God, were cast down from Heaven to Hell. They lay unconscious in the fiery lake of Hell for nine days. When consciousness recovered, Satan observes that the region in which they are imprisoned is a horrible, round and fiery dungeon like a great furnace. It is a region of permanent sorrow, misery and suffering. Not a single ray of sun reaches down here; it has "doleful shades", i.e. its utter darkness evokes only sadness. Moreover, there is never a chance of peace and rest here. Above all, hope which comes to all beings is totally absent. It is because hope comes from God, hope is in God and they have revolted against God. Thus there is never a possibility of release for them from Hell. "Hope never comes" is a deliberate echo of Dante's Inferno 3.9: "All hope abandon, ye who enter in!" In short, the Hell described by the poet in these lines is full of endless sorrow, darkness, restlessness and hopelessness.
(a) Sol through white .......... just at twelve, awake:
REFERENCE
(i) Poem: The Rape of the Lock
(ii) Poet: Alexander Pope
CONTEXT
(i) Occurrence: Canto I
(ii) Content: Belinda arises to prepare for the day's social activities. After an elaborate ritual of dressing and primping, she travels on the Thames River of Hampton Court Palace, where a group of wealthy young societies are gathering for a party. Among them is the Baron, who has already made up his mind to steal a lock of Belinda's hair. At party, the Baron takes up a pair of scissors and cuts off the coveted lock of Belinda's hair. Belinda is furious. She initiates a scuffle between the ladies and the gentlemen to recover the severed curl. The lock is lost in the confusion of this mock battle.
EXPLANATION
In these lines the poet describes the beauty of Belinda and satirizes the idleness, late rising and fondness for domestic pets of the aristocratic ladies. "Sol" in the very first line is a personification of the sun, and Pope makes him seem almost shy to be peeking into Belinda's window, as if he is afraid to disturb the sleeping Belinda in her London home. And indeed he should be. The very next line uses a metaphor to compare Belinda's own eyes to the sun, in fact, her eyes are more beautiful (they "must eclipse the Day") than he is. He recognizes in Belinda a rival. Belinda is hardly waking up with the dawn, though: these lines tell us that, like the pampered lapdogs owned by the 18th-century upper classes, or the sleepless lovers who don't need to work and so they have the energy to stay awake all night thinking about romance, it's closer to noon. In fact, these lines are the opening of action for this epic.
(b) Know further yet .......... what shapes they please.
(i) Poem: The Rape of the Lock
(ii) Poet: Alexander Pope
CONTEXT
(i) Occurrence: Canto I
(ii) Content: Belinda arises to prepare for the day's social activities. After an elaborate ritual of dressing and primping, she travels on the Thames River of Hampton Court Palace, where a group of wealthy young societies are gathering for a party. Among them is the Baron, who has already made up his mind to steal a lock of Belinda's hair. At party, the Baron takes up a pair of scissors and cuts off the coveted lock of Belinda's hair. Belinda is furious. She initiates a scuffle between the ladies and the gentlemen to recover the severed curl. The lock is lost in the confusion of this mock battle.
EXPLANATION
In these lines the poet describes the beauty of Belinda and satirizes the idleness, late rising and fondness for domestic pets of the aristocratic ladies. "Sol" in the very first line is a personification of the sun, and Pope makes him seem almost shy to be peeking into Belinda's window, as if he is afraid to disturb the sleeping Belinda in her London home. And indeed he should be. The very next line uses a metaphor to compare Belinda's own eyes to the sun, in fact, her eyes are more beautiful (they "must eclipse the Day") than he is. He recognizes in Belinda a rival. Belinda is hardly waking up with the dawn, though: these lines tell us that, like the pampered lapdogs owned by the 18th-century upper classes, or the sleepless lovers who don't need to work and so they have the energy to stay awake all night thinking about romance, it's closer to noon. In fact, these lines are the opening of action for this epic.
(b) Know further yet .......... what shapes they please.
REFERENCE
(i) Poem: The Rape of the Lock
(ii) Poet: Alexander Pope
CONTEXT
(i) Occurrence: Canto I
(ii) Content: Belinda arises to prepare for the day's social activities. After an elaborate ritual of dressing and primping, she travels on the Thames River of Hampton Court Palace, where a group of wealthy young societies are gathering for a party. Among them is the Baron, who has already made up his mind to steal a lock of Belinda's hair. At party, the Baron takes up a pair of scissors and cuts off the coveted lock of Belinda's hair. Belinda is furious. She initiates a scuffle between the ladies and the gentlemen to recover the severed curl. The lock is lost in the confusion of this mock battle.
