Lesson 1: Old English

Literature
Topics
1. Cædmon's Hymn
2. Beowulf
3. The Wanderer
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:
1. show understanding of English Literature during the Old English
Period;
2. determine the literary devices used in the literatures; and
3. display appreciation of the literary pieces through a reflection.

OVERVIEW OF OLD ENGLISH LITERATURE

In its most basic definition, Old English is the language spoken and
written by the Germanic inhabitants of England. Their contributions to the
history of letters begins in the 5th century and dates until the very end of the
11th century. Also called "Anglo-Saxon," Old English is the language in which
all literature from what was then known as England was written.
Old English poetry is typically characterized in two ways. There is the
heroic poetry of the Germanic pre-Christian period, which was largely of an
oral tradition. There is also the Christian variety. Historically, the Saxons had
a tradition of oral poetry, but it was the advent of Christianity that offered the
opportunity to place these stories down in writing.
St. Bede the Venerable, in his Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum
(“Ecclesiastical History of the English People”), wrote that in the late 7th
century Caedmon, an illiterate Northumbrian cowherd, was inspired in a
dream to compose a short hymn in praise of the creation. Caedmon later
composed verses based on Scripture, which was expounded for him by
monks at Streaneshalch (now called Whitby), but only the “Hymn of Creation”
survives.
In almost every surviving case, the Old English poetry that has
survived is limited to epic stories of battles fought and won and enemies
defeated. The most famous of these and one of the oldest remaining pieces
of Old English literature is the epic poem "Beowulf."

TOPIC 1: Cædmon's Hymn

Background Spotlight
Ecclesiastical History of the English People is written by The Venerable
Bede who is considered as the Father of English history and regarded as the
greatest Anglo-Saxon scholar (Alido, 2013). According to
penguinrandomhouse.com, Bede’s Ecclesiastical History of the English
People is the first account of Anglo-Saxon England ever written, and remains
our single most valuable source for this period. Bede’s narration begins with
Julius Caesar’s invasion in the first century BC and goes on to tell of the kings
and bishops, monks and nuns who helped to develop government and
convert the people to Christianity during these crucial formative years.
Relating the deeds of great men and women but also describing landscape,
customs and ordinary lives, this is a rich, vivid portrait of an emerging church
and nation.
Bede also provided description of Cædmon, who is regarded as the
earliest named English poet. Cædmon is an unlearned cowherd Cædmon who
who lived at the Abbey of Whitby. All of Cædmon's poems are lost, but Bede
does describe one of them, which is known as Cædmon's Hymn. At the end of
his version of the text, Bede cautions that, 'this is the sense but not the order
of the words which he sang as he slept. For it is not possible to translate
verse, however well composed, literally from one language to another
without some loss of beauty and dignity'. (British Library).

Cædmon's Hymn
(translation by Elaine Treharne)

Now we ought to praise the

Guardian of the heavenly kingdom,
The might of the Creator and his
conception,
The work of the glorious Father, as
he of each of the wonders,
Eternal Lord, established the
beginning.
He first created for the sons of
men
Heaven as a roof, holy Creator;
Then the middle-earth, the
Guardian of mankind,

Today, Cædmon’s hymn may sound just like an ordinary prayer, especially
that it has undergone various translations. However, Cædmon’s hymn is still
considered as one of the treasure of Old English Literature as it has survived
over the centuries.
As we start our lesson in this subject, it is good that we begin it with a
prayer. Read the hymn again and as for your task, utter a short personal
prayer so you will be guided for the entire semester. Let’s proceed
immediately to our next lesson after your prayer. God bless, everyone!

TOPIC 2: Beowulf
Background Spotlight
Beowulf is the longest and greatest surviving Anglo-Saxon poem was
composed in England sometime in the eighth century ad and written down
circa1000 ad by a literate scop (bard) or perhaps a Christian scribe who was
possibly educated in a monastery.
Epic is a long narrative poem that tells about the adventures of a
protagonist who usually have strong powers.

Beowulf
(A Summary)

Beowulf, a mighty noble from Geatland (Sweden), Lines from the

arrives in Denmark to aid King Hrothgar rid a monster Epic:
called Grendel. He has fourteen hand-picked horsemen with
him and the King who regards them as God-sent welcomes "Twelve winters
them warmly. of grief for
Hrothgar, king/
Of the Danes,
sorrow heaped at
his door/ By hell-
forged hands,
His misery
 King Hrothgar lives in a Mead Hall called Heorot. It is
a symbol of warmth and comfort during the winter when
the outside is cold and harsh. The Danes love to feast and
this has annoyed Grendel and he visits the hall at night and
slaughters the King’s men. Beowulf tells his host to feast as
normal so as to attract Grendel. The plan works and the
monster is drawn to the hall by the noise and the delicious
odors of the meat. Grendel has a particular taste for men
and he thinks he will feast well again tonight. Grendel
arrives at the hall and Beowulf springs the trap. He is so
confident, that he faces this monster without weapons, but
unknown to him, the monster is immune to man’s weapons.
Beowulf will rely on his almost superhuman strength.

However, Grendel is a formidable force and he flies Lines from the

out with his feet and fists, knocking half a dozen of Epic:
Beowulf’s men to the floor. Grendel is now very angry. He
sees one of the men struggling on the ground and he picks "They have seen
him up and crushes him in his mouth and eats him. my strength for
Beowulf grasps Grendel’s wrist and his fingers close themselves,/ Have
round like a vice. He pulls with such force that he pulls the watched me rise
monster’s arm off. Grendel flees the hall, moaning, from the darkness
clutching his injured shoulder. Beowulf’s men are bruised of war,/ Dripping
and dazed, but once they recover, they set off in pursuit of with my enemies'
blood. I drove/ Five
the monster. By the light of the moon, they follow the trail
great giants into
of blood that leads to the edge of a small lake. The water is
chains, chased/ All
red and they assume that the monster has drowned. The of that race from
lake is the home of the monster and he has died, but the earth. I swam/
Grendel’s mother vows revenge on the killers of her son. In the blackness of
King Hrothgar holds a great feast in celebration of night, hunting
the victory over Grendel. Poets recite verses praising monsters/ Out of
Beowulf and his companions. the ocean, and
Suddenly, there is a mighty roar and at first they killing them one/
think it is Grendel that has returned, but it is his mother By one; death was
who roars at the men, cursing them for killing her son. She my errand and the
quickly kills one of the Thanes and retreats to her lair. fate/ They had
Beowulf follows and dives into the lake after her, and is earned. Now
Grendel and I are
then dragged down by Grendel’s mother. The monster
called/ Together,
takes Beowulf to her lair under the water and although she
and I've come."
is not as powerful as her son, she is highly motivated.
Inside the dry cave, Beowulf regains his senses and "My days/ have
finds, to his surprise, that he still has his sword. He draws gone as fate
this and attacks the monster, but his sword has no effect on willed, . . . / As I
the ogre. The mother moves to stab Beowulf with her knife, knew how,
but he wears stout armor and this protects him. Suddenly, swearing no
Beowulf sees another giant sword and this weapon is unholy oaths,/
magical, and he succeeds in decapitating the monster. The Seeking no lying
sword melts to its hilt and Beowulf returns to the lake’s wars. I can leave/
This life happy; I
surface carrying the head and the hilt of the sword.
can die, here,/
Finally, the Danes can celebrate the death of two
Knowing the Lord
monsters. of all life has
Beowulf returns to Geatland, having enhanced his never/ Watched me
reputation. wash my sword in
On the death of King Hygelac, and also his son, blood/ Born of my
Beowulf is named King of the Geats. He rules successfully own family."
for fifty years and then in his twilight years, a fiery dragon
ravages his land. The dragon carries out a campaign of
burning because someone has stolen part of his treasure, in
particular a valuable cup.
 Beowulf sets out with eleven men to find the
whereabouts of the dragon’s barrow. He insists on
challenging the dragon alone, but is soon in trouble and
one of his Knights, Wiglaf, aids his master. The pair kills the
dragon, but the mighty King is mortally wounded. Beowulf
leaves his Kingdom to Wiglaf, the only Knight to come to his
aid.
Beowulf is cremated on his funeral pyre overlooking
the sea, and then he is buried in a barrow containing the
dragon’s treasure. It is said that he still lies there with his
gold.

