1st Semester English IV (Finals) PDF

Mary shelley -​ Mother and father both radical intellectuals of late 18th century -​ Met and married percy bysshe shelley, romantic poet. They ran away at 16, he was 21 -​ Part of group of writers (poets) who would form the basis of romantic literary movement in england Shelleys fa...

Mary shelley -​ Mother and father both radical intellectuals of late 18th century -​ Met and married percy bysshe shelley, romantic poet. They ran away at 16, he was 21 -​ Part of group of writers (poets) who would form the basis of romantic literary movement in england Shelleys family -​ Mom is feminist argues for equal rights of women -​ Father was political philosopher who was one of the first to support anarchy -​ Mom died shortly after birth , so she was raised by dad and exposed to political ideas Formative years -​ Spent a lot of time at moms grave, reading her moms work -​ Mary kept visiting especially after father married mary jane who mary hated Loss of mother figure -​ Use books to replace mother figure -​ Studied mom and dads works -​ Source of identity from reading and writing Composition of frankenstein -​ In 1816, mary and percy went to switzerland with Lord byron at lake geneva -​ Byron wanted each to write their own ghost story -​ Shelley couldn't get any ideas until she had a nightmare about frankenstein -​ Percy encouraged her to write it, first short story, then a full novel -​ Many consider to be first modern horror story Evolution of science -​ Novel is significant because it has modern science -​ Although the book is old, the scientific concepts are relatively new -​ For many years, churches made it illegal to cut into bodies -​ Novel speaks to the beginning of humans seeking answers about the nature of life and death Victor frankenstein hero or villain -​ He presents us with a difficult assessment of his nature in the novel -​ Deeply flawed whose pride/arrogance lead him to difficult predicament -​ 1816-1821 victor was daring pioneer. Seeks to extend bounds of science. Represents dangers of science and potential to understand life Nature vs nurture -​ Primary points of is question of who are we and how do we get that way -​ Victor wants to see the creature as an abomination -​ The creature lays the fault for his nature at victors feet, saying he is evil because victor abandoned him Literary devices -​ Frankenstein is an epistolary novel, told through letters. All of the novel is letters from Robert walton to his sister -​ Similar to invisible man, a framed story. Walton's letters provide outer frame for the story, while frankenstein's relation of his story to walton provide the inner part, the picture Prometheus -​ The book is subtitled “The modern Prometheus” The romantics -​ Romanticism was a response to the Enlightenment -​ Enlightenment celebrated logic and reason. It followed the renaissance which was more about love and passion -​ Enlightenment writers questioned logic, saw value in set patterns in literature created by Greeks and Romans. Enlightenment writers tend to be stiff and stodgy. Creator of man -​ In greek mythology, Zeus gave prometheus responsibility to make mankind, so he molded them out of clay -​ But he felt responsible for them and gave men fire, making zeus mad -​ Zeus punished prometheus by chaining him to a rock and letting vultures eat his liver. Liver regenerates every day so vultures can keep coming back Prometheus and romantics -​ Romantics saw prometheus as important. Like the romantics, he sought to bring light to the world -​ Also romantics and him both suffered for this endeavor. Romantics saw themselves as misunderstood/punished for bringing new understanding to humanity -​ Readers are asked to judge the value of the creation in relation to the perils that follow  -​ Romanticism stressed value of imagination -​ They would go for long walks, connecting nature to imagination -​ Romantics sought to express connections between nature and humanity to reveal truths about existence So? -​ Frankenstein as a novel is in the middle of both. In 1814, the enlightenment is just fading out giving away to romanticism -​ Basic question of the novel: how is it part of each movement, is it a romantic argument against enlightenment or a transitional piece of literature? Paradise lost -​ The creature keeps making references to miltons paradise lost 1.