EXPLANATION
In these lines the poet describes about the birth and power of sylphs. The poet, through the mouth of a sylph, Ariel, says that there are four kinds of spirits; salamander, nymphs, gnomes and sylphs. These are all the allotropes of dead persons. Those women who were "fair and chaste" and rejected mankind, after their deaths, their souls went to air and they became sylphs. Here "fair and chaste" are very ironical words. These suggest that those women were, in fact, flirt and coquette. They were full of spleen and vanity and their spirits were too full of dark vapours to ascend to the skies. So they became the spirits of the air. Secondly he says that the sylphs are very powerful spirits. They are "freed from mortal laws" Now they have become divine beings and are no more subject to death. Moreover, they can change their sex and shape with ease. Ariel, a sylph, appears in the shape of a handsome young man in Belinda's dream.
(c) Oft, when the world .......... expel by new.
(i) Poem: The Rape of the Lock
(ii) Poet: Alexander Pope
CONTEXT
(i) Occurrence: Canto I
(ii) Content: Belinda arises to prepare for the day's social activities. After an elaborate ritual of dressing and primping, she travels on the Thames River of Hampton Court Palace, where a group of wealthy young societies are gathering for a party. Among them is the Baron, who has already made up his mind to steal a lock of Belinda's hair. At party, the Baron takes up a pair of scissors and cuts off the coveted lock of Belinda's hair. Belinda is furious. She initiates a scuffle between the ladies and the gentlemen to recover the severed curl. The lock is lost in the confusion of this mock battle.
EXPLANATION
In these lines the poet describes about the birth and power of sylphs. The poet, through the mouth of a sylph, Ariel, says that there are four kinds of spirits; salamander, nymphs, gnomes and sylphs. These are all the allotropes of dead persons. Those women who were "fair and chaste" and rejected mankind, after their deaths, their souls went to air and they became sylphs. Here "fair and chaste" are very ironical words. These suggest that those women were, in fact, flirt and coquette. They were full of spleen and vanity and their spirits were too full of dark vapours to ascend to the skies. So they became the spirits of the air. Secondly he says that the sylphs are very powerful spirits. They are "freed from mortal laws" Now they have become divine beings and are no more subject to death. Moreover, they can change their sex and shape with ease. Ariel, a sylph, appears in the shape of a handsome young man in Belinda's dream.
(c) Oft, when the world .......... expel by new.
REFERENCE
(i) Poem: The Rape of the Lock
(ii) Poet: Alexander Pope
CONTEXT
(i) Occurrence: Canto I
(ii) Content: Belinda arises to prepare for the day's social activities. After an elaborate ritual of dressing and primping, she travels on the Thames River of Hampton Court Palace, where a group of wealthy young societies are gathering for a party. Among them is the Baron, who has already made up his mind to steal a lock of Belinda's hair. At party, the Baron takes up a pair of scissors and cuts off the coveted lock of Belinda's hair. Belinda is furious. She initiates a scuffle between the ladies and the gentlemen to recover the severed curl. The lock is lost in the confusion of this mock battle.
EXPLANATION
In these lines the poet describes the main job of sylphs. Sylphs, the spirits of air, guard the good name of young women through all kinds of social situations, especially regarding those with the opposite sex. Upper-class women in Pope's day had to be very careful about their reputations when it came to dealing with men who were not their fathers or husbands. They have to preserve their honour at all costs; in these lines, Pope imagines that the sylphs are are on a specific mission to help girls do just that. When the behaviour of girls seems absolutely inexplicable; they drop a friend for no good reason, they don't show up where or when they are supposed to, they fall in and out of love often - it's really the sylphs who are masterminding the whole confusing deal. Young men's music softens the minds of young girls and dancing inflames their passion. However, the sylphs guide the young girls through the "mystic mazes" of allurement, and and save them from the "giddy circle" of love. In short, the young girls are forced by the sylphs to show insolence towards men.
