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Student's Companion To Moping Melncholy PDF
Student's Companion To Moping Melncholy PDF
English
for
Classical Studies
A Student’s Companion to
Moping Melancholy Mad
An Introduction to Poetry
by Robert W. Watson
Copyright © Watson Educational Services, Inc., 2006
All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any
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Moping Melancholy Mad: An Introduction to Poetry /
Reading Assignments: Your readings are from the text, Moping Melancholy
Mad: An Introduction to Poetry. Poetry is not like reading a comic book or a
magazine. You must take your time and carefully read the selections.
Questions: The study guide is designed to help you to understand what you have
read and to provide exercises to increase your appreciation for poetry.
Admittedly, some of the material will be difficult. However, your student guide
should lead you to most of the correct answers. If you are stumped, then ask your
teacher.
Remember this very important fact: poetry is not an academic exercise that only
enriches the mind; poetry is for the heart and soul. Therefore, you must
experience the verse.
ROBERT W. WATSON
1.1 Vocabulary
victual n. [note pronunciation in glossary]
melancholy adj.
1.2 Vocabulary Exercise: Circle the word that does not belong with the other words.
1. victual rascal food provision
2. melancholy sad gloomy cheerful
3. Why do some works endure from age to age and continue to be read by every generation
even though multitudes of books have been written?
Note: The setting for “Terence, This Is Stupid Stuff” is in a public house, or “pub.”
5. What is the “stupid stuff” in line 1?
2 / Moping Melancholy Mad: An Introduction to Poetry
6. Terence’s friends say that Terence seems to be a normal guy for two reasons. What are
these two reasons? (lines 2-4)
11. While being drunk for awhile is “pleasant,” what is the problem with drinking? (line 28)
12. While Terence was drunk, what two things did he think? (lines 33-34)
13. Whenever he was drunk, where did Terence sleep? (line 35)
14. When he wakes up, what did Terence discover? (lines 38-39)
15. Terence learns that after “a night on the town,” he was the same, except for what? (line 40)
16. For the person who drinks in order to cope with troubles, what is the only solution? (lines
41-42)
Note: Terence in lines 15-42 effectively shows that drinking is not the way to deal with
daily troubles.
17. While the “sun and moon endure,” what is possible? (line 46)
20. In line 51, what is the “stem” that “scored the hand”?
Moping Melancholy Mad: An Introduction to Poetry / 3
23. The king was afraid that he would die by what method? (line 62)
24. What does the king do to prevent his death? (lines 63-66)
Note: Inoculation is the method by which one is injected with a small dose of a disease in
order to be protected against the actual disease; such as, Small Pox vaccinations.
25. Does the king die after eating arsenic and drinking strychnine?
Note: The point is that a little dose of sadness found in some poetry will help us later when
the real trials and troubles come our way.
2.1 Vocabulary
sonorous adj.
desideratum n.
nonchalance n.
circumscription n.
tempestuous adj.
denouement n.
epoch n.
emblematical adj.
2.2 Vocabulary Exercise: Circle the word that does not belong with the other words.
1. sonorous resonant unwilling vibrant
2. desideratum necessity essential platform
3. nonchalance casualness motive informality
4. circumscription circle stricture constraint
5. tempestuous blustery violent tempting
6. denouement resolution deportment end result
7. epoch elegy age era
8. emblematical mysterious token symbolic
8. Before Poe decided on using a Raven in his poem, what other bird did he first consider?
10. At which point does Poe begin writing his poem—at the beginning, in the middle, or toward
the end?
11. What are the two reasons that Poe gives for writing at this point first?
Note: Pallas Athene (Athena) is the Greek goddess of wisdom and war who sprang fully
grown from Zeus’s head. As patroness of Athens, Pallas Athene protected legendary heroes
such as Odysseus. In peacetime she taught men agriculture, law, shipbuilding and all the
crafts of civilization. The Romans identified her with Minerva.
12. At the end of the poem, the reader discovers that the Raven becomes a symbol for what?
3. According to C. Day Lewis, the inclusion of what makes the difference between poetry and
science?
5. What are the two similes found in “I Wandered Lonely As a Cloud”? (lines 1 and 7)
6 / Moping Melancholy Mad: An Introduction to Poetry
9. In line 18, the poet states that the sight of these daffodils was a “wealth.” Why? (line 23)
10. In “What is Our Life,” the poet states that our lives is a what?
15. Even though life may be a comedy and a joke, what do we all in earnest? (line 10)
Note: Notice how the poet humiliates Death by making him human. In ways does Donne
achieve this humiliation?
