Peace or friendly nature.

the edible flesh of a game animal and especially a deer

Readers are expecting to read a story of a hero.

shortness of duration

Portrait of Aphra Behn, aged approximately 30

She makes it clear in the beginning of the novel that she is “an eye-witness,” that this story is not heresy.

Because Behn states that she is writing about true events, she begins her novel with this statement defending the legitimacy in order to make it believable to the reader.

the practice of engaging in secret schemes

to enhance the appearance of especially with beautiful objects

Illustration of a 1776 performance of Oroonoko

A hammock.

According to the Google Dictionary, 'Trifles' is defined as a thing of little value or importance.

Nice Comparison. It gives you a visual image of what she is talking about.

I googled this place and couldn't really find anything about it. I get auto-corrected for a place called 'Suriname' which is a small country on the northeastern coast of South America. And I noticed this line says "Colony in America" might anyone have any info on this? Not sure if this is fictional lol.

She feels perhaps that the personality and actions of this man were so great that they just needed to document every moment of his life that they possibly could. That way they could tell his story.

I think she's saying that she's going to leave certain things when telling this story such as the "thousand little accidents." She then follows that statement with "Which, however pleasant to us" and this kind of has me wondering a bit. Does she mean that some of his accidents were actually "Pleasant" to them?

She's letting us know that she saw with her very eyes almost everything she is about to tell us...So is this based on a true story?

This is the slavery that people generally think of, where it's driven by racial divide.

They didn't initially treat them as slaves, but as equals.

This implies to me that no one was born into power, you earned respect by your life actions.

The first problem arises...

They had a respectful and romantic ways of wooing women, it doesn't seem like it was assertive in any way.

They had a fair and equal partnership in the beginning.

She is stating the truth, she never made assumptions or exaggerations about Oroonoko.

this is very descriptive and sad. Really pictured this in my head happening and it's so gruesome cutting off limbs and torturing him this way! Overall this was a good read as gory as it is and a bit depressing

so he doesn't kill himself because he wants revenge even more so now because he had to kill his wife? But he took too long to do so that he became weak...he might as well have just killed himself

these men would battle each other cutting off part of their flesh to determine who would be general. The last one to survive would win or until someone gave up. Many have died trying to do so....how gruesome

they got married and now have a child on the way

I'm assuming this is actually Imoinda but her master has renamed her Clemene ?

Oroonoko is pleased with his master and confides in him. He tells him of all that has happened to him and Trefry gives Oroonoko his word to help him find his men and get them back to their own country

nice! He tells his fellow slaves not to resist because they better off with someone who isn't like the captain...a liar and a traitor

yeah he better be scared because once Oroonoko finds out what he really did...all hell is going to break loose

wow he really sold them as slaves... no words at all.

Yeah, perfect timing to fall haha. The king definitely doesn't like this and feels they planned this fall. Being outraged, the king orders Oroonoko to be sent off immediately

The audacity for the king to do this while he invited his grandson. He just wants to gloat smh I really hate this guy right now

wow he wants her to deny her marriage, claim she's a virgin and marry him instead. Ugh I'm appalled!!

a symbol that Imonida is to cover herself with the veil and go to his bed. If she were to disobey, the result would be execution. What a pig!

this guy seems sketchy and seems a bit corrupt abusing his power for his "private use". Oroonoko better watch his back that's all I'm saying

Compared to the old king who loves women and has many wives

Oroonoko's decision to marry Imoinda as his ONLY wife was found unusual in his country further proves he is not the typical Coramantien man but one who holds values

The Governor was to go see the natives one day but broke his promise and they are to believe he has died as it would be the only reason to them as to why someone would break their promise. They find out he is not dead and ask him his thoughts on someone who can't keep a promise and Governor responds that the person in his eyes is a liar; little did he know they're actually talking about him. So I could imagine they're pissed off and disappointed.

The white colonist live with the natives and treat them with "brotherly and friendly affection" instead of trying to boss them around

She's addressing that what she is about to tell us is completely true as she was an eye-witness herself and anything she didn't see for herself was told to her by Oroonoko

The words in their language is shown throughout the text. It seems interesting.

That's rough. It is honestly a bit surprising to see how much they were capable of.

According to the Google dictionary, Scimitar is a short sword with a curved blade that broadens toward the point, used originally in Eastern countries.

According to the Google dictionary, 'Magnanimous' is defined as generous or forgiving, especially toward a rival or less powerful person. This prince must have been quite humble.

I feel like the character feels he's not in absolute danger given the size of these people. He knows he could easily break free as soon as there's even a slight chance.

