Q. Write a brief note on Anglo-Saxon Period and also please mention, the historical events, literary features and literary works of that period.
The Anglo-Saxon Period (450-1066): - The Anglo-Saxon Period (450-1066) started in the 5th century when the Jutes, Angles and Saxons came to England from Germany, defeated the English tribes and stated their reign. Our literature begins with songs and stories of a time when our Teutonic ancestors were living on the borders of North Sea. Three tribes of these ancestors– the Jutes, Angles and Saxons conquered Britain and laid the foundation of the English nation. The first landing was probably by a tribe of Jutes. The date is doubtful but the year 449 is accepted by most o historians. The Anglo-Saxon period ended in1066 with the Norman Conquest.
The composition of old English literature began on the soil of the Island known as England. This beginning of English literature is shrouded in the mist of Antiquity. The question might most pertinently arise, when did English literature begin? The question has been answered variously by various Scholars. Until recently, the English regarded Chaucer as the first of English poets and all previous literature as un-English. This is due to the fact that the extant remains of old English literature preserved in manuscripts were unknown till the 16th century. The discovery of these manuscripts first drew attention of the people to what is today called Anglo-Saxon literature. Moreover, these manuscripts were written and compiled by the “Clerks” or “Churchmen” three hundred years after the composition of the poems and it is natural that they eliminated many things which clashed with Christian ideas. The authorship of most of this literature is unknown. Only Caedmon and Cynewulf are the two known names but they too remain names only. A real National literature had flourished in the island long before the Norma conquest. It was at first characterized as “Anglo-Saxon literature” as if it is distinct from English literature. But during the last hundred years the correctness of this name has been disputed. It was held that English literature is one and indivisible whole and cannot be cut into two parts sharply distinguished from each other. Hence, the name “old English literature” is given to this earliest extant literature which was composed on the soil of Island.
Historical Events: - The events which influenced the literature of the ‘old English period were- (1).Christianity reached England and Christianization of the pagan English tribes began.
(2). In the 7th century, monasteries were established where a written literature began. Earlier to this whatever existed as literature was oral.
(3). Alfred the great who reigned over England from 871 to 901, encouraged education and supervised the compilation of “The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle”.
Literary works: - Beowulf, the earliest epic of English literature, was written by an unknown author in this period. Beowulf is the first of the epics in English poetry. The Wanderer, The Seafarer, The Wife’s Complaint, The lover’s Message, Deor’s Lament, The Ruin are among the remarkable poems of this age. Christianity produced two poets Caedmon and Cynewulf, the historian was Bede. Though Christianity is traceable, Paganism dominates the literary spirit of the time.
Literary Features: - Heroic Deeds, love of Sea adventure, intense love of glory and Savagery are the main literary features of the literature of this period. “The Anglo- Saxon chronicle” written in this age is the earliest prose of English literature. “Widsith”, “The Battle of Maldon”, “The Dream of the Rood”, “Juliana”, “Elene” are also the literary works of the Anglo-Saxon Period.
Mohammad Tazul Islam Sarker
Diploma in Human Rights
Mobile- 01911-264586/01717545492
Email-Tazul_taz@yahoo.com
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Doctor Faustus
-By Christopher Marlowe
Christopher Marlowe’s “Doctor Faustus” is, no doubt, a tragic play of damnation which seems to be an artistic play of conflict and Renaissance spirit .In this masterpiece the dramatist shows his subtle and sophisticated handling of portraying his hero as a one man show. Here Doctor Faustus as an ambitions hero is allured by the necromantic power so that the whole universe can be controlled by his indomitable power. Infact “Doctor Faustus” is basically a study of the mind of Faustus himself who has thirst for knowledge power, wealth, fame, beauty and so on.
Faustus’s tragedy, no doubt arises from a similar desire to know the forbidden truth of the universe and thus he exceeds the limits of human knowledge. Actually, Faustus chooses necromancy as a way of getting the unachievable power and knowledge. Here he risks spiritual damnation of practicing black art or magic and selling his soul to the devil. His Renaissance spirit comes into a bloody conflict with his religion. No doubt, his tragedy arises from the conflict of the two working forces in his mind --Good angel and bad angel.
Before he is caught by the necromantic net of the Mephistophilis the chars and newness of magical power overwhelm him. He artistically says------
“O’ what a world of profit and delight
Of power, of honour, of omnipotence.”
