That of hir smylyng was full symple and coy;

Hire gretteste ooth was but but by Seinte Loy;

And she was cleped Madame Eglentyne.

Reference
(i) Poem: The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales
(ii) Poet: Geoffrey Chaucer
Context
(i) Occurrence: The Prioress (Lines 119-121/858)
(ii) Content: It is the month of April in circa 1390. A group of twenty-nine pilgrims gathers at a
tavern in Southwark called Tabard Inn. The goal of their journey is the shrine of St. Thomas a
Becket in Canterbury. The narrator, Chaucer, encounters them there and becomes one of their
company. The narrator seeks to describe their 'condition', 'array' and 'degree'. The Host at the Inn
proposes the story-telling contest among the pilgrims.
Explanation
These lines trumpet three salient characteristics of the Prioress; her smile, faith and
nick name. The smile of the Prioress is very simple. It is easy to understand, presenting no
difficulty. Her smile also makes a pretence of shyness and modesty which intends to be alluring.
Thus she is a coquettish woman. Secondly, she has a firm faith in Saint Eloy who was the patron
saint of goldsmiths, other metal workers, and coin collectors. This saint worked for twenty years
to convert the pagan population of Flanders to Christianity. Thirdly, she has a romantic name,
Madam Eglantine. Eglantine is, in fact, a wild rose native to Eurasia having prickly stem,
fragrant leaves, bright pink flowers, and scarlet hips. In Madam Eglantine, Chaucer depicts
charm without substance. Thus Chaucer has described the nun in the opposite way to show us,
how the nun Prioress had all the characteristics that a nun should not have.
And theron heng a brooch al with grene,
On which there was first write a crowned A,
And after Amor Vincit Omnia.

Reference
(i) Poem: The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales
(ii) Poet: Geoffrey Chaucer
Context
(i) Occurrence: The Prioress (Lines 160-162/858)
(ii) Context: It is the month of April in circa 1390. A group of twenty-nine pilgrims gathers at a
tavern in Southwark called Tabard Inn. The goal of their journey is the shrine of St. Thomas a
Becket in Canterbury. The narrator, Chaucer, encounters them there and becomes one of their
company. The narrator seeks to describe their 'condition', 'array' and 'degree'. The Host at the Inn
proposes the story-telling contest among the pilgrims.
Explanation
These lines portray the Prioress's gold brooch and its motto symbolically. A brooch is a
decorative jewelry item designed to be attached to garments by a pin or clasp, often to hold them
closed. It is worn at or near the neck. The brooch, the Prioress is wearing, is dominated by the
letter "A" which stands for Amor i.e. love. Some critics also assume that the brooch is in the
shape of the letter "A". However, the most striking quality of the brooch is the Latin inscription
on it: "Amor vincit omnia" which means "Love conquers all." This quote is from "Eclogue X" by
Virgil. This Virgilian motto is very ambiguous. If it refers to celestial, heavenly love, then the
brooch is an acceptable article to be found on the person of a nun. But it represents earthly love
between a man and a woman which is absent in nuns. In short, the brooch is a symbol of the
Prioress's unchristian character, her connection to laymen and the peasantry, rather than to any
religious vocation.
Therfore he was a prikasour aright:
Grehoundes he hadde as swift as fowel in flight;
Of prikyng and of huntyng for the hare
Was al his lust, for no cost wolde he spare.

Reference
(i) Poem: The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales
(ii) Poet: Geoffrey Chaucer
Context
(i) Occurrence: The Monk (Lines 189-192/858)
(ii) Content: It is the month of April in circa 1390. A group of twenty-nine pilgrims gathers at a
tavern in Southwark called Tabard Inn. The goal of their journey is the shrine of St. Thomas a
Becket in Canterbury. The narrator, Chaucer, encounters them there and becomes one of their
company. The narrator seeks to describe their 'condition', 'array' and 'degree'. The Host at the Inn
proposes the story-telling contest among the pilgrims.
Explanation
These lines exquisitely narrate the Monk's favourite pastimes; riding horses and
hunting hares. A monk is a member of religious community of men typically living under vows
of poverty, chastity, and obedience. However, Chaucer's Monk is corrupt. He does not follow the
rules of the monastery which say that monks should not hunt. This Monk prefers to go hunting.
He has many galloping horses and coursing greyhounds. The greyhounds are as fast as birds in
flight. They can run at a speed of 64 kilometers per hour. He uses these greyhounds to track his
preys. He usually hunts hares which are very innocent animals. This shows the Monk's cruel
nature. To ride the horses and hunt the hares was a source of pleasure for him. He would do it
whatever the cost. In short, he is a "monk out of his cloister" who is not "worth an oyster".
Ful wel biloved and famulier was he
With frankeleyns over al in his contree,
And eek with worthy wommen of the toun;

