Helen Gardner

specific forms of lust and pride, but continued to struggle with sin throughout his life (White 62). Thus, it is agreed by many that much of Donne’s life was consumed with Christianity. Other critics have argued Donne’s religious faith based on the quality of his writing after his conversion to the Anglican church. Austin Warren describes Donne as student of the Bible, and comments on the literary merits of his later sermons. “…he was a great preacher: I venture to think a greater preacher than poet, able to express in that medium…a range and depth which the poems rarely reach" (276). Helen Gardner elaborates by commenting on Donne’s capitalization of the literal sense of scripture. Gardner writes that Donne’s understanding of scripture should have an impact on how we read his poetry (Gardner 51). However, in modern critical evaluations the true subject of the poems is avoided and the focus is on style. Gardner argues that Donne’s poetry shows a profound connection to God but “…we concentrate upon the imagination’s power to perceive analogies and neglect its primary power to apprehend and express what touches the mind and heart” (52). Thus, Gardener and other critics believe that Donne’s religious works describe his sincere belief in the church. They argue that faith was central to his life because of the level of commitment he devoted to his religious works. In counterpoint, some critics argue that Donne never believed in the church as much as his work suggests. Sidney…

Andrew Marvell and Description of Garden of Earthy Delights in his Poems Andrew Marvell is a British poet who lived in 17th century. His poems cover a wide variety of themes: from the love to politics and nature’s role in people’s lives. Marvell often used exalted topics/ However, he chooses different approaches compared to other famous poets like William Wordsworth who was born and worked hundred years after Marvell’s death. The last author often covered metaphysical motifs like his experience…

After helping Paris in his single combat with Menelaus, Aphrodite disguises herself as an old woman when approaching Helen. Homer’s contrast in word play when painting Aphrodites’ physical attributes portrays her to be creative in asserting power. The phrases “a withered hand” and “an old woman” and later on “beautiful neck,” “irresistible line of her breasts,” and “iridescent eyes” contradict each other (3, 412-413, 423-325). The beginning suggests that Aphrodite donned the disguise of an old…

city of Troy. This battle was ignited by the sudden abduction of Queen Helen of Sparta by Prince Paris of Troy. Helen and Paris were star-crossed lovers, in which, nobody could separate them. You could compare them to the tragic story of Romeo and Juliet, where the Montagues and Capulets fought, again, sparked by the love of two young lovers. Back in mythological times, Zeus, the father of the gods and god of the sky and thunder, held a celebration after the recent marriage of Peleus and…

Within Euripides Iphigenia at Aulis, and Seneca’s Medea, a variety of atrocious acts take place, sparing no violence and certainly no mercy. Although Seneca and Euripides hail from much different time periods, many parallels can be drawn between the atrocious acts depicted within their works. While the scenarios that lead up to the atrocious acts that take place within Medea and Iphigenia at Aulis differ, many similarities can be found between both antagonists. In addition to the similarities,…

One of the greatest battles in history, the Trojan War, started in the 12th century. There was a wedding for Pelus and Thetis, the Trojan prince Paris, son of King Priam of Troy, obtains a golden apple from the goddess Eris. It is up to Paris to decide which of the three goddesses is the most beautiful, which will be given the golden apple. Hera, wife and sister of Zeus, offers power. Athena, goddess of wisdom and warfare, offers success in battle. Aphrodite, goddess of love, offers the most…

beginning of the epic, the King is seen as selfish and can even Pamela Witkowski Dr. Asma Sayed COMP 102 (AS05) 6 October 2014 Roles of Women in The Iliad and Gilgamesh Gilgamesh is the epic about a powerful King named Gilgamesh who searches for immortality after his best friend, Enkidu, is killed. At the beginning of the epic, the King is seen as selfish and can even be considered a cruel authoritarian leader; his people are not happy with him in power. The journey he forgoes is to look for…

The role of the gods is very simple; it is to control the mortals. A human’s life is determined the gods. Therefore, the mortals lose their free will. The epic depicts a world ruled by unpredictable gods. The gods provide no consistent moral code, they follow their own rules while the mortals follow the gods, which can sometimes led to tragedy. In the Iliad, we can the gods drive the plot with their interactions and by changing the fate of the characters. The human however do practice free will.…

Messengers are always conveying the messages, never making the originals. It is a humbling position. We know that Hermes is the messenger of the gods and that he is a man. However, in the Iliad, all the messages are conveyed by Iris, a woman. "Away, Iris! / Quick as you can to the grand sea lord Poseidon. / Go, give him my message, start to finish-- / and see that every word of it rings exactly so" (15.198-192). This quote shows the typical attitude towards women in the Iliad. Zeus is giving…

this Hector” (XXII, 260-1) together. Achilles obeys her plan to execute Hector without question. Athena is able to instill courage in the Achaeans, and use her combat abilities to fight in the war, all while maintaining respect from the gods and mortals. Athena’s actions during the war paint a strong androgynous type of women. Aphrodite is the polar opposite of Athena; she represents an overly emotional woman who acts on impulse rather than wisdom. Aphrodite is seen as the cause for the Trojan…