Hello all
Sorry not to be with you today.
Lesson
aim: understand and explain how context contributes to interpretations
Where are your question titles? Thanks MJ
for yours... Santa will be kind to you. Please post them on the blog this
lesson.
They should use a statement from your anthology, which you can re-work a little. Look back at the questions based around Marx for some clues...
This
lesson: research the context of the poem and write
a paragraph explaining it. Post this on the blog this lesson so I can see how
much you've achieved. If you do not do this, you will get a C3. May seem a bit
brutal, but I have no evidence that you did the task I told you to do last
lesson...
Tips: look at ‘O my America’, Mohamed’s
paradise, religion, Atlanta’s balls and imputed grace.
How does the understanding the context
contribute to meaning in the poem?
This should then (by 2pm):
- · Be precise and clear in your point.
- · Include a quotation to analyse
- · Have a developed link to context
- · Link to feminist interpretation
If you find yourself at a loose-end, start to read Jane Eyre.
Best wishes,
Ms
Ms
How are we doing??
ReplyDeleteIn America 1669 the slave trade was just starting out. This could suggest that the male speaker in the poem sees the woman as a slave – he owns her and can do what he pleases with her.
ReplyDeleteEssentially, Mohamed’s paradise is a whore house and this implies the woman in the poem is a whore, therefore degrading her and insulting her, in contrast to the pure and innocent imagery, ‘heaven’s angels’ .
Religion at the time the poem was written was very contraversial as the main religion in England was Christianity, majority being protestants and the catholics were discriminated against for their religion.
The ‘Atlanta’s balls’ are a reference to greek mythology about a woman who rejected all her suiters unless they could beat her in a race, Hippomenes eventually beat her by dropping apples which she stopped to pick up. This reference suggests that the woman in the poem is easily fooled and he could be refering to himself as the character of Hippomenes suggesting his conquest, not only sexually but in beating the other suiters that have contended for her.
Imputed past participle, past tense of im•pute (Verb)
Verb
1. 1.Represent (something, esp. something undesirable) as being done, caused, or possessed by someone; attribute.
2. 2.Assign (a value) to something by inference from the value of the products or processes to which it contributes.
- Definition from dictionary.com
Donne’s use of ‘imputed grace’ in the poem is about subscribing to religion i.e. she’s given him the faith in religion, through her actions.
- Struggles to make links between context and the poem and not sure I've completed understood 'imputed grace' despite our previous hwk on it.
Thanks
- Molly Cooper
Hey Miss, it’s Edith. I wanted to say first, I’m sorry I didn’t email my essay to you, I tried several times over the weekend but it kept bouncing back so I brought a hard copy to class today but you weren’t there.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of my question, I would quite like to do something along the lines of the essay that we just did – I’d like to talk about who the woman might be and who the audience is. I’d also like to talk about power dynamics but I’m not sure what my actual question should be.
CONTEXT:
Donne’s parents were both strong Catholics at a time when religion was deeply divided in england, but in 1615, after being told by James I that he would only acheive advancement in the Church of England he was ordained a priest in the Anglican church and became very successful. This allowed him to once again buil up his fotune that he had lost while being imprisoned by his wife’s father. The references to religion interlaced with classical references to Atlanta displays Donne’s internal struggle between what he believes; the Catholic religion, and what he needs; restoration of his fortune to how it was when he studied at Oxford.
'To his mistress going to bed' was written in the late 1660s, a time where women faced oppression and were exploited by the bourgeoisie. Women usually worked as the housewife or carer, providing health and nourishment to the family. Donne clearly presents the injustice and inequality women faced at the time through his poem. Words such as 'come' 'my' and 'mine' emphasise the domination men had over women and describes women as slaves; obeying their husbands demands.