(d) To fifty chosen sylphs, ......... with ribs of whale;
(i) Poem: The Rape of the Lock
(ii) Poet: Alexander Pope
CONTEXT
(i) Occurrence: Canto I
(ii) Content: Belinda arises to prepare for the day's social activities. After an elaborate ritual of dressing and primping, she travels on the Thames River of Hampton Court Palace, where a group of wealthy young societies are gathering for a party. Among them is the Baron, who has already made up his mind to steal a lock of Belinda's hair. At party, the Baron takes up a pair of scissors and cuts off the coveted lock of Belinda's hair. Belinda is furious. She initiates a scuffle between the ladies and the gentlemen to recover the severed curl. The lock is lost in the confusion of this mock battle.
EXPLANATION
In these lines the poet describes the main job of sylphs. Sylphs, the spirits of air, guard the good name of young women through all kinds of social situations, especially regarding those with the opposite sex. Upper-class women in Pope's day had to be very careful about their reputations when it came to dealing with men who were not their fathers or husbands. They have to preserve their honour at all costs; in these lines, Pope imagines that the sylphs are are on a specific mission to help girls do just that. When the behaviour of girls seems absolutely inexplicable; they drop a friend for no good reason, they don't show up where or when they are supposed to, they fall in and out of love often - it's really the sylphs who are masterminding the whole confusing deal. Young men's music softens the minds of young girls and dancing inflames their passion. However, the sylphs guide the young girls through the "mystic mazes" of allurement, and and save them from the "giddy circle" of love. In short, the young girls are forced by the sylphs to show insolence towards men.
(d) To fifty chosen sylphs, ......... with ribs of whale;
REFERENCE
(i) Poem: The Rape of the Lock
(ii) Poet: Alexander Pope
CONTEXT
(i) Occurrence: Canto II
(ii) Content: Belinda arises to prepare for the day's social activities. After an elaborate ritual of dressing and primping, she travels on the Thames River of Hampton Court Palace, where a group of wealthy young societies are gathering for a party. Among them is the Baron, who has already made up his mind to steal a lock of Belinda's hair. At party, the Baron takes up a pair of scissors and cuts off the coveted lock of Belinda's hair. Belinda is furious. She initiates a scuffle between the ladies and the gentlemen to recover the severed curl. The lock is lost in the confusion of this mock battle.
EXPLANATION
In these lines the poet describes how does Ariel assign sylphs to protect the petticoat of Belinda. Ariel, the head of sylphs, assigns an army of fifty selected sylphs to keep an eye on Belinda's skirt. Ariel thinks it a very important duty to protect Belinda's dress. There are two main reasons behind it. Firstly, women's skirts were huge in those days; Belinda's petticoat is seven-layered. Secondly, someone getting up Belinda's skirt, figuratively and literally, would probably be one of the worst things that could happen to her reputation. Reputation and honour, mainly when it came to sex, were really important to young society women in the 18th century. Although women's corsets and petticoats were pretty formidable in those days -- Belinda's petticoat was made with hoops and whale bone - the implication here is that all of that construction might not be enough to keep out a persistent suitor. In short, in these lines the poet critiques society's contradictory expectations with regard to female sexuality.
(a) My face in thine eye, ........ without declining west?
(i) Poem: The Rape of the Lock
(ii) Poet: Alexander Pope
CONTEXT
(i) Occurrence: Canto II
(ii) Content: Belinda arises to prepare for the day's social activities. After an elaborate ritual of dressing and primping, she travels on the Thames River of Hampton Court Palace, where a group of wealthy young societies are gathering for a party. Among them is the Baron, who has already made up his mind to steal a lock of Belinda's hair. At party, the Baron takes up a pair of scissors and cuts off the coveted lock of Belinda's hair. Belinda is furious. She initiates a scuffle between the ladies and the gentlemen to recover the severed curl. The lock is lost in the confusion of this mock battle.
EXPLANATION
In these lines the poet describes how does Ariel assign sylphs to protect the petticoat of Belinda. Ariel, the head of sylphs, assigns an army of fifty selected sylphs to keep an eye on Belinda's skirt. Ariel thinks it a very important duty to protect Belinda's dress. There are two main reasons behind it. Firstly, women's skirts were huge in those days; Belinda's petticoat is seven-layered. Secondly, someone getting up Belinda's skirt, figuratively and literally, would probably be one of the worst things that could happen to her reputation. Reputation and honour, mainly when it came to sex, were really important to young society women in the 18th century. Although women's corsets and petticoats were pretty formidable in those days -- Belinda's petticoat was made with hoops and whale bone - the implication here is that all of that construction might not be enough to keep out a persistent suitor. In short, in these lines the poet critiques society's contradictory expectations with regard to female sexuality.
