Invitations

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik Gray
Keyword(s):  
Christopher Marlowe ◽  
Charles Baudelaire ◽  
Cultural Practice ◽  
The Self ◽  
Song Of Songs ◽  
Love Poetry ◽  
Love Lyric ◽  
Erotic Desire

This chapter describes the invitation poem, a genre of love poetry with its roots in the biblical Song of Songs that reflects on major questions that have always surrounded the nature of love. Does love entail recognition or fresh discovery, a completion of the self or a disruption of its contours? Is love primarily a natural passion or a cultural practice? The invitation poem, with its displacement of erotic desire onto an imagined landscape, negotiates these possibilities through its fusion of inward and outward, homecoming and exile, intimacy and alienation. The tradition initiated by the Song of Songs alters over the centuries, as poets including Christopher Marlowe and Charles Baudelaire, among many others, highlight different points of contact between the poetic and erotic imagination. The invitation genre can thus be seen as an archetypal form of love lyric, emphasizing some of the central paradoxes that link love to poetry.

scholarly journals Aristotle My Beloved: Poetry, Diagnosis, and the Dreams of Julius Caesar Scaliger*

2007 ◽  
Vol 60 (3) ◽  
pp. 819-851 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristine Louise Haugen
Keyword(s):  
Personal Identity ◽  
Natural Philosophy ◽  
Julius Caesar ◽  
Love Poetry ◽  
Love Lyric

AbstractNotoriously Aristotelian in his poetic theory, linguistics, and natural philosophy, Julius Caesar Scaliger (1484–1558) also reimagined the lost love poetry that Aristotle himself was said to have written. Scaliger'sNew Epigramsof 1533 combine a distinctively humanist view of Aristotle as an elegant polymath with a sustained experiment in refashioning the Petrarchan love lyric. Most visibly in poems about dreams and dreaming, Scaliger educes his speaker's erotic despair from philosophical problems in contemporary Aristotelian accounts of the soul, knowledge, and personal identity. The strange but compelling texts that result form a crossroads for Scaliger's own identities as physician, philosopher, and poet.

Petrarch in Britain

2007 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Eighteenth Century ◽  
English Literature ◽  
The Self ◽  
Major Influence ◽  
Love Poetry ◽  
Giordano Bruno ◽  
Key Topics ◽  
Renaissance Italy ◽  
Literary Legacy

Petrarch was Italy's second most famous writer (after Dante), and indeed from the fifteenth to the nineteenth centuries he was much better known and more influential in English literature than Dante. His Italian love lyrics constituted the major influence on European love poetry for at least two centuries from 1400 to 1600, and in Britain he was imitated by Chaucer, the Elizabethans, and other lyric poets up until the end of the eighteenth century. With Romanticism Dante ousted Petrarch from his pre-eminent position, but in our post-Romantic age, attention has now started to swing back to Petrarch. This volume is a survey of Petrarch's literary legacy in Britain. Starting with his own views of those whom he called the ‘barbari Britanni’, the volume then explores a number of key topics: Petrarch's analysis of the self; his dialogue with other classical and Italian authors; Petrarchism and anti-Petrarchism in Renaissance Italy; Petrarchism in England and Scotland; and Petrarch's modern legacy in both Italy and Britain. Many important texts and poets are considered, including Giordano Bruno, Leopardi, Foscolo, Ascham, Sidney, Spenser, and Walter Savage Landor.

To See Is To Assume: Whose Love Is Celebrated in the Song of Songs?1

1993 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 265-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Athalya Brenner
Keyword(s):  
Song Of Songs ◽  
Divine Love ◽  
Love Poetry ◽  
Single Female ◽  
Human Love ◽  
Female Protagonist ◽  
Characteristic Features ◽  
Mystical Literature

AbstractThree characteristic features of the Song of Songs are its (a) disjointed or absent plot, (b) gynocentrism and (c) lack of theocentrism. Recognition of these features facilitates a reassessment of the book's allegorical readings, be they ancient or modern, Jewish or Christian, religious or ostensibly secular. The principal readings discussed are Rabin's reconsideration of the Song's intrinsic allegorical properties with reference to Tamil love poetry; M. Cohen's on the Song and Jewish mystical literature (the Shiur Qomah and Hekhalot Rabbati); Murphy's position of reading mutually reflected human love and divine love in the Song; Pope's identification of the Song's assumed, single female protagonist as a black goddess; and Fox's rejection of allegory because of his definitions of metaphor, metaphoric distance and meaning. In conclusion, some reflections on the (ancillary) development of the Jewish allegorical tradition and its links with the Song's cannonization are offered.

scholarly journals Lost Dolls, Lost Souls in Elena Ferrante’s La figlia oscura

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nilay Kaya
Keyword(s):  
Sigmund Freud ◽  
Walter Benjamin ◽  
Charles Baudelaire ◽  
Rainer Maria Rilke ◽  
The Self ◽  
To Come

This paper aims to analyse Elena Ferrante’s use of the metaphor of playing with dolls in her novel, La figlia oscura (The Lost Daughter). With a view of shedding a light on this issue, the first part of the paper will review the prominent essays of Sigmund Freud, Ernst Jentsch, Walter Benjamin, Rainer Maria Rilke and Charles Baudelaire that question the nature of playing with dolls in terms of psychology with various focuses. These essays generally agree on the fact that playing with dolls is a strong threshold to come to terms with the self, as well as on the fact that this coming to terms with the self is by nature not guaranteed. The second part will examine Elena Ferrante’s dealing with the problem of playing with dolls and her character’s journey to death and a possible psychological resurrection.