Actually the spirit of the Renaissance paves the way for spreading new thoughts and new ideals .The inner conflict of hope and despair runs through out the play. But his dreamy mind cannot but imagine the vast of necromancy when he says --------------
“All thing that moves between two poles
Shall be at my command.”
In the first scene, we find that Dr.Faustus is disappointed with his knowledge of physics, philosophy law, medicine and Divinity .He now feels elated to think of the power that magic will bring him to a sly-kissing ambition .He gladly and optimistically utters------
“A sound magician in a mightly God.”
When Faustus precedes to Paris the black art, he places magic over all the branches of knowledge.
Faustus, the hero of inordinate ambition goes to write the bond but his blood congeals and he can write no more. Perhaps this is a warning, which spontaneously overflows from his soul.
He would like to retrace his steps and repent of his surrender to devil but now Lucifer, Beelzebub and Mephistophis appear and demand the fulfillment of the conditions before sighing the bond. Now destiny does not permit him to live happily in the world of necromancy. He realizes the reality that his life in hell will be everlasting and tormenting. He would like his body to tarn in to air and his soul be changed in to little water drops. Actually he is too late to realize the reality from where he has no way to come back. Death and eternal pain are how his constant company. He curses himself-------------
“O’ soul be changed into little water drops
And fall into the ocean ne’er be found”.
Eventually, we are convinced to comment that Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus is such a tragic and conflicting play where the hero dreams but also suffers a lot. As a hero of one-man show, our tragic hero Faustus faces the heart-rending cry of horror like Mr. Kurtz in Conrad’s The Heart of Darkness. He pathetically utters-----
“My God, my God, look not so fierce to me!
Adders and serpents, let me breath a while!
Ugly hell, gape not: Come not Lucifer!
I will burn my books: Ah, Mephistophilis!”
Mohammad Tazul Islam Sarker
Diploma in Human Rights
Mobile- 01911-264586/01717545492
Email-Tazul_taz@yahoo.com
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Q. The reaction of Achilles after the death of Patroclus.
Achilles is the hero of the heroes. He is half god and half human beings. He has got undefeatable power from his mother. He strongly believed that no human beings could able to win against him. Now the war began between two representative figures. Achilles is the representative figure of Greece. On the other hand, Hector is the representative figure of Troy. He is a human being and very sympathetic. In the battlefield Hector murdered Patroclus. Hearing the death news after Achilles was very much shocked and decided to take revenge against Hector. He has armour and shield by which he protected himself and come forward to fight against Hector. Achilles seriously wounded Hector and then Hector died and began to destroy the city of Troy. Achilles was not satisfied with the death of Hector. He wanted to give more punishment and so he tortured on his dead body.
Q. All the world’s a stage
And all the man and woman merely players.
These lines, taken from Shakespeare’s play As You Like It, are part of a famous speech by Jaques.
Addressing Duke Senior and other in the forest of Arden. Jaques describes this world as a stage on which all the men and women are merely actors who have their exits and their entrances. Each man in the course of his early life plays seven roles, says Jaques. In the lines after us two of these seven roles in the life of a man are described. Jaques divides the life of man into seven parts. At first there is the infant; then there is the shining school boy; then there is the lover; next is the soldier; then comes the magistrate. Jaques’s speech about the seven ages in the life of a man is justly famous. In is one of the most celebrated passages in the entire range of Shakespearean drama. Like the first sins ages, the seventh age is also vividly and conveniently described.
Q. Stands still, you ever moving spheres of heaven
That time make ease and midnight never come.
This is the last scene of the tragically history of Doctor Faustus. The clock strikes eleven. The scholar friends of Faustus have retired to the adjacent room at the behest of Faustus himself. He is left pitifully alone in his room to face his inevitable death and damnation just after an hour. He is horrified and shudders to think that he has just one hour lift to live upon this earth. Now begins the most poignant soliloquy of uncommon excellence gushing out from the anguished soul of Doctor Faustus. As the final hour approaches. Faustus is horrified to think of the impending doom. He yearns to make a last minute effort to save his soul by sincere repentance and fervent prayer. But the time is very short.
Should we conclude that Marlowe himself probably a disbeliever in God and religion was afraid of eternal damnation during the last few years of his life?