(a) My face in thine eye, ........ without declining west?
REFERENCE
(i) Poem: The Good-Morrow
(ii) Poet: John Donne
CONTEXT
(i) Occurrence: Stanza 3 (Lines 15-18 / 21)
(ii) Content: This poem is considered to be one of the best poems belonging to the metaphysical school of poetry. It describes the poet's profligate past and his present spiritual awakening. The subject is love, love seen as an intense, absolute experience, which isolates the lovers from reality and gives them a different kind of awareness; a simultaneous narrowing and widening of reality. This perfect love is immortal and it makes the lovers immortal too.
EXPLANATION
In these lines the poets talks about the unique beauty of the love which he and his beloved, Anne Moore, share. Face-to-face with his lover, the poet sees his own face reflected in her eyes and assumes that she can see his too. It demonstrates a spiritual bond between them. Gazing into her eyes, the poet claims that emotional honesty resides in the face. The pure love in their hearts is written in their eyes and the expression of their mouths. The poets then puts a rhetorical question about their hearts, using a conceit to compare them to two separated hemispheres. Sure, the world has its own hemispheres, but those are an inferior product. The heart-hemispheres are perfectly designed and perfectly matched. With no cold wintry north, these hearts are full of warm southern love; and with no west, where the sun sets every day, bringing darkness to the world, they hold nothing but constancy and light. Thus the lovers world is out of this world, so it does not have the same problems as the real world has, it is utopic perfect.
(i) Poem: The Good-Morrow
(ii) Poet: John Donne
CONTEXT
(i) Occurrence: Stanza 3 (Lines 15-18 / 21)
(ii) Content: This poem is considered to be one of the best poems belonging to the metaphysical school of poetry. It describes the poet's profligate past and his present spiritual awakening. The subject is love, love seen as an intense, absolute experience, which isolates the lovers from reality and gives them a different kind of awareness; a simultaneous narrowing and widening of reality. This perfect love is immortal and it makes the lovers immortal too.
EXPLANATION
In these lines the poets talks about the unique beauty of the love which he and his beloved, Anne Moore, share. Face-to-face with his lover, the poet sees his own face reflected in her eyes and assumes that she can see his too. It demonstrates a spiritual bond between them. Gazing into her eyes, the poet claims that emotional honesty resides in the face. The pure love in their hearts is written in their eyes and the expression of their mouths. The poets then puts a rhetorical question about their hearts, using a conceit to compare them to two separated hemispheres. Sure, the world has its own hemispheres, but those are an inferior product. The heart-hemispheres are perfectly designed and perfectly matched. With no cold wintry north, these hearts are full of warm southern love; and with no west, where the sun sets every day, bringing darkness to the world, they hold nothing but constancy and light. Thus the lovers world is out of this world, so it does not have the same problems as the real world has, it is utopic perfect.
(b) If our two loves ......... none can die.
REFERENCE
(i) Poem: The Good-Morrow
(ii) Poet: John Donne
CONTEXT
(i) Occurrence: Stanza 3 (Lines 20- 21/ 21)
(ii) Content: This poem is considered to be one of the best poems belonging to the metaphysical school of poetry. It describes the poet's profligate past and his present spiritual awakening. The subject is love, love seen as an intense, absolute experience, which isolates the lovers from reality and gives them a different kind of awareness; a simultaneous narrowing and widening of reality. This perfect love is immortal and it makes the lovers immortal too.
EXPLANATION
In these lines the poet has beautifully applied a metaphor of eternal love. He says that if the total love which is formed with the love of each of the members of the couple is in perfect proportion, that love will be a perfect body, a healthy heavenly being, and it will never weaken or die. Medieval theories of medicine state that diseases and death are caused by an imbalance in bodily humors. According to current thinking; only what is contrary or of different measure can disintegrate. So if the well-balanced love never ceases, dissolution is impossible. It means the couple, John Donne and Anne Moore, will go on living and loving each other forever. Thus perfect love in not only immortal; it makes the lovers immortal, too. In short, this image is very typical of Donne, and a perfect sophism.
