Posts

Othello revision - A05

-
Ambiguity in Othello When Shakespeare's theatre group became known as the King's men under James I, many of Shakespeare's contemporaries found themselves imprisoned for upsetting the authorities - some have said it is the ambiguity of his plays that allows them to be critical. Sources of debate  the character of Emilia - refuses to be quiet and suppress the truth yet she was the one who stole the handkerchief and said nothing when Othello asked Cassio - should we see Cassio as a good man who helps to restore order or a threat to order (the effect of alcohol on him, the ways in which he treats women, self-centred) or is he in situations where he just has to play along with the lads  Roderigo - are we meant to pity him as weak and impressionable or be angered by his self-serving readiness to do evil Brabantio - Should we condemn Brabantio for his racial intolerance or pragmatic attitude to being worried for his daughter The presentation of Venice  'home ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ode on a Grecian Urn - John Keats

-
Image
Ode on a Grecian Urn - John Keats Thou still unravish'd bride of quietness,        Thou foster-child of silence and slow time, Sylvan historian, who canst thus express        A flowery tale more sweetly than our rhyme : What leaf-fring'd legend haunts about thy shape        Of deities or mortals, or of both,                In Tempe or the dales of Arcady?        What men or gods are these? What maidens loth? What mad pursuit? What struggle to escape?                What pipes and timbrels? What wild ecstasy? Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard        Are sweeter; therefore, ye soft pipes, play on; Not to the sensual ear, but, more endear'd,   ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ode on Melancholy - John Keats

-
Image
Ode on Melancholy - John Keats No, no, go not to Lethe, neither twist         Wolf's-bane, tight-rooted, for its poisonous wine;  Nor suffer thy pale forehead to be kiss'd         By nightshade, ruby grape of Proserpine;                 Make not your rosary of yew-berries,         Nor let the beetle, nor the death-moth be                 Your mournful Psyche, nor the downy owl  A partner in your sorrow's mysteries;         For shade to shade will come too drowsily,                 And drown the wakeful anguish of the soul.  But when the melancholy fit shall fall  ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Global Politics - Realist thinkers

-
Image
Global Politics - Realist thinkers Thucydides (ca. 460–406 BCE) , classical realist Background  Greek historian with philosophical interests. Thucydides’ great work The History of the Peloponnesian War recounts the struggle between Athens and Sparta for control of the Hellenic world, which culminated in the destruction of Athens, the birthplace of democracy.  Key works :  The History of the Peloponnesian War Main ideas :  Thucydides trap : (Thucydides himself never talks of a “trap.”) The fears of a rising power spark war fervour  in an already established power, leading to conflict as it is seen as the only solution to the growing imbalance of power. More times than not, the dominant power comes out on top but at a catastrophic cost which signals the end of their power and the rise of another in its place.  Melian Dialogue : (A section of conversation between the Melians and Athenians in The Peloponnesian  War where the Athen...
Post a Comment
Read more

Conservatism : Authority

-
Authority To what extent have conservatives upheld authority. reinforced by notions of 'organic society' and natural inequalities Burke and 'natural aristocracy' social equality is a myth  Do not believe authority arises from contracts made by free individuals- it arises naturally out of a need to ensure that children are cared for etc authority can only come 'from above' authority counters rootlessness and anomie as people know 'where they stand' leads to support of strong leadership  authoritarian say authority is absolute and unquestionable  most believe authority should be exercised with limits but these limits are not artificial - they are natural too Traditional After witnessing the fallout of the English Civil War, Thomas Hobbes became fearful of the 'state of nature' man reverts to without authority and control as their selfish, evil human nature would make human life 'nasty, brutish and short' Supported by...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Cold Earth Slept Below - Percy Bysshe Shelley

-
The Cold Earth Slept Below  Context There is some controversy about when the poem was written, Shelley's first wife Harriet drowned in the Serpentine in 1816 and there is thought that this poem is about her death. Shelley died in a boating accident in 1922 and the poem was not published until after his death, first appearing in 1823 titled 'November 1815'. However, it is well known that Mary Shelley edited her husband's work to remove the publicly unacceptable details of his life and thus she may have changed the date to 1815 so it would appear the poem had been written before Harriet's death. The cold earth slept below;           Above the cold sky shone;                  And all around,                  With a chilling sound,  From caves of ice and fiel...
Post a Comment
Read more