Reference
(i) Poem: The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales
(ii) Poet: Geoffrey Chaucer
Context
(i) Occurrence: The Friar (Lines 215-217/858)
(ii) Content: It is the month of April in circa 1390. A group of twenty-nine pilgrims gathers at a
tavern in Southwark called Tabard Inn. The goal of their journey is the shrine of St. Thomas a
Becket in Canterbury. The narrator, Chaucer, encounters them there and becomes one of their
company. The narrator seeks to describe their 'condition', 'array' and 'degree'. The Host at the Inn
proposes the story-telling contest among the pilgrims.
Explanation
 These lines satirically describe the Friar's intimacy with the franklins of his country and
noblewomen of his town. The main duty of a friar is to live among the poor, to beg on their
behalf and to give his earning to aid their struggle for livelihood. However, Chaucer's Friar is
corrupt, fradulent and hypocrite. He has acquaintance with franklins; the landowners of free but
not noble birth. Moreover, he has familiarity and closeness with the noblewomen of the town
because he has the power of confession. He is highly liked by these opulent people. In short, the
Friar likes to hang out with wealthy people instead of living the life that St. Francis, the first
friar, prescribes, he would spend time with the poor and sick.
Seint Julian he was in his contree.
His breed, his ale, was alweys after oon;
A bettre envyned man was nowher noon.

Reference
(i) Poem: The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales
(ii) Poet: Geoffrey Chaucer
Context
(i) Occurrence: The Franklin (Lines 340-342/858)
(ii) Content: It is the month of April in circa 1390. A group of twenty-nine pilgrims gathers at a
tavern in Southwark called Tabard Inn. The goal of their journey is the shrine of St. Thomas a
Becket in Canterbury. The narrator, Chaucer, encounters them there and becomes one of their
company. The narrator seeks to describe their 'condition', 'array' and 'degree'. The Host at the Inn
proposes the story-telling contest among the pilgrims.
Explanation
These lines beautifully describe the lavish hospitality of the Franklin. The Franklin is a
gentry landowner, a member of nobility. One of the most important obligations of this social role
is to provide generous hospitality, and nobody fulfills this role better than the Franklin. He keeps
his pantry well-stocked with food and wine. The Franklin's penchant for entertaining may come
from his belief in the philosophy of Epicurus, who taught that the way to perfect happiness was
through pleasure. The Franklin takes pleasure in eating and drinking, and in providing pleasure
to others through generous entertaining. That is why he is know as "Saint Julian" in his region,
for Saint Julian is the patron saint of hospitality.
He knew the cause of everich maladye,
Were it of hoot, or coold, or moyste, or drye,
And where they engendred, and of what homour.

Reference
(i) Poem: The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales
(ii) Poet: Geoffrey Chaucer
Context
(i) Occurrence: The Physician (Lines 419-421/858)
(ii) Content: It is the month of April in circa 1390. A group of twenty-nine pilgrims gathers at a
tavern in Southwark called Tabard Inn. The goal of their journey is the shrine of St. Thomas a
Becket in Canterbury. The narrator, Chaucer, encounters them there and becomes one of their
company. The narrator seeks to describe their 'condition', 'array' and 'degree'. The Host at the Inn
proposes the story-telling contest among the pilgrims.
Explanation
 These lines exquisitely expound the Physician's profound knowledge about a Greek
medical theory called "Humorism". According to this theory, a person's health is governed by
four homors or temperaments. A person is sanguine, melancholic, choleric or phlematic. Each of
these humors is associated with a vital bodily fluid (black bile, yellow bile, blood and phlegm)
and causes a specific series of ailments if one has more or less of it than normal. The Physicain
knows that hotness, coldness, moisture and dryness of food and weather etc cause the excess or
deficiency of these humors. He believes that the imbalance of humors is the cause of all diseases.
Thus using this theory, he can tell the cause of every sickness.
In al the parisshe wif ne was ther noon
That to the offrynge bifore hire sholde goon;
And if ther dide, certeyn so wrooth was she,
That she was out of alle charitee.