ReplyDeleteWhen exploring the exploitation of women it is important to consider a theological approach to the inequality of women. Donne uses many theological references such as Adam and Eve and Mahomet’s Paradise. In this poem, Donne makes theological references and metaphors that give a hyperbolic intensity to his imagery. Donne creates a suggestion to Adam and Eve in saying “bodies unclothed must be” as that is how god intended us to be. The narrative of the poem could also be interpreted as a paradox relating to Adam and Eve as Adam is the first to take his clothes off in the Garden of Eden and then Eve follows. It is almost perverting theological arguments as being in the nude is supposed to be about purity and not sex, emphasizing male attitudes of sexual excitement. This is also apparent in the poem as Donne is naked and then the woman follows, having the man always take the lead and the woman just follow. Donne also mentions “A heaven like Mahomet’s paradise” in reference to the Islamic prophet Muhammad. The Mohametan Paradise, situated above the seventh heaven was the idea of being martyred and entering a heaven populated with beautiful women and virgins ready to satisfy the sexual desires of the men there. This suggests the only use of a woman is sexual or physical. It could also be noted that there is no such paradise for women, it is solely for men. This reference could be a paradox for the poem as it is mainly focused on a male fantasy and their desires, limiting a female audience. The use of these male dominated references shows that men are all powerful and if they do have a downfall, it is because of women. It could be said that Donne uses these references to portray women as inferior, suggesting that the poem does exploit and show the dominance of men over women.It can also be noted that Donne uses references from different religions which could be representing the different genders. Donne was appinted Dean of st pauls which was an important position in The Church of England. This shows that he could be favouring in the side of christiany, and therefore sexist thinking.
ReplyDelete-Sophie Bauer
Hey Molly - I think you need to go into more detail on one aspect. Research it online - you shouldbe able to find more detail. Look particularly a colonialism. Donne was a contemporary of Shakespeare so there's plenty of information on context here. The 1669 was a later date of publishing - I picked up a poem without properly checking the source (lesson learnt). Donne, you will see, died in 1631 or round a bout then.
ReplyDeleteImputed grace hass a specific meaning associated with Calvin. It's worth researching to properly understand it.
Guys - aren't you in room 5? Use the internet for research! Not your heads. Sophie, you've got it nearly right, some really good explanation of references and allusion, now link that to context.
ReplyDeleteEdith - if email bounce back, try and copy text into body of email.
ReplyDeleteBorn in 1575
ReplyDeleteDied in 1630
Donne’s parents were both Catholic. Queen Elizabeth persecuted Catholics at that time, religion was very important. This is evident in To His Mistress Going To Bed Donne’s father died when he was very young, as did several of his brothers and sisters, and his mother remarried twice during his lifetime. Donne was educated at Hart’s Hall, Oxford, and Lincoln’s Inn; he became prodigiously learned, speaking several languages and writing poems in both English and Latin. It is for his extraordinary poems that Donne is primarily remembered; and it was on the basis of his poems that led to the revival of his reputation at the beginning of the 20th century, following years of obscurity. (The renewed interest in Donne was led by a new generation of writers at the turn of the century, including T.S. Eliot.) Donne was the leading exponent of a style of poetry called “metaphysical poetry,” which flourished in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. Metaphysical poetry features elaborate conceits and surprising symbols, wrapped up in original, challenging language structures, with learned themes that draw heavily on eccentric chains of reasoning. Donne’s verse, like that of George Herbert, Andrew Marvell, and many of their contemporaries, exemplifies these traits.
Becca
The possessiveness of the speaker claiming that the mistress is ‘America! My new found-land’ reflects modern ideas of the 17th Century. At a time when many European Puritans emigrated to new found American lands, they Christened the new settlements as ‘Virgin’ lands. This reference to the woman as land, demonstrates the male ownership he has over her. He is essentially colonizing his new land by having sexual intercourse with her. As Bertens writes of the distribution of power of male and female partners ‘mirrors the distribution of power over the male and female in society at large.’ From this it is clear to see that in the era Donne wrote ‘To his mistress going to bed’ men were the dominant figure in a Patriarchal society. Moreover, Donne, an Anglican clergyman, believed in the Christian doctrine of imputed grace, or justification by faith alone. By elevating his mistress to an ‘angel’ that ‘walks in white’ Donne’s speaker brings himself closer to God and religion.
ReplyDeleteUnderstanding the context of Atlanta’s balls contributes to the meaning of the poem as it highlights Donne subjecting the mistress to the stereotype of an immoral and dangerous seductress. This is because by referring to himself as having “Atlanta’s balls, cast in” his view it suggests the man has been distracted by the woman, meaning he has lost something, alike Atlanta being distracted by the golden apples which Melanion utilises to make her lose the running race. The reason this suggests the Mistress is an immoral and dangerous seductress is because it highlights the viewing her as someone who is bad as her seductions have distracted him, as well as being immoral as it would not have been socially acceptable for the mistress to be going round seduction men by blocking their “views”.
