“The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner” By Samuel Taylor Coleridge (lines 119-121) Water, water, every where, And all the boards did shrink; water, water, every where, The repetition of water and the emphasis on “everywhere” creates a sense of vastness, which is one of the components of the sublime according to Edmund Burke. This stanza …
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Sep 26
The Sublime in Keats–Dona Sansone
“Thou was not born for death, immortal Bird!,” Ode to a Nightingale, John Keats (line 61) Though I don’t particularly agree with Burke’s distinction between the sublime from beauty, in that he implies a sexist polarization similar to the masculine versus feminine characterizations, I can see aspects of his argument in various poems we’ve read this semester. Burke …
Sep 26
“Mutability,” by Percy Shelley. Line 9-10. Nhan Le
“We rest–A dream has power to poison sleep; / We rise–One wandering thought pollutes the day” (9-10). Although I have slight disagreements with Mr. Burke’s comparison of sublime and beauty, in particular Burke’s position of beauty not to be obscure, and a slightly greater disagreement that beauty should be light and delicate, I will express …
Sep 25
The Sublime Blog Post – Kevin Paredes
The fields, the lakes, the forests, and the streams, / Ocean, and all the living things that dwell / Within the daedal earth; lightning, and rain, / Earthquake, and fiery flood, and hurricane,” (84-87). Edmund Burke differentiates the sublime from beauty. The sublime is a combination of elements that invoke fear and simultaneously, wonder. One …
Sep 22
Nhan’s Adventure through Time
My experience at the Metropolitan museum was amazing! To begin, I took professor Hershinow’s advice to sidestep the $25 fee and gain admission for free. The result is that it wasn’t so much free (everyone must pay at least a penny; a dollar if you pay with plastic), so I am giving anyone reading this …
Sep 20
Extra Credit Opportunity: Met Visit
As we discussed last week, Napoleon’s growing empire brought antiquities (and stories surrounding them) back west—inspiring poems like Shelley’s “Ozymandias.” Turning to Keats, we’ll see more examples of this depiction in verse of the poet’s encounter with the material past. We happen to have a fantastic resource for encountering the past through objects just a …
Sep 15
Shelley’s Relics
Shelley’s premature death at 29 in a boating accident (or was it an accident?) spawned conspiracy theories and romantic (probably inflated) stories. While some surround the nature of his death (was he assassinated?), others begin after his death, focusing on the curious afterlife of his remains. Most famously, Shelley’s heart was said to have been snatched …
Sep 10
Books are in, readings are posted (and a bonus video) EDITED
I just got word from the bookstore that the new copies of the course pack are in stock! If you’re around campus today, you should be able to pick yours up. If you can’t make it in before our next class meeting, I have the readings posted under the “Assignments” tab. While you’re waiting, check …
Aug 28
Crash Course: The French Revolution
To supplement the reading for Tuesday, here’s a fun but informative video on the French Revolution, created by author John Green. As with anything I post here, you should feel free to comment or ask questions below. I’ll keep an eye on the comment section and bring up any questions during our class meeting. …