Reference
(i) Poem: The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales
(ii) Poet: Geoffrey Chaucer
Context
(i) Occurrence: The Wife of Bath (Lines 449-452/858)
(ii) Content: It is the month of April in circa 1390. A group of twenty-nine pilgrims gathers at a
tavern in Southwark called Tabard Inn. The goal of their journey is the shrine of St. Thomas a
Becket in Canterbury. The narrator, Chaucer, encounters them there and becomes one of their
company. The narrator seeks to describe their 'condition', 'array' and 'degree'. The Host at the Inn
proposes the story-telling contest among the pilgrims.
Explanation
These lines epitomize the false charity, bad temper and excessive selfishness of the Wife
of Bath. In Medieval Society the order in which people made their offerings during the offertory
at churches was dertermined by order of precedence. So the proud Wife of Bath always wants to
be first one to be allowed to donate the indigents. If anyone donates before her, she gets so angry
that she does to want to give anything at all. This habit not only shows her hasty temper but also
her egotistical selfishness. Thus she does not donate money because of charity, but to make a
show of wealth and to display her status in her community. These qualities make her unique in
the entire parish of the city Bath.
She was a worthy womman al hir lyve:
Housbondes at chirche dore she hadde fyve,
Withouten oother compaignye in youthe, ---

Reference
(i) Poem: The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales
(ii) Poet: Geoffrey Chaucer
Context
(i) Occurrence: The Wife of Bath (Lines 459-461/858)
(ii) Content: It is the month of April in circa 1390. A group of twenty-nine pilgrims gathers at a
tavern in Southwark called Tabard Inn. The goal of their journey is the shrine of St. Thomas a
Becket in Canterbury. The narrator, Chaucer, encounters them there and becomes one of their
company. The narrator seeks to describe their 'condition', 'array' and 'degree'. The Host at the Inn
proposes the story-telling contest among the pilgrims.
Explanation
These lines satirically describe the social status, marriages and love affairs of the Wife of
Bath. Firstly, the Wife of Bath holds a prominent place in the community. The adjective
"worthy" has been used in a social sense and not in the moral sense. Secondly, she married five
husbands at the church door. To be married at the church door is according to the custom;
however, 'to have five husbands' is incredible in the medieval context. This makes the Wife of
Bath a controversial figure. Thirdly, she had many lovers in her youth. She married her first
husband at the age of 12. Thus these lines may imply she had relationships before she got
married! But 12 is an age of 'adolescence' and not of 'youth'. Thus these lines refer to
extramarital encounters or relationships in between her marriages and prove her an unfaithful
wife. In short, the Wife of Bath was a 'sexually promiscuous' woman all her life!
For if a preest be foul, on whom we truste,
No wonder is a lewed man to ruste;
And shame it is, if a prest take keep,
A shiten shepherde and a clean sheep.

Reference
(i) Poem: The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales
(ii) Poet: Geoffrey Chaucer
Context
(i) Occurrence:
(ii) Content: It is the month of April in circa 1390. A group of twenty-nine pilgrims gathers at a
tavern in Southwark called Tabard Inn. The goal of their journey is the shrine of St. Thomas a
Becket in Canterbury. The narrator, Chaucer, encounters them there and becomes one of their
company. The narrator seeks to describe their 'condition', 'array' and 'degree'. The Host at the Inn
proposes the story-telling contest among the pilgrims.
Explanation
These lines emphatically preach that people in the helm of power should be a perfect
example of honesty, dignity, justice, love and other moral values for common people. A
priest should be the embodiment of the teachings of Jesus Christ. He should live a holy life if he
expects ordinary people to live holy lives because everything starts at the upper level. General
masses are sheep and a priest is a shepherd. It would not be right for a flock of white sheep to be
tended by a filthy shepherd, someone bespattered with sin. Otherwise "if gold ruste, what shal
iren do?" In short, leaders should take their responsibilities extremely seriously and set good
examples to be followed by others.
He waited after no pompe and reverence,
Ne maked him a spiced conscience,
But Cristes loore and his apostles twelve
He taughte, but first he folwed it hymselve.

Reference
(i) Poem: The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales
(ii) Poet: Geoffrey Chaucer
Context
(i) Occurrence:
(ii) Content: It is the month of April in circa 1390. A group of twenty-nine pilgrims gathers at a
tavern in Southwark called Tabard Inn. The goal of their journey is the shrine of St. Thomas a
Becket in Canterbury. The narrator, Chaucer, encounters them there and becomes one of their
company. The narrator seeks to describe their 'condition', 'array' and 'degree'. The Host at the Inn
proposes the story-telling contest among the pilgrims.
A bettre felawe sholde men noght fynde.
He wolde suffre for a quart of wyn
A good felawe to have his concubyn
A twelf mongh, and excuse hym atte fulle;

Reference
(i) Poem: The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales
(ii) Poet: Geoffrey Chaucer
Context
(i) Occurrence:
(ii) Content: It is the month of April in circa 1390. A group of twenty-nine pilgrims gathers at a
tavern in Southwark called Tabard Inn. The goal of their journey is the shrine of St. Thomas a
Becket in Canterbury. The narrator, Chaucer, encounters them there and becomes one of their
company. The narrator seeks to describe their 'condition', 'array' and 'degree'. The Host at the Inn
proposes the story-telling contest among the pilgrims.
Greet chiere made oure hoost us everichon,
And to the soper sette he us anon.
He served us with vitaille at the beste;
Strong was the wyn, and wel to drynke us leste.