​ “Did i request thee, maker, from my clay to mold me man, did i solicit thee from darkness to promote me?” -​ Here we see adam questioning god. He says he did not ask to be made, so how can god punish him for not living up to his expectations Science and god -​ In 18th century, people began to question if the purpose of science is to replace god -​ Science was intruding place that only god should go -​ Victor creates life, playing god -​ In some ways, it seems to be victors goal, he reflects many of the concerns of political and social philosophers of the time Products of science -​ Scientists have sometimes regretted the discoveries they made -​ Most notably oppenheimer: “Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds” -​ Victor exemplifies this, but the creature asks a valid question: “what is the creature to do when the creator is horrified by what he has created?” Creature as adam -​ In his first conversation with victor, he says he is adam and victor is god -​ In paradise lost, adam questions god, asking how god can hold him responsible for something he didnt ask (existance) -​ The creature feels the same, how can victor call him evil when victor didnt take responsibility for his creation Creature as a logical being -​ Shelley gives the creature a rational, reasoning mind -​ Everything that the creature has against victor is based on logic -​ He thinks that victors work is not based on logic, but instead passion and pride -​ Hence, victor is more like satan in paradise lost than he is like god Creatures action -​ The primary accusation from the creature is that the creator bears responsibility for the created. If the created becomes evil then the creator is at fault (either in the creation or nurturing of the creation) -​ The creature asks for a mate, arguing that all forms of life have another one of themselves to bond with -​ The creature understands the consequences of what he requests from victor -​ The creature threatens eye for an eye consequences if victor doesnt hold up his end Who is the character with rational thought? -​ At first, victor would appear to be the representative of 18th century Enlightenment thought, scientific revolution -​ The creature is more reasonable than the 2, offering better representation of the enlightenment than victor -​ Victor is governed by his passions, and he seems completely illogical in his action Dont give the creature too much credit -​ He commits violent, brutal acts, murdering william and 2 others, none of them have done anything to him -​ Victor has no reason to believe the creature will live up to his end of the bargain -​ The creature, in promethean metaphor, represents humanity. He possesses both reason and savagery Endurance of the novel -​ Frankenstein was written by an amateur writer who wrote nothing else -​ But her tale is one of the most enduring stories. Few other stories that are infused so much into cultural consciousness -​ One of the reasons for this is the persistent fear we as human being have of the unpredictable nature of science Modern science in 19th century -​ Belief thathumanity was on the precipice of processing nature, that we could use it to better our lives 1.​ Machiavelli: science would conquer chance 2.​ Bacon: science would relieve mans estate -​ Political science would create space for human freedom 1.​ Humans pursue their own lives 2.​ Create obstacles to tyranny and superstition Thomas hobbes -​ Father of political philosophy -​ Saw the natural condition of humanity as being violent, insecure, and threatened -​ Argued that man is not to be governed, the alternative is abhorrent, so we must be governed -​ He argues that the only natural authority in the human world is mother over child John locke -​ Father of liberalism -​ Many ideas of governance were adopted into constitution -​ Him and francis bacon supported theory of social contract between government and governed -​ Stressed both idea of classical liberalism (liberty) and social liberalism (equality) -​ His philosophy disputed concept of divine right of kings Jean jacques rousseau -​ Modern societies make man miserable -​ Man is divided between member of society and striving for individuality -​ Divided against ourselves, making us miserable Problem of tyranny -​ By 1814, tyranny was solved, only on a political level -​ Still had personal tyrannies, people who lived selfishly -​ Scientists are tyrants, controlling nature and humanity Victor frankenstein -​ Victor is firm in his belief that he can control nature, relieving mans estate -​ Divided amongst himself, seeking to serve humanity. Strive for glory, individual achievement -​ He is a selfish tyrant, dismissive of those around him, unaware of consequences Time of liberty -​ In 1814, america has espoused from the liberty and equality of man -​ France has had open rebellion ending in the execution of a tyrant -​ England moves more and more power away from the monarchy into the parlament -​ Personal liberty has become