Activity

Task: Comprehension Check

Directions: After reading the story, answer the following questions:

1. What is Beowulf’s reason to visit the great hall of Hrotgar?
2. How many years did Grendel disturb the kingdom?
3. Why does Grendel always pester the kingdom?
4. How did Beowulf defeat Grendel?
5. What weapon did Beowulf use to kill Grendel’s mother?
6. How many years did Beowulf rule as a king?
7. What made the dragon grow fiery mad?
8. How did Beowulf defeat the dragon?
9. What makes Beowulf worthy of honor?
10. What lesson does the epic leave you?
TOPIC 3: The Wanderer
Background Spotlight
The Wanderer is an Old English poem preserved only in an anthology
known as the Exeter Book, a manuscript dating from the late 10th century. It
counts 115 lines of alliterative verse. As is often the case in Anglo-Saxon
verse, the composer and compiler are anonymous, and within the manuscript
the poem is untitled.
The Wanderer conveys the meditations of a solitary exile on his past
happiness as a member of his lord’s band of retainers, his present hardships
and the values of forbearance and faith in the heavenly Lord.

The Wanderer
Often the lonely receives love, The weary cannot control fate
The Creator’s help, though heavy Nor do bitter thoughts settle things.
with care The eager for glory often bind
Over the sea he suffers long Something bloody close to their
Stirring his hands in the frosty swell, breasts.
The way of exile. Fate never wavers.
“Wretched, I tie my heart with ropes
The wanderer spoke; he told his Far from my home, far from my
sorrows, kinsmen
The deadly onslaughts, the death of Since a hole in the ground hid my
the clan, chief
“At dawn alone I must Long ago. Laden with cares,
Mouth my cares; the man does not Weary, I crossed the confine of
live waves,
Whom I dare tell my depths Sought the troop of a dispenser of
Straight out. I see truth treasure,
In the lordly custom for the Far or near to find the man
courageous man Who knew my merits in the mead
To bind fast his breast, loyal hall,
To his treasure closet, thoughts Who would foster a friendless man,
aside.
Treat me to joys. He who has put it Never too hasty with feelings nor too
to a test hot with words
Knows how cruel a companion is Nor too weak as a warrior nor too
sorrow witlessly brash
For one who has few friendly Nor too fearful nor too ready nor too
protectors. greedy for reward
Exile guards him, not wrought gold, Nor even too feverish for boasting
A freezing heart, not the fullness of until testing his fibre.
the earth. A man should wait before he makes
He remembers warriors, the hall, a vow
rewards, Until, like a true warrior, he eagerly
How, as a youth, his friend honored tests
him at feasts, Which way the courage of his heart
The gold-giving prince. Joy has will course.
perished, The good warrior must understand
how ghostly it will be
“He knows how it is to suffer long When all this world of wealth stands
Without the beloved wisdom of a wasted
friendly lord. As now in many places about this
Often when sorrow and sleep massive earth
together Walls stand battered by the wind,
Bind the worn lonely warrior Covered by frost, the roofs
It seems in his heart that he holds collapsed.
and kisses The wine halls crumbled; the
The lord of the troop and lays on his warriors lie dead,
knee Cut off from joy; the great troop all
His head and hands as he had before crumpled
In times gone by at the gift-giver’s Proud by the wall. One war took,
throne. Led to his death. One a bird lifted
When the friendless warrior awakens Over the high sea. One the hoary
again wolf
He sees before him the black waves, Broke with death. One, bloody-
Sea birds bathing, feathers cheeked,
spreading, A warrior hid in a hole in the ground.
Frost and snow falling with hail. Likewise God destroyed this earthly
The wounds of his heart are heavier, dwelling
Sore after his friends. Sorrow is Until the strongholds of the giants
renewed stood empty,
When the mind ponders the memory Without the sounds of joy of the city-
of kinsmen; dwellers.”
He greets them with joy; he
anxiously grasps Then the wise man thinks about the
For something to say. They swim wall
away again. And deeply considers this dark life.
The breasts of ghosts do not bring From times far away the wanderer
the living recalls
Much wisdom. Woe is renewed The deadly slashes and says,
For him who must send his weary “What happened to the horse? What
heart happened to the war-
Way out over the prison of waves. rior? What happened to the gift-
giver?
“Therefore in this world I cannot What happened to the wine hall?
think of a reason Where are the sounds of
Why my soul does not blacken when joy?
I seriously consider Ea-la bright beaker! Ea-la byrnied
All the warriors, tested at war, warrior!
How they suddenly sank to the floor, Ea-la the chiefs majesty! How those
The brave kinsmen. But this world moments went,
Every day falls to dust. Grayed in the night as if they never
No man is wise until he lives many were!
winters A wall still stands near the tracks of
In the kingdom of the world. the warriors,
The wise must be patient, Wondrously high! Worms have
stained it.
A host of spears hungry for carnage Here is a man lent, here is a
Destroyed the men, that marvelous kinsman lent.
fate! All of the earth will be empty!”
Storms beat these stone cliffs,
A blanket of frost binds the earth, So spoke the wise in heart; he sits
Winter is moaning! When the mists alone with his mystery.
darken He is good to keep faith; grief must
And night descends, the north never escape
delivers A man’s heart too quickly unless
A fury of hail in hatred at men. with his might like a true
All is wretched in the realm of the warrior
earth; He has sought a lasting boon. It is
The way of fate changes the world best for him who seeks love,
under heaven. Help from the heavenly Father where
Here is treasure lent, here is a all stands firm.
friend lent,

Activity

Task 1: Comprehension Check

Directions: Answer the following questions:

1. Who is the persona of the poem?

2. What is the general tone of the poem?
3. What does the persona reminisce?
4. Why does he call himself a friendly warrior?
5. Why is he a wanderer, sailing at the sea, leaving his home?
6. What happened to his kinsmen?
7. Why does the persona say: “But this world everyday falls to dust”?
8. How many reminders does the persona give to the wise? (5 th stanza)
9. What emotion is present in the opening stanza?
10. What does the last stanza tell about the persona?

Task 2: Unlock the Codes

Directions: Decode the meaning of the following lines from the poem.

1. Fate never wavers.

2. The weary cannot control fate nor do bitter thoughts settle things.
3. The eager for glory often bind something bloody close to their breasts.
4. I tie my heart with ropes far from home.
5. A hole in the ground hid my chief long ago.
6. No man is wise until he lives many winters in the kingdom of the world.
7. …like a true warrior, he eagerly tests which way the courage of his heart
will course.
8. A host of spears hungry of carnage destroyed the men
9. God destroyed this earthly dwelling until the stronghold of the giants
stood empty, without the sounds of joy of the city-dwellers.
10. This world everyday falls to dust.

Assessment:

You have reached the end of the lesson. For your task, write a
reflection paper regarding the impression the OLD ENGLISH LITERATURE
leaves you. Provide a title. The reflection shall exceed ten paragraphs but not
less than five.

Follow the following format:

 size: 8.5”x13” (long)
 margin: 1” for all sides except left with 1.5”
  alignment: justified
 font size: 12
 font style: Times New Roman

Rubrics:

Criteria Description
Title (10%) The title has a deep connection with the content of the
journal.
Depth of Idea The content of the paper is well-thought of and organized.
(30%)
Organization of The paragraphs are well-organized and follow the CUE of
Thoughts (30%) writing: coherence, unity and emphasis.
Style of Writing The author uses a creative style writing that is appropriate to
(20%) the content being communicated.
Writing The paper is well-written and follows correct writing
Convention (10%) convention (free of grammar error, the punctuations are
properly used, capitalizations are followed, etc.)

Lesson 2: Middle English

Literature
Topics
1. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
2. The Canterbury Tales
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:
1. show understanding of English Literature during the Middle English
Period; and
2. reflect on the lessons of the literatures.

