AssignmentREAD . . .
DUE: Tuesday, October27 Pope's Prefatory LetterTO MRS. ARABELLA FERMOR
MADAM,—It will be in vain to deny that I have some regard for this piece, since I dedicate it to you. Yet you may bear me witness it was intended only to divert a few young ladies, who have good sense and good humour enough to laugh not only at their sex’s little unguarded follies, but at their own. But as it was communicated with the air of a secret, it soon found its way into the world. An imperfect copy having been offer’d to a bookseller, you had the good-nature for my sake, to consent to the publication of one more correct: this I was forced to, before I had executed half my design, for the Machinery was entirely wanting to complete it. The Machinery, Madam, is a term invented by the critics, to signify that part which the Deities, Angels, or Dæmons, are made to act in a poem: for the ancient poets are in one respect like many modern ladies; let an action be never so trivial in itself, they always make it appear of the utmost importance. These Machines I determined to raise on a very new and odd foundation, the Rosicrucian doctrine of Spirits. I know how disagreeable it is to make use of hard words before a lady; but it is so much the concern of a poet to have his works understood, and particularly by your sex, that you must give me leave to explain two or three difficult terms. The Rosicrucians are a people I must bring you acquainted with. The best account I know of them is in a French book calledLa Comte de Gabalis, which, both in its title and size, is so like a novel, that many of the fair sex have read it for one by mistake. According to these gentlemen, the four elements are inhabited by Spirits, which they call Sylphs, Gnomes, Nymphs, and Salamanders. The Gnomes, or Dæmons of earth, delight in mischief; but the Sylphs, whose habitation is in the air, are the best-conditioned creatures imaginable; for, they say, any mortal may enjoy the most intimate familiarities with these gentle spirits, upon a condition very easy to all true adepts,—an inviolate preservation of chastity. As to the following cantos, all the passages of them are as fabulous as the Vision at the beginning, or the Transformation at the end (except the loss of your hair, which I always mention with reverence). The human persons are as fictitious as the airy ones; and the character of Belinda, as it is now managed, resembles you in nothing but in beauty. If this poem had as many graces as there are in your person or in your mind, yet I could never hope it should pass thro’ the world half so uncensured as you have done. But let its fortune be what it will, mine is happy enough, to have given me this occasion of assuring you that I am, with the truest esteem, Madam, Your most obedient, humble servant, A. POPE. Finish reading Part III, stanzas 68-79.
DUE: Thursday, October 23 Read stanzas 43-67 before class on Tuesday, October 21
Read Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Part I (21 stanzas), as translated by A. S. Kline © 2007.
Be sure to annotate . . .
DUE: Monday, October 20, before class. Please select a novel or full-length play that you have not already read from the reading list you received as summer reading suggestions.
Let me know which novel or play have you have selected. You should finish reading your selected text by Nov. 17, the first day of quarter 2. At that time, I will assign a textual analysis assignment related to your independent reading. You will have that week (~4 days) to complete the written analysis assigned (DUE: Friday, November 21, before midnight). Review the general scoring guidelines as well as the scoring guidelines for Gascoigne's "For that . . ."
Then select at least one passage of about 10-15 lines from the wife's tale (a passage we have not yet discussed). And brainstorm some ideas for a free-response prompt based on that passage. Bring your ideas and/or notes to class on Thursday, October16. Read and annotate the Wife of Bath's Tale before class on Monday, October 13.
The Wife of Bath's Tale as translated by Nevill Coghill NOTE: The tale starts at line 31. You should have already read the first 30 lines which appear in the selection of the Wife of Bath's Prologue provided below. As you read, pay attention to structure:
Be sure to bring a copy of the text with your annotation to class. DUE: Monday, October 13, before class. |
Shrubber |
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