It's so funny how the tone of the emperor change after he so easily secures the enemies fleet. Now the emperor wants world-domination (on their scale at least) and to either subdue these people under his command as a province, or to enslave them. While ironically, showing mercy and kindness providing them their most useful asset in the form of the author.

It's comical how like, anything that we might take as a trivial task is a monumental one to them. From everything to tying him up and moving him to their capital to even repairing and collecting his hat. It must have been a humbling experience to be captured by people of this stature, but also a moving moment to experience their civility and fearlessness. I'd imagine he came to have a genuine respect for these people.

The author is quite well read on African cultures as blue was a very popular color in many west African nations. He perhaps might be well-traveled as well, using this as an account to provide background for his characters and infrastructure in this story.

Gun powder I'm assuming.

He's free-er but not entirely free. It must be a depressing feeling, because that's all he wants.

He's very conflicted by their treatment, but understanding of their situation. Like if I was a tiny person, I'd probably do the same thing and tie down someone (I perceived) to be a giant. And although he is a prisoner, they bear no ill will against him. That much is apparent by their treatment of him as sort of a guest, by bringing him food and water, and meeting with him in gesture-discussions.

This is such a community it's almost like one body. It's beautiful, and to the extent where if one part of the body is injured the whole body is. This is great, and how it should be, however western society is very different and very individually-based.

Aside from some of the domestic issues, and outliers, his people are generally wholesome and happy people. And why would they not be, everyone works, everyone eats. It's a genuine community in every sense of the word. One in which everything they have, eat and make is from the land. It's like a vegan person's utopia.

Africa (I'd argue) is one of the greatest ecologically diverse and rich continent on the planet. Just the sheer amount of resources from gold, ivory, diamonds, to fruits and plants and materials is almost overwhelming. It's so unfortunate in a post-colonial world most of it is exploited, stolen and/or defiled by a lot of western powers (still to this day).

I could be mistaken but this sounds a lot like frankincense.

It's so sad that the marriages are arranged. It undermines the constitution of genuine love I think, usually in exchange for something else (i.e. status, wealth, beauty). What's even more sad from this is that, it's generally misogynistic, to the point where she is treated like property and extremely one-sided. Like there is no fair trial, if the wife is accused of infidelity, they're not even looking for proof, it's just "off to your husband for punishment" which is usually death. It's hypocritical too cause they have side pieces??

valley

Equator.

The only sorcery and 'magic' going on between them is genuine connection and care. He would just tell her his secrets in depth, every now and again and she came to love him. And despite knowing he might be persecuted for it, decided to love her regardless. It's a very sweet story.

Speak (or write) to with.

This is great. She's doing house chores while her father entertains Othello, and she's like rushing to finish them quickly so she can hear more of his adventures. She was genuinely interested in him and his story.

True, he just makes this up and excepts people to believe him on account of race, and even despite this he's being civil and explaining to him that sure they can try to look into that, but that it isn't probable.

I love this, he is so humble. Like he's just telling them all he knows is war and battle, and he's not the best speaker, but that he'll tell them everything about his marriage with Brabantio's daughter.

Charmed.

I like how misinformed and overtly racist this guy is, it's almost comical. Like his daughter disappears and he just comes to the conclusion that Othello is a wizard, who put her under some spell/potion combination and whisked her away against her will. Like, she probably went with him willingly (as he doesn't seem like a bad guy) if you could just see that for two seconds without looking at his skin color. But go off I guess.

He's arguing that if the his daughter is actually married to this man (and or allegedly kidnapped) that all be doomed to hell essentially. So now the Moor is willingly accepting prison, and standing trial in which he'll probably lose. But he is hopeful the trial will be a fair one, in which he can prove his rights, and be freed to marry this girl. Hope it goes well for him.

Yikes, pretty racist.

Think.

Make known.

Basically, he's arguing that Brabantio's daughter has run off to do the hokey pokey with the Moor, and if he's wrong he's willing to pay the consequences for making such allegations against him in the middle of the night.