17. John Donne was a Christian. What is the meaning of line 4?
20. The poet uses a metaphor is line 9. What is Death identified as?
21. Death keeps bad company. With whom does he dwell? (line 10)
22. What two things can make us sleep as well as Death? (lines 11-12)
4.1 Vocabulary
pied adj.
usurp v.
enthrall v.
languid adj.
runic adj.
tintinnabulation n.
palpitate v.
monody n.
paean n.
4.2 Vocabulary Exercise: Circle the word that does not belong with the other words.
1. pied spotted brindled musical
2. usurp replace uphold overthrow
3. enthrall enrapture captivate astonish
4. languid melodious listless sluggish
5. runic magical mysterious ruddy
6. tintinnabulation ringing hue and cry jingling
7. palpitate account throb quiver
8. monody ode elegy harmony
9. paean song serf hymn
3. In line 5?
4. In line 7?
5. In line 9?
7. In line 3?
8. In Paradise Lost, what did Satan expect to hear from his band of fallen angels?
14. There are at least three examples of alliteration in this excerpt. On what lines are they
found?
15. In “Holy Sonnet X,” how does the poet name the Trinity?
Note: What are some of the words that give the effect that the poet wants the Lord to take
him by force?
Note: In “The Lotos-Eaters,” notice the sleepy, dreamlike effect of the poem. Do not fall
asleep!
21. What sounds create this “dreamy” effect?
Note: The Lotus-Eaters are mentioned in Homer’s Odyssey, the legendary inhabitants of the
North coast of Africa. The Lotus-Eaters lived on the fruit and flowers of the lotus tree,
which drugged them into happy forgetfulness.
Moping Melancholy Mad: An Introduction to Poetry / 9
25. In lines 1-14 of “The Bells,” what predominant sounds are used to create the effect of sleigh
bells? [hint: see line 14]
27. In lines 15-35, what sounds help the effect of “mellow wedding-bells”? [hint: see line 35]
Note: Notice how the tempo of the words are slower in these lines. In lines 36-69, are the
sounds soft or harsh? [hint: guess which line!]
28. What are some of the sounds that create this effect?
30. In lines 70-112, the iron bells are slowly ringing away time. What sounds are used to create
this slowness? [hint: that’s right! Line 112]
10 / Moping Melancholy Mad: An Introduction to Poetry
5.1 Vocabulary
elegy n.
pique n.
3. When we divide the natural rhythm of our speech into equal units, we call this what?
4. What is “verse”?
5. Placing stress marks above the words in a line of poetry is called what?
6. What is the surprise ending in “An Elegy on the Death of a Mad Dog”?
Note: The stanza (see chapter 6) used in “An Elegy” is called a Ballad. Most of our gospel
songs and hymns use this stanza. Just for fun, sing this poem to the tune of “Amazing
Grace” or “Gilligan’s Island.”
7. In “The Tyger,” what alliterations are found in lines 1 and 4?
Note: You should get the sense that this is no ordinary tiger.
8. In line 17, who do you think are the “stars”? (see Revelation 12:7-9)
Note: William Blake not only was a poet, he was an artist as well. Blake illustrated many of
his books of poetry.
Note: Read the Biblical account of Sennacherib in 2 Kings 18:13-19:37
10. What are the similes in Stanza 1 of “The Destruction of Sennacherib.”
What are the multi-syllable words? Pleasure, dances and daffodils. Where is the stress on
plea-sure? On the first syllable, right? Okay, now dan-ces. First syllable again. Now daf-fo-dils.
First and third. All of the selections here have feet that have two syllables. So divide the lines
like this:
Go ahead and scan the rest of the lines above. We identify both lines as iambic tetrameter
(four iambs in the line). You will find the names of the metric lines on page 29 of your text.
12 / Moping Melancholy Mad: An Introduction to Poetry
Silver bells—
How many feet are in the last three lines immediately above?
What foot is used in these lines?
6.1 Vocabulary
wield v.
puissance n.
palfrey n.
vestal n.
liquefaction n.
6.2 Vocabulary Exercise: Circle the word that does not belong with the other other words.
1. wield enlist brandish flourish
2. puissance vigor brawniness opportunity
3. palfrey brook stream bourn
4. vestal chaste bay innocent
5. liquefaction liquefying icing fluidity
2. The poet uses which form of sonnet for “Sonnet I”—Italian or English?
3. If Theocritus was Greek, what “antique tongue” was the poet reading?
6. In “Sonnet LXI,” the poet asks whether two things of his wife keeps him awake at night.
What are they? (lines 1 and 5)
8. In “The Faerie Queene,” find an example of alliteration and consonance in lines 1-4.
Note: “Yclad” (line 2) and “ydrad” (line 18) are very old expressions for “clad” and
“dreaded.”