Kajian Didaktis Mengenai Cinta Lelaki dan Wanita dalam Kidung Agung

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Paulus Dimas Prabowo
Keyword(s):  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Song Of Songs ◽  
Love Poetry ◽  
Hebrew Poetry ◽  
Song Of Solomon ◽  
Hebrew Word ◽  
Love Relationship ◽  
The Right ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The Church

A popular interpretation of the Song of Solomon states that the love poetry in it is a description of the relationship between God and His people. The Jews interpreted it as the relationship between Yahweh and Israel (allegorical), while Christians interpreted it as the relationship between Christ and the church (Christological). However, if one considers the genre of the book, the use of the Hebrew word dod, and the close praise for Solomon and the Shulamite, it would be argued that the Song of Songs contains a celebration of eros love between man and woman as an offering God that can be enjoyed. Song of Songs also presents another dimension in all of its articles, namely the values about the love relationship between a man and a woman. This article is written to explore the didactic aspects of the love relationship between a man and a woman in the entire Song of Songs. The method to be used is thematic analysis, using a literal perspective that takes into account the rules of Hebrew poetry. Finally, it found the didactic aspects of love in it including the right timing, a binding marriage, a charming character, equality, strong loyalty, role as a friend, communication, and solving problems quickly.Penafsiran yang populer terhadap Kidung Agung menyatakan bahwa puisi cinta di dalamnya merupakan penggambaran dari hubungan antara Tuhan dengan umat-Nya. Orang Yahudi memaknainya sebagai hubungan antara Yahweh dengan umat Israel (alegoris), sedangkan orang Kristen memaknainya sebagai hubungan antara Kristus dengan gereja (Kristologis). Namun bila mempertimbangkan genre kitab, pemakaian kata Ibrani dod, dan adanya puji-pujian fisik yang begitu intim antara Salomo dengan gadis Sulam, maka akan dimengerti bahwa Kidung Agung berisi selebrasi tentang cinta eros antara lelaki dan wanita sebagai pemberian Tuhan yang perlu dinikmati. Tidak sekedar urusan seksualitas dan sensualitas, Kidung Agung juga menyajikan dimensi lain di dalam seluruh pasalnya, yakni nilai-nilai pengajaran tentang hubungan cinta antara seorang laki-laki dan seorang wanita. Artikel ini ditulis untuk mengupas aspek didaktis tentang hubungan cinta seorang laki-laki dan seorang wanita di dalam seluruh kitab Kidung Agung. Metode yang akan dipakai adalah analisis tematis, dengan memakai perspektif literal yang memperhatikan kaidah-kaidah puisi Ibrani. Akhirnya, ditemukanlah aspek didaktis tentang cinta di dalamnya meliputi waktu yang tepat, pernikahan yang mengikat, karakter yang memikat, persamaan derajat, kesetiaan yang kuat, peran sebagai sahabat, komunikasi yang hangat, dan penyelesaian masalah dengan cepat.

Cunning Linguists: Oral Sex in the Song of Songs

2017 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
pp. 171-186
Author(s):  
M. L. Case
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Activity ◽  
Sexual Pleasure ◽  
Song Of Songs ◽  
Contextual Analysis ◽  
Oral Sex ◽  
Sexual Practice ◽  
Love Poetry ◽  
Sexual Activities ◽  
Ancient Israel ◽  
Potential Benefits

As is typical of the metaphorical nature of poetry, the Song of Songs describes sexual activities indirectly, without giving any explicit references. As a result, interpreters often hesitate to define the exact practices portrayed in any given verse. For example, both Song 2:16 and 6:3 describe the male lover as “he who grazes among the lotuses.” Many scholars read these verses as some type of sexual activity, but do not specifically define the action. Using comparative evidence from Egyptian and Sumerian love poetry, as well as contextual analysis of these verses within the Song as a whole, I argue that these verses depict a particular type of love-making, cunnilingus. According to my reading, Song 2:16 and 6:3 focus exclusively on the sexual pleasure of the two partners, disregarding other potential benefits of sexual intercourse, such as reproduction, giving us a rare glimpse into a particular sexual practice in ancient Israel.