OVERVIEW OF MIDDLE ENGLISH LITERATURE

 ‘Middle English’ – a period of roughly 300 years from around 1150 CE
to around 1450 – is difficult to identify because it is a time of transition
between two eras that each have stronger definition: Old English and Modern
English. Before this period we encounter a language which is chiefly Old
Germanic in its character – in its sounds, spellings, grammar and vocabulary.
After this period we have a language which displays a very different kind of
structure, with major changes having taken place in each of these areas,
many deriving from the influence of French following the Norman Conquest of
1066.
The term Middle English literature refers to the literature written in the
form of the English language known as-middle English, from the 12th century
until the 1470s, when the Chancery Standard a form of London-based
English, became widespread and the printing process regularized the
language. Between the 1470s and the middle of the following century there is
a transition to early modern English though in literary terms the
characteristics of the literary works written does not change radically until
the effects of the categories of Middle English Literature: Religious, country
love, and Arthurian, though much of Geoffrey Chaucer's work stands outside
these. Among the many religious works are those in the Katherine grop and
the writings of Julian of Norwich and Ricard rolle.
The difference between Old and Middle English is primarily due to the
changes that took place in grammar. Old English was a language which
contained a great deal of variation in word endings; Modern English has
hardly any. And it is during the Middle English period that we see the
eventual disappearance of most of the earlier inflections, and the increasing
reliance on alternative means of expression, using word order and
prepositional constructions rather than word endings to express meaning
relationships.

Topic 1: Canterbury Tales

Background Spotlight
The Canterbury Tale is one of the best loved works in the history of
English literature. Written in Middle English, the story follows a group of pilgrims
who are travelling the long journey from London to Canterbury Cathedral. Setting
off from a London inn, the innkeeper suggests that during the journey each
pilgrim should tell two tales to help pass the time. The best storyteller, he says,
will be rewarded with a free supper on his return.
Chaucer introduces us to a vivid cast of characters, including a carpenter,
a cook, a knight, a monk, a prioress, a haberdasher, a dyer, a clerk, a merchant
and a very bawdy miller. These characters come from all corners of 14th century
society, and give Chaucer the chance to speak in many different voices. Some of
the characters' tales are humorous, rude and naughty, while others are moral
and reflective.
One of the reasons Chaucer is so important is that he made the decision
to write in English and not French. In the centuries following the Norman
invasion, French was the language spoken by those in power. The Canterbury
Tales was one of the first major works in literature written in English. Chaucer
began the tales in 1387 and continued until his death in 1400. No text in his own
hand still exists, but a surprising number of copies survive from the 1500s - more
than 80. This suggests the tales were enormously popular in medieval England.
This early and handsomely ornamented manuscript copy, from c.1450, was made
within a generation of Chaucer's death.
About the Author
Poet Geoffrey Chaucer was born circa 1340 in London, England. In
1357 he became a public servant to Countess Elizabeth of Ulster and
continued in that capacity with the British court throughout his lifetime. The
Canterbury Tales became his best known and most acclaimed work. He died
in 1400 and was the first to be buried in Westminster Abbey’s Poet’s Corner.

Pre-reading Activity

While reading the tale, find the answer to these two questions:
 1. Who is the traitor whom the three rioters are to hunt and kill?
2. Have they found the traitor?

Pardoner’s Tale
In Flanders once there was a company He might do you dishonor.”
Of youngsters haunting vice and
ribaldry, “Huh, God’s arms!”
Riot and gambling, stews and public- The rioter said, “Is he so fierce to
houses meet?
Where each with harp, guitar, or lute I’ll search for him, by Jesus, street by
carouses, street.
Dancing and dicing day and night, and God’s blessed bones! I’ll register a
bold vow!
To eat and drink far more than they Here, chaps! The three of us together
can hold, now,
Doing thereby the devil sacrifice Hold up your hands, like me, and we’ll
Within that devil’s temple of cursed be brothers
vice, In this affair, and each defend the
Abominable in superfluity, others,
With oaths so damnable in blasphemy And we will kill this traitor
That it’s a grisly thing to hear them Death, I say! Away with him as he has
swear. made away
Our dear Lord’s body they will rend With all our friends. God’s dignity!
and tear… Tonight!”
They made their bargain, swore with
It’s of three rioters I have to tell appetite,
Who, long before the morning service These three, to live and die for one
bell, another
Were sitting in a tavern for a drink. As brother-born might swear to his
And as they sat, they heard the hand- born brother.
bell clink And up they started in their drunken
Before a coffin going to the grave; rage
One of them called the little tavern- And made towards this village which
knave the page
And said “Go and find out at once— And publican had spoken of before.
look spry!
Whose corpse is in that coffin passing Many and grisly were the oaths they
by; swore,
And see you get the name correctly Tearing Christ’s blessed body to a
too.” shred;
“Sir,” said the boy, “no need, I promise “If we can only catch him, Death is
you; dead!”
Two hours before you came here I was When they had gone not fully half a
told. mile,
He was a friend of yours in days of old, Just as they were about to cross a
Be primed to meet him everywhere stile,
you go, They came upon a very poor old man
That’s what my mother said. It’s all I Who humbly greeted them and thus
know.” began,
The publican joined in with, “God look to you, my lords, and give
“By St. Mary, What the child says is you quiet!”
right; To which the proudest of these men of
you’d best be wary, riot
This very year he killed, in a large Gave back the answer, “What, old
village fool? Give place!
A mile away, man, woman, serf at Why are you all wrapped up except
tillage, your face?
Page in the household, children—all Why live so long? Isn’t it time to die?”
there were.
Yes, I imagine that he lives round The old, old fellow looked him in the
there. eye
It’s well to be prepared in these And said, “Because I never yet have
alarms, found,
 Though I have walked to India, I say you’ve joined together by
searching round consent
Village and city on my pilgrimage, To kill us younger folk, you thieving
One who would change his youth to swine!”
have my age.
And so my age is mine and must be “Well, sirs,” he said, “if it be your
still design
Upon me, for such time as God may To find out Death, turn up this crooked
will. way
“Not even Death, alas, will take my Towards that grove, I left him there
life; today
So, like a wretched prisoner at strife Under a tree, and there you’ll find him
Within himself, I walk alone and wait waiting.
About the earth, which is my mother’s He isn’t one to hide for all your
gate, prating.
Knock-knocking with my staff from You see that oak? He won’t be far to
night to noon find.
And crying, ‘Mother, open to me soon! And God protect you that redeemed
Look at me, mother, won’t you let me mankind,
in? Aye, and amend you!” Thus that
See how I wither, flesh and blood and ancient man.
skin!
Alas! When will these bones be laid to At once the three young rioters began
rest? To run, and reached the tree, and
Mother, I would exchange—for that there they found
were best— A pile of golden florins on the ground,
The wardrobe in my chamber, New-coined, eight bushels of them as
standing there they thought.
So long, for yours! No longer was it Death those fellows
Aye, for a shirt of hair To wrap me in!’ sought,
She has refused her grace, For they were all so thrilled to see the
Whence comes the pallor of my sight,
withered face. The florins were so beautiful and
“But it dishonored you when you bright,
began That down they sat beside the
To speak so roughly, sir, to an old precious pile.
man,
Unless he had injured you in word or The wickedest spoke first after a while.
deed. “Brothers,” he said, “you listen to what
It says in holy writ, as you may read, I say.
‘Thou shalt rise up before the hoary I’m pretty sharp although I joke away.
head It’s clear that Fortune has bestowed
And honor it.’ And therefore be it said, this treasure
‘Do no more harm to an old man than To let us live in jollity and pleasure.
you, Light come, light go! We’ll spend it as
Being now young, would have another we ought.
do God’s precious dignity! Who would
When you are old’—if you should live have thought
till then. This morning was to be our lucky day?
And so may God be with you, “If one could only get the gold away,
gentlemen, Back to my house, or else to yours,
For I must go whither I have to go.” perhaps—
“By God,” the gambler said, “you For as you know, the gold is ours,
shan’t do so, chaps—
You don’t get off so easy, by St. John! We’d all be at the top of fortune, hey?
I heard you mention, just a moment But certainly it can’t be done by day.
gone, People would call us robbers—a strong
A certain traitor Death who singles out gang,
And kills the fine young fellows So our own property would make us
hereabout. hang.
And you’re his spy, by God! You wait a No, we must bring this treasure back
bit. by night
Say where he is or you shall pay for it, Some prudent way, and keep it out of
By God and by the Holy Sacrament! sight.
 And so as a solution I propose I’ll up and put my dagger through his
We draw for lots and see the way it back
goes; While you and he are struggling, as in
The one who draws the longest, lucky game;
man, Then draw your dagger too and do the
Shall run to town as quickly as he can same.
To fetch us bread and wine—but keep Then all this money will be ours to
things dark— spend,
While two remain in hiding here to Divided equally of course, dear friend.
mark Then we can gratify our lusts and fill
Our heap of treasure. If there’s no The day with dicing at our own sweet
delay, will.”
When night comes down we’ll carry it Thus these two miscreants agreed to
away, slay
All three of us, wherever we have The third and youngest, as you heard
planned.” me say.
He gathered lots and hid them in his
hand The youngest, as he ran towards the
Bidding them draw for where the luck town,
should fall. Kept turning over, rolling up and down
It fell upon the youngest of them all, Within his heart the beauty of those
And off he ran at once towards the bright
town. New florins, saying, “Lord, to think I
might
As soon as he had gone the first sat Have all that treasure to myself alone!
down Could there be anyone beneath the
And thus began a parley with the throne
other: Of God so happy as I then should be?”
“You know that you can trust me as a And so the Fiend, our common enemy,
brother; Was given power to put it in his
Now let me tell you where your profit thought
lies; That there was always poison to be
You know our friend has gone to get bought,
supplies And that with poison he could kill his
And here’s a lot of gold that is to be friends.
Divided equally among us three. To men in such a state the Devil sends
Nevertheless, if I could shape things Thoughts of this kind, and has a full
thus permission
So that we shared it out—the two of us To lure them on to sorrow and
— perdition;
Wouldn’t you take it as a friendly act?” For this young man was utterly
content
“But how?” the other said. “He knows To kill them both and never to repent.
the fact
That all the gold was left with me and And on he ran, he had no thought to
you; tarry,
What can we tell him? What are we to Came to the town, found an
do?” apothecary
“Is it a bargain,” said the first, “or no? And said, “Sell me some poison if you
For I can tell you in a word or so will,
What’s to be done to bring the thing I have a lot of rats I want to kill
about.” And there’s a polecat too about my
“Trust me,” the other said, “you yard
needn’t doubt That takes my chickens and it hits me
My word. I won’t betray you, I’ll be hard;
true.” But I’ll get even, as is only right,
“Well,” said his friend, “you see that With vermin that destroy a man by
we are two, night.”
And two are twice as powerful as one.
The chemist answered, “I’ve a
Now look; when he comes back, get up preparation
in fun Which you shall have, and by my
To have a wrestle; then, as you attack, soul’s salvation
If any living creature eat or drink
 A mouthful, ere he has the time to
think, Why make a sermon of it? Why waste
Though he took less than makes a breath?
grain of wheat, Exactly in the way they’d planned his
You’ll see him fall down dying at your death
feet; They fell on him and slew him, two to
Yes, die he must, and in so short a one.
while Then said the first of them when this
You’d hardly have the time to walk a was done,
mile, “Now for a drink. Sit down and let’s be
The poison is so strong, you merry,
understand.” For later on there’ll be the corpse to
This cursed fellow grabbed into his bury.”
hand And, as it happened, reaching for a
sup,
The box of poison and away he ran He took a bottle full of poison up
Into a neighboring street, and found a And drank; and his companion,
man nothing loth,
Who lent him three large bottles. He Drank from it also, and they perished
withdrew both.
And deftly poured the poison into two. There is, in Avicenna’s long relation
He kept the third one clean, as well he Concerning poison and its operation,
might, Trust me, no ghastlier section to
For his own drink, meaning to work all transcend
night What these two wretches suffered at
Stacking the gold and carrying it away. their end.
And when this rioter, this devil’s clay, Thus these two murderers received
Had filled his bottles up with wine, all their due,
three, So did the treacherous young poisoner
Back to rejoin his comrades sauntered too…
he.