(i) Poem: The Good-Morrow
(ii) Poet: John Donne
CONTEXT
(i) Occurrence: Stanza 3 (Lines 20- 21/ 21)
(ii) Content: This poem is considered to be one of the best poems belonging to the metaphysical school of poetry. It describes the poet's profligate past and his present spiritual awakening. The subject is love, love seen as an intense, absolute experience, which isolates the lovers from reality and gives them a different kind of awareness; a simultaneous narrowing and widening of reality. This perfect love is immortal and it makes the lovers immortal too.
EXPLANATION
In these lines the poet has beautifully applied a metaphor of eternal love. He says that if the total love which is formed with the love of each of the members of the couple is in perfect proportion, that love will be a perfect body, a healthy heavenly being, and it will never weaken or die. Medieval theories of medicine state that diseases and death are caused by an imbalance in bodily humors. According to current thinking; only what is contrary or of different measure can disintegrate. So if the well-balanced love never ceases, dissolution is impossible. It means the couple, John Donne and Anne Moore, will go on living and loving each other forever. Thus perfect love in not only immortal; it makes the lovers immortal, too. In short, this image is very typical of Donne, and a perfect sophism.
(c) Goe and catche ......... keep off envies stinging,
REFERENCE
(i) Poem: Song: Go and Catch a Falling Star
(ii) Poet: John Donne
CONTEXT
(i) Occurrence: Stanza 1 (Line 1-6/27)
(ii) Content: The reader is told to do seven impossible tasks; catching a falling star, begetting a child on a mandrake root, memory of past years, finding the name of the person who clove the Devil's foot, listening to the music of mermaids, changing human nature, and finding out the climate which would promote man's honesty. Just as it is impossible to do these jobs, in the same way it is impossible to find a "true and fair" woman even after a lifetime travels. The poet wishes he could go and see such a woman if she existed, but he knows that she would turn false by the time he got there.
(i) Poem: Song: Go and Catch a Falling Star
(ii) Poet: John Donne
CONTEXT
(i) Occurrence: Stanza 1 (Line 1-6/27)
(ii) Content: The reader is told to do seven impossible tasks; catching a falling star, begetting a child on a mandrake root, memory of past years, finding the name of the person who clove the Devil's foot, listening to the music of mermaids, changing human nature, and finding out the climate which would promote man's honesty. Just as it is impossible to do these jobs, in the same way it is impossible to find a "true and fair" woman even after a lifetime travels. The poet wishes he could go and see such a woman if she existed, but he knows that she would turn false by the time he got there.
EXPLANATION
In these lines the poet throws out fanciful notions of impossible attainments. Falling star is known for its destruction and being out of reach. Mandrake is a type of plant from which drugs may be made, especially for causing sleep. The root of mandrake splitting in two parts is often thought to be man's two legs. Consequently a mandrake root represents male. However, the wish for female to be pregnant on mandrake root can only be heard in fairy tales. "All past years" indicate those past can never return. "The Devil's foot" is believed to be like that of the ox or the sheep, as observed that the foot or an ox or a sheep can never be split. Mermaids are mythological Greek creatures who lured sailors to their deaths with their singing, and enchanted the brain of a sailor to crash. The most astonishing thing is that mermaids were actually gender-less, which meant that their beauty was nothing but to kill. To envy is out of one's instinct while to keep off envy's stinging is out of question. In short, these lines describe the things beyond the bounds of possibility.
(d) If yet I have ........ other teare to fall;
(d) If yet I have ........ other teare to fall;
REFERENCE
(i) Poem: Lovers' Infiniteness
(ii) Poet: John Donne
CONTEXT
(i) Occurrence: Stanza 1 (Lines 1-4/33)
(i) Poem: Lovers' Infiniteness
(ii) Poet: John Donne
CONTEXT
(i) Occurrence: Stanza 1 (Lines 1-4/33)
(ii) Content:
The poet complains that he does not yet have "all" of his beloved's love, despite using all of his resources to woo her. She should not leave some love for others, nor should she leave herself open to wooing by others later. Yet, he also wants her to keep some of her love for him in reserve so that they can enjoy a constantly growing relationship. He says that love must be "all" like the infiniteness of God's love, and cannot be partial. Any partition of love makes it less.
The poet complains that he does not yet have "all" of his beloved's love, despite using all of his resources to woo her. She should not leave some love for others, nor should she leave herself open to wooing by others later. Yet, he also wants her to keep some of her love for him in reserve so that they can enjoy a constantly growing relationship. He says that love must be "all" like the infiniteness of God's love, and cannot be partial. Any partition of love makes it less.