Q. Fair is foul and foul is fair
However through the fog and filthy air.
In the opening scene of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. We hear this soliloquy from the mouth of the three witches in a gloomy evening. When Macbeth and Banquoe two remarkable hero of the drama return home after conquering a battle field. On the midst of the way both met with the three witches. Who were waiting for the moment? Actually this sentence is the symbol of the hidden desire or evil instinct of Macbeth’s heart. Banquoe since many allays ago in his heart it a dream, that if he were the king of Scotland. And his line is the expressions of his cherish Macbeth decided to get the throne of Scotland and the prophecies of the three witches precede his one steps. In the drama we see the cruelty of Macbeth and his and in the middle their worse consequence and penitence. Tyrannical death and madness, mental, disease, despair, fear and so on.
Mohammad Tazul Islam Sarker
Diploma in Human Rights
Mobile- 01911-264586/01717545492
Email-Tazul_taz@yahoo.com
The Iliad
- By Homer
Homer is the poet of Greek literature. He has written many epics but “The Iliad” is the most splendid and earliest epic in the Greek literature. Its main significance is that Homer has noted the name of the city of Greek before its creation and he has shown the war conflict between two races Greek and Trojan. Which seems to us that Homer knew the future and he could tell the future profacise. It also proved his divinity or spirituality.
Paris, the cursed son of Priam and Hecuba was brought up by a shepherd. When he become handsome younger, he become the judge of the beauty contest of three goddesses such as - Hera, Athene and Aphrodite. After declaring Aphrodite as the most beautiful goddess he came to know from her that he is the son of Priam and Hecuba.
Hector is the son of Priam and Hecuba, prince of Troy commander of all the Trojan and allied forces. He is the greatest hero and one of the most noble person in “The Iliad”.
Paris is the younger brother of Hector. He is very attractive and good-looking person. Once Aphrodite invited him in the city of Sparta to keep her promise showing her the most beautiful women of the world. Menelous the king of Sparta and the husband of Helen. Then Paris visited to Sparta as a royal guest and Menelous greeted him cordially. He actually wants to abduct Helen.
Helen is the most beautiful woman. When Paris saw her, he fell in love. So he wants to establish a good relation with Helen. But we cannot comment that Helen had no intension to develop the relationship of love. At last Paris abducted Helen from Sparta and come to the city of Troy.
Than the people of Greece were very much furious become the news has been circulated all over the city of Greece. Now the people of Greece want to save their prestige by bringing back Helen. Hearing that news Menelous at the first time became shocked and then decided to take revenge and to rescue Helen and his elder brother Agamemnon came forward to help him. Agamemnon informed that Achilles is the only man who can rescue Helen.
Achilles is the hero of the heroes. He is half god and half human beings. He has got undefeatable power from his mother. He strongly believed that no human beings could able to win against him. When he heard that Helen has been abducted by Paris, he becomes very angry and declared war against Troy.
At first Hector was not satisfied upon Paris for his abduction. But when he got the news of war against Troy, he also agreed to war against the city of Greece. Now the war began between two representative figures. Achilles is the representative figure of Greece. He has armour and shield by which he protected himself and wins in the battlefield. On the other hand, Hector is the representative figure of Troy. He is a human being and very sympathetic. Not only his parents but also his wife, Andromache, prayed that Hector could win in the battle field. In the battlefield Hector murdered Patroclus and it is the turning point of this tragedy. Achilles decided to take revenge against Hector.
At one stage, Achilles seriously wounded Hector and then Hector died and began to destroy the city of Troy. Achilles was not satisfied with the death of Hector. He wanted to give more punishment and so he tortured on his dead body. The Olympus gods and goddesses become very angry with Achilles for torturing the dead body.
Hearing the death news of Hector, Paris was very much shocked and come forward to fight against Achilles. He knows well from Aphordite that the power of Achilles was laying in heel. But Achilles seriously wounded Paris. Before the death of Paris, he halted a spear to Achilles’ heel. Both of them died.
In the consequence of the epic, we come to see that Ulysses who is one of the intellectual heroes a wooden horse where fifty fighters took their secret position. When all the people of Troy were sleeping very soundly, the fifty fighters of Greece came out from the wooden horse and attacked the sleeping Trojans. All the remarkable heroes of Troy died except Aeneas. The city of Troy was burning and burning. Helen was rescued and Cassandra was snatched away.