tangible, people feel free in ways ancestor havent -​ But this freedom gives space for tyrants to blossom Victor as a miserable tyrant -​ At the beginning of the novel, victor is spoiled, indulged, wealthy, self-interested -​ Victor thinks elizabeth as his prize and possession, rightfully his to own -​ He thinks of science the same way, doing what he wants with his knowledge -​ Yet he is always miserable, nothing could please him Product of his time’ -​ Modern political theory says we should build government from scratch -​ Thomas hobbes and john locke wanted to take down the former government for the new age, seeing a new relationship between man and society -​ Burn the system to the ground and create a new -​ Victor sees science the same way: why find fixes? Simply start from the ground up, build humanity in a more perfect way, play God Victor = the enlightenment -​ Enlightenment philosophers thought science revealed the mind of God -​ Victor skips to the middle step and attempts to be the mind of god -​ Enlightenment philosophers also believed science and logic would save us from our own savagery -​ Victor, through his logic, create savagery -​ Shelley uses victor to represent enlightenment philosophy to its repugnant end Justice -​ Justine is aptly named because shes the first victim of antiquated justice, guilt until proven innocent -​ Delaceys suffer the same fate, unable to find fair treatment under the law -​ Victor is falsely accused of murder -​ The creature is judged by victor Rule over others -​ The creature is primitive and savage  -​ Historical context: european powers shifted from colonialism from white colonies to brown colonies -​ Wars of independence in south america -​ Even democracy, or the pursuit of it, should be savage: french revolution John Donne and metaphysical poetry -​ John donne: priest and poet, poems are reactions against renaissance poets. Member of parliament and master of metaphysical conceit -​ Metaphysical poetry: uses comparisons known as metaphysical conceits. Wit, comparisons, and simple verse forms. Avoided images of nature and mythological allusions -​ A conceit draws a comparison between 2 dissimilar things, conceptual similies or metaphors. They have a tenuous relationship, hard to see -​ “A comparison whose ingenuity is more striking than its justness Examples of metaphysical conceits -​ George hebert compared god to a bottle that can hold infinite tears from the speaker -​ Donne compares love and marriage to a flea which bites 2 lovers, containing both their bloods mixed together -​ Philip sydney takes the idea of having a lovers heart and building on it, literally Holy sonnet X -​ CDDCAA rhyme scheme -​ Iambic pentameter -​ Last 2 lines dont rhyme to symbolize stress Death -​ Poems wit comes from how it belittled death -​ Line 1-2 are an example of apostrophe, where the speaker addresses death directly -​ Line 3-4 is condescending addressing “poor death” -​ Line 5-6 he calls sleep pictures of death lessening deaths power -​ Line 7-8 point out the practicality of death, helps lead people out of his life -​ Line 12, he asks why death swells with pride when he has nothing to be proud of -​ Line 9-10 point out deaths independence on other things making it less powerful The speaker -​ Think of the speaker as a little kid facing a bully -​ Under Armed and unintimidated , calls death names and makes fun of his inability to act alone Neoclassicism -​ Literary movement that drew inspiration from the ancient greek classical poets and dramaist -​ 17th - 18th century -​ Reaction against the freedom of the renaissance, seeking a more structure from in poetry A valediction forbidding mourning -​ Donne Wrote when his wife left him -​ Poem celebrated and criticized by critics as a prime example of the use of conceits and excess of metaphysical poetry Opening of the poem -​ Love poem, stanzas are misleading -​ First 2 quatrains discuss death of virtuous men -​ Figurative comparison, saying great men die quietly, their separation should be similar -​ Should be no tears because everyone would know their grief at parting Our love is different -​ Donne stresses that their love is different from that of everyone else -​ Sub-lunary: governed by the moon and passion -​ Only sub-lunary lovers miss the physical parts of each other when they are separated Love is like god -​ His next conceit is the comparison between beaten gold and their love -​ Gold is hammered, gets thing and spreads -​ Spreading: reference to the distance between them -​ Thinness: reference to their love being atmospheric and aery thinness Central conceit -​ Main conceit of the poem is the compass -​ She is the fixed root bc she