What is this referring to? "As we do bombs in Europe"? Was there some kind of war at the time this novel was being written?

Yikes. That honestly sounds painful.

A lark is a small ground-dwelling songbird, typically with brown streaky plumage, a crest, and elongated hind claws, and with a song that is delivered in flight.

"Mutton" is defined as the flesh of sheep, especially mature sheep, used as food.

Middle Child!

scornful or insulting language or behavior

intense hatred; abhorrence

complex; difficult

An axiom is a statement or idea which people accept as being true.

A calamity is an event that causes a great deal of damage, destruction, or personal distress.

In classical, medieval, and Renaissance astronomy, the Primum Mobile (or "first moved") was the outermost moving sphere in the geocentric model of the universe.

Augustus was a Roman statesman and military leader who was the first emperor of the Roman Empire, reigning from 27 BC until his death in AD 14. His status as the founder of the Roman Principate has consolidated an enduring legacy as one of the most effective and controversial leaders in human history.

a feeling of pensive sadness, typically with no obvious cause

A very catchy phrase. Really grabs the reader's attention.

If you expostulate, you express strong disagreement with someone.

If you contrive an event or situation, you succeed in making it happen, often by tricking someone.

If you expound an idea or opinion, you give a clear and detailed explanation of it.

If you disavow something, you say that you are not connected with it or responsible for it.

I enjoyed these essays a lot! There's tons of wisdom in them. He is so inspirational and has so many unique ideas that I could listen to him speak for days. I also love his writing style. His sentences achieve a carefully constructed balance and he uses parallelism and comparisons a lot, which helps readers understand his ideas easily.

Interesting reading! The readings mentioned hit the the underlying basis of life; knowledge, triumphs, negotiating, marriage, etc. These are some aspects that aren't highlighted a whole lot in readings but are still important aspects of life and stories. Francis Bacon provides a great story and explanation for each selection.

to remove or destroy totally; do away with; exterminate.

Given the huge breadth of his readings, Montaigne could have been ranked among the most erudite humanists of the XVIth century.

Any red gemstone, most often a red garnet. A carbuncle can also be a stone with magical properties, usually capable of providing its own illumination to an otherwise dark interior. This is encountered in a number of medieval texts.

Give the characters a meaning and personality

His word choice is so spot-on! He is saying some people gain knowledge merely for decoration, meaning that they only want to improve themselves in the eyes of other.

hindrance

Literary device: litotes

This simile sounds very modern to me. Anyone thinks the same? And I wonder what kind of books can be classified by Bacon as "distilled books"?

Sounds like the modern way of saying, lets talk in person instead of text. In person, emotions are expressed clearly. In letter or text, it is hard to get the emotions across properly

This is a great simile!

Wit is a God-given gift. It is present in everybody. However, it can be sharpened by selective studying. This is similar to the way certain weaknesses of the human body are cured by appropriate physical exercises.

a plan or scheme, especially one used to outwit an opponent or achieve an end.

This line is Latin for “hairsplitters” or literally “dividers of cumin seed.” Basically, Bacon is using an English idiom meaning that Schoolmen (that would be teachers) like to closely examine small, unimportant details as if they were the most important thing around.

deceitful and untrustworthy.

"You must have the devil in you to succeed in any of the arts."

Bowling here means cricket or the bowling we know?

Comparisons appeal to readers' logical sense.

Because the truth hurts..

Bacon uses comparison and contrast quite a lot.

Writing forces one to think about what he believes and what he wants to communicate.

Conversing with many people, and with many different kinds of people, will make a man, or woman, sophisticated and versatile.

By reading, one is able to fill the mind with knowledge pertaining to a variety of topics.

“Studies determine character.”

Right to the point I'm here for it!

A covetous person has a strong desire to possess something, especially something that belongs to another person.

If someone talks or behaves in a rather impolite and disrespectful way, you can call this behavior impertinence or an impertinence.

obstacle; barrier

Past tense of foretell. If you foretell a future event, you predict that it will happen.

ring

A sect is a group of people that has separated from a larger group and has a particular set of religious or political beliefs.

This saying is so philosophical

unwillingness; disinclination

pretty; charming

Performances by masked performers in folk play or mime

Greek

I did find that Bacon uses only nine "I" in all the essays excerpted in our text!

Oh I like his plain style - simple, direct, and straightforward!