From the above discussion we can easily says that Homer’s “Iliad” is the most famous epic. We can learn many things to read “Iliad”. For this epic, Homer is famous in all over the world.
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Q. The beauty contest in Homer?
Homer is one of the greatest and earliest epic poets in Greek mythology. The epic contains all qualities of epic so it is a high classes and complete epic.
In this epic we see that there was a beauty contest of three goddesses such as Hera, Athene and Aphordite. They created quarrel with one another and demand one by one singly as the most beautiful goddesses. At last they went to Zeus husband of Hera for solution of this problem. When they were gone to Zeus and said to about their problem, Zeus said them I could not solution of this problem, because I am husband of Hera. But Zeus said them you go Olympus Mountain and who will first see you, them you says about your problem. They went there and first met with Paris and they says about their problem. Hera proposed him if you select me then I will give you many property. Athene proposed him if you select me then I will give you knowledge. At last Aphordite proposed if you select me then I will search you of the exquisite beauty in the world. At last Paris selected Aphordite as the most beautiful women in the three goddesses.
Q. Write a note on the character of Lady Macbeth in Shakespeare’s Macbeth.
Shakespeare is a name, who is very much famous distinguish and remarkable dramatist in the world of English literature. He was the noblest man in his contemporary and had a deep understanding about human nature. He had great sympathy for all manner of men. Shakespeare has captured the soul of human being by his extraordinary skillful writing. He has written many splendid dramas all though his life. “Macbeth” is one of those which are a wonderful creation of Shakespeare.
Macbeth is the masterpiece of Shakespeare. Hence he depicts some important characters in this drama. Lady Macbeth is one of the central characters of Macbeth. The central theme of Macbeth is dominated by this character. She is the tragic heroine of this tragedy. Much of her behavior in the play seems to be pretended and blotter the drooping sprit of her husband. Lady Macbeth has some extraordinary quality and that are following ---
Love and admiration for her husband: - In the first scene we see that lady Macbeth is reading a letter which has got from her husband. In the letter Macbeth express the success in the battle field to dearest partner of his life, and he also told about the prediction of the witches. Another latter lady Macbeth has expressed her admiration and greatness to her husband. Her interest was totally unselfish to her husband career. She has made some wicked plans not only for her own interest but also for her husband’s achievement.
Lack of femininity in Lady Macbeth: - Lady Macbeth is feminine not only as a perfect wife but also as a mother. Her cruelty is only assumed and meant for the betterment of her husband’s career. Macbeth knows quite well of the feminine qualities of his wife. So he decides to murder Banque and his son according to the advice of his wife.
Self-control and resourcefulness: - Lady Macbeth is capable of tremendous self–control and practicality when it comes to meeting crises. She checks all feminine sentiments when she sets about the business of preparing Duncon’s murder. Her advice to her husband is sound and practical.
Wisdom: - She displayed the same wisdom when Macbeth, after murdering Duncon, returns to her forgetting excitement to leave the spot of crime. Lady Macbeth advised him to wash away blood so that he cannot be incriminated.
Inhuman but not entirely so: - in the earlier seems of the play. Lady Macbeth’s character is much more prominent. She seems more formidable and inhuman. We find no trace of pity in her character and no consciousness of treachery and baseness of the murder of the old king. She did not shrink even from the world of condemnation or hatred. She is not utterly inhuman and it is difficult to accept Malcolm’s description of her as a “fiend like queen”. If she had been fiend like queen the sleep-walking scene would be impossible.
Grad and awful; not just detestable: - Dr. Johnson expressed the view that Lady Macbeth is merely detestable. She was a fiend like queen accorder to Malcolm’s word. Shakespeare meant that the predominant impression of this woman to be one of awe grandeur and horror. The sleep walking scene certainly inspires pity, but its min effect is one of awe. There is no trace of contrition in Lady Macbeth’s misery. Looking her tragic point, we may truly say that she was too great to repent.
Lady Macbeth’s fear and remorse: - We withes Lady Macbeth’s enduring the fate of the sinner in whom fear and remorse have already begun to effect the punishment for evil. This scene shows that Shakespeare was a student of the moral philosophy of his time. All the authors are concerned with the effect of fear and Lady Macbeth’s melancholy.