scholarly journals Defining and Defending the Middle Ages with C. S. Lewis

Humanities ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Murdoch
Keyword(s):  
Middle Ages ◽  
Medieval Literature ◽  
Technical Skills ◽  
Courtly Love ◽  
The Self ◽  
Literary Texts ◽  
Love Song ◽  
Universal Values ◽  
Love Lyric ◽  
The Middle Ages

The scholarly writings of C. S. Lewis (1898–1963) have both inspired the study of the Middle Ages and confirmed the relevance to the humanities that medieval literary texts can have for the present. He was aware that the straitjacket implied by periodisation can blind us to the universal values presented in medieval literature. Qualitative assumptions made about the (usually undefined) Middle Ages include an alienating remoteness, and also a general ignorance, especially of science and technology. Lewis drew attention to the knowledge of astronomy, for example, and pointed out that medieval technical skills in architecture, agriculture and medicine are important for us to be aware about. Three medieval works illustrate this universality with respect to technical skills (the Völundarkviða); identity and the self (the Hildebrandslied); and the popular love-song (the courtly love-lyric). Lewis cautioned against pejorative terms like ‘Dark Ages’, noted problems of perspective in assessing all pre-modern literature, and showed that earlier works have a continuing value and relevance.

scholarly journals Blurring Borders: the self, the wanderer and the observer in Edgar Allan Poe, Charles Baudelaire and Machado de Assis

AmeriQuests ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Renata Philippov
Keyword(s):  
Short Story ◽  
Edgar Allan Poe ◽  
Charles Baudelaire ◽  
The Self ◽  
Machado De Assis ◽  
Brazilian Literature ◽  
Literary Identity ◽  
The Universe ◽  
The Wanderer ◽  
Do So

Much has been published and discussed in relation to Edgar Allan Poe’s and Charles Baudelaire’s intertextual dialogues, as well as to the French reception of Poe’s writings and aesthetic theories through Baudelaire’s translations and essays. Likewise, there have been several studies in Brazil comparing Poe’s and Brazilian writer Machado de Assis’ short stories and individual aesthetic theories, as well as studies regarding Baudelaire’s aesthetic reception in 19th century Brazilian literature. However, despite some academic studies and papers in Brazil referring more closely to their literary projects and their possible intertextual bindings, a deeper study into how Machado de Assis may have actually read and subverted Poe’s writings so as to fit it within his own framework and thus help foster his project of defending the formation of a national literary identity still needs to be carried out. The same may be said about both Baudelaire’s role in Poe and Machado de Assis’ literary encounter and Machado de Assis’ reception of Baudelaire’s aesthetic theories and poetics. In this paper, therefore, I want to take a transatlantic voyage while addressing the question of how Machado de Assis may have actually incorporated and, paradoxically, subverted Poe’s and Baudelaire’s imagery, topoi and aesthetics into his own literary project. Two broad aspects regarding the three authors’ writings will be tackled: the universe of mind and man’s isolation vis-à-vis society, within the scope of the fantastic as a genre. To do so, I will focus on “Só!” [Alone/Lonely], a short-story published by Machado de Assis in 1885, thus aiming at addressing how the self, the wanderer and the observer appear in this story and how they dialogue with the same figures in some of Poe’s and Baudelaire’s writings.

scholarly journals Can the Song of Songs be described (also) as a form of dark green religion?

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hendrik Viviers
Keyword(s):  
Sense Of Belonging ◽  
The Self ◽  
Song Of Songs ◽  
The Bible ◽  
The Earth ◽  
The Moment ◽  
Dark Green ◽  
Ongoing Dialogue ◽  
Deep Sense ◽  
The Web

Bron Taylor defines dark green religion as: �� a deep sense of belonging to and connectedness in nature, whilst perceiving the earth and its living systems to be sacred and interconnected�. It not only emphasises a felt kinship with the rest of life but also evokes awe, wonderment and humility towards nature that binds to something �greater than oneself�. Do the intimate �oneness� and living in the moment of the two young lovers in the Song also extend to a diminishing of the self and an experience of oneness with a greater, timeless, mysterious reality? In order to determine whether the Song of Songs complies with a form of nature spirituality, the notions of belonging, interconnectedness and sacredness were investigated as they appear in this ancient book of love. It was found that the Song is representative of a form of dark green religion of a non-doctrinaire, immanent kind. It exhibits ubiquitously the notions of belonging and connection (kinship with nature, an interconnectedness and interdependency of the web of life) and the sacredness of the earth and its inhabitants (their intrinsic worth that evokes awe, wonderment and humility). The experience of sensuality, living mindfully in the moment, transforms into a timeless spirituality of connection to �another, mysterious world�.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The relevance of reader-oriented appreciations of biblical texts, notably ecological hermeneutics, is demonstrated; this approach can also be extended to other sacred texts apart from the Bible; furthermore, it points to the need for the ongoing dialogue with the natural sciences.Keywords: dark green religion; nature spirituality; belonging;interconnectedness; sacredness; Song of Songs

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