Reference
(i) Poem: The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales
(ii) Poet: Geoffrey Chaucer
Context
(i) Occurrence:
(ii) Content: It is the month of April in circa 1390. A group of twenty-nine pilgrims gathers at a
tavern in Southwark called Tabard Inn. The goal of their journey is the shrine of St. Thomas a
Becket in Canterbury. The narrator, Chaucer, encounters them there and becomes one of their
company. The narrator seeks to describe their 'condition', 'array' and 'degree'. The Host at the Inn
proposes the story-telling contest among the pilgrims.

PARADISE LOST

SOME CURSED FRAUD.

OF ENEMY HATH BEGUILED THEE; YET UNKOWN,

AND ME WITH THEE HATH RUINED; FOR WITH THEE

CERTAIN MY RESOLUTION IS TO DIE.

Explanation with Reference to the Context:

These lines have been extracted from the Book 9 of “Paradise Lost” written by John Milton. In
these given lines under reference, we come to know that as Eve delayed in returning that fills
Adam with suspicions and he worriedly went out in search of her with a garland of roses in his
hands. He found it. Eve, near the ‘Tree of Knowledge’ with a bough of freshly plucked fruit in
her hand. Watching all this, Adam’s heart filled with sorrow and anguish. But Eve started telling
Adam about the seduction of Satan by her cheerfully;in which she ate the fruit of a forbidden
tree. Here Adam does not show his reaction rapidly but feels that Eve has been ruined and lost
totally. He also vows to eat the fruit and perish along with her because of his great love for her.
Adam became stunned on hearing Eve’s story and started thinking that such a holy and divine
creature like Eve should easily be tempted by the cursed enemy. Eve not only ruined herself but
also ensured Adam’s ruin because he had resolved to die with her. Adam was afraid of the
loneliness of the paradise and he had already requested God to give him a companion; and he
was blessed with Eve by God. Adam also thought that if Eve died then he would have to live
alone once again which he did not want to do because God had joined him in marriage with Eve.
Adam was of the views that if God created another Eve yet the memory of this Eve would
always haunt him because Eve was the flesh of his flesh, bone of his bone. So, we see that Adam
is determined to live with her both in bliss and woe. In short, we can say that Adam shows his
endless love for her and resolves to eat the fruit willfully because he cannot live without her.

Paragraph No.2

REGIONS OF SORROW, DOLEFUL SHADES, WHERE PEACE,

AND REST CAN NEVER DWELL, HOPE NEVER COMES

THAT COMES TO ALL;….

Explanation with Reference to the Context:

These lines have been extracted from the Book 1 of “The Paradise Lost” written by John
Milton. In the given selective lines, Milton draws the picture of the Hell in which Satan and his
followers are to live forever. A very horrible and dreadful picture of Hell is drawn by Milton. It
is a place like a horrible dungeon which is surrounded by fire on all sides and the flames of fire
are very huge but these flames do not produce light because the damned are deprived of the sight
of God who symbolizes light. A very dreadful and powerful image of darkness is created by
Milton by using the word oxymoron ’darkness visible’. This powerful image of darkness creates
an atmosphere of woe, sorrow, gloomy shadows and fears where peace, rest and calmness can
never exist. Allah separates the light from the fire which symbolizes as the brightness of life
while Satan and his followers are deprived of this brightness of life and they are dammed to the
torture of the burning flames. Satan and his followers have waged an impious war against God
and thus they have earned the wrath of God to be imprisoned in Hell which comprises ‘regions
of sorrow’ and doleful shadows. It is a place of endless torture where unconsumed sulphur is
burning for its denizens.

Paragraph No.3

FALLEN CHERUB TO BE WEAK IS MISERABLE,

DOING OR SUFFERING; BUT OF THIS BE SURE

TO DO AUGHT GOOD NEVER WILL BE OUR TASK

BUT EVER TO DO ILL OUR SOLE DELIGHT……

Explanation with Reference to the Context:

The selective lines have been taken from an epic poem “Paradise Lost” Book – 1, written
by John Milton. The theme of this epic poem revolves around the fall of Adam and Eve; as a
result of tasting the fruit of the forbidden tree. In reaction to Satan’s first speech to his comrades,
Beelzebub (the angel of light and knowledge) presents a pessimistic and gloomy response before
Satan. Satan regards it a weak and bad sign for him and for his other followers. He feels that it is
a sign of weakness on the part of Beelzebub who regrets the terrible war under which
consequences, they will be thrown from Heaven to Hell. Here, Satan boasts up Beelzebub’s
morale and spirit by saying that he should give up weakness because it generates misery. Here,
we see that inwardly Satan confesses that physically they are weaker than God. This very thing
itself is a main cause of their disappointment and misery. But, in spite of his genuine confession,
he excites and spurs up the spirit or morale of his comrades by saying that they have an
indomitable will to never do good. They will always have to oppose God by doing ill deeds or
things. Now, their main aim or task of doing all kinds of works or things is to feel delight in
doing or acting contrary to the will of God.