Her deep sense of guilt: - all these images of memory reveal fear and horror. Lady Macbeth is like her husband, the victim of fear. Finally this state of mind leads her to kill herself, but ever at this stage her images of memory revel her guilt to the doctor and the general woman who are watching her from a place of conc. Her ambition the cause of her crime. Lady Macbeth is pictured as sinning partly in that she has proved false to herself as a woman she is pictured as consciously unsexing herself.
Lady Macbeth is undoubtly the most fascinating female character of Shakespeare. In spite of all her crimes and machinations the readers cannot help pitying he ultimate suffering and premature death. In a word we can comment that lady Macbeth is a tragic heroine in this tragedy. The consequence of the lady Macbeth life very miserable and pathetic and painful.
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Mohammad Tazul Islam Sarker
Diploma in Human Rights
Mobile- 01911-264586/01717545492
Email-Tazul_taz@yahoo.com
Write a note on the tragic catastrophe of the life of Oedipus.
Sophocles is the greatest tragic maker and he is a dramatist of all ages and all literature. Sophocles’ Oedipus has surpassed all the tragic plays of all ages. The name of Sophocles is universally recognized through the play of Oedipus. Oedipus Rex is regarded by many as Sophocles’ masterpiece. In this play we see a great tragedy of hamartia.
The parents of Oedipus came to know from Delphic oracle that the son who is coming to this world will be the killer of his father and at the same time will marry his own mother. The news was a bolt from the blue for the parents of Oedipus. So for avoiding this catastrophe they had taken a cruel decision. When the child comes to the world, the child was handed over to the messenger to kill him.
Oedipus, the cursed son of Laius and Jocasta was brought up by the king of Corinth. Oedipus comes to knows that Polybus and Merope are his real parents. Now, Oedipus is a young man. He is very much respectful to his parents. One day a drunken man had said at a banquet that Oedipus was not the son of king Polybus. This remark had hurt Oedipus and he had reported it to his parents who dismissed it as a lie.
Without telling his parents, Oedipus went secretly to Delphi and asked the Oracle who his parents were. The Oracle, instead of answering this question, prophesied that Oedipus would murder his father and marry his mother who would bear children by him. This horrible prophecy had shocked Oedipus and he decided never to go back to his parents in Corinth.
Now, Oedipus was moving like a vagabond, he arrived at the spot where three roads met and where, without any provocation, he got involved in a fight with a few travelers. As a consequence Oedipus killed the king Laius, who is the real father of Oedipus.
The country of Thebes became kingless because the king is murdered by miscreant. The people of Thebes were very shocked losing the king. The queen named Jocasta became very shocked losing her husband. When Oedipus reached Thebes he guessed that the people of Thebes were unhappy because every day the Sphinx would kill hundred of people.
The people of Thebes announce that, if the man can be able to rescue us from the catastrophe of the Sphinx he will be the king and at the same time he will marry the queen. Oedipus was able to answer the Sphinx’s question. And he became the king and married the queen. Oedipus would not know queen Jocasta was his real mother. He married his own mother.
Now, Oedipus is the king who maintains the country of Thebes. Suddenly, the city of Thebes fell in ruin. Under his kingship, the city first rose from ruin and then to ruin fell again. The women of the city are giving birth to dead children; people are dying, in large numbers of the Plague. Actually, avoiding this catastrophe. Oedipus has sent Creon, his wife’s brother, to Delphi to find out from Apollo’s Oracle the reason for the sufferings of the Thebes people.
Teiresias has come, led by a boy. Oedipus says that Teiresias, only you can save the city from the plague. The Plague will never cease unless the murderer of Laius is discovered and punished with either death or banishment. Oedipus appeals to Teiresias to exercise his powers of divination and give him the name and identity of the murderer. Teiresias thereupon says that Oedipus himself is the man whose crimes pollute the city. Oedipus is shocked by the accusation and can never believe it.
Oedipus laments that Creon has become hostile to him and has entered into a shameful agreement with Teiresias. He says that he has come to know of Creon’s conspiracy against him. And he calls Creon a traitor. Oedipus and Creon quarrels each other when the city is afflicted by the Plague.
Having come to know the real identity of Oedipus, the queen Jocasta felt crazy with grief. She ran across the courtyard of the place tearing her hair with both her hands. She cried aloud upon the bed where she has given birth to a son with whom she had afterwards slept in the same bed as his wife. Jocasta takes the decision and she committed suicide.
