All entries for Saturday 28 November 2009

Rhetoric

Rhetoric is the application of reason to imagination “for the better moving of the will.” Francis Bacon

It’s come to my attention that while we keep talking about ‘rhetoric’ in lectures and seminars not everyone is clear about what it is actually is.

To find out more, first read this: http://www.stanford.edu/dept/english/courses/sites/lunsford/pages/defs.htm

Then have a look at this: http://humanities.byu.edu/rhetoric/Silva.htm
(‘sesquipedalian’ means “Of words and expressions (after Horace’s sesquipedalia verba ‘words a foot and a half long’, A.P. 97): Of many syllables”, OED I also like the fact that it can refer to people a foot and a half tall).

The image on the left is of the Lady of Rhetoric; an explanation of the different symbols and references in the picture can be found here: http://im.bradley.edu/ell/303/lady.html

Alice Eardley : 28 Nov 2009 16:39 |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Epicureanism

Ask not—we cannot know—what end the gods have set for you, for me; nor attempt the Babylonian reckonings Leuconoë. How much better to endure whatever comes, whether Jupiter grants us additional winters or whether this is our last, which now wears out the Tuscan Sea upon the barrier of the cliffs! Be wise, strain the wine; and since life is brief, prune back far-reaching hopes! Even while we speak, envious time has passed: pluck the day, putting as little trust as possible in tomorrow!

Horace, ‘Carpe Diem’

This came up in the seminars on Thursday and is relevant for next week’s session on the Cavaliers.

For some useful information see: http://www.epicurus.net/ But bear in mind that c17th Epicureanism is inevitably a bit different.

Alice Eardley : 28 Nov 2009 12:00 |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Next Week: Cavalier Poets

Preparation for Next Week:

As usual, the reading in bold type is a compulsory part of the course and everything else is optional but highly recommended.

- Read the selection of Cavalier poetry on the handout I distributed in class.

Points to think about:
- Identify the similarities between the poems produced by each poet. You may want to think about theme/style/references.
- How do each of the poets use literary references? Are there any common themes?
- How can these common themes/literary allusions be linked to royalism and the political climate of 1640s England.

Optional secondary reading:

- It would be useful to think about the religious and political climate of 1640s England. You might want to read chapters 6 and 7 of Kishlansky: ‘Rebellion and Civil War, 1637-1644’ and ‘Civil War and Revolution, 1645-1649’. Or David L. Smith, A History of the Modern British Isles 1603-1707, chapters 5, 6, 7.

Really useful website: http://www.british-civil-wars.co.uk/index.htm

Alice Eardley : 28 Nov 2009 11:49 |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem