A Formalistic Analysis of The Fatal Sisters
In “The Fatal Sisters” Thomas Gray has created a monologue pregnant with references to history, geography, and mythology. These reappearing references and allusions enrich the text, as they allow a closer look at the political situation surrounding eleventh century Britain. The poems’ sixteen stanzas exhibit an ABAB rhyme scheme, which provides for systematic organization and positive aesthetic effects. Closer examination of the setting, tone, and imagery of the poem permits insight into the text’s content and artistic genius.
The setting for “The Fatal Sisters” is an eleventh century, war-ridden Ireland. The nation’s fate appears to rest upon the shoulders of a few bloodthirsty monarchs who are entangled in a never-ending conflict. Their massive armies wage battle after battle and therefore tint Britain’s outlook upon society and its future. It is at such a troublesome time that twelve mysterious women are observed to “weave the web of war” and in such a way create the future of their nation. This very day is ironically...
Rochette-Crawley, S. (2004) James T. Farrell. The Literary Encyclopedia. April 2, 2004. Retrieved on May 13, 2009 from http://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=1487
Raffel, Burton. and Alexandra H. Olsen Poems and Prose from the Old English, (Yale University Press)Robert Bjork and John Niles,
In the past decades, the struggle for gay rights in the Unites States has taken many forms. Previously, homosexuality was viewed as immoral. Many people also viewed it as pathologic because the American Psychiatric Association classified it as a psychiatric disorder. As a result, many people remained in ‘the closet’ because they were afraid of losing their jobs or being discriminated against in the society. According to David Allyn, though most gays could pass in the heterosexual world, they tended to live in fear and lies because they could not look towards their families for support. At the same time, openly gay establishments were often shut down to keep openly gay people under close scrutiny (Allyn 146). But since the 1960s, people have dedicated themselves in fighting for
Murphy, B. & Shirley J. The Literary Encyclopedia. [nl], August 31, 2004. Available at: http://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=2326. Access on: 22 Aug 2010.
...r scene was instrumental in the development of a culture and identity for homosexuals. In today's contemporary world, we see the effects of what was done during the late 1800's and early 1900's. Today, there are numerous balls in which homosexuals are able to gather on a larger scale and engage in almost ritual practices. The bar scene has flourished well beyond the Bowery and into mainstream culture. Despite this, I have personally seen a new trend of bars opening up in areas, namely the less economically stable areas of New York City, that cater primarily to homosexuals. In these areas, homosexuality is shunned far more harshly than in areas with financial stability. Overall, the foundation that was built at the turn of the century are still being built upon by those of the contemporary age, and are trying to gain more notoriety, further the homosexual identity.
As generations proceeded, institutions such as the American Psychiatric Society began to classify homosexuality as a disease, which was later retracted in the 1970’s and was no longer considered a mental disorder. At this time many homosexuals decided to start “coming out”, a process in which people talk freely about their sexual orientation to family and friends. Then in the1980’s new adversary for the gay community became the forefront of debates worldwide. The AIDS crisis, which seemed to be only contracted in the gay male population, paved the way for brutalizing words such as “queer” that was used to describe all sexual minorities. In the 1990’s where the gay rights movement saw more victories with the United States military instituting the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Policy.” This policy gave homosexuals the right to serve within the military. Then in the year 2000, Vermont became the first state to allow same sex civil unions (Pitas).
McAuliffe, Mary. ‘Gender, history and witchcraft in early modern Ireland: a re-reading of the Florence Newton trial’ IN: Mary Ann Gialenella Valiulis ed. Gender and power in Irish history. Dublin, 2009. Pp 39-58.
Gays and Lesbians also went through a contentious time during the 1960s. This began with a routine police raid at the Stonewall, a bar that gays frequented. During this raid, they men refused to be arrested and sent to prison, and they began a riot in the streets. This riot became a three day rebellion that had gay men flaunting their homosexuality in Sheridan Square for all to behold. This “coming out” helped the Gay Rights movement because it “initiated self-defense and political activity”, bringing more attention to the matter. Organizations like the Gay Liberation Front attempted to connect the s...
The LGBTQI community has a long history in the United States. The first gay rights organization, The Society for Human Rights, was founded in 1924 in Chicago. In 1955 the first lesbian rights organization was established, the organization was called Daughters of Bilitis and was founded in San Francisco. In 1967 Harvey Milk is appointed to the Board of Permit Appeals, making him the first openly gay city commissioner in the United States. This was a big step for the gay movement in politics however the turning point is the gay rights movement occurred in 1969. The Stonewall riots began in New York City in the Greenwich Village. These riots kick started the gay rights movement and moved it to the canter of public attention. The riots began when a police raid occurred in a bar called the Stonewall inn in Greenwich Village. The raid was followed by riots that lasted for ...
Women are what bring this story to such cavernous depths. We are not brought into the perspective of the men, we are, however, told about how they are loved, hurt, and manipulated by the women. There is a scale of personality among the ladies which ranges from the pious uncertainty of Gwenyfar to the essence of strength from Morgaine. We are first enthralled with Igraine’s love, repulsed by the sinister Morgause, respectful to the lady Igraine, enchanted by Morgaine’s wisdom and angered by Gwenyfar’s ignorance. The qualities possessed by these woman can be both glorious and destructive.
The media’s portrayal of gays was a picture of perversion. Homosexuals were looked upon in disgust, uneasiness and fear. Schools taught children that being homosexual was one of the greatest offenses one could commit. Many books, newspaper articles, and other documents were published to convey homosexuals as disturbed individuals.
Abrams, M.H. and Greenblatt, Stephen eds. The Norton Anthology of English Literature: Seventh Edition. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2001.
“Not all that glisters gold,” Gray surmised in his poem, Ode on the Death of a Favorite Cat. While the term is widely understood now as meaning that not everything is precious, there is evidence to suggest that there is a more cautionary tone which surrounds this saying. As Gray uses it to lament the death of Horace Walpole’s favorite cat, when the text is analyzed further, aspects of the mock epic are revealed. However this usage of the mock epic is less humorous in tone and more as a vehicle to warn readers of the tragedy that befalls them when they mindlessly pursuit certain desires. Therefore, in Thomas Gray's Ode on the Death of a Favorite Cat, Gray uses the style of mock epic along with a non-human character in order to depict how people dangerously pursuit the material in their life, at the risk of their own demise.
113- The Norton Anthology of English Literature. 6th ed. of the book. Vol.
“Homosexuality” was the main term used in the late 1950s until a new “gay” culture came about. This new gay culture not only meant same-sex desires but also gay selves an...