Oedipus disengaged Jocasta’s dead body from the rope. He then snatched away the golden brooches from her dress and with their points struck his own eyes. Now, Oedipus laments that, why had the king of Corinth brought him up? Why did he ever go to the Spot where three roads met and where, with own hands, he had shed his father’s blood, which was his own blood. At last Oedipus went to banishment forever with his two daughters.
Finally, Oedipus is a famous tragic drama. It is undoubtedly a play about the desperate insecurity of the human condition. It has solved all the riddles. So, Oedipus is a kind of symbol of the human intelligence.
The character of Dido.
Dido, the Queen of Carthage is full-blooded woman. Dido fell in love with Aeneas. One day Dido and Aeneas undertook a hunting expedition. When they were caught in a storm. They sought shelter in a lonely cave. Dido there for the first time disclosed her passion for him and the passion was mutual. They were looked in s passionate embrace and swore that they would never part. For pity is the first decree to love. But this love did not fill them with joy. Now Aeneas want to Latius Dido was weeping and lamenting. She said, “I know, Aeneas, you have a glorious future. But without you, I have nothing else to look forward to”. She was determined to die. A huge funeral pyre was built and she climbed it with intrepidity. She touched his dress and then she picked up a huge sword and plunged it into her breast. Before her death she cursed Aeneas.
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Mohammad Tazul Islam Sarker
Diploma in Human Rights
Mobile- 01911-264586/01717545492
Email-Tazul_taz@yahoo.com
Epic: - An epic is a long narrative poem that tells in grand style the history and aspiration of a national hero. The term ‘epic’ comes from the Greek word ‘epos’, which means narrative poetry, celebrating heroic incidents or achievements. The epic actually belongs to the class of narrative poetry and deals with some acts of heroism or heroic personalities. The epic, in short, is a sort of long, narrative and heroic poetry. There are, however, two divisions in epic poetry- Primary epic and secondary epic. The former is also called the primitive and unwritten epic and the latter the literary and sophisticated epic. Iliad, Odyssey, Beowulf, Paradise lost, Ramayana, Mahabharata are famous examples of epic.
Elegy: - The term ‘elegy’ comes from the word ‘elegos,’ meaning a ‘mournful poem’. An elegy literarily means ‘a poem of mourning’ or ‘a song of lamentation.’ The elegy first originated in Greek literature. But both in Greek literature and in Latin, the term ‘elegy’ was at first applied to all poems, written in a particular metre, called the ‘elegiac.’ The subject of a elegy then might be various, such as matters personal, sentimental, serious and sad. But gradually, its scope became much limited and it has now come to mean only a song of lamentation for the dead. The elegy to day, as a literary form, is found to contain three elements. These three elements are reflectiveness, subjectivity and pensiveness and they characterize an elegy as a particular literary type. An elegy today generally signifies a reflective poem in which the poet muses on certain aspects of life and the world. Gray’s Elegy written in a coutry Churchyard and Arnold’s The Scholar Gipsy is famous examples of elegies.
Juliana: - Juliana is one of the signed poems of Cynewulf. It is based on a Latin original. In the reign of maximian, Juliana – the daughter of Africanus was wooed by Elensius, a Roman prophet. Refusing to marry him unless he becomes a Christian, she was severely persecuted by successive imprisonment. When she was beheaded, her soul was taken to heaven. The soul of Elensius later killed by shipwreck was dragged down to hell. It is however an immature work, a literal translation of the original. The character of the heroine is, however, improved. Cynewulf suppressed certain traits of the heroine’s character. The introduction of teutonic atmosphere is notable even in this crude work.
Sea Farer: - It is an old English poem of some hundred lines, discussing the miseries and the attractions of life at sea. It has been suggested that it represents a dialogue between an old seaman and a young man who wishes to follow the sea. The poem passes to a comparison between earthly pleasures and heavenly rewards.
This poem may be taken as a representative of Anglo-Saxon lyric poetry. Its main defect is its obscurity. It is imperfect in from. But it is striking for the somber and violent picture is given of Northern seas in which suffering from cold mingles with the pains of water and wind. Even though the end is blurred and lost among pious effusions, the opening lines are full of energy. The Sea Farer is the most original and beautiful Anglo-Saxon lyric poem. It has two parts. The second part is mostly obscured by the introduction of an allegory. This poem is modern in sentiment and it glorifies romance and adventure.