Activity
Task: Comprehension Check
Directions: Answer the following:
1. Describe the three main characters of the story.
2. Who is the traitor they are set to find and kill?
3. Whom did they meet in their journey?
4. What have they found under the oak?
5. What plan have the wickedest thought off?
6. What task was given to the youngest?
7. What plan did the youngest thought off to kill his companions?
8. What killed the three rioters?
9. What lesson does the Pardoner’s tale leave us?
10.Have the three found what they are looking for?

Topic 2: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

During a New Year’s Eve Feast at King Arthur’s court, a strange

figure, referred to only as the Green Knight, pays the court an unexpected
visit. He challenges the group’s leader or any other brave representative
to a game. The Green Knight says that he will allow whomever accepts the
challenge to strike him with his own axe, on the condition that the
challenger find him in exactly one year to receive a blow in return.
Stunned, Arthur hesitates to respond, but when the Green Knight
mocks Arthur’s silence, the king steps forward to take the challenge. As
soon as Arthur grips the Green Knight’s axe, Sir Gawain leaps up and asks
to take the challenge himself. He takes hold of the axe and, in one deadly
blow, cuts off the knight’s head. To the amazement of the court, the now-
headless Green Knight picks up his severed head. Before riding away, the
head reiterates the terms of the pact, reminding the young Gawain to
seek him in a year and a day at the Green Chapel. After the Green Knight
leaves, the company goes back to its festival, but Gawain is uneasy.
Time passes, and autumn arrives. On the Day of All Saints, Gawain
prepares to leave Camelot and find the Green Knight. He puts on his best
armor, mounts his horse, Gringolet, and starts off toward North Wales,
traveling through the wilderness of northwest Britain. Gawain encounters
all sorts of beasts, suffers from hunger and cold, and grows more
desperate as the days pass. On Christmas Day, he prays to find a place to
hear Mass, then looks up to see a castle shimmering in the distance. The
lord of the castle welcomes Gawain warmly, introducing him to his lady
and to the old woman who sits beside her. For sport, the host (whose
name is later revealed to be Bertilak) strikes a deal with Gawain: the host
will go out hunting with his men every day, and when he returns in the
evening, he will exchange his winnings for anything Gawain has managed
to acquire by staying behind at the castle. Gawain happily agrees to the
pact, and goes to bed.
The first day, the lord hunts a herd of does, while Gawain sleeps
late in his bedchambers. On the morning of the first day, the lord’s wife
sneaks into Gawain’s chambers and attempts to seduce him. Gawain puts
her off, but before she leaves she steals one kiss from him. That evening,
when the host gives Gawain the venison he has captured, Gawain kisses
him, since he has won one kiss from the lady.
The second day, the lord hunts a wild boar. The lady again enters
Gawain’s chambers, and this time she kisses Gawain twice. That evening
Gawain gives the host the two kisses in exchange for the boar’s head.
The third day, the lord hunts a fox, and the lady kisses Gawain
three times. She also asks him for a love token, such as a ring or a glove.
Gawain refuses to give her anything and refuses to take anything from
her, until the lady mentions her girdle. The green silk girdle she wears
around her waist is no ordinary piece of cloth, the lady claims, but
possesses the magical ability to protect the person who wears it from
death. Intrigued, Gawain accepts the cloth, but when it comes time to
exchange his winnings with the host, Gawain gives the three kisses but
does not mention the lady’s green girdle. The host gives Gawain the fox
skin he won that day, and they all go to bed happy, but weighed down
with the fact that Gawain must leave for the Green Chapel the following
morning to find the Green Knight.
New Year’s Day arrives, and Gawain dons his armor, including the
girdle, then sets off with Gringolet to seek the Green Knight. A guide
accompanies him out of the estate grounds. When they reach the border
of the forest, the guide promises not to tell anyone if Gawain decides to
give up the quest. Gawain refuses, determined to meet his fate head-on.
Eventually, he comes to a kind of crevice in a rock, visible through the tall
grasses. He hears the whirring of a grindstone, confirming his suspicion
that this strange cavern is in fact the Green Chapel. Gawain calls out, and
the Green Knight emerges to greet him. Intent on fulfilling the terms of the
contract, Gawain presents his neck to the Green Knight, who proceeds to
feign two blows. On the third dodge, the Green Knight nicks Gawain’s
neck, barely drawing blood. Angered, Gawain shouts that their contract
has been met, but the Green Knight merely laughs.
The Green Knight reveals his name, Bertilak, and explains that he is
the lord of the castle where Gawain recently stayed. Because Gawain did
not honestly exchange all of his winnings on the third day, Bertilak drew
blood on his third blow. Nevertheless, Gawain has proven himself a worthy
knight, without equal in all the land. When Gawain questions Bertilak
further, Bertilak explains that the old woman at the castle is really Morgan
le Faye, Gawain’s aunt and King Arthur’s half sister. She sent the Green
Knight on his original errand and used her magic to change Bertilak’s
appearance. Relieved to be alive but extremely guilty about his sinful
failure to tell the whole truth, Gawain wears the girdle on his arm as a
 reminder of his own failure. He returns to Arthur’s court, where all the
knights join Gawain, wearing girdles on their arms to show their support.