EXPLANATION
In these lines the poet describes the impossibility of gaining the entire love of his lady. He regrets that if he does not have all the love of his lady, then he is not likely to ever have it all. He has striven hard to gain her entire love but unfortunately he has not got any more than what he had at the beginning. He has used his entire treasure of tears, entreaties and letters but he is not richer in love now than when the bargain for love began. Thus he cannot sigh, weep or plead with her anymore to gain her more affection. The poet is disturbed by the fact, if he only has a part his his lady's love, someone else must have the rest of it. In short, the poet has no faith in the ability of her lover to love him completely, and he is getting tired of all the pieces of work he has done to try to convince her do do so.
(a) The long love that .......... with bold pretence.
In these lines the poet describes the impossibility of gaining the entire love of his lady. He regrets that if he does not have all the love of his lady, then he is not likely to ever have it all. He has striven hard to gain her entire love but unfortunately he has not got any more than what he had at the beginning. He has used his entire treasure of tears, entreaties and letters but he is not richer in love now than when the bargain for love began. Thus he cannot sigh, weep or plead with her anymore to gain her more affection. The poet is disturbed by the fact, if he only has a part his his lady's love, someone else must have the rest of it. In short, the poet has no faith in the ability of her lover to love him completely, and he is getting tired of all the pieces of work he has done to try to convince her do do so.
(a) The long love that .......... with bold pretence.
REFERENCE
(i) Poem: The Long Love that in my Thought doth Harbour
(ii) Poet: Sir Thomas Wyatt
CONTEXT
(i) Occurrence: Start of the Poem (Lines 1-3/14)
(ii) Content: Love is lasting and resides in a heart. The poet is besotted in love, to the point that it shows on his face and he is just a fool overwhelmed by it all. Love has taken control of his thoughts. The object of his love, a woman, is turned off by is silly exuberance and reveres more substantial love. Anyway, love grows angry because his lust is not satisfied and retreats back into his lair, the poet's heart; where it is safe to experience pain and cry. The poet considers love his master, one who is control of his senses. He concludes that loving is life and it ends faithfully too.
EXPLANATION
In these lines the poets says that love harbours in thoughts, resides in heart and appears on face. The poet gives love the adjective of "long". Looking at the Oxford definition of long, it doesn't just mean an elongated shape; but also means lasting a great amount of time or relatively great in extent. Looking at it that way, the poet is telling us that his love is lasting and vast. Then he says that love harbours in thoughts. "Harbour" means keeping a thought or feeling in one's mind, especially secretly. The love that harbours in thoughts resides in the poet's heart. The word "his" suggests that the poet has personified love as a male. The love that resides in his heart is able to press against his face boldly and give away his emotions. The phrase "with bold pretence" likens the male lover's actions to that of the actions of a warrior who is making an audacious claim and therefore showing off his presence by utilizing the banner.
(i) Poem: The Long Love that in my Thought doth Harbour
(ii) Poet: Sir Thomas Wyatt
CONTEXT
(i) Occurrence: Start of the Poem (Lines 1-3/14)
(ii) Content: Love is lasting and resides in a heart. The poet is besotted in love, to the point that it shows on his face and he is just a fool overwhelmed by it all. Love has taken control of his thoughts. The object of his love, a woman, is turned off by is silly exuberance and reveres more substantial love. Anyway, love grows angry because his lust is not satisfied and retreats back into his lair, the poet's heart; where it is safe to experience pain and cry. The poet considers love his master, one who is control of his senses. He concludes that loving is life and it ends faithfully too.
EXPLANATION
In these lines the poets says that love harbours in thoughts, resides in heart and appears on face. The poet gives love the adjective of "long". Looking at the Oxford definition of long, it doesn't just mean an elongated shape; but also means lasting a great amount of time or relatively great in extent. Looking at it that way, the poet is telling us that his love is lasting and vast. Then he says that love harbours in thoughts. "Harbour" means keeping a thought or feeling in one's mind, especially secretly. The love that harbours in thoughts resides in the poet's heart. The word "his" suggests that the poet has personified love as a male. The love that resides in his heart is able to press against his face boldly and give away his emotions. The phrase "with bold pretence" likens the male lover's actions to that of the actions of a warrior who is making an audacious claim and therefore showing off his presence by utilizing the banner.