(of a person, manner, or gesture) feeling or revealing an overt and often offensive sexual desire.

http://english.oxforddictionaries.com/lascivious

One who steers a gondola (Italian boat).

An unscrupulous man.

He's testifying that the (suspected) Moor is just as human as either one of them, surprisingly.

An executioner.

Hate/detest.

He believes (maybe) that the cause of the youth's leaving their relationship was due to his wanting, or neediness. Furthermore Shakespeare is saying how he wasn't deserving of this youth's rich love, having not yet know his own value. It's sad to be hurt by a lost love, but also still love them. I feel like this is his writing of a teary-eyed goodbye.

Here he is being a bit contradictory, because he is saying he wants the youth's love to die with him, and to not even bee remembered by him. Maybe this is due to the fact that most of his peers at the time thought he was a failure, and he doesn't want his lovers' remembrance to be mocked, and their relationship despised. If this is the case then he is quite a selfless lover. Which contrasts the previous sonnet of his selfishness, further describing the depths of his love.

Worn with age.

I love how here he is comparing time to an ocean's waves. The minutes with his lover come, one after another and crash into the pebbled shore of what is past.

While this other poet is sweet to the youth, he sours their love.

If this is in reference to his lover's infidelity, he is saying he isn't upset because it makes sense. The youth's lover is his supporter.

When the day turns cloudy, and dark clouds cover what was once the beautiful sky.

By his remembrance of old woes, and the sadness that follows, he is reliving the same sorrows, as if he hasn't experienced them before.

When he is on trial against his thoughts?

It seems as though the platonic love he has for this youth isn't enough. He wants more, or maybe even less?

Boast about or praise, often excessively.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=2ahUKEwjXypazpunoAhXsna0KHf8dDRoQvecEMAB6BAgLEHQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fenglish.oxforddictionaries.com%2Fvaunt&usg=AOvVaw1jsRcutVfDLyynZN8iYYtA

This is a deep reflection. Growth is sort of an ugly process, full of ups and downs, and perfect moments during are, if anything, fleeting.

I love the use of violet here, it's as if he's regarding retirement in the same way as royalty wears purple.

Forewarned for the religious annotation but it's kind of funny how when they need the gold or silver they just chip away pieces of their claimed god. Like isn't this the one being you should revere? Some pagan merchants in pre-islamic Arabia used to carry around gods built out of dates, and when they got hungry and fatigued in the desert they would eat their god. To each their own but it is a bit contradictory I think.

Not to sound religious or anything (again). But this reminds of some passage in the Quran I read a long time ago. It was something along the lines of 'a mother suckling her child, will throw it to the ground on the Day of Judgment and say "I am worried about myself today.". This is essentially what he's doing, he's throwing his child to the wolves, in a effort to save himself. He has no moral compass and he's hypocritical.

It's so sad because I feel like she actually might have been a good queen?? But go off Mary.

I can see how this would be romanticized. She was essentially a royal scapegoat for Protestantism.

Literally so stupid. Like why would you even try, you knew things might end up like this, and you are already doing better than 99% of the population anyways. Greed smh.

This is a great downside of any hierachy/kingdom situation. It essentially dissolves a family to being power-hungry, 'nobles' all vying for the throne, or even being an in-law to someone in power, which may or may not result in your death. But who cares, power right?

Wyat was the leader of the Peasants' Rebellion (who was killed). Then the king at the time agreed to peoples' demands of release from indentured servitude, but secretly had numerous members of the same rebellion slaughtered in their homes.

I think she misunderstands, I'm sure her subjects would take great comfort in knowing their current ruler is a just one, not that Mary is going to have a child. Just saying.

It must be difficult to be in a position such as hers. Not only are people second-guessing your position due to royal scandal and always-near-to-basterdom, but a lot of your subjects are probably also sexist and traitorous. It might be easy to get the power (as wasn't her case) but it's always harder to keep it.