Activity

Task: Comprehension Check

Directions: Answer the following questions:
1. Who visited King Arthur’s court during the New Year’s Eve Feast?
2. What challenge does the visitor post?
3. Who took the challenge?
4. What is the name of Sir Gawain’s horse?
5. What deal does the host of the castle give to Sir Gawain?
6. What does the lady do to Gawain every time her husband is away to
hunt?
7. Among the things the lady offers Sir Gawain, which one did he accept?
8. What revelation about the host and the lady was exposed at the end of
the story?
9. Why does Sir Gawain wear the girdle on his arms?
10.What lesson does the story leave us?

Assessment:

You have reached the end of the lesson. For your task, write a
reflection paper regarding the impression the MIDDLE ENGLISH
LITERATURE leaves you. Discuss about the difference/changes/
progress this era has made to literature as compare to Old
English. Provide a title. The reflection shall exceed ten paragraphs but
not less than five.

Follow the following format:

 size: 8.5”x13” (long)
 margin: 1” for all sides except left with 1.5”
 alignment: justified
 font size: 12
 font style: Times New Roman

Rubrics:
Criteria Description
Title (10%) The title has a deep connection with the content of the
journal.
Depth of Idea The content of the paper is well-thought of and organized.
(30%)
Organization of The paragraphs are well-organized and follow the CUE of
Thoughts (30%) writing: coherence, unity and emphasis.
Style of Writing The author uses a creative style writing that is appropriate to
(20%) the content being communicated.
Writing The paper is well-written and follows correct writing
Convention (10%) convention (free of grammar error, the punctuations are
properly used, capitalizations are followed, etc.)
 Lesson 3: The Renaissance
Topics
1. Song to Celia (Ben Jonson)
2. William Shakespeare:
a. Hamlet
b. Seven Ages of Man
c. Sonnet 18
3. The Passionate Shepherd to His Love
4. The Nymph’s Reply to the Shepherd
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:
1. interpret the meaning and message of the literary pieces during the
renaissance;
2. display understanding of the literary texts during the period; and
3. relate the meaning of the texts to reality and personal experiences.

OVERVIEW OF ENGLISH LITERATURE DURING THE RENAISSANCE

In a tradition of literature remarkable for its exacting and
brilliant achievements, the Elizabethan and early Stuart periods have
been said to represent the most brilliant century of all. (The reign of
Elizabeth I began in 1558 and ended with her death in 1603; she was
succeeded by the Stuart king James VI of Scotland, who took the title
James I of England as well. English literature of his reign as James I,
from 1603 to 1625, is properly called Jacobean.) These years produced
a gallery of authors of genius, some of whom have never been
surpassed, and conferred on scores of lesser talents the enviable
ability to write with fluency, imagination, and verve. From one point of
 view, this sudden renaissance looks radiant, confident, heroic—and
belated, but all the more dazzling for its belatedness. Yet, from another
point of view, this was a time of unusually traumatic strain, in which
English society underwent massive disruptions that transformed it on
every front and decisively affected the life of every individual. In the
brief, intense moment in which England assimilated the European
Renaissance, the circumstances that made the assimilation possible
were already disintegrating and calling into question the newly won
certainties, as well as the older truths that they were dislodging. This
doubleness, of new possibilities and new doubts simultaneously
apprehended, gives the literature its unrivaled intensity.

Topic 1:Song to Celia

About the Author
Ben Jonson, byname of Benjamin Jonson, (born June 1572,
London, England—died August 6, 1637, London), is an English Stuart
dramatist, lyric poet, and literary critic. He is generally regarded as the
second most important English dramatist, after William Shakespeare,
during the reign of James I.
Jonson was born two months after his father died. His stepfather
was a bricklayer, but by good fortune the boy was able to attend
Westminster School. His formal education, however, ended early, and
he at first followed his stepfather’s trade, then fought with some
success with the English forces in the Netherlands. On returning to
England, he became an actor and playwright, experiencing the life of a
strolling player.
The year 1598 marked an abrupt change in Jonson’s status,
when Every Man in His Humour was successfully presented by the Lord
Chamberlain’s theatrical company (a legend has it that Shakespeare
himself recommended it to them), and his reputation was established.
That same year Jonson killed a fellow actor in a duel, and, though he
escaped capital punishment by pleading “benefit of clergy” (the ability
to read from the Latin Bible), he could not escape branding. During his
brief imprisonment over the affair he became a Roman Catholic.
Song to Celia Compilers’ Note
by Ben Jonson
This is one of the most romantic poems
Drink to me only with thine eyes, of Ben Jonson and my personal favorite
And I will pledge with mine; because of how the persona of the poem
Or leave a kiss but in the cup, expresses his love for a maiden.
And I’ll not look for wine. In the first stanza, the persona requests
the maiden to look only in his eyes; and he will
The thirst that from the soul doth risenot look away. He also tells that if the maiden
Doth ask a drink divine; would only drink (leave a kiss) in the cup, he
would not look for (nor drink) wine. How over
But might I of Jove’s nectar sup,
exaggerated is that?
I would not change for thine.
In the second stanza, he says that the
thirst/cravings of the soul requires a divine
I sent thee late a rosy wreath, drink. However, even if Jove (Jupiter – the chief
Not so much honouring thee Roman God) offers him a nectar sup, he would
As giving it a hope, that there not exchange his desires for the maiden.
It could not withered be. In the third stanza, he recalls that he
sent the maiden a bouquet of roses with the
But thou thereon didst only breathe, hope that it (bouquet and love) would be
And sent it back to me; accepted and thus would not wither.
Since when it grows, and smells, I swear, However, in the last stanza, it is told
Not of itself, but thee. that the girl just smelled (and breathed on) the
flower and sent it back to the persona. If that
Song – to Celia Activity
Task: Interpret the poem per stanza.
Come, my Celia, let us prove,
While we may, the sports of love ; 1st Stanza:
________________________________________________
_
________________________________________________
_____________
________________________________________________
_____________
Time will not be ours for ever :
He at length our good will sever.
Spend not then his gifts in vain.
Suns that set, may rise again:
But if once we lose this light,
'Tis with us perpetual night.
Why should we defer our joys ?
Fame and rumor are but toys.
Cannot we delude the eyes
Of a few poor household spies ;
Or his easier ears beguile,
So removed by our wile?
'Tis no sin love's fruit to steal,
But the sweet theft to reveal :
To be taken, to be seen,
These have crimes accounted been.