(b) It it be yea, .......... and yours no more.
REFERENCE
(i) Poem: Yea or Nay
(ii) Poet: Sir Thomas Wyatt
CONTEXT
(i) Occurrence: End of the Poem (Lines 9-12/12)
(ii) Content: The poet challenges his lady to decide whether she is accepting of his suit. He pleads her to give up her trick and rely instead on her wit to impress him and show her true worth. He expresses that he burns with passion, and requests that if she has any compassion for him, she would tell him clearly, yes or no. He says that he will be happy with the answer yes, but if she says no, they will return to being friends as they were before. She will then be free to move on to get herself a new man, and the poet will be independent again, and no longer possessed by the lady.
EXPLANATION
In these lines the poet wants to get a clear cut answer from his beloved about their relationship to determine the course of their lives. The poet says that if her lady agrees to his suit, then he will be "fain" i.e. happy. Of course, a clever pun has been used here as the homophone "feign" means false, and it would be difficult to tell the two words apart without seeing the written word. If the poet is rejected, he says that they will return to being friends as they were before. There is no implication the he will be destroyed by grief or will mourn forever; the result will be undramatic. The poet callously implies that the lady will move on to anther lover. He, however, will be content to be "mine own" - his own man. His final words show that he will be relieved to no longer be owned by the lady. His freedom sounds much more appealing than her return to the fakery of courtly relationships with her beloved.
(i) Poem: Yea or Nay
(ii) Poet: Sir Thomas Wyatt
CONTEXT
(i) Occurrence: End of the Poem (Lines 9-12/12)
(ii) Content: The poet challenges his lady to decide whether she is accepting of his suit. He pleads her to give up her trick and rely instead on her wit to impress him and show her true worth. He expresses that he burns with passion, and requests that if she has any compassion for him, she would tell him clearly, yes or no. He says that he will be happy with the answer yes, but if she says no, they will return to being friends as they were before. She will then be free to move on to get herself a new man, and the poet will be independent again, and no longer possessed by the lady.
EXPLANATION
In these lines the poet wants to get a clear cut answer from his beloved about their relationship to determine the course of their lives. The poet says that if her lady agrees to his suit, then he will be "fain" i.e. happy. Of course, a clever pun has been used here as the homophone "feign" means false, and it would be difficult to tell the two words apart without seeing the written word. If the poet is rejected, he says that they will return to being friends as they were before. There is no implication the he will be destroyed by grief or will mourn forever; the result will be undramatic. The poet callously implies that the lady will move on to anther lover. He, however, will be content to be "mine own" - his own man. His final words show that he will be relieved to no longer be owned by the lady. His freedom sounds much more appealing than her return to the fakery of courtly relationships with her beloved.
(c) It was no dream: .......... fashion of forsaking;
REFERENCE
(i) Poem: They Flee From Me
(ii) Poet: Sir Thomas Wyatt
CONTEXT
(i) Occurrence: End of the Poem (Lines 15-17/21)
(ii) Content: The poet complains about the fact that women keep running away from him. They used to stalk his chamber, barefoot, and take bread from his hand, but now they don't come around anymore. Instead, they roam free, seeking change. But there was one, once, who was a little different. She came to him, scantily clad, and kissed him. It was not a dream, but it was a strange encounter nonetheless. After all, she just leaves him there, and goes off in search of other, new men. When all is said and done, he is not sure how this woman should be treated.
EXPLANATION
In these lines the poet insists that the erotic scene of kissing with Anne Boleyn was not a dream, but real. He was wide-awake, he swears! The phrase "through my gentleness" means because of my gentleness. The poet's promiscuous gentleness tame this girl. She kissed him, and this time he, not she, acquiesced. "Forsaking" suggests that the poet is the one now being forsaken by this girl, rather than the other way round. So basically, even though he was totally nice to her, this girl totally gave him the cold shoulder. Apparently, the poet's "gentleness" has somehow caused her to do so. Moreover, by using the words "gentleness" and "forsaking", the poet is trying to understand the "rejection he has undergone". This rejection is catastrophe to the poet because he has undergone a switch in roles. At the beginning of the poem he plays the dominate role by having many mistresses, then in the second stanza he allows himself to one mistress, who in the third stanza leaves him. So he is the one left stranded as he stranded many mistresses in the first stanza.