Paragraph No.4

OF THE FRUIT

OF EACH TREE IN THE GARDEN WE MAY EAT,

BUT OF THE FRUIT OF THIS FAIR TREE A MIDST

THE GARDEN, GOD HATH SAID, ‘YE SHALL NOT EAT

THEREOF, NOT SHALL YE TOUCH IT, LAST YE DIE”

Explanation with Reference to the Context:

These selective lines have been extracted from an epic poem “Paradise Lost” Book 9, written
by John Milton. This epic poem has been written on the theme of the fall of Adam and Eve; as a
result of tasting the fruit of the forbidden tree. In the selective lines under discussion, Eve talks to
Satan who has come before her in the guise of a serpent in the garden of Eden. Finding her alone,
he excites and allures her to taste the fruit of the tree planted in the middle of the garden. In the
response to Satan’s earlier address to her, Eve replies that God has commanded us not to eat the
fruit of this tree. She says that they have been allowed to eat the fruit of every tree in this garden,
but about the fruit of this beautiful and fair tree in the middle of the garden, God has commanded
us by saying: “You shall not eat it; nor shall you touch it, lest you should die”. Eve means to say
that if they taste or eat the fruit of this tree, their this act may bring an act of death in them; and
they may not live long after this.

Paragraph No.5
 SPACE MAY PRODUCE NEW WORLDS;

WHERE OF SO RIFE THERE WENT A FAME IN HEAVEN THAT ERE LONG.

INTENDED TO CREATE, AND THERIN PLANT

A GENERATEION WHOM HIS CHOICE REGARD.

SHOULD FAVOUR EQUAL TO THE SONS OF HEAVEN.

Explanation with reference to the context:

The selective lines have been extracted from a long narrative poem “Paradise Lost”. Book I,
written by John Milton. The subject or theme of this epic poem revolves around the fall of
Adam and Eve after eating the fruit of the forbidden tree. In his earlier address to the fallen
angels, Satan has already pointed out by saying that their previous defeat was due to the untried
force of God. He further apprehends that now they might not be able to win an open war. In the
selective lines under reference, Satan talk about the current humour in Heaven that God plans to
create a new race equal in favour to the sons of Heaven. Here, Satan gets his followers intended
to renew a revolt against God and for this, they all must visit to the world of the new race for
having a detailed survey of it. The hidden intention of them here is an exercise of fraud and guile
on this new race to avenge themselves. Actually, Satan excites his Flowers or comrades by
saying that they will not tolerate their imprisonment in the infernal pit into which they have been
fallen by God. Being celestial spirits, this place will not be suitable for them.

Paragraph No.6

EARTH FELT THE WOUND, AND NATURE FROM HER SEAT.

SIGHING THROUGH ALL HER WORKS GAVE SIGNS OF WOE,THAT ALL WAS LOST

Explanation with reference to the context:

These lines have been extracted from the Book 9 of “Paradise Lost”, written by John Milton.
In these lines under reference, Milton says that Satanic false and baseless argumentation of
eating the fruit overcome Eve’s reasoning and she eagerly and keenly plucks and eats the fruit.
Her this very act not only brings their fall but also a fall for all life on the earth. After her sinful
act, Adam sees that the flowers he had picked for her had withered. Eve’s sinful act also affects
the whole nature and she sighs through all her objects. Satan in the guise of serpent, slipped
away secretly after achieving his vicious aim. The action of eating the forbidden fruit also
showed its effect and Eve started acquiring the wisdom of differentiating between the good and
the bad. She even thought that she might attain God-head that showed her to be guilty of the sin
of gluttony.

Paragraph No.7

IF THEM HIS PROVIDENCE

OUT OF OUR EVIL SEEK TO BRING FORTH GOOD,

OUR LABOUR MUST BE TO PERVERT THAT END,

AND OUT OF GOODS STILL TO FIND MEANS OF EVIL;

Explanation with Reference to the Context:

These lines have been extracted from Book 1 of «Paradise Lost” written by John Milton. We
know that in his first speech Satan stresses on the angelic qualities; immortality and
determination of his followers and asserts of waging an endless war against the tyrannical God.
After listening to the first speech of Satan, Beelzebub replies that the spirits are immortal and
with soon recover their diminished strength, but expresses his fear that God may use them as his
thralls by the right of war and may employ them in his own service. In the response to the
apprehensions of Beelzebub, Satan says that now, his and his own follower’s every effort will go
against God’s designs and they all will always convert good into evil. Satan further speaks about
the providence of God and asserts that if God’s providence aims at bringing good out of their
evil then they must try their best to prevent this attempt and bring evil out of good. Satan has
dead sure that they all will certainly succeed in their efforts of upsetting God’s designs and his
actions. Now, there is no doubt in saying that Satan’s arguments always show incarnate evil
because he thinks nothing else except of evil. It is also very evident now that once he has chosen
the path of wickedness, he never ever wants to depart from it. He is absolutely an embodiment of
pride and vanity.