Topic 2: William Shakespeare

About the Author
William Shakespeare is an English poet, dramatist, and actor
often called the English national poet and considered by many to be
the greatest dramatist of all time.
Shakespeare occupies a position unique in world literature. Other
poets, such as Homer and Dante, and novelists, such as Leo Tolstoy
and Charles Dickens, have transcended national barriers, but no
writer’s living reputation can compare to that of Shakespeare, whose
plays, written in the late 16th and early 17th centuries for a small
repertory theatre, are now performed and read more often and in more
countries than ever before. The prophecy of his great contemporary,
the poet and dramatist Ben Jonson, that Shakespeare “was not of an
age, but for all time,” has been fulfilled.
Hamlet: A Brief Summary
On a dark winter night, a ghost walks the ramparts of Elsinore Castle in
Denmark. Discovered first by a pair of watchmen, then by the scholar
Horatio, the ghost resembles the recently deceased King Hamlet, whose
brother Claudius has inherited the throne and married the king’s widow,
Queen Gertrude. When Horatio and the watchmen bring Prince Hamlet, the
son of Gertrude and the dead king, to see the ghost, it speaks to him,
declaring ominously that it is indeed his father’s spirit, and that he was
murdered by none other than Claudius. Ordering Hamlet to seek revenge on
the man who usurped his throne and married his wife, the ghost disappears
with the dawn.
Prince Hamlet devotes himself to avenging his father’s death, but,
because he is contemplative and thoughtful by nature, he delays, entering
into a deep melancholy and even apparent madness. Claudius and Gertrude
worry about the prince’s erratic behavior and attempt to discover its cause.
They employ a pair of Hamlet’s friends, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, to
watch him. When Polonius, the pompous Lord Chamberlain, suggests that
Hamlet may be mad with love for his daughter, Ophelia, Claudius agrees to
spy on Hamlet in conversation with the girl. But though Hamlet certainly
seems mad, he does not seem to love Ophelia: he orders her to enter a
nunnery and declares that he wishes to ban marriages.
A group of traveling actors comes to Elsinore, and Hamlet seizes upon
an idea to test his uncle’s guilt. He will have the players perform a scene
closely resembling the sequence by which Hamlet imagines his uncle to have
murdered his father, so that if Claudius is guilty, he will surely react. When
the moment of the murder arrives in the theater, Claudius leaps up and
leaves the room. Hamlet and Horatio agree that this proves his guilt. Hamlet
goes to kill Claudius but finds him praying. Since he believes that killing
Claudius while in prayer would send Claudius’s soul to heaven, Hamlet
considers that it would be an inadequate revenge and decides to wait.
Claudius, now frightened of Hamlet’s madness and fearing for his own safety,
orders that Hamlet be sent to England at once.
Hamlet goes to confront his mother, in whose bedchamber Polonius
has hidden behind a tapestry. Hearing a noise from behind the tapestry,
Hamlet believes the king is hiding there. He draws his sword and stabs
through the fabric, killing Polonius. For this crime, he is immediately
dispatched to England with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. However,
Claudius’s plan for Hamlet includes more than banishment, as he has given
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern sealed orders for the King of England
demanding that Hamlet be put to death.
In the aftermath of her father’s death, Ophelia goes mad with grief and
drowns in the river. Polonius’s son, Laertes, who has been staying in France,
returns to Denmark in a rage. Claudius convinces him that Hamlet is to blame
for his father’s and sister’s deaths. When Horatio and the king receive letters
from Hamlet indicating that the prince has returned to Denmark after pirates
attacked his ship en route to England, Claudius concocts a plan to use
Laertes’ desire for revenge to secure Hamlet’s death. Laertes will fence with
Hamlet in innocent sport, but Claudius will poison Laertes’ blade so that if he
draws blood, Hamlet will die. As a backup plan, the king decides to poison a
goblet, which he will give Hamlet to drink should Hamlet score the first or
second hits of the match. Hamlet returns to the vicinity of Elsinore just as
Ophelia’s funeral is taking place. Stricken with grief, he attacks Laertes and
declares that he had in fact always loved Ophelia. Back at the castle, he tells
Horatio that he believes one must be prepared to die, since death can come
at any moment. A foolish courtier named Osric arrives on Claudius’s orders to
arrange the fencing match between Hamlet and Laertes.
The sword-fighting begins. Hamlet scores the first hit, but declines to
drink from the king’s proffered goblet. Instead, Gertrude takes a drink from it
and is swiftly killed by the poison. Laertes succeeds in wounding Hamlet,
though Hamlet does not die of the poison immediately. First, Laertes is cut by
his own sword’s blade, and, after revealing to Hamlet that Claudius is
responsible for the queen’s death, he dies from the blade’s poison. Hamlet
then stabs Claudius through with the poisoned sword and forces him to drink
down the rest of the poisoned wine. Claudius dies, and Hamlet dies
immediately after achieving his revenge.
At this moment, a Norwegian prince named Fortinbras, who has led an
army to Denmark and attacked Poland earlier in the play, enters with
ambassadors from England, who report that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern
are dead. Fortinbras is stunned by the gruesome sight of the entire royal
family lying sprawled on the floor dead. He moves to take power of the
kingdom. Horatio, fulfilling Hamlet’s last request, tells him Hamlet’s tragic
story. Fortinbras orders that Hamlet be carried away in a manner befitting a
fallen soldier.
Activity
Task: Comprehension Check
1. Whose ghost is seen in the in Elsinore Castle by the watchmen?
2. According to the ghost, who killed him?
3. Name all the characters who died in the play.
4. How did Polonius die?
5. Why does Hamlet decided not to kill Claudius when he had a
chance after the play?
6. How does Ophelia die?
7. What scene welcomed Hamlet when he went back to Elsinore?
8. What is Claudius and Laertes’ plan to kill Hamlet?
9. How does Gertrude die?
10. Who is the last character to die in the play?
 The Seven Ages of Man (”All the world’s a stage”)
by William Shakespeare

All the world’s a stage,

And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages. At first the infant,
Mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms;
And then the whining schoolboy, with his satchel
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,
Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad
Made to his mistress’ eyebrow. Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths, and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honor, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon’s mouth. And then the justice,
In fair round belly with good capon lined,
With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances;
And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slippered pantaloon,
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side;
His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.

Activity
Task: Comprehension Check

Create a PowerPoint Presentation showing the seven ages. Include

photos (preferably your families’) which show the seven ages. Specify
their characteristics as discussed in the poem.

Sonnet 18: Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?

by William Shakespeare
Compilers’ Translation
Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? Shall I compare you to a summer’s
Thou art more lovely and more temperate: day?
Rough winds do shake the darling buds ofYou are more lovely and calmer;
May,
Strong
And summer’s lease hath all too short a date; winds shake the flower buds
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines, during May
And summer does not last long;
And often is his gold complexion dimm'd;
Sometimes, too, the sun shines too
And every fair from fair sometime declines,hot,
By chance or nature’s changing course untrimm'd;
And often the sun dims;
But thy eternal summer shall not fade, And every beautiful from beautiful
Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow’st;sometimes fades;
By chance or by nature’s natural
changing process;
But your summer shall not fade,
Nor lose the beauty you possess;
Nor shall death take you away;
When in this poetry you will live
Nor shall death brag thou wander’st in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou grow’st:
So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.

Compilers’ Note

How overwhelming could it be to be labeled incomparable even to a

summer’s day?
In this sonnet, the persona tells a brief comparison of his love to a
summer’s day. He says that the subject is more lovely and more constant.
Summer’s day could be harsh at times – where rough winds may shake flower
buds, the sun could be too hot; but it also hides behind the clouds. He also says
that summer does not last long.
On the other hand, the persona says that the subject shall not fade; and
shall not lose its beauty.
Lastly, he says that even death shall not take her as his; because the

Sonnet 30 Activity
Task 1: Translate the poem.
When to the sessions of sweet silent thought
I summon up remembrance of things past,______________________________________
I sigh the lack of many a thing I sought, ___________
And with old woes new wail my dear time's ______________________________________
waste:
Then can I drown an eye, unus'd to flow, ___________
______________________________________
For precious friends hid in death's dateless night,
___________
And weep afresh love's long since cancell'd woe,
______________________________________
And moan th' expense of many a vanish'd___________
sight;
Then can I grieve at grievances foregone,______________________________________
And heavily from woe to woe tell o'er ___________
The sad account of fore-bemoaned moan,______________________________________
Which I new pay as if not paid before. ___________
______________________________________
But if the while I think on thee, dear friend,
All losses are restor'd, and sorrows end. ___________
______________________________________