stays at home -​ Donne says the foot seems not to move, it really does -​ When the other point orbits, the fixed point leans and hearkens after it and grows when the other point returns The wandering foot -​ Planted foot makes circle made by the compass. The firmne makes his life study ad reliable -​ Her reliability always brings him back home, “makes me end where i begun” John milton -​ Poet scholar and civil servant -​ Spoke out for free speech and freedom of press -​ A republican -​ Considered to be greatest writer of english literature behind shakespeare Milton and puritanism -​ Milton was also one of the first puritan writers -​ Milton wrote in a time when puritanism and puritans flourished -​ Coupled with age of enlightenment, followed Renaissance, when reason and classical form were heralded as guiding forces in art -​ Milton combined reason and puritan morality in his work Growth of puritanism -​ Puritan leaders discovered the way to cease the religious persecution: through economic success -​ Puritan men became a larger and larger part of the growing merchant class which was thriving because of colonial expansion -​ Most of middle class in england was puritan -​ That lead to social and political acceptance Political power: -​ As their financial influence grew, puritan leaders began to seek out political influence as well -​ Puritan leaders won many seats in the house of commons, swaying political agendas -​ Wanted to apply their own thrift and frugality to the economics of country and crown, frowning on the waste of money on the king The english civil war -​ James I: king after elizabeth I death -​ Parliament asked james to become king -​ He inherited a country deeply in debt The spanish match -​ England distrustful of catholicism, especially spain -​ Catholic proposed james son charles and daughter of king of spain Repercussions -​ Proposed marriage was unpopular because the prospect of a catholic queen -​ James was begun to be suspected of harboring catholic sympathizers, his son charles becoming extremely unpopular -​ Marriage went through, adding to ineffectiveness of james’ rule -​ Laws were passed to restrict catholics freedom Charles I -​ Widely unpopular, seen as extravagant and wasteful -​ Suspected of catholic sympathies -​ Last british monarch to be executed -​ Had long contentious relationship with parliament -​ Dissolved parliament many times because they didnt agree with him, particularly with money -​ Puritans held distrust in charles English civil war -​ Royalist on charles side VS republicans led by oliver cromwell -​ Cromwell created new model army, kill squad, very loyal -​ War lasted 9 years, charles was defeated The truce -​ Cromwell and the piuritans expected charles to create a more republican government -​ Charles feared leaving a weak throne for the future english monarchs -​ Charles remained n house arrest while cromwell pressured him to no avail Divine right of kings -​ New doctrine in 17th century -​ Theory says Kings are appointed by god to rule their people -​ For charles and louis XIV of france, it gave them permission to spend money on random stuff while people starved The interregnum -​ After charles was executed, english protectorate was formed, and oliver cromwell was appointed basically a dictator -​ Charles son fled to france -​ Cromwell died and his son Richard succeeded him -​ Richard was ineffective and charles son was asked to return to the throne Paradise lost -​ Milton wrote paradise lost as an allegory and metaphor about the english civil war -​ Originally supported republic, but it proved to be corrupt so he stopped -​ Eventually believed that monarchy was the true state of english people Milton about political power -​ Milton is equating the divine right of kings with god, saying that dictorial power held by a king is the same as god being a dictator -​ Sees democracy and republicanism as not humanitys natural state, because it leads to corruption created by men. Corruption by a king cant be corruption because god made him king Paradise lost -​ Epic poem divided into 12 books, 1000 lines each -​ Epic hero is satan -​ Not a satanist, but telling why evil exists -​ Satan is smart cunning eloquent and persasive -​ If he made satan a stupid and silly, then there wouldnt be much resistance from humans Miltons purpose -​ To soar above the aonian mount, exceed greeks and take his place among the great poets -​ To justify ways of God to men, explaining why evil exists Appreciation for milton -​ Knowledgeable of greek and roman text, makes various allusions to the bible -​ Epic poems, especially in 17th century, are not easy to write Beginning of protestant literature -​ Milton is first great protestant writer in england -​ Protestantism started in england during renaissance, but renaissance writers did not focus on religion -​ Enlightenment was opportunity for religious writers Epic hero qualities -​ Satans speeches reflect herois virtues of past heros: achilles, agamemnon, odysseus -​ He displays courage, eloquence and strong leadership skills  -​ Able to lead angels to rebel and exile to hell Secular perspective -​ Satan convinced angels to rebel against god, someone whose power is underestimated -​ They have been beaten badly -​ Cast into hell, prison built especially for them 2nd speech, origin of evil -​ Explains why satan rebelled -​ Rebelled out of jealousy out of feeling cheated out of nepotism -​ Satan is meant to seem petty here, milton detracts from heroic nature of satans speeches Better to reign in hell then serve in heaven -​ Satans perspective ^ -​ Puts interesting perspective of puritanism -​ Same attitude for puritans in america, leaving england for america. Unwilling to serve in england than to reign in the wilderness Structure of/in hell -​ Hell takes on social structure -​ Mammon becomes builder: gold miner and creates structures for pride -​ Mulciber Is the architect -​ Pandemonium becomes the capitol Hell as a paradox -​ Coals of hell burn but arent consumed -​ Fire in hell doesnt put out light, it put out darknes -​ No hope can reside in hell, even though satan and his followers find hope -​ Milton does this to show God can do things outside of the human realm Puritans -​ By the time milton wrote paradise lost, puritans no longer have to hide and flee -​ Because of a strong work ethic, puritans became most powerful part of middle class, controlling trade commerce and banking -​ Eventually took over parliament Allegory -​ Paradise lost is long allegory -​ Gods army = charles II and royalists -​ Satan's army = oliver cromwell and roundheads/rebels -​ Milton once supported cromwell, but stopped -​ Poem represents disenchantment of cromwell's rule Satan = cromwell -​ Milton makes satan interesting, compelling, and dynamic because Cromwell was like that -​ Milton says Satan and cromwell both tempt by using evil -​ Milton casts himself in the role of eve in this allegory -​ Maybe saying all politicians are the devil In medeas rest -​ Milton opens poem in the middle opf the action -​ Rest of the poem goes to tell the story of creation in detail inspired by Book of genesis -​ Fills holes in story of creation (book of genesis) and christian bible as a whole Felix culpa -​ One point of story is to explain “The fall”, original sin of adam and eve -​ Milton presents the fortunate fall, felix culpa -​ Theory says the fall of man comes with good -​ Good that comes out of the Fall couldnt be achieved without the Fall Necessity of evil -​ Felix culpa depends on the concept of needing bad to have good -​ Poem argues that in order to show good in humanity, God had to add evil -​ Heroic actions of police busting a robbery couldnt have happened if nobody was bring robbed -​ It is our decision to sin or not on a daily basis bring out divine in us, god created sin and evil to bring out good in us Sumary -​ Poem is truly in english language, greatest epic poem in english -​ Miltons reputation relied on this poem. His other works dont reach this VOLTAIRE AND THE FRENCH ENLIGHTMENT -​ Francois marie arouet (voltaire): writer with over 2000 books and pamphlets, advocate of freedom of religion and expression, advisor to 3 european monarchs Voltaire and religion -​ Voltaire didnt believe in one religion -​ Believed in universal law, reflected through natural world, physical laws, and moral laws of many religions -​ Supported religious tolerance Humanism -​ Voltaire saw the philosophy of humanism, developed by erasmus, as the next stage of human civilization -​ It highlighted value of human being over religious factors -​ As a product of the enlightenment, placed reason and logic over faith -​ Through secular nature, many like voltaire practiced a type of religious humanism Candide -​ Published in 1759, shows many enlightenment principles -​ Bildungsroman, picaresque in nature -​ Picaresque: style of novel that revolved around travels of a young hero Pangloss -​ Pangloss is based on philosophies of Gottfried von leibnitz -​ Didnt develop a metaphysical philosophy based around the idea of “the best of all possible worlds” Tenets of leibnitz proficy -​ There mnuyst be sufficient reason for anything to exist, only god knows the reason -​ 2 things cannot share the same exact qualities -​ Natural things change gradually -​ God always choose the best Lisbon earthquake -​ Actual event that kills 60k -​ Inspired voltaires initial anger with philosophical/religious optimism -​ Seen as punishment and for the best -​ Voltaire found this offensive and said for the best meant it didnt even exist Jacques the antibaptist  -​ Jacques is a rational man -​ We see the philosophy of truth being revealewd through actions instead of through doctrine or title -​ In jacques, common sense is given weight over optimism and religious hypocracy -​ His death is significant to all this Goal of enlightenment -​ Create a better society through reason 1.