Paragraph No.8

TRICE HE ASSAYED, AND THRICE, IN SPITE OF SCORN

TEARS, SUCH AS ANGELS WEEP, BURST FORTH: AT LAST

WORDS INTERWOVE WITH SIGHS FOUND OUT THEIR WAY;

Explanation with Reference to the context:

These lines have been extracted from Book 1 of “Paradise Lost” written by John Milton. In
this long narrative and epic poem, John Milton tells about the fall of Adam and Eve from the
Heaven. It was caused due to man’s disobedience to Allah’s command of not eating the fruit of
forbidden tree. In the form of serpent, Satan excited or tempted Eve after finding her alone in the
Garden of Eden. After being tempted by Satan, Eve plucked the fruit of the forbidden tree with
her own hands and ate it relishly. After eating it, she goaded or persuaded Adam to eat it so that
they both may remain companions in eating it.

Explanation:

In the selective lines under reference, Satan and his followers are describing their past glory in
heaven. Later, their glory and charms of body were lost due to Satan’s disobedience to the
command (orders) of Allah. Satan observed that even with the faded glory of their bodies, his -
followers were still loyal and devoted to him. As Satan intended to address them, they all came
close to one another and circled around Satan. They all have prepared themselves attentive to
listen to the speech of Satan. Thrice, he attempted, and thrice though he hated him strongly for
such weakness, in an angelic manner, he started weeping and tears started falling from his eyes.
As a result, words mingled with sighs and grieves for finding out their way.
Paragraph No.9

Of Man's first disobedience, and the fruit

Of that forbidden tree whose mortal taste
Brought death into the World,

REFERENCE
(i) Poem: Paradise Lost
(ii) Poet: John Milton
CONTEXT
(i) Occurrence: Book I (Lines 1-3/798)
(ii) Content: Satan lies dazed in a lake of fire that is totally dark. Next to him is Beelzebub,
Satan's second-in-command. Satan speaks to him and laments their current state. Satan suggests
that they should leave the burning lake and find shelter on a distant shore. Beelzebub asks Satan
to summon his armies. Satan takes up his armor and calls to his legions to join him on land. He
addresses his legions and commits himself to continue his fight against God.
EXPLANATION
In these lines the poet describes the result of Man's first disobedience. The word "of" is a
generative case. It echoes how the events described in the work brought forth the rest of mankind
as we know it today. The words "Man's first disobedience" foretell the theme of the poem. In the
Western traditions, the very first line or even words of the poem are often used as a sort of a
frame; the essence of the work, the main theme and pivot. Thus the Iliad begins with "Anger
(menis) of Achilles", the Odyssey with "The ingenious (polu-tropos) man" and Dante's Divine
Comedy with "Midway on the road of our life". "Forbidden Tree" is a reference, obviously, to
Adam and Eve being tempted by the serpent in the Garden of Eden to eat the forbidden fruit.
When they relished the "mortal taste" of this fruit; sin, mortality and woe entered the world, and
they were cast out of Paradise.

JOHN DONNE

My face in thine eye, thine in mine appears,

And true plain hearts do in the faces rest;
Where can we finde two better hemispheares
Without sharpe north, without declining west?

REFERENCE
(i) Poem: The Good-Morrow
(ii) Poet: John Donne
CONTEXT
(i) Occurrence: Stanza 3 (Lines 15-18 / 21)
(ii) Content: This poem is considered to be one of the best poems belonging to the metaphysical
school of poetry. It describes the poet's profligate past and his present spiritual awakening. The
subject is love, love seen as an intense, absolute experience, which isolates the lovers from
reality and gives them a different kind of awareness; a simultaneous narrowing and widening of
reality. This perfect love is immortal and it makes the lovers immortal too.
EXPLANATION
In these lines the poets talks about the unique beauty of the love which he and his beloved,
Anne Moore, share. Face-to-face with his lover, the poet sees his own face reflected in her eyes
and assumes that she can see his too. It demonstrates a spiritual bond between them. Gazing into
her eyes, the poet claims that emotional honesty resides in the face. The pure love in their hearts
is written in their eyes and the expression of their mouths. The poets then puts a rhetorical
question about their hearts, using a conceit to compare them to two separated hemispheres. Sure,
the world has its own hemispheres, but those are an inferior product. The heart-hemispheres are
perfectly designed and perfectly matched. With no cold wintry north, these hearts are full of
warm southern love; and with no west, where the sun sets every day, bringing darkness to the
world, they hold nothing but constancy and light. Thus the lovers world is out of this world, so it
does not have the same problems as the real world has, it is utopic perfect.

