Alquin blz 28 - 33 Alexander Pope

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 6

• Born as ony child of a catholic linen merchant
  
• Ill health, impaired growth (1,40!)
  
• Taught by private tutors. 
• Regarded as a child prodigy.
  
• Poetry 1: depicting his rural surroundings e.g. Ode on solitude
  
• Poetry 2: expressing his thoughts, dissatisfaction or derision, in heroic couplets e.g. The Rape of the Lock
  
• Translations of great classical writers
  
• Poetry (satirical, moral poems)
  

Alexander Pope (1688 – 1744)

Page 31 questions
1. What is the subject of the poem?

Page 31. Questions
2a. themes?

1. solitude
2. tranquillity
3. happiness
4. hard work

Page 31. Questions
2b. what was Pope condemning? (veroordelen)

1. The hustle and bustle of cities
2. The tranquillity of the countryside
3. Happiness
4. Hard work

Page 31 Questions
2c. In which line is this clearly apparent? (only write down a number)

Page 31 Questions 3-5

• 3. Which four images are evoked by the second stanza?
• cattle, fields, sheep, trees
• 4. What is the effect of the repetitive use of "whose"?
• additional emphasis. The land provides everything he needs. 
• 5. Stanza 3 differs: 
• not closed with a full stop. 

Page 31 Questions
6. Which word in the 3rd stanza is synonymous with 'peace of mind'?

1. blest
2. unconcern'dly
3. swift
4. quiet

Page 31 Questions
7a. Which literary device does one find in lines 13 and 14?

1. alliteration
2. assonance
3. personification
4. onomatopoeia

Sound sleep by night; study and ease. 

 alliteration: the repetition of usually initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words or syllables. 

Alliteration (alliteratie)

Page 31 Questions

7b. find other examples of alliteration. 

Ode on Solitude (1709)

1. How happy he, who free from care
   
2. The rage of courts and noise of towns;
   
3. Contented breathes his native air,
   
4. In his own grounds.
   
5. Whose herds with milk, whose fields with bread,
   
6. Whose flocks supply him with attire,
   
7. Whose trees in summer yield him shade,
   
8. In winter fire.
   
9. Blest, who can unconcern’dly find
   
10. Hours, days, and years slide soft away,
    
11. In health of body, peace of mind,
    
12. Quiet by day,
    
13. Sound sleep by night; study and ease
    
14. Together mix’d; sweet recreation;
    
15. And innocence, which most does please,
    
16. With meditation.
    
17. Thus let me live, unseen, unknown;
    
18. Thus unlamented let me die;
    
19. Steal from the world, and not a stone
    
20. Tell where I lie.
    

Page 31 Questions
8a Which word in line 13 is rather 'out of place'.

1. sound
2. sleep
3. study
4. ease

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8b to what extent does this reflect the character of the age? 

Knowledge and science were considered the most significant factors at that time. 

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• 10a conclusion of the poem: It is a plea in favour of an anonymous life; being left alone to live and die in peace.

• 10b compared to Pope's life: 
• He did not achieve this at all: he was surrounded by various groups of people; moreover, he remained entangled in all sorts of religious, political and literary controversies throughout his life, which was therefore far from peaceful and anonymous!

Page 31 Questions

11 ode?

An ode is a poem which praises someone or something.

Page 31 Questions

12 rhyme scheme / syllables / metre / purpose short line

• rhyme scheme: ab ab
  
• syllables (lettergrepen) per line: 8884
• metre:  Iambics (Two syllables,  unstressed + stressed).
• (iambic quadrameter)
• short line at end of each stanza:  Closes the stanza

Syllables + metre: 

 How ha / ppy he, / who free / from care     

   u      s      u     s        u       s         u        s      = 8 syllables

The rage / of courts / and noise / of towns;

    u      s      u      s            u      s         u     s   
Conten / ted breathes / his na / tive air,

    u     s      u        s             u    s       u    s   
In his / own grounds.

 u    s       u          s              = 4 syllables

• Lord Petre / Miss Arabella Fermor (Belinda)

• Burlesque: a genre in which great deeds or elevated ideas are made to look ridiculous. High-flown language for trivial things.           = a form of satire

The Rape of the Lock (1714)

Question 1

Rape suggests a serious crime; Lock on the other hand is unexpected and entirely trivial. This is a

rather strange combination of words.

Question 2a
How many syllables does each line contain?

1. 4
2. 5
3. 8
4. 10

Question 2b
rhyme scheme?

1. abba abba etc
2. aa bb cc dd, etc.

Question 2c+d
metre and sort of poetry?

1. Iambic pentameter + heroic couplets
2. iambic quadrameter + heroic stanzas.

Question 3: closed couplets

Each two lines (couplet) form a unit, a thought, a statement. In other words: the thought or statement is neatly embedded in two rhyming lines, each comprising ten syllables. 

Question 4a: atmosphere stanza 1

Question 4b: religious ritual 

Line 121 toilet refers to the altar

Line 122 silver vases refers to chalices

Line 123 robed in white: priests / altar boys. Adores (worships).

Line 124 heavenly Image

Line 127 Priestess and Altar

Line 128 sacred and Rites

Line 130 offerings

Line 132 goddess

Question 5
mystic =

1. mysterious
2. missing
3. foggy

Question 6a
Who is the 'Nymph' in line 123?

Question 6b+C

A nymph is a demigodess

In the next line we fin the word 'heav'nly image' which supports the word 'Nymph'. 

Question 7a+b

Inferior priestess = the chambermaid, Betty

She is allowed to stand by the side of the altar (dressing table)

Question 8a+b

line 131: culls with curious toil 

line 138: Puffs, Powders, Patches, Bibles, Billet-doux

Question 9a+b

Toiletries and jewels

Jewels/gemstones and perfume

Question 10 What is described in lines 135+136? Bring it down to one word!

Question 11
Which word is comical in line 138?

1. Puffs
2. Powders
3. Patches
4. Bibles

Question 11 explained

Bibles (and Billet-doux.)

Given the description so far, the last thing one expects is any religious attribute. Everything revolves around Belinda’s appearance. 

This also applies to the love letters to a certain extent: There is no trace of Belinda having an inner life.

Question 12. 

arms (line 139) = All the cosmetics contained in her jars, bottles and vases

Question 13a+b 

The beauty products

These products ensure 

- that her smile is restored

- that her charm is boosted

-  blush

-  sparkling eyes

Question 14

The impression that – apart from her maid, Betty – there are many ladies required to perform various particular tasks.

Question 15

satirical: The make-up ritual of a rich, 

spoilt girl is ridiculed here 

Satirical: Another passage explained. 

Question 16
Is this a good-humoured (friendly) or malicious (mean) satire?

good-humoured

malicious

a bit of both

Question 16 explained

Pope wrote this poem as form of appeasement, as he had nothing to gain from treating either party harshly.

The humour, as clearly expressed in this excerpt, is neither bitter nor hateful.  The purpose of this poem is to make one laugh.