9. What color of cross did the knight wear?
16. In “Eloisa to Abelard,” what lines suggest that Eloisa is in a convent (nunnery)?
19. Why does she say that she is “unmov’d, and silent grown”? [hint: remember—Eloisa is a
nun]
20. Why is she not yet stone like the statutes? (line 25-26)
21. Eloisa wants to love God fully and even tries what to remove the remembrance of Abelard?
(line 27)
Note: Remember, poets may drop the last syllable on the trochaic foot. If the number of
syllables in the line is an odd number (like the lines immediately above ), then round up to
the next even number to get the number of syllables. Then divide by “two” to find the
number of feet in the line (in this case, “four” feet).
16 / Moping Melancholy Mad: An Introduction to Poetry
7.1 Vocabulary
cordial adj.
wold n.
eddy n.
greaves n.
baldric n.
7.2 Vocabulary Exercise: Circle the word that does not belong with the other words.
1. cordial sincere friendly strong
2. wold haystack plain moor
3. eddy current whirlpool drift
4. greaves mendicant beggar moocher
5. baldric sword bugle shield
2. What tells us that the faces are not clearly seen by the poet?
The ap-pa-ri-tion of these fa-ces in the crowd;
Pe-tals on a wet, black bough.
3. What does the rhythm of the above lines sound like? [Think what you might hear at a train
station]
4. In “The Collar,” what meanings are there when the poet says, “I struck the board”?
Note: In the word, “Child,” what multiple meanings are wrapped into this expression when
spoken by the Lord?
Moping Melancholy Mad: An Introduction to Poetry / 17
6. So, what do you think,—did George Herbert quit the ministry? (see line 36)
Note: In “The Lady of Shalott,” Tennyson uses a lot of alliteration. Try to identify as many
as you can as you read the poem.
Note: The Lady of Shalott is a symbol for a poet. As you read the poem, ask yourself,
“What is the poet’s relationship to the world?”
11. To where does the road in line 4 go?
13. Does this fact suggest that the Lady is a part of the world or isolated from the world?
14. Who are the only ones who know of the Lady’s existence?
16. If the Lady symbolizes a poet, then what does her weaving in line 37 represent?
Note: In line 38, the Lady weaves a “magic web with colours gay.” Notice Tennyson’s use
of colors throughout the poem.
17. It is rumored that if the Lady looks at Camelot, a curse will come upon her. Does she know
what the curse is? (line 42)
18. With what does the Lady view the world? (line 46)
20. Who comes one day riding next to the Island of Shalott?
23. What happens when the Lady looks out the window? (lines 114-115)
24. What is significant about the cracking of the mirror? In other words, what is the poet forced
to do since there is no longer a mirror through which to see the world?
25. The Lady comes down to the river bank and finds what?
28. What happens to the Lady before she reaches her destination?
29. What is the significance of Lancelot’s saying, “She has a lovely face.”
Note: This poem can have a couple of meanings. No surprise, right? First, in order to
correctly portray the world, the poet must die to himself and remove himself from his
isolation. The second meaning is that the poet is seldom appreciated in his lifetime, but after
his what?
Note: In the legends of King Arthur, the Lady of Shalott is Elaine. Elaine took care of Sir
Lancelot, when the knight became insane. Elaine loved Lancelot greatly. But, after the
knight’s health is restored, Lancelot abandons Elaine because of his loyalty to Guinevere.
Heart-broken, Elaine floats down the river to Camelot and dies.
Moping Melancholy Mad: An Introduction to Poetry / 19
8.1 Vocabulary
surcease v.
obeisance n.
plutonian adj.
dirge n.
gaunt adj.
quaff v.
nepenthe n.
writhe v.
8.3 Reading Assignment: Moping Melancholy Mad: An Introduction to Poetry, Chapter 8, pp.
44–47
2. There are numerous alliterations in this poem. When you locate one, underline it.
7. What does the narrator find when he opens the door? (line 24)
10. What is symbolic of the bust of Pallas? [hint: what is the occupation of the narrator?]
13. From your reading “The Philosophy of Composition,” you learned that the raven
symbolizes “Mournful and never ending Remembrance.” What is significant with the
raven’s “Nevermore” in line 60?