ReplyDeleteThe poem offers various contextual interpretations. The women is referred to as ‘O my America!’ this creates her to be seen as a piece of land. Contextually land was a precious thing, which was heavily negotiated upon during the time the poem was written in. Furthermore this links the women to a monetary being, suggesting the man could be paying for pleasure from the women. The women being referred to as land, objectifies and degrades her as it its taking away her value as a human being. Moreover women wouldn’t normally be compared to a country, this contributes to the meaning of the poem enforcing the idea that the man has ‘conquered’ the women , portraying his possessive character and also the importantce for a women to be a virging and being never before ‘discovered'. This is also contributes to the meaning in the poem that with out the womens body the man has nothing, as he would have no ownership ‘my’ and no kingdom.
ReplyDeleteDonne’s reference to ‘Mohamet’s paradise’ enforces the intelligence of both the man and the women, contexually the man would have had great access to education, as he would have been seen as the superior sex, for women access to eduction would have been more difficult and therefore it is important for Donne to include this as we learn that the woman presented in the poem is intelectual. Moreover mohaments paradise again enforces the importance of virginity as it represents a paradise full of beautiful virgins. Contextually the reference to Mohammed would be seen as exotic and these modern contexual references help Donne to enforce that she is aware of the modern things that are happening.
- Navina Bhamra sorry its so bad!
(NB - it's not bad!)
ReplyDeleteThanks guys. Think we may have a bit of work here! It's a Shakespearian context so there's lots of stuff online. We'll look at it on Thursday Ms :)
Donne’s reference ‘O my America!’ links to the discovery of the New World in 1492, which would have been a topic of great interest for 17th century readers. Furthermore the discovery of this ‘new-found land’ would have been associated with the idea of bringing culture and civilization to this seemingly untouched and uncultivated country. From a Feminist viewpoint Donne’s reference can be taken to imply that the woman in ‘To his Mistress going to Bed’ represents America and the man is a symbol for the voyagers discovering it. Therefore by having sex with the woman; the man is almost cultivating and improving her. Furthermore the discovery of the New World would have been an exclusively male expedition, which reinforces the idea that the woman is the man’s conquest. Men have conquered America, now he will conquer the woman.
ReplyDeleteConsidering America was discovered less than 200 years before Donne wrote the poem, the fact that he refers to her as 'my America! my new found land' suggest she, as well as women in general are foreign creates which men fail to understand due to their inferiority. This quote then therefore links to his description of women as 'mystic books' that they needn't bother understanding as a woman's natural 'imputed grace' will reveal this. This stereotypical view of women as incomprehendable is something which has strung along through time, much like the stereotype of the woman being either 'evil' or like an 'angel.'
ReplyDeleteThe quote 'liberally as to a midwife' also gives way to interpretation in the context of the poem, as midwifery at the time was seen as 'evil' considering they didn't use any medicine an were seen as playing god and performing supernatural acts. This view gives way to the stereotypical interpretation of the woman as an evil and eerie character, something which is supported through quotes such as 'gems which you women use' suggesting they have an unfair mysterious advantage over men when it comes to power.
-“O, my America, my Newfoundland” is Donne referencing the massive discovery and colonization of the new world, which was happening from 1492 right into the 17th century. This would’ve undoubtedly been an exciting new social concept for the people of Europe. In light of this suggestion, Donne is implying that the woman represents his own Newfoundland, something he can put his flag in and claim his own.
ReplyDelete-“Imputed Grace” is reference towards the concept of ‘imputed righteousness’ which can be seen in many branches of Protestantism, such as Lutheranism, Zwinglianism, and most notably, Calvinism. Imputed Grace proposes that the righteousness of Christ is imputed to [believers], that is, treated as if it were theirs through faith. Its roots can be seen in Luther’s early concepts of Sola Fide, and ‘priesthood of all believers’ which preached the Kingdom of Heaven could be breached through faith alone. So Donne is perhaps suggesting that grace and righteousness between Christ and the women will not be damaged if the mystery surrounding women is revealed?
-Sorry for lateness again!