​ React to what is readily observable, like suffering 2.​ Use science to lessen or eliminate the suffering 3.​ Use science to understand why things occur and to avoid future devastation 4.​ Admit suffering is bad and try to respond with compassion rather than saying its the best of all worlds. Satire -​ Candide is satire, foremost weapon of enlightenment writers -​ Attempts to highlight european institutions that don't make sense or work, ones that are not reasonable and fair -​ He puts the argument of what the world would be like if it was based on reason Voltaire isnt a philosopher -​ Argued that he isnt a philosopher, but combines existing ones -​ Rene descartes: doubt is in every belief, certainty is never justified -​ Empiricism of john locke: experience and evidence is more important than faith and belief Voltaire and religion -​ Problem with organized religion, both catholicism and protestantism -​ Was not atheist because he felt it was more dangerous -​ He was a deist Deism -​ Believes in god/supreme being but denies revealed religion, based on nature and reason -​ Deist defines god or religion as being revealed through close observation of nature and humanities rational capacity -​ The existence of a deity can be observed through rational, empirical means The clockmaker -​ Deists see god as a clockmaker -​ God made universe like a clock -​ Makes clock with detail then sells it instead of standing around watching it -​ Clock needs brief attention of rewinding, but not constant supervision Connection to agnosticism -​ Deists, like agnostics, believe that the existence of god is beyond the scope of human understanding -​ Science explains the world, but nothing explains gods will -​ Pointless for people to explain gods will, outside of human knowledge -​ All attempts to understand it will result in misery. In Candide, philosophers and priests are unhappy. Isnt this a contradiction -​ Deists believes that natural world can reveal the existence of God but not the will of god -​ Scientific thinking and principles of enlightenment can be used to improve life in this world. -​ Dervishs parable in the novel concerning rats on the ship: metaphor for deistic belief. Voltaire is a bigot -​ Anti-semite, jewish belief of the chosen people goes against his beliefs -​ Sees catholicism as encouraging superstition at the expense of scientific method -​ Despises protestants for their adherence to puritans, sees at odds with freedoms Martin -​ Martin may be the most rational -​ This doesnt mean he has no flaws -​ Thinks god abandoned humanity -​ His pessimism equally clouds his judgement as pangloss optimism clouds his Martins philosophy -​ If god is good, devil is in control of the universe -​ Candide says the boats sinking = gods punishment for evil -​ Martin agrees but asks about innocents who were also punished. Devil drowned the rest The garden motif -​ Number 3 is symbolic- holy trinity -​ 3 scenes where the garden divides the novel 1.​ Barons garden at the beginning 2.​ El dorado 3.​ The ending Barons garden -​ Garden is edenic (perfect) -​ Candide gains knowledge of the world through pangloss -​ Here, candide falls in love with cunegonde -​ Candide feels that his life in the barons garden is perfect, then hes kicked out El dorado -​ Perfection, but more of the Enlightenment idea of perfection -​ Science philosophy reign supreme in el dorado -​ No class or division between people -​ Problems of class and religion and social structure do not plague el dorado, which is why candide leaves Final garden -​ In the end, perfection must be created by the individual -​ Candide and the others come to make their own Eden -​ Equality of misery: there is equality for all, no matter how lowly, because we all appreciate others suffering -​ Candide sees pointlessness of pangloss prophecy and understands that he must “cultivate our own garden” Voltaires middle ground -​ Through martin, voltaire shows us that no philosophy, can explain all of the foibles in human existence -​ Voltaire is skeptical of any philosophy that explains our purpose -​ Each person needs to define their purpose and place themselves