“IF OUR TWO LOVES BE ONE, OR THOU AND I

LOVE SO ALIKE, THAT NONE DO SLACKEN,

NON CAN DIE”

Explanation with Reference to the Context:

These lines have been extracted from the love poem of “The Good Marrow” in the John
Donne’s book of “Love and Divine Poems in Metaphysical Poetry”. In these given lines under
reference, Donne says that a lover tells his beloved that his face is reflected in her eyes and
likewise her face is seen in his eyes. It is very aptly said that one’s face reflects one’s inner
heart’s. feelings whether these are pure or innocent. A lover considers himself and his beloved as
two hemispheres which are better than the geographical hemispheres because their first
hemisphere is without the standing North Pole and second one is without the declining West. So,
he is of the view that their love is not subject to the changes of weather or time. We know that
their constituents are not mixed proportionately yet, the lover and the beloved are the same
because they are similar in all aspects and as such none of them will die. Their mutual love will
be forever because it is free from all kinds of decreasing, declining and withering aspects.
Paragraph No: 2

OF THE FRUIT

OF EACH TREE IN THE GARDEN WE MAY EAT,

BUT OF THE FRUIT OF THIS FAIR TREE A MIDST

THE GARDEN, GOD HATH SAID, ‘YE SHALL NOT EAT

THEREOF, NOT SHALL YE TOUCH IT, LAST YE DIE”

Explanation with Reference to the Context:

These lines have been taken from a love poem “The Extasie” written by John Donne. Donne
has written this love poem in metaphysical poetry. Being an ardent lover, he has very beautifully
and aptly defined love in its various contents. He talks about human love in a metaphysical vein.
Here, in the lines under reference, he tells us that if any lover who claims to be an ardent lover
like Donne himself and has heard this discourse, let him look carefully at them. He is of the view
that after their pure love when they go back to their bodies, he will find no change in them. The
reason being, they will never resort to physical sex again: Here, their love is of spiritual kind.
Apart from the union of their bodies, there is also a spiritual union of the souls of both lovers.
Here, Donne has very beautifully shifted quickly, from the physical level to the spiritual level. In
this very love poem, we, being the readers, find a difference between the spiritual reality, and the
physical level when the lovers suddenly return to their original bodies after the world of ecstasy.

Paragraph No: 3

IF THEY BE TWO, THEY ARE TWO SO

AS STIFFE TWIN COMPASSES ARE TWO

TO MORE, BUT DOTH, IF THE OTHER DOE.

Explanation with reference to the context:

These selective lines have been extracted from a love poem of “A Valediction Forbidding
Mourning” written by John Donne. In these selective lines under reference, the poet who is a
mouthpiece of a lover utters that his and his beloved’s souls are not one but two, even so, they
are like the compass. Like the compass, they have one central point and two sides which move in
a circle. The fixed foot of the compass may not appear to rotate when the other foot revolves.
However when one foot moves in a circle, the öther foot remains fixed in the centre while the
other revolves, the first foot also. leaves and stands erect after completing its rotation. Then the
two feet get closed at the central point and stand erect. He means to say that he and his beloved
are two feet of the compass meeting together at the centre of love. The lover further argues that
his beloved will be like the fixed foot of the compass, because she is staying at home while he is
like the other foot of the compass which revolves in a circle. So, his beloved will incline towards
him and her firmness will only strengthen his love. At the end of the poem, the poet further
explicates his point of view and utters that as the revolving foot of the compass returns to the
central point after completing the circle, similarly, the poet will also return to his beloved and
hence they will be united in pure love forever.

Paragraph No: 4

AND THOUGH IT IN THE CENTER SIT,

YET WHEN THE OTHER FAR DOTH ROME,

IT LEANS AND HEARKENS AFTER IT,

AND GROWES ERECET, AS THAT COMES HOME.

Reference to the context:

These lines occur in the stanza 8 of the renowned love poem “ A Valediction: Forbidding
Mourning” by John Donne. In this poem, Donne being an ardent lover, regards or thinks his
love sacred and holy. He regards his and his beloved’s love more sacred than the love of worldly
people, Worldly people’s love can’t stand physical separation but their love can. First he
compares his pure love to a piece of gold beaten which expands for producing a gold leaf. For
him, this expansion is an extension of love.