Q. Give an estimate of the central idea of The Aeneid
Virgil is the epic writer of Rome. He has written “The Aeneid” unlike Homer, Virgil is interested in the nation rather them the individuals. When Homer is painting the character of Achilles and Hector with glowing colours. Virgil is presenting before us a picture of Rome. In this epic we can see a great conflict between two countries Troy and Rome.
Aeneas is the heroic figure in this epic. He is the representative hero of Troy. When the city of Troy was burning and burning then Aeneas lifted the frail body of his father on his shoulder and took the boy by the hand. He feit his father and son in the safe ‘Sacred grove’ and tetrabed his steps. Now Aeneas wants to make the empire bigger and richer. Juno, who supports Rome. Juno could not forget that one Paris, the prince of Troy had given the golden apple to Venus and not to her. That insult was all the while tormenting her and she was seeking revenge although the golden city of Troy was completely burnt.
Aeneas and his companions is going to Italy, suddenly the ships of Aeneas were tossing and tumbling on the waves, which were lashed into fury. Aeneas realised that their days were numbered. He was worried more about his son, father and his faithful companions than about his own life.
After a rich fare, Aeneas and his companions went to bed. He was all the while thinking of his unknown and uncertain future. Venus suddenly appeared before him. Aeneas asked her; “Will you kindly tell me the name of the place?” Venus said in reply “This place is known as Carthage.” The people of Troy have set up An Empire here. The ruler, however is woman named Dido.
Dido, the Queen of Carthage is full-blooded woman. Who becomes a martyr to the cause of love? This was a psychological moment, Dido assured the Trojans of all possible help and hospitality. Suddenly the clouds were lifted. Aeneas stood here bright and resplendent. There was an exchange of looks between Aeneas and Dido and because of Venus intrigues the fell in love with each other.
Aeneas as the man of destiny was guided by “piety’ and therefore, the sacrifice of a loving woman were necessary. Dido fell in love with Aeneas. One day Dido and Aeneas undertook a hunting expedition. When they were caught in a storm. They sought shelter in a lonely cave. Dido there for the first time disclosed her passion for him and the passion was mutual. They were looked in s passionate embrace and swore that they would never part. For pity is the first decree to love. But this love did not fill them with joy.
Aeneas had forgotten his duties. But Zeus the King of the Olympians felt shocked at Aeneas. He sent his messenger Mercury to Aeneas to derive home to him his negligence of the divine mission. The scale dropped from Aeneas eyes. He must pack up and leave Carthage forever. Now Dido was weeping and lamenting. She said, “I know, Aeneas, you have a glorious future. But without you, I have nothing else to look forward to”.
Dido was determined to die. A huge funeral pyre was built and she climbed it with intrepidity. She touched his dress and then she picked up a huge sword and plunged it into her breast. Before her death she cursed Aeneas. Aeneas saw the fire from a distance and did not know what it was about. He could guess, but there was no coming back.
Aeneas had come to Latius with his people. Aeneas and Turns attacked each other. Turnus was shaking like an asp. He knew his doomsday. It was an easy victory for Aeneas. He healed his spear and it pierced the body of Turnus and he fell. Turnus in the throes of mortal agony, said, “Oh Aeneas, I am dying you marry Lavinia and do not hate me any more”. Turnus had died and the Aeneas establishes the Rome Empire.
Ultimately we can say that, Virgil is an ancient epic poet has the connection with antiquity and universality. He has written The Aeneid after the fall of Troy. Unlike Homer, Virgil wanted to build a nation through Aeneas and the success of Aeneas helps him to translate his dream into reality.
The Dream of the Rood.
“The Dream of the Rood” is a specimen of old English religious poetry. The author of this poem is unknown. Many scholars ascribe it to Cynewulf. The story of Caedmon may have inspired him to chose the vision from. The poem is undoubtedly the finest of old English religious poem, in its intensity of feeling, brilliance of conception and certainly of execution. It is the work of a real artist and a poet.