Bacon was an English philosopher and statesman, and a pioneer of modern scientific thought.

morally bad or evil; corrupted

Sabbath is a day set aside for rest and worship.

extremely unpleasant

plain and straightforward

not to be overlooked, or, perhaps, inaccessible to others

of men's minds by the Holy Spirit

whatever the true cause may be why

Spake is the very old-fashioned form of the past tense of speak.

such a lie as

why it is

at a loss

imposes restraint

whose disposition is the same as that of the ancients, though their abilities are less

discursive minds

aiming at

said Pilate in derision

There are many bits of philosophy and wisdom in many different contexts here so it was very enjoyable to me, a philosophy buff. Many of his points still ring true today while others like remaining single and childless to contribute to society would not sit well with many people.

It was very clear English, easy to understand and enjoy.

In order to progress knowledge, you first have to assume there is something you don't know yet. Thus, playing by the rules you do know doesn't let you find the ones you don't.

In order to progress knowledge, you first have to assume there is something you don't know yet. Thus, playing by the rules you do know doesn't let you find the ones you don't.

Face-to-face always pays off. Most people find it easier to turn someone down when they don't have to look them in the eye as they do it.

Only or especially those without the distraction of family, a wife or child, can contribute greatly to society and knowledge. This is because these single, childless men have chosen the service of the public instead of the service of his family.

This is a common thought of the 1500-1600s, especially in religious groups as we have seen in previous readings. Many religious leaders advocate for solitude and abstinence as a way of freeing the mind from earthly distractions, allowing him to focus on the Lord.

Truth is only found when looking from afar as a bird sees or one sees from Heaven.

The truth can be dull without a lie to compliment it.

The truth is beautiful in certain lights or situations but not all. The truth is not a versatile or flexible as a lie which is why lies are so easy to find and so hard to expose as false.

Referring to the Greek schools of philosophy where philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle studied and taught.

Where did we go?

Though the people that focused their lives on answering these questions, philosophers, are gone, we still desire to know the answers, though not as strongly.

Men discover themselves in trust, in passion, at unawares; and of necessity, when they would have somewhat done, and cannot find an apt pretext, if you would work any man, you must either know his nature and fashions, and so lead him; or his ends, and so persuade him; or his weakness and disadvantages, and so awe him; or these that have interest in him, and so govern him. In all negotiations of difficulty, a man may not look to sow and reap at once; but must prepare business, and so ripen it by degrees. If a man deal with another upon conditions, the start of first performance is . To deal in person is good, when a man's face breedeth regard, as commonly with inferiors.

Certainly the best works, and of greatest merit for the public, have proceeded from the unmarried or childless men; which, both in affection and means, have married and endowed the public. Who, though they lead a single life, yet their thoughts do end with themselves, and account future times impertinences; nay, there are some other that account wife and children but as bills of charges; nay more, there are some foolish rich covetous men, that take a pride in having no children, because they may be thought so much the richer; for, perhaps, they have heard some talk, "Such an one's a great rich man" and another except to it.

I guess I like Wroth's sonnets more than her prose romance Urania, which is somewhat difficult to understand. Many of her sonnets show the notion of one sided or unrequited love and deal with the themes of love and betrayal, which are quite intriguing to me.

This is a really weird and interesting sentence. What does it mean?

Sounds mad and upset at the same time.

means to feel contempt or a deep repugnance for.

Such great imagery! i can really picture this in my head. a dark room with that pretty table in the back and only the candle giving light. is this what everyone else imagined?

Disdain means the feeling that someone or something is unworthy of one's consideration or respect; contempt.

The poem follows a rhyme scheme

She feels alone with nobody to talk to.

blest means archaic or literary term for blessed.

woe means great sorrow or distress.

Because she was beautiful, she deserves everything ? is that what it means?

I believe that this relates the Mary Wroth's marriage that deteriorated over time. Apparently her marriage started out good, but got very bad over time. In this sonnet. she is talking about how "light, and fair, Fresh as morning hear as th'air, But soon thy evening change Makes thy warmth with coldness range." This is speculation, but her marriage started out as light, clean air. But as time went on, their relationship turned cold. Cold can be seen as a relationship getting old, boring, or even sad.

I enjoyed this reading, wasn't the easiest reading but wasn't too hard at all either. It expressed the feelings of love, sadness and loneliness very well with the imagery, rhyming and other devices that made the reading more interesting. The reading all flowed and connected together so beautifully.

1 : intense, disordered, and often destructive rage. 2a capitalized : any of the avenging deities in Greek mythology who torment criminals and inflict plagues. b : an avenging spirit. c : one who resembles an avenging spirit especially : a spiteful woman.

She is so upset even the bright and airy season of spring can uplift her mood

disease of what? What is this reffereing to

Excellent tone and attitude to portray the sadness she holds alone. Very clear cut imagery- straight to the point

Love the nature elements coming through in this reading already

The aspiration to learn more developed from boredom instead of genuinely being interested in something new

Very interesting statement. If you're happy in being ignorant then you'll be okay with everything else because you experienced the worst yourself. Unless they are a hypocrite actually.

disposition to willfully inflict pain and suffering on others

Responsible people

At a crossroads. There are many paths to chose and the right or best might not be clear, but the choice must be made.

This was beautiful and easy to read and understand. The author is definitely skilled in imagery. I felt as though I could see and hear and feel what Urania saw, heard, and felt. The poems were also beautiful and seamless. I felt as though it wasn't squished into poem form, rather the poem was a happy accident, as Bob Ross would say, that just made the writing that much better. Also, the story itself was excellent, though you should never leave your sheep alone!

Does one complain about a sacrifice when they made the sacrifice willingly?

Does this mean his senses were damaged, such as blind and deaf, or does it simply mean he was unconscious? Because of the next bit, I am inclined to presume the latter, but the wording seems strange still.

She feared he was dead.

A secret door leading to a secret room!!

It sounds to me like she is mourning her potential, her choices, and her lack of freedom.

a type of tree

Abandoning her sheep, her responsibility to their safety... Not the smartest thing to do.

A woman in charge of taking care of a flock of sheep.

Constancy is the quality of being faithful and loyal to a particular person or belief.

Deliberately causes harm, damage, or waste without having any reason to.

Malice is behavior that is intended to harm people or their reputations, or cause them embarrassment and upset.

Amusement which you express by laughing

Being kept imprisoned or enclosed

If you describe a person or their behavior as martyred, you mean that they often exaggerate their suffering in order to gain sympathy or praise.

In ancient times, chariots were fast-moving vehicles with two wheels that were pulled by horses.

A mantle of something is a layer of it covering a surface.

The speaker concludes the poem by stating that they would like to continue to say far worse things about love, but since they have been in love before as well, they will refrain from this.

In the second and third stanzas the speaker slightly changes their tune. While they still emphasize that love will eventually turn bad, they compare the initial feeling of love to a fresh morning as well as a beautiful flower.

Wroth uses repetition of this rhetorical question to deal with different aspects of love.

Love is “childish, vain” because of its fleeting and temporary nature.

The speaker is saying love is wonderful and does exist, but only for a short time towards the beginnings of a relationships and then dies like “a sweet flower / Once full blown, dead in an hour.”

Lady Mary Wroth was the first Englishwoman to write a complete sonnet sequence as well as an original work of prose fiction. Although earlier women writers of the sixteenth century had mainly explored the genres of translation, dedication, and epitaph, Wroth openly transgressed the traditional boundaries by writing secular love poetry and romances. Her verse was celebrated by the leading poets of the age, including Ben Jonson, George Chapman, Josuah Sylvester, and others. Despite the controversy over the publication in 1621 of her major work of fiction, The Countesse of Mountgomeries Urania, Wroth continued writing a second part of her romance and composed a five-act pastoral drama, Love's Victory.

The eldest daughter of Sir Robert Sidney and Lady Barbara Gamage, she was probably born on 18 October 1587, a date derived from the Sidney correspondence. She belonged to a prominent literary family, known for its patronage of the arts. Her uncle, Sir Philip Sidney, was a leading Elizabethan poet, statesman, and soldier, whose tragic death in the Netherlands elevated him to the status of national hero. Wroth was influenced by some of her uncle's literary works, including his sonnet sequence Astrophil and Stella (1591); a prose romance, intermingled with poetry, The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia and a pastoral entertainment, The Lady of May.

Having attained the top, she saw under some hollow trees the entry into the rock : she fearing nothing, but the continuance of her ignorance, went in; where she found a pretty room, as if that stony place had yet in pity given leave for such perfections to come in to the Heart as chiefest, and most beloved place, because, most loving.

Personification of spring

Meaning a female shepherd - the first sign of feminism in this work?

Spake is the very old-fashioned form of the past tense of speak.

brave

Obsolete spelling of servant

The speaker has proved her point and chooses to move on.

While Love juggles, he takes advantage of us by stealing “our hearts."

Love is a performer (a juggler) who wears a “disguise.”

Simile

image

The sense here is of people drawing near to a juggler who will trick them with sleight of hand tricks.

There's a shift in tone here - the speaker does have faith and hope in love.

Martin Luther attended Wertenberg, he was an influential part of the protestant reformation. While Martin Luther is not explicitly mentioned in this play his ideas are definitely brought up throughout