This is kindaa a moral gray area as far as I'm concerned. I believe she's apologizing for being a Protestant, and going against the corruption of the Catholic church, in exchange for her life? Granted most people would do the same, but still.

A fast learner.

http://english.oxforddictionaries.com/precocious

Having a healthy red color.

http://english.oxforddictionaries.com/ruddy

I feel like this notion as well as the aforementioned one of god being in the form of a handmaiden was revolutionary at the time and a BIG step forward. She redescribed god as ultimately being interpretable in shape or form, or one gender or the other, but ultimately benevolence.

Of a person, unattractive, ugly.

http://english.oxforddictionaries.com/homely

Willingly, gladly.

https://www.yourdictionary.com/lief

Kind of a frightening time period if this is her mindset. She is ill and bedridden but the best she can do for herself is just pray to God and hope she gets better, sounds like a rough time. However on the other hand of this, religion is such a heavy influence at this time that I feel that she thinks if she dies in the state of prayer that she will be forgiven of her sins, like a martyr, and enter paradise, as was the goal of most this era.

Definitely sounds like an illness similar to the one the Joker has in the recent movie. In that movie, the character suffered head trauma as a child, and as a result developed a condition where he randomly laughs uncontrollably. It's sad that in her current situation she's clearly ill, but that it's chalked up to religion, as she roams destitute, trying to find her way back home.

Not comparable.

https://www.yourdictionary.com/quotidianly#:~:text=quotidianly,quotidian%20basis%3B%20daily%20or%20commonplace.

I feel there may be something seriously wrong with her. She went from having a chip on her shoulder to excessively mourning the death of Jesus. Granted even if she did see a vision as powerful as aforementioned, she might have flashbacks, but any reasonable person I think wouldn't grieve as recklessly as she has.

Abandoned or deserted.

http://english.oxforddictionaries.com/forsaken

I agree with her sentiment. Women are not treasures to be locked away, or property like horses. Women are their own people, to think and do as they please. Not that she doesn't also have ulterior motives for why she wants her freedom, but she deserves freedom nonetheless.

Part of me feels for the wife of bath. Like I can understand her reasoning for cheating and such, but part of me is confused by her. She is sort of an anomaly. She lies and cheats on her husbands, but lectures them when they do the same. Is it just for dominance? Or is she genuinely hurt?

She's saying women are generally better liars than men, and can do it with a straighter face as well.

The miller is basically saying "Yeah forget all the love ish, story's over"

Absalom is kind of a simp if we're being real here. You don't need to do too much in trying to woo someone, either they like you or they don't . Why make a fool of yourself singing to them every night and day, when they clearly don't care THEN told you they have a lover. He should've honestly just kept it moving, but love made him do stupid things.

Corner-side of a house below the roof.

http://english.oxforddictionaries.com/gable

I feel like this is one of the reasons she ultimately chose Nicholas. He's definitely attracted to her but keeps it subtle and waits for his chance, that way everything is cool between her and her husband, and he gets to enjoy her. Absalom on the other hand wants to declare his love for her to the world, messing things up between her and her husband and ultimately even for himself.

Love this earthy description of her.

I feel like the fact that the author further emphasized this is indicative of the times. Since religion was so all-encompassing to everyone, I'd say the majority of people were religious. So a tale about two guys trying to steal the carpenters wife, maybe falling on deaf ears.

Don't take what i'm about to say to heart.

I interpreted this a bit differently. He already stated in the previous lines that most women he believe are faithful, and that if they aren't you'd have reason to suspect they aren't, unless of course you're mad. In Abrahamic faiths it's commonly believed that god is not to be questioned, but rather man will be questioned for their sins on judgment day. Furthermore, if your wife is good to you and gives you no reason to be, why would you be suspicious of her?

I already like the miller's character. He's already jabbing at the reeve for getting defensive about the subject.

get*

It's cool how he introduced these characters in a general sense to further expound on them. But to tell everything about 29 people seems a bit judgmental? Like sure you're traveling with them and you'll get well-aquainted with each other, but ultimately I feel like this will lead to biases of some characters versus others.