Activity
Task 2:
Write your one-paragraph reflection of the Sonnet 30.
___________________________________________________________________________
______________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Topic 3: The Passionate Shepherd to His Love/
___________________________________________________________________________________
The Nymph’s Reply to the Shepherd
About the Authors
A. CHRISTOPHER MARLOWE
Christopher Marlowe was an English playwright, poet, and translator of the
Elizabethan era. He was born in Canterbury, England, in 1564. He died young at
the age of twenty-nine and his career as a playwright lasted only six years. Some
also regard him as Father of English Tragedy.
Marlowe attended The King's School in Canterbury and Corpus Christi
College, Cambridge, where he studied on a scholarship and received his Bachelor
of Arts degree in 1584. In 1587, the university hesitated to award him his Master
of Arts degree because of a rumor that he had converted to Roman Catholicism
and would soon attend college elsewhere. These rumors were set to rest and
Marlowe was awarded his Master of Arts when the Privy Council intervened on his
behalf, praising him for his "faithful dealing" and "good service" to the Queen.
 Some biographers think that Marlowe was a government spy. His frequent
lengthy absences from university and the Privy Council's intervention to the
university to grant him his Master's degree in spite of the rumor that he had
converted to Catholicism have provoked much speculation that Marlow had
become a secret agent working for Sir Francis Walsingham's intelligence service.
In the absence of hard evidence that he was, in fact, a spy, the debate is still
active about the nature of his service to the queen. What biographers are certain
about is that after attaining his master's degree, Marlowe moved to London and
took up writing full-time.
Marlowe was arrested for 'atheism' or 'heresy' on Sunday, May 20, 1593.
At that time heresy was a serious crime that would end up with a grave penalty,
namely burning at the stake. Although the offense was grave, Marlowe was not
imprisoned or tortured. He was set free on the condition that he report daily to
an officer of the court. Strangely, however, Marlowe was killed by Ingram Frizer
on May 30. Frizer was with Nicholas Skeres and Robert Poley, and all three men
were tied to one of the Walsinghams--either Sir Francis Walsingham, the man
who hired him to work for the secret service of the queen, or a relative of his,
presumably also a spy.

The Passionate Shepherd to His Love

by Christopher Marlowe

Come live with me and be my love Activity

And we will all the pleasure prove Task 1: Comprehension Check
That valleys, groves, hills and fields Answer the following
Woods or steepy mountain yields questions:
And we will sit upon the rocks
Watch the shepherd feed their flocks 1. Describe the persona.
By shallow river to whose falls 2. To whom does he address the
Melodious birds sing madrigals. poem?
And I will make thee beds of roses 3. What imagery does this poem
And a thousand fragrant posies suggest?
A cap of flower and a kirtle 4. What is the general theme of
Embroidered all with leaves of myrtle; the poem?
A gown made of a finest wool 5. What is the tone of the poem?
Which from our pretty lambs we pull;6. What figure of speech is
Fair lined slippers for the cold dominant in the poem? Provide
With buckets of purest gold; an explanation.
A belt of straw and ivy buds, 7. What are the promises of the
With coral clasps and amber studs; persona?
And if these pleasures might me move, 8. If you are the addressee, would
Come live with me and be my love. you be swayed by the
promises? Why? Why not?
The shepherds’ swains shall dance and sing
9. What kind of love does the
For thy delight each may morning.
persona give?
If these delights thy mind may move,
Then live with me and be my love.

B. SIR WALTER RALEIGH

However, Walter Raleigh is one of the most colorful and politically

powerful members of the court of Queen Elizabeth I, who personifies the English
Renaissance. Raleigh took part in the English suppression of Ireland in 1580,
earning a reputation as a war hero primarily for leading a massacre of unarmed
Spanish and Italian troops. Upon his return to England, Raleigh was summoned
by Queen Elizabeth to serve as an advisor on Irish affairs. Elizabeth was taken
with Raleigh’s personal charm, and he soon became one of her court favorites. In
addition to lucrative royal commissions and grants, he was knighted in 1585, and
in 1587, he was named captain of the Queen’s personal guard. The majority of
Raleigh’s poetry was written during this period, much of it designed to flatter
Elizabeth and secure her royal favor.
 In 1592, Elizabeth discovered that Raleigh had secretly married Elizabeth
(Bessy) Throckmorton, a member of the royal court. Furious over what she
believed to be their betrayal, Elizabeth ordered the couple imprisoned in
separate cells in the Tower of London. Although Raleigh was released within
months, he was stripped of many of his privileges and exiled from the court.
In February of 1595, Raleigh sailed to the Orinoco River in Guiana (now
Venezuela) in search of gold. He regained Elizabeth’s favor in 1597 by taking part
in a daring raid on the Spanish at Cadiz. He was reappointed captain of the
Queen’s Guard, named governor He was reappointed captain of the Queen’s
Guard, named governor of the Isle of Jersey, and in 1601, he put down a rebellion
led by his longtime rival, the earl of Essex. Raleigh eventually convinced James to
release him to lead an expedition to find gold and silver in South America.

The Nymph’s Reply to the Shepherd

by Sir Walter Raleigh

If all the world and love were young,

And truth in every shepherd’s tongue, Activity
These pretty pleasure might me move Task 2: Evaluate the reply
To live with thee and by thy love. Answer the questions below:
Time drives the flocks from field to fold,
When rivers rage and rocks grow cold; 1. What are Raleigh’s comment
And Philomel becometh dumb; on the following:
The rest complain of cares to come. a. sitting upon the rock and
The flowers do fade, and wanton fields watching shepherds feed
To wayward Winter reckoning yields; their flocks
A honey tongue, a heart of gall, b. listening to birds singing
Is fancy’s spring, but sorrow’s fall. c. beds of roses
Thy gowns, thy shoes, thy beds of roses, d. kirtle embroidered with
Thy cap, thy kirtle, and thy posies myrtle
Soon break, soon wither, soon forgotten, e. slippers with bucket of gold
In folly ripe, in reason rotten. 2. Does the persona of the
Thy belt of straw and ivy buds,
poem find pleasure in the
Thy coral clasps and amber studs,
shepherd’s promises?
All these in me no means can move
3. What conditions does the
To come to thee and be thy love.
But could youth last and love still breed, persona present for thus be
Had joys no date nor age no need, swayed?
Then these delights my mind might move What idea of love is being
4.
To live with thee and be thy love. emphasized?
5. What literary device is
present in these lines below?

Lesson 4: The Age of Reason

Topics
1. The Essays: Francis bacon
 The Enlightenment's emphasis on reason shaped philosophical,
political and scientific discourse from the late 17th to the early 19th century.
Matthew White traces the Enlightenment back to its roots in the aftermath of
the Civil War, and forward to its effects on the present day.

The Enlightenment – the great ‘Age of Reason’ – is defined as the

period of rigorous scientific, political and philosophical discourse that
characterised European society during the ‘long’ 18th century: from the late
17th century to the ending of the Napoleonic Wars in 1815. This was a period
of huge change in thought and reason, which (in the words of historian Roy
Porter) was ‘decisive in the making of modernity’. Centuries of custom and
tradition were brushed aside in favour of exploration, individualism, tolerance
and scientific endeavour, which, in tandem with developments in industry
and politics, witnessed the emergence of the ‘modern world’.

European politics, philosophy, science and communications were

radically reoriented during the course of the “long 18th century” (1685-1815)
as part of a movement referred to by its participants as the Age of Reason, or
simply the Enlightenment. Enlightenment thinkers in Britain, in France and
throughout Europe questioned traditional authority and embraced the notion
that humanity could be improved through rational change. The
Enlightenment produced numerous books, essays, inventions, scientific
discoveries, laws, wars and revolutions. The American and French
Revolutions were directly inspired by Enlightenment ideals and respectively
marked the peak of its influence and the beginning of its decline. The
Enlightenment ultimately gave way to 19th-century Romanticism.

Topic 1: Of Essays: Of Studies, Of Ambition

About the Author
Francis Bacon was one of the leading figures in natural philosophy and
in the field of scientific methodology in the period of transition from the
Renaissance to the early modern era. As a lawyer, member of Parliament,
and Queen's Counsel, Bacon wrote on questions of law, state and religion, as
well as on contemporary politics; but he also published texts in which he
speculated on possible conceptions of society, and he pondered questions of
ethics (Essays) even in his works on natural philosophy (The Advancement of
Learning).
After his studies at Trinity College, Cambridge and Gray's Inn, London,
Bacon did not take up a post at a university, but instead tried to start a
political career. Although his efforts were not crowned with success during
the era of Queen Elizabeth, under James I he rose to the highest political
office, Lord Chancellor. Bacon's international fame and influence spread
during his last years, when he was able to focus his energies exclusively on
his philosophical work, and even more so after his death, when English
scientists of the Boyle circle (Invisible College) took up his idea of a
cooperative research institution in their plans and preparations for
establishing the Royal Society.

