2.13 Reading Guide to Astrophil and Stella
Sonnets 1, 15, 16, 20, 37, 41, 47, 71, and 91 (pp. 975-76, 978-79, 982-83, 986, 989-90)
Sonnets 1, 15, 16, 20, 37, 41, 47, 71, and 91 (pp. 975-76, 978-79, 982-83, 986, 989-90)
Due before class on September 20. Five points.
1. (Sonnet 1) The key to these sonnets is realizing that each is concerned with the love of "Astrophil" (the male speaker of the poem) for Stella (a woman). One way to look at Sonnet 1 (pp. 975-76) is to say that it is about writer's block. This poem has a clear octave and sestet. How many sentences are in the octave? In the sestet? Why does the speaker say he wants to write? What sorts of things does he do, unsuccessfully, to assist him in his writing?
2. (Sonnet 15) This poem could be interpreted as advice to a rival poet. What resources does the rival poet use to improve his writing? What advice does the speaker of this poem give him?
3. (Sonnet 16) What two things did the speaker think he knew before he met Stella? To what does he compare being in love in the final lines of the poem?
4. (Sonnet 20) Here we have a tiny dramatic scene. Why does the speaker advise his friends to "Fly, fly" (that is, run) in the first line? Who is the "murth'ring boy" and how does he wound the speaker? What object in the poem is black in color?
5. (Sonnet 37) What pun and riddle are contained in the last line, "[She] Hath no misfortune, but that Rich she is." (But sure to read the note at the bottom of the page.)
6. (Sonnet 41) In this poem, the speaker tells of his success in a tournament. What do other people say was the cause of his success? What was the real cause, according to the speaker?
7. (Sonnet 47) In one sentence, what does the speaker of this poem vow to do? What prevents him from keeping his vow?
8. (Sonnet 71) Of what is Stella a perfect example? What new abstraction appears in the last line? What is your interpretation of line 14?
9. (Sonnet 91) Complete the following comparison: Stella is to other women as the skies are to a ______________.
10. This is a freebie so long as you answer at least one of the following questions. How are things going for you in English 205 so far? Which activities and materials are helping you? Which aren't? What would you like to more of in class? What, if anything, are you having trouble understanding?
1. (Sonnet 1) The key to these sonnets is realizing that each is concerned with the love of "Astrophil" (the male speaker of the poem) for Stella (a woman). One way to look at Sonnet 1 (pp. 975-76) is to say that it is about writer's block. This poem has a clear octave and sestet. How many sentences are in the octave? In the sestet? Why does the speaker say he wants to write? What sorts of things does he do, unsuccessfully, to assist him in his writing?
2. (Sonnet 15) This poem could be interpreted as advice to a rival poet. What resources does the rival poet use to improve his writing? What advice does the speaker of this poem give him?
3. (Sonnet 16) What two things did the speaker think he knew before he met Stella? To what does he compare being in love in the final lines of the poem?
4. (Sonnet 20) Here we have a tiny dramatic scene. Why does the speaker advise his friends to "Fly, fly" (that is, run) in the first line? Who is the "murth'ring boy" and how does he wound the speaker? What object in the poem is black in color?
5. (Sonnet 37) What pun and riddle are contained in the last line, "[She] Hath no misfortune, but that Rich she is." (But sure to read the note at the bottom of the page.)
6. (Sonnet 41) In this poem, the speaker tells of his success in a tournament. What do other people say was the cause of his success? What was the real cause, according to the speaker?
7. (Sonnet 47) In one sentence, what does the speaker of this poem vow to do? What prevents him from keeping his vow?
8. (Sonnet 71) Of what is Stella a perfect example? What new abstraction appears in the last line? What is your interpretation of line 14?
9. (Sonnet 91) Complete the following comparison: Stella is to other women as the skies are to a ______________.
10. This is a freebie so long as you answer at least one of the following questions. How are things going for you in English 205 so far? Which activities and materials are helping you? Which aren't? What would you like to more of in class? What, if anything, are you having trouble understanding?
2.14 Reading Guide to The Faerie Queene
(Book I, Cantos 1 and 2, pp. 719-42)
Due before class on September 22. Five points.
1. In the short introduction to his poem (pp. 719-20), Spenser asks for help. From whom is he asking help? For what does he need help? What does he say, in stanzas 1-4, will be the subject matter of his poem?
2. What is the name of the "Gentle Knight" mentioned in the first line of Canto 1? How is he dressed?
3. Name two companions who ride with the knight (p. 721).
4. Why do the travelers go into the forest? Why don't they return to their original path?
5. On pages 723-26, the knight fights his first battle. What is the allegorical name of the monster he defeats? To the disgust of the knight, what do her offspring do when the monster is killed?
6. After the battle, an old man appears and invites the knight and his companions to his home. What sort of person does the "aged Sire" appear to be on pages 726-27? What does the reader learn about him after everyone else is asleep? What is his name (p. 729)?
7. What is a Spright (p. 728)? Why does the first spright visit Morpheus, the god of sleep?
8. Name two tricks that the wicked magician plays on the knight, the first on pages 731-32 and the second on pp. 733-34. What does the knight do because of the deception?
9. Pages 735-37 tell of the knight's encounter with a Sarazin and his lady. What is written on the Sarazin's shield? What name does the Sarazin's lady use (p. 738)? What is her real name
(p. 742)?
10. On pages 739-42, we meet Fradubio. Into what has he been transformed? Where and in what form is his lady love? What is the name of the "false sorceresse" who tricked Fradubio and where is she while he tells his story?
(Book I, Cantos 1 and 2, pp. 719-42)
Due before class on September 22. Five points.
1. In the short introduction to his poem (pp. 719-20), Spenser asks for help. From whom is he asking help? For what does he need help? What does he say, in stanzas 1-4, will be the subject matter of his poem?
2. What is the name of the "Gentle Knight" mentioned in the first line of Canto 1? How is he dressed?
3. Name two companions who ride with the knight (p. 721).
4. Why do the travelers go into the forest? Why don't they return to their original path?
5. On pages 723-26, the knight fights his first battle. What is the allegorical name of the monster he defeats? To the disgust of the knight, what do her offspring do when the monster is killed?
6. After the battle, an old man appears and invites the knight and his companions to his home. What sort of person does the "aged Sire" appear to be on pages 726-27? What does the reader learn about him after everyone else is asleep? What is his name (p. 729)?
7. What is a Spright (p. 728)? Why does the first spright visit Morpheus, the god of sleep?
8. Name two tricks that the wicked magician plays on the knight, the first on pages 731-32 and the second on pp. 733-34. What does the knight do because of the deception?
9. Pages 735-37 tell of the knight's encounter with a Sarazin and his lady. What is written on the Sarazin's shield? What name does the Sarazin's lady use (p. 738)? What is her real name
(p. 742)?
10. On pages 739-42, we meet Fradubio. Into what has he been transformed? Where and in what form is his lady love? What is the name of the "false sorceresse" who tricked Fradubio and where is she while he tells his story?
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