Read the summary and the most important questions on Engels literatuur 56 | 9789006090698

• 1 Alquin

• 1.1 Astrophhil and Stella no. 1

  This is a preview. There are 2 more flashcards available for chapter 1.1
  Show more cards here

• What does he hope to achieve with his poem (line 3-4)?

  He wants to please his beloved with a poem, which zhe will read and thus learn of his love for her and perhaps have sympathy on him.

• Do you think that Sidney found it easy to write the poem? Explain your answer by reference to line 5-8 explaining what the passages you refer to mean.

  No, he found it hard to find the words to describe great despair, studied all sorts of conventions in order to find ways of pleasing his beloved's soul, studied other poets work to fin inspiration, but it all proved counterproductive, and his creativity and intelligence were not sufficient to enable him to produce a poem. The things he wanted to say were all in his head, but he couldn't find a way of expressing them.

• What is the conclusion of the poem? What does his muse tell him to do?

  Bitingon his pen hitting himself. Hismuse tells him not to try and show off, but to simply look in his heart and describe what he sees there.

• The poem includes several alliterated lines (zelfde klank). Give 3 examples, identifying the lines by number

  Line 2: pleasure - pain
  Line 7,8: flow-fast-fruitful
  Line 13: biting-beating

• 1.2 Astrophil and Stella no. 2

  This is a preview. There are 4 more flashcards available for chapter 1.2
  Show more cards here

• Describe what the process of falling in love was like for Sidney; what does he say did not happen?

  It was not love at first sight, not was it whimsical (chance shot); his love developed gradually, as if a tunnel had slowly been dug to his heart

• Identify the example of assonance (vowel rhyme) in line 3

  Mine-time

• What does Sidney mean by the phrase 'is saw and i liked, but loved not'

  When he first saw the woman the poem is devoted, he liked her, but did not immediately fallin in love with her

• Does he mind losing his freedom? What evidence is there to suggest that he does and to suggest that he doesn't?

  He described himself as having become a slave and being subject to tyranny: he says he has to convince himself that he is happy with his lot. On the other hand, he embraces his enslavement like a good thing

• What do you think of the tone of the poem?

  It is not very bright or upbeat, considering that he has apparently found true love

• Is Sidney ultimately satisfied with the woman he has won?

  When he first acknowledged that he was in love, he was unhappy with the unfair way fate had treated him. However this is just one of the stages in the development of his love: he subsquently rejoices at his enslavement. Yet the closing lines leave the impression that he is not altogether satisfied he has to convince himself that everything is ok and describes the situation as the hell