Explanation:

In the selective ice lines under discussion, Donne regards his and his beloved’s souls like
compass. Both are not one but two, the fixed foot of the compass may not be seen moving, when
the other foot is revolving. As the fact is concerned, when one foot rotates or moves in a circle,
the other ‘foot also moves in a point. The first foot of the compass may remain stand still in the
center while the other moves, yet the first one also leaves and stands erect after finishing its
movement. After completing the rotation, the two feet get closed at the central point and stand
erect. Donne is of the firm belief here that he and his beloved are two feet of the compass
meeting together at the center of love.

RAPE OF THE LOCK

What moved my mind with youthful lords to roam?

Oh, had I stayed, and said my prayers at home!
’Twas this the morning omens seemed to tell;
Thrice from my trembling hand the patch-box fell

Reference to the Context:

These lines have been extracted from Canto IV of the poem “The Rape of the Lock” written
by Alexander Pope. Pope wrote this heroic couplet on a very trivial subject of rape of the lock
of Belinda by a barren. Here, Pope explains to us about Belinda’s regret over her loss of a lock of
her hair.

Before the cutting of the lock. Belinda was very conscious about look and fashion. But after the
loss of her lock, she started imaging that it would be difficult for her to live in a society. It is
disgraceful for her among of fashionable and aristocratic men and women.

Explanation:
She also bitterly started regretting and thinking. It would have been better if she had not visited
among the young peer barons and men of high-class on that day. Belinda wished to has been
remained at any far-off place. Where young barons and peers did not play at Ombre, nor took
tea. She farther expressed that she would have been far happier if she had been unseen and
unknown in some far-off land. She battery condemned the lure of court life which caused her
blot of defaming on her chastity in the form of rape of her hair.

According to her, it was the lure of Hampton court that tempted her to move in the company of
young barons. Where everyone is busy to play card game. She longed that if she would have
remained at home was best. She said her prayers instead of going out, the whole incident of
defame would never have occurred. Besides it, she also remembered the omens in the morning
appeared to foretell. The patch-box dropped from her trembling hand thrice; even Poll remained
calm, the porcelain jar shook though there was no wind and the lapdog Shock behaved in a quite
cruel manner.

In short, we can say that Belinda realized her mistake. It is battery and deeply realizes that if she
had taken the omens in the morning so seriously. May she moved consciously in the Whole day.
And the all incidents of defaming and loss of lock of hair would never have occurred.

Then flashed the living lightning from her eyes,

And screams of horror rend the affrighted skies.

Not louder shrieks to pitying heaven are cast,

When husbands or lap-dogs breathe their last.”

Explanation with Reference to the Context:

These selective lines have been taken from Canto III of “The Rape of the Lock” written
by Alexander Pope. A deep analysis of these lines shows that the poet describes the effect of the
rashness which was implied on the lady’s hair by Lord Petre. As soon as Belinda came to know
of cutting the lock of hair from her head, she became mad with anger and rage and expressed her
acute temperament of violation. Her eyes became red or full with anger like a live lightning
flash. She cried so loudly that even the sky tore to bits by the angry violent and piercing shrieks
of the distressed lady. The Pope further says that such kind of louder shrieks could not be
listened to even when ladies had lost their husbands or their lapdogs. Nor such kind of louder
cries could be sent to the sky even when the ladies bewailed over the fall of costly china vessels
which broke into bright and fine particles and mingled with the dust on the ground. Actually, the
Pope here is rebuking or criticizing the shallowness of the ladies of aristocratic class of his time;
for when, the breakage of a piece of crockery or the death of a favourite lap-dog was as serious
as the death of a husband.

“Forever cursed be this detested day,.

Which snatch'd my best, my favourite curl away!

Happy, ah, ten times happy had I been,.

If Hampton Court these eyes had not seen.”

Reference to the context:

These lines have been selected from the Canto IV of the long narrative poem “The Rape of the
Lock” written by Alexander Pope. Most of the time, the action of the poem revolves around the
rape of Belinda’s lock by a baren. Belinda being a pretty girl and having curly locks on her head;
attracts the attention of young folk. Being a social butterfly, she is very much fond of visiting the
public places and gatherings of aristocratic families. One baren becomes an ardent lover of her
locks of hair and wants to have one of them at any cost. In his ambition of having it, one day he
succeeds in cutting one of the precious locks of Belinda on the day when Belinda pays her
regular visit at Hampton-court, a place of public gatherings.

Explanation:

In the selective lines under discussion, Belinda shows her repentance and regret after cutting of
her one of the locks by an ambitious barren. She bitterly curses the very day when she went to
play her visit at Hampton-court. She calls her Snatched lock as the most beautiful and pretty
lock. She further utters her wish by saying that she had been ten time happy and glad she would
not have visited the deceiving place on the very ill-day.