(i) Poem: They Flee From Me
(ii) Poet: Sir Thomas Wyatt
CONTEXT
(i) Occurrence: End of the Poem (Lines 15-17/21)
(ii) Content: The poet complains about the fact that women keep running away from him. They used to stalk his chamber, barefoot, and take bread from his hand, but now they don't come around anymore. Instead, they roam free, seeking change. But there was one, once, who was a little different. She came to him, scantily clad, and kissed him. It was not a dream, but it was a strange encounter nonetheless. After all, she just leaves him there, and goes off in search of other, new men. When all is said and done, he is not sure how this woman should be treated.
EXPLANATION
In these lines the poet insists that the erotic scene of kissing with Anne Boleyn was not a dream, but real. He was wide-awake, he swears! The phrase "through my gentleness" means because of my gentleness. The poet's promiscuous gentleness tame this girl. She kissed him, and this time he, not she, acquiesced. "Forsaking" suggests that the poet is the one now being forsaken by this girl, rather than the other way round. So basically, even though he was totally nice to her, this girl totally gave him the cold shoulder. Apparently, the poet's "gentleness" has somehow caused her to do so. Moreover, by using the words "gentleness" and "forsaking", the poet is trying to understand the "rejection he has undergone". This rejection is catastrophe to the poet because he has undergone a switch in roles. At the beginning of the poem he plays the dominate role by having many mistresses, then in the second stanza he allows himself to one mistress, who in the third stanza leaves him. So he is the one left stranded as he stranded many mistresses in the first stanza.
(d) All is possible .........., and after preve,
REFERENCE
(i) Poem: Is it Possible
(ii) Poet: Sir Thomas Wyatt
CONTEXT
(i) Occurrence: End of the Poem (Lines 26-28/30)
(ii) Content: The poet speaks directly to a lady he has had a close relationship with. He wonders how their relationship ends with such sharp quarrel. However, they decide to end their quarrel by putting an end to their love. His love is converted into hate. He emphasizes the idea of unpredictability and changeability of women's emotions by comparing his beloved to a wind or weather. He also mentions that the relationship between him and his beloved is something like playing a dice game, based on chance and luck. Finally, he advises all men to trust women first before loving them.
EXPLANATION
In these lines the poet advises that one should not be swayed by the feelings of heart and be very cautious before loving someone. The phrase "All is possible" suggests that the poet has come into a state of confinement and consolation. After questioning through the poem as to how could his lover reject his love, the poet comes out of the wondering thoughts. He is trying to come to terms with the reality which is that he has lost his love and there is no way to get it back now. He here claims that it is possible for love to turn hostile. It is possible that the feelings of love can transform into hatred after they have reached a peak. He admits that it is quite possible that love does not show up as you expect and want it to. "Whoso list believe" means whoever wants to love must believe in his words: "trust therefore first, and after preve". He wants to say that love cannot exist without trust. Trust is worth more than love. In short, it is very important to trust someone before loving them.
(i) Poem: Is it Possible
(ii) Poet: Sir Thomas Wyatt
CONTEXT
(i) Occurrence: End of the Poem (Lines 26-28/30)
(ii) Content: The poet speaks directly to a lady he has had a close relationship with. He wonders how their relationship ends with such sharp quarrel. However, they decide to end their quarrel by putting an end to their love. His love is converted into hate. He emphasizes the idea of unpredictability and changeability of women's emotions by comparing his beloved to a wind or weather. He also mentions that the relationship between him and his beloved is something like playing a dice game, based on chance and luck. Finally, he advises all men to trust women first before loving them.
EXPLANATION
In these lines the poet advises that one should not be swayed by the feelings of heart and be very cautious before loving someone. The phrase "All is possible" suggests that the poet has come into a state of confinement and consolation. After questioning through the poem as to how could his lover reject his love, the poet comes out of the wondering thoughts. He is trying to come to terms with the reality which is that he has lost his love and there is no way to get it back now. He here claims that it is possible for love to turn hostile. It is possible that the feelings of love can transform into hatred after they have reached a peak. He admits that it is quite possible that love does not show up as you expect and want it to. "Whoso list believe" means whoever wants to love must believe in his words: "trust therefore first, and after preve". He wants to say that love cannot exist without trust. Trust is worth more than love. In short, it is very important to trust someone before loving them.
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