Of Studies
by Francis Bacon (1625)

Studies serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability. Their chief use
for delight is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for
ability, is in the judgment and disposition of business. For expert men can
execute, and perhaps judge of particulars, one by one; but the general
counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs, come best from those that
are learned. To spend too much time in studies is sloth; to use them too
much for ornament, is affectation; to make judgment wholly by their rules, is
the humor of a scholar. They perfect nature, and are perfected by
experience: for natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning, by
study; and studies themselves do give forth directions too much at large,
except they be bounded in by experience. Crafty men condemn studies,
simple men admire them, and wise men use them; for they teach not their
own use; but that is a wisdom without them, and above them, won by
observation. Read not to contradict and confute; nor to believe and take for
granted; nor to find talk and discourse; but to weigh and consider. Some
books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed
and digested; that is, some books are to be read only in parts; others to be
read, but not curiously; and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence
and attention. Some books also may be read by deputy, and extracts made of
them by others; but that would be only in the less important arguments, and
the meaner sort of books, else distilled books are like common distilled
waters, flashy things. Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man;
and writing an exact man. And therefore, if a man writes little, he had need
have a great memory; if he confer little, he had need have a present wit: and
if he read little, he had need have much cunning, to seem to know that he
doth not. Histories make men wise; poets witty; the mathematics subtle;
natural philosophy deep; moral grave; logic and rhetoric able to contend.
Abeunt studia in mores [Studies pass into and influence manners]. Nay, there
is no stond or impediment in the wit but may be wrought out by fit studies;
like as diseases of the body may have appropriate exercises. Bowling is good
for the stone and reins; shooting for the lungs and breast; gentle walking for
the stomach; riding for the head; and the like. So if a man’s wit be wandering,
let him study the mathematics; for in demonstrations, if his wit be called
away never so little, he must begin again. If his wit be not apt to distinguish
or find differences, let him study the Schoolmen; for they are cymini sectores
[splitters of hairs]. If he be not apt to beat over matters, and to call up one
thing to prove and illustrate another, let him study the lawyers’ cases. So
every defect of the mind may have a special receipt.

Activity
Task: Comprehension Check

1. Explain how studies serve for delight, ornament, and ability.

2. Explain why spending too much time in studies is sloth (laziness); and
using them too much is pretention.
3. Explain: “Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and
writing an exact man.”
4. Explain: “Histories make men wise; poets witty; the mathematics
subtle; natural philosophy deep; moral grave; logic and rhetoric able to
contend.”
 5. Why does Bacon include this sentence in the essay: “Bowling is good
for the stone and reins; shooting for the lungs and breast; gentle
walking for the stomach; riding for the head; and the like.”? Explain.
6. What line/sentence in the essay strike you most? Discuss your
reflection.

Of Parents and Children

THE JOYS of parents are secret; and so are their griefs and fears. They
cannot utter the one; nor they will not utter the other. Children sweeten
labors; but they make misfortunes more bitter. They increase the cares of
life; but they mitigate the remembrance of death. The perpetuity by
generation is common to beasts; but memory; merit, and noble works are
proper to men. And surely a man shall see the noblest works and foundations
have proceeded from childless men; which have sought to express the
images of their minds, where those of their bodies have failed. So the care of
posterity is most in them that have no posterity. They that are the first
raisers of their houses are most indulgent towards their children; beholding
them as the continuance not only of their kind but of their work; and so both
children and creatures.

The difference in affection of parents towards their several children is

many times unequal; and sometimes unworthy; especially in the mother; as
Solomon saith, A wise son rejoiceth the father, but an ungracious son shames
the mother. A man shall see, where there is a house full of children, one or
two of the eldest respected, and the youngest made wantons; but in the
midst some that are as it were forgotten, who many times nevertheless prove
the best. The illiberality of parents in allowance towards their children is an
harmful error; makes them base; acquaints them with shifts; makes them
sort with mean company; and makes them surfeit more when they come to
plenty. And therefore the proof is best, when men keep their authority
towards their children, but not their purse. Men have a foolish manner (both
parents and schoolmasters and servants) in creating and breeding an
emulation between brothers during childhood, which many times sorteth to
discord when they are men, and disturbeth families. The Italians make little
difference between children and nephews or near kinsfolks; but so they be of
the lump, they care not though they pass not through their own body. And, to
say truth, in nature it is much a like matter; insomuch that we see a nephew
sometimes resembleth an uncle or a kinsman more than his own parent; as
the blood happens. Let parents choose betimes the vocations and courses
they mean their children should take; for then they are most flexible; and let
them not too much apply themselves to the disposition of their children, as
thinking they will take best to that which they have most mind to. It is true,
that if the affection or aptness of the children be extraordinary, then it is
good not to cross it; but generally the precept is good, optimum elige, suave
et facile illud faciet consuetudo [choose the best—custom will make it
pleasant and easy]. Younger brothers are commonly fortunate, but seldom or
never where the elder are disinherited.

Activity
Task: Comprehension Check

1. What are the things parents keep as secret from children?

2. How do children make labors sweet?
3. How do children lessen the parents’ remembrance of death?
4. What does Bacon claim about parents’ treatment to their children?
5. In a house with many children, what differences in treatment are
enumerated?
6. How do Italians treat their children and nephews/nieces?
7. What does Bacon suggest parents shall do about children’s dreams?
8. -10. What line best catches your attention? Reflect on it. One
paragraph with 5 sentences is enough.

Assessment
Write your own essay about the thing that interest you most i.e. On
Online Learning, On Quarantined Life, On Home Studies, On Being a Student
in Times of Pandemic, On Pandemic, or On Anything you want to write about.
Get inspirations from Bacon’s style of writing. Make it a formal essay with a
serious tone. Follow the same format.

Holy Sonnets: John Donne

About the Author
John Donne was the greatest non-dramatic poet of his time, and its
most admired preacher. He was born in 1571, a Londoner and the son of
Catholic parents. In his teens, he attended both Oxford and Cambridge, and
in his early twenties studied law. In 1593 his younger brother Henry died in
prison having been arrested for harbouring a Catholic priest; about this time
Donne renounced his Catholic faith. He sailed with Essex to sack Cadiz and
with Raleigh to hunt the Spanish treasure ships off the Azores; one of his
fellow gentleman adventurers was Thomas, eldest son of Sir Thomas Egerton,
Lord Keeper of the Great Seal. Donne became Secretary to Sir Thomas and
might have built a distinguished career in public service had he not been
dismissed from his post following his secret marriage to Ann More, Lady
Egerton’s niece. After several years of poverty, in 1615 he joined the
Anglican Church, and in 1621 became Dean of St Paul’s.

Death be Not Proud

(Holy Sonnet 10)
Death, be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;
For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow
Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be,
Much pleasure; then from thee much more must flow,
And soonest our best men with thee do go,
Rest of their bones, and soul's delivery.
Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men,
And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell,
And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well
And better than thy stroke; why swell'st thou then?
One short sleep past, we wake eternally
And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die.

Activity
Task: Comprehension
Check
Answer the following:
1. To what does he
Author’s Translations
Death, do not be proud; Though many call you
Mighty and frightful, because you aren’t really
Those whom you think you takeover
Do not die, poor death, nor yet can you kill me.
From rest and sleep, which but your pictures be
Much desire, then from you much more must flow
And soonest our best men with you will go
Rest of their bones, and soul’s delivery
You are slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men
And even accompany poison, war, and sickness
And poppy or charms can also make us sleep
And even better than your strike; so why are you great then?
You are only one short sleep where we wake eternally after
And then there shall be no death after; Death, you shall die.

Assessment
You will be graded with the
Write a 14-lined one-stanza poem following criteria:
about what you want to say about death. Content – 30%
It doesn’t have to agree with Donne’s Imagery – 30%
poetry. You may contradict him and say Word Choice – 20%
death is a scary name – or you may also Creativity – 10%
belittle death. Title – 10%

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