In “The Dream of the Rood”, by a strange fiction the story of the crucification is told by the Cross itself in a strain of adoration unmatched in Anglo-Saxon poetry. In his dream, the poet sees the miraculous tree, by turns shining in jewels and bathed in blood. It related to him the story of its life from the day when it was struck down on the verge of the forest, to that on which “the young Hero, brave and strong” was lifted on to it, trembled as it received the kiss of God –in –man. It is honoured now by men, their beacon-light and cure for all ills of life. Allegory has been used hare to admirable artistic purpose to bring out the full pathos of the crucification. The poem is all aglow with a deep religious piety and some of the verses attain lyrical heights.
It is one of the finest specimens of the English symbolic poetry of the earliest stage. The rood stands as the symbol of man’s sin and salvation. Here cross symbolizes cosmic suffering and personal redemption. It is a poem of 156 lines. “The Dream of the Rood” is the single dream poem in pre-conquest England. It relates how the poet has a dream of the holy rood, decked with bright and sparkling gems. This rood is well guarded by several angles and the dreamer feels nervous at first, for his consciousness of his own sin. But the colour of the tree changes and, to his utter surprise and shock, the rood becomes stained with blood. The rood then begins to the story of the crucification.
The Dream of the Rood is a poem of the Vercelli Book. It falls into three parts: the opening words of the dreamer (1-27), the words spoken by the Rood (028-121), and the words of the dreamer after the dream is over (122-156). The speaker begins with his dream, in which he saw the true cross and it spoke to him, telling him its history from the time when it was a tree growing in the woods to the time. The Rood goes on to urge the dreamer to promote its cult (95-121), here the practical point and purpose of the dream comes out. With the Rood’s speech the dream ends, though the dreamer walking is passed over. The dreamer now explains how his dream about the Rood has changed his life. He has devoted himself to the cult of the true cross and hopes to win a heavenly home thereby.
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Write a brief note on the Wanderer.
The poem The Wanderer is an excellent elegy. It is also preserved in the Exeter Book, a manuscript volume left with other books to his Church by Leofrie. Leofrie is the first bishop of Exeter, who died in 171. The volume is still in the Cathedral Library at Exeter. The author of this poem is unknown and the date of its composition is doubtful. It was probably written is the quarter of the 8th century.
This poem is a song of friendship. A young man has been obliged after the death of his patron lord to seek a new life beyond the seas. His thoughts on his exile are sad. But he consoles himself with the thought that this is the universal lot of man and his suffering is but a part of the general order of the Society.
The wanderer is one of the earliest Anglo-Saxon elegies. It is a poem of 115 lines. It is less popular and admired than The Seafarer or The Ruin. As example of the earliest Anglo- Saxon elegy, it has no significant position in the history of Anglo-Saxon literature. The subject matter of this elegy is the lamentation of a young man for his dead master. The wanderer travels in a ship alone and friendless, seeking a home for peace and protection. His fervent love for his dead lord leads him to dream in sleep of his union with him. He seems to go back to the days when his lord was alive to bestow honour and gifts on him in the great mead-hell. He dreams to place once again his head and hands on his lord’s knee to pledge his loyalty to him as in days gone. But, to his utter astonishment and despair, the Wanderer wakes up on a cold and lonely sea and finds himself still haunted with the Pangs of his separation from his kind lord. He looks before and after and hears no word of greeting or love to quieten or gladden his heart. The poem, however, concludes with a stoical consolation drawn from the vicissitudes of human life and the all around destruction that has inevitably overtaken the world.
Widsith, Deor’s Lament and The Wanderer have something in common between them. In each poem a poet is the speaker. As in Deor’s Lament, in The Wanderer, the poet laments his misfortune. Once the poet enjoyed a life of prosperity and happiness. But at the death of his retainer, he was thrust out into the unfriendly world. Alone and friendless, he was a Wanderer, seeking an asylum, which could offer him protection and security. In sleep he had visions of the glorious days which were no more. As he woke up with a start, his heart sank when he saw the billowing waves and the dismal snow. He began to meditate on the vicissitudes of fortune. Like Deor’s Lament, he had no consolation, nor had he anything to fall back upon. He looked all around and found castles in ruins. He realized the futility of man’s existence. A true Pagan poet, he began to reflect upon inexorable Fate.
The poet has no other alternative but to seek another patron beyond the seas. Henceforth, he would have to live a life of exile, for from his near and dear ones. The deep melancholy is relieved by the glimmering consciousness that suffering is the universal lot: “Doom of weirds is changing the world below the skies.”
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