14. What is the significance of the question in line 89? In other words, does the narrator believe
there is a balm?
15. Does the narrator ever believe that he will ever see Lenore in the world to come?
16. Irony is stating the opposite of what is actually meant. What is ironic about line 99?
17. Will the soul of the narrator ever cease from sorrow? (line 108)
Moping Melancholy Mad: An Introduction to Poetry / 21
9.1 Vocabulary
wight n.
hostler n.
9.2 Vocabulary Exercise: Circle the word that does not belong with the other words.
1. wight person man spirit
2. hostler groom innkeeper stable hand
9.3 Reading Assignment: Moping Melancholy Mad: An Introduction to Poetry, Chapter 8, pp.
48-53
2. What name does the poet give the fish in line 10?
3. The poet calls the fish “staring wights.” In “A Fish Answers,” what reason does the fish
give for his staring?
4. Humans do not have tails, but are “Grimly divided from the breast below.” What do we call
this division?
6. In “The Highwayman,” find the metaphors and similes; when you find one, underline it.
11. What does the highwayman tell Bess that he was going to do?
12. How do you suppose the redcoats knew about the highwayman coming the next day?
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16. On line 62, what is the effect of the cacophony used there?
17. Name some of the symbols for death found in “The Highwayman.”
18. In the “Charge of the Light Brigade,” what effect does the rhythm have on the poem?
baldric (bôl“dr¹k) n. Richly, ornamented war belt for hold a sword or bugle
circumscription (sûr”k…m-skr¹p“sh…n) n. The limitation, boundary, confinement
cordial (kôr“j…l) adj. Hearty, sincere, warm, affectionate
denouement (d³”n›-mä’“) n. Unraveling or revealing of the plot
desideratum (d¹-s¹d”…-r³“t…m) n. Something considered necessary or highly desirable
dirge (dûrj) n. Song or tune to express grief
eddy (μd“¶) n. Circular motion of water or air
elegy (μl“…-j¶) n. Mournful poem or funeral song
emblematical (μm”bl…-m²t“¹k) adj. Serving as an emblem; symbolic
enthrall (μn-thrôl“)v. To hold spellbound; captivate; to enslave
epoch (μp“…k or ¶“p¼k”) n. Any fixed period of time
gaunt (gônt) adj. Meager, slender; thin
greaves (gr¶vz) n. Boots; armor for legs
hostler (h¼s“l…r) n. Person who cares for horses at an inn
jocund (j¼k“…nd) adj. Merry, lively, sportive
languid (l²ng“gw¹d) adj. Drooping, feeble; dull, slow
liquefaction (l¹k”w…-f²k“sh…n) n. Conversion from solid to liquid; melting
melancholy (mμl“…n-k¼l”¶) adj. Gloomy, sad; depressed
monody (m¼n“…-d¶) n. Poem or song by one person only
nepenthe (n¹-pμn“th¶) n. Drug that takes away pain or grief
nonchalance (n¼n”sh…-läns“) n. Carefree, cool, indifferent
obeisance (½-b³“s…ns) n. Bow or curtsey; an act of reverence
paean (p¶“…n) n. Song of triumph or rejoicing
palfrey (pôl“fr¶) n. Small horse for ladies or gentlemen
palpitate (p²l“p¹-t³t”) v. To tremble, shake, or quiver; to beat with excessive rapidity; throb
pied (pºd) adj. Spotted with different colors
pique (p¶k) n. Offense taken, irritation or anger at someone
plutonian (pl›-t½“n¶-…n) adj. Of or like the infernal regions
puissance (pw¹s“…ns) n. Power; might; strength
quaff (kw¼f) v. Drink with gusto and luxuriously
runic (r›“n¹k) adj. A character in another alphabet, sometimes believed to have magic powers;
a poem or an incantation of mysterious significance, especially a magic charm
sonorous (s…-nôr“…s) adj. Clear, loud sounding
surcease (sûr“s¶s”) v. Cease, stop; be at an end
tempestuous (tμm-pμs“ch›-…s) adj. Blowing with violence, stormy, turbulent
tintinnabulation (t¹n”t¹-n²b”y…-l³“sh…n) n. Sounding of bells
usurp (y›-sûrp“) v. Seize or hold in possession by force
vestal (vμs“t…l) adj. Pure, chaste
victual (v¹t“l) n. Food, sustenance, meat, provision
wield (w¶ld) v. To handle; to use with full power
wight (wºt) n. A man, a person
24 / Moping Melancholy Mad: An Introduction to Poetry