Author Archives: Naomi Benjamin

In my extended researched analysis, I will examine the text of “Sir Orfeo” as found in Ashmole 61. I will explore the dichotomy between disorder and order in the poem, particularly as it relates to King Orfeo’s world and that … Continue reading →

In class today, Dr. Seaman remarked that had we read Chaucer’s “Second Nun’s Tale” outside of the context of our class, we most likely would have had a completely different understanding and appreciation of the text. So I considered what … Continue reading →

As I was reading “The Adulterous Falmouth Squire” (because yes, I read the wrong texts for today’s class!), it struck me that the two brothers of the poem, as Dr. Seaman pointed out, were so drastically different in nature. Over … Continue reading →

I’ve been thinking about some of the ideas we talked about on Tuesday (in reference to “Ypotis”, especially) and it’s gotten me wondering about a particular question. Although this is going to sound rather broad and open to much interpretation, … Continue reading →

When we were discussing “Sir Cleges” yesterday in class, I found myself intrigued by something I did not even question in my first time reading the poem. Around line 210, after Sir Cleges has found the cherries on the tree … Continue reading →

As I was reviewing the poems we had to read for Tuesday, I was struck by the sudden change in approach they all took compared to their predecessors in Ashmole 61. The previous poems were a mixture of romances, didactic … Continue reading →

After our class discussion yesterday about romances and the idealized characters that inhabit them, I started to think about why we have this fantasy. Why is it that we watch the Oscars and analyze the actresses’ dresses? Why do we … Continue reading →

Naomi Benjamin ENGL 400 Dr. Seaman 23 February 2011 Diamond, Arlyn. “The Erle of Tolous: The Price of Virtue.” Medieval Insular Romance: Translation and Innovation. Ed. Judith Weiss, Jennifer Fellows, and Morgan Dickson. Cambridge: D.S. Brewer, 2000. 83-92. Print. Diamond … Continue reading →

In our discussion of Alison Truelove’s article “Literacy”, we briefly touched upon the idea of literature’s importance in society, and how writing and the skill of being literate became increasingly more prevalent as time passed. I wonder, though, what this … Continue reading →

I would like to reflect on our discussion yesterday, focusing on the “Saint Eustace” poem. While analyzing the story and language of the work, there was much condemnation of the characters’ piety and religiosity considering the fate which befalls them. … Continue reading →