To Penshurst

Is Penshurst really beautiful? "Thou art not," "built to envious show" is saying that it was not built to show off. It also says that "nor boast a row of polished pillars, or a roof of gold". So is it beautiful? He is saying that it doesn't have polished pillars or a gold roof, right? I am confused by the lines 5 and 6. It says that it stands on an ancient building "and, these grudged at, art reverenced the while." grudged is to have an ill resentment towards something and reverenced is to have deep respect for something. How can their be both?

I do think that line 7 is saying that if you go for the natural characteristics of the place that it would be "fair" of you to go. Many people go there to walk and play sports. The place is described very beautifully, although i still get the feeling that the author doesn't like the place. It seems to me that he has a "grudge" for it, it's a little too perfect. The fish that jump in your hands and all the people are welcolm? Too perfect for me! He shows some sarcasm around line 82 when he says "what (great i will not say, but) sudden cheer" showing some negative feelings. Then he goes to say what he finds a wonder at the palace, the fact that the king's children are his (obviously it's common for them not to be), his lady is beautiful and that he raised his children the right way. They will be well rounded children and have good moral behavior. I like the last few lines

"when they see Those proud, ambitious heaps, and nothing else, may say, their lords have built, but thy lords dwells", I think this is saying that if you pass down your knowledge and it will show in your children, even later one, the lord will still dwell because he is reflected in the way the children are.

Friendship's Mystery

<--- Katherine Philips as "Orinda"

This is a poem written to Katherine's friend Anne Owen. The first thing I wonder is who is she speaking of when she says "To the dull angry world let's prove there's a religion in our love."? Is she speaking of the women and men; or is she speaking of her and Anne? Maybe she is speaking of a friendship love between her and her friend? She seems to be telling of their mutual feelings and situations. That they, as women, were "designed t' agree". Their "election is as free as angels"? She must be speaking of electing friendships, since women couldn't elect anyone or even make decisions then. Even as they "diffuse and both engross" they still remain together at heart. I think she says that they are alone all the time and they date their "captivity", but that it's not confinement or restricted but that they are there for looks, they are there for an "ormament" on their men's arms. That if they feed the friendship it will never die. Their hearts are both the same, they both have been hurt and share their pain, but they give love to each other to keep theirselves going on.

A Married State

This is a very interesting poem. I have never viewed marriage as a bad thing, still really don't but I do understand what Philips is saying. She is saying to keep your focus on your spiritual or religous beliefs you must keep your virginity and stay away from the wild ways of marraige. If you son't marry, you won't have to worry about cranky husbands or crying children. You will only have to worry about your prayers. My favorite line is "Supress wild nature is she dare rebel."

Twelfth Night

One thing that I find interesting is that Malvio is normal and isn't under the influence of love until he recieves the letter from "Olivia" reveiling her love for him. When he gets a glimpse of "Olivia"'s love he does whatever it takes to get her, including the foolish things the letter says. He ends up being locked up in a dark room and forgotten about. I think that this is showing how love can drive you crazy, it can make you go mad!

And also the fact that Orsino still called Viola by her male name, Cesario, even after she revieled herself as a woman! Obviously he wasn't straightout gay, but did he have a fetish for males?

Twelfth Night

The twelfth night is one of the most original stories that we have read so far. The love triangle in this is almost like a soap opera. This is also another story that shows how women were treated at one point. A woman could not get a labor job, so Viola disquised as a man went to work for Olivia, who later falls in love with Cesario (Viola as a man). Although Viola has her sights set on Orsino from the start. I think that Viola knew that Orsino had money, since he was the duke of Illyria and all. So she begins asking questions about Orsino and Olivia before she sets off to Olivia's place in search of a job. Why would you like a man you have never seen before? There is only one thing, if you are interested in something they have. This total chaotic love triangle is showing how these people are fools for love. The only person who isn't a fool when it comes to love ironically is the fool, Feste!

Utopia Book 1

First off Utopia means U-no & Topia- place; So this is No where, this place is not real. It is something this man has made up. But why would you make this up, form an entire story about this imagined society?

My Galley

A Galley is a ship or boat usually propelled by oars. We have discussed that the ocean is usally portraited as someone's life. Well this journey the galley is on, must the the author's life journey. Through the rocks, tough times, and over sharp waves, getting over the obsticles in lifes path. But The "Lord" has steered his path, according to him, and he seems upset at the way it has turned out. He even seems to be accusing the "Lord" to be "mine enemy". "endless wind doth tear the sail apace" He is the ship, so the wind, life, is tearing him apart. He uses human emotions in speaking of the conditions at sea, letting us know that he is talking about himself, the "rain of tears, a cloud of dark disdain". He is torn with "error and eke with ignorance", he made bad choices and lead him to bad situations, and he has abandoned all "reason" that maybe he should join. He ends the poem being mad at the world "despairing of the port".