I like how 29 people up and decided to become cheery and set off to Canterbury together. This makes sense due to the time period we're talking about and due to the length of the voyage. The pilgrimage is likely on foot, thwarted by bandits and highwaymen. We also don't know much about them so hope they made it there.

This is a beautiful way to describe the arrival of Spring. The ending of droughts, the plenty of wine in peoples' bodies. It is generally marked as a time of celebration, and an end to the scarcity that is winter.

Interestingly here as in the great famine, the source of illness is also religion. Like this pope is practically deified. So many people are trying to repent for the sins and confess before they die that the churches are overflown with people. Which is kinda sad considering most authoritative religious figures of that stature are usually very corrupt.

Whole lotta Catholic stuff going on.

Strongly urge.

Double-checkmate.

Conference.

Evening.

He's giving the king good advice here. Like sure you lost the battle, but the war isn't over.

Ooh that's gonna leave a mark.

Nature basically said "yeah y'all gonna die".

Shaped in an archway.

Somehow I don't believe this.

I like how initially they told us how bad things were, then proceeded to blame themselves for not being righteous, believing they were being punished by the gods. THEN, they proceeded to blame the gods as current god is awful, and is in the process of being replaced like some mortal election process. Idealogically, they wylin.

King of the gods and lightning.

Funny because this isn't actually a science. It was a practice (still practiced by some I believe) to predict the future using stars. Sort of like a form of fortune telling.

It's sad to see how in times of famine people will resort to animals that are typically uneaten to survive.

Towns.

http://english.oxforddictionaries.com/borough

A county.

http://english.oxforddictionaries.com/shire

Another hero of Ulaid from Irish mythology, known for being triumphant.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conall_Cernach

One lake created from a lake-burst. A lake-burst in Irish mythology is essentially when a new lake is created by digging, usually for graves.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake-burst

Wet muddy ground, too soft to support large bodies.

https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/bog

A tough flexible branch of willow or some other wood. It is used for tying, binding or basketry.

https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/withy

What Foill wore or his equipment.

https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/accoutrement

A red strainer (like used for pasta), clever use of imagery.

https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/sieve

Conflict.

https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/strife

Throughout the tale Cuchulainn is belittled and relentlessly reminded that he is a just boy, and in an eager attempt to prove himself and become a legend, does impressive albeit unnecessary things (collecting animals and birds, killing enemies) making his deeds undoubtedly boyish. In the end he ultimately proves his strength and worthiness, but falls victim to such a simple trap (when he covers his eyes from naked women) and is captured. In a way this is the coming of age tale of a boy who is ultimately physically strong, but still mentally immature and meets his demise because of it.

I found this interesting because bringing these animals back home dead (in the form of meat) might be good, as well as easier to transport, however bringing them home alive would be a feat more difficult to achieve.

I interpreted this as Fandall being very light on his feet, or quick (especially in water), since swans typically sit on the water.

Macha was a goddess in Irish mythology, associated with land,fertility, kingship, war and horses. Emain Macha (now commonly referred to as Navan Fort), is an ancient ceremonial monument where she was said to have given birth.

Spangenberg, Lisa L. “Emain Macha or Navan Fort.” Celtic Studies Resources, 1997, www.digitalmedievalist.com/places/emain-macha-or-navan-fort/.

A disorderly retreat of defeated troupes.

Press, Oxford University. “Rout: Definition of Rout by Lexico.” Lexico Dictionaries | English, Lexico Dictionaries, 2019, www.lexico.com/en/definition/rout.

Here Cuchulainn is claiming to have already tamed this wild deer to an extent.

This fighter is particularly strategic.

I assume his first opponent is great at defense.

Cuchulainn's 'would-be' opponents who boasted of their Ulstermen killing.

Despite being warned that his glory would short-lived, I find it interesting that Cuchulainn is still eager to prove himself.