Caravaggio’s Early Masterpieces: Realism and Symbolism in His Youthful Works
Caravaggio, a revolutionary figure in art history, emerged from the shadow of the Renaissance, often seen as a continuation of its spirit yet forging a distinctly new path. His early works challenged the prevailing artistic norms, introducing a raw realism and dramatic use of light that would define the Baroque era.
Caravaggio’s Revolutionary Art
Contrast with Raphael: Madonna of the Chair
Before delving into Caravaggio, it’s insightful to consider his predecessors. Raphael’s Madonna of the Chair (
Read MoreLiterary Analysis of Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley
Analyzing Shelley’s “Ozymandias”
P.B. Shelley’s “Ozymandias” is not a traditional sonnet; rather, it functions as a narrative sonnet employing multiple narrative voices. The poem features a frame narrative with three distinct narrators. We encounter a narrator who recounts what another person told him, and that person, in turn, relates what he read. The primary purpose of these layered narrators is to evoke an uncanny feeling, challenging the reader’s belief and aligning with characteristics of Gothic
Read MoreA Journey Through British Literature: Anglo-Saxon to 20th Century
Anglo-Saxon Times
Beowulf
The Middle Ages (1066-1500)
Poetry
Geoffrey Chaucer (The Canterbury Tales)
The Elizabethan Age (1558-1603)
William Shakespeare
The 17th Century
Poetry
John Milton (Paradise Lost)
The 18th Century
The Age of Reason
Prose
Jonathan Swift (Gulliver’s Travels)
Daniel Defoe (Robinson Crusoe)
Samuel Richardson (Pamela)
Henry Fielding (Tom Jones)
Horace Walpole (Castle of Otranto)
The Romantic Movement (1789-1832)
Jane Austen
Sir Walter Scott (Ivanhoe)
Mary Shelley (Frankenstein)
Poetry
William Blake
Read MoreBeowulf and Old English Poetry: Themes and Analysis
Beowulf: The Oldest English Epic
Beowulf, written between the 8th and 11th centuries, is the earliest known English epic. Composed in Old English, it lays the foundation for English poetic tradition and offers insight into early Germanic culture.
Anglo-Saxon Society Reflected in Beowulf
The poem reflects Anglo-Saxon values like loyalty, honor, and reputation. It highlights warrior culture, kinship, and the importance of gift-giving and feudal bonds.
Linguistic and Stylistic Impact of Beowulf
Beowulf
Read MoreDefinitions: Words Derived from Places and Cultures
This table provides definitions for words that originate from specific places or cultures.
| Word | Definition | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Academy | A secondary preparatory school, especially a private one. | |
| Acapulco Gold | Mexican-grown marijuana that is considered very strong. | |
| Afro-American | An American of African and especially of black African descent. | |
| Alpinism | Mountain climbing in the Alps or other high mountains. | |
| Angeleno | A native or inhabitant of Los Angeles. | [angeleño, “de Los Angeles”] |
| Arabic Numeral | Any of the number symbols 0, |
Bécquer’s Rimas and Leyendas: Themes and Characters
Bécquer’s Poetic and Narrative Style
Key Poetic Devices in Bécquer’s Work
- Parallelism: Repetition of the same syntactic structure in verses.
- Anaphora: Repetition of a word at the beginning of several verses.
- Correlation: Reciprocal correspondence between two or more series of concepts or words.
- Epiphonema: Exclamatory sentence or reflection summarizing the preceding idea, often at the end.
- Symbolist Poetry: Uses images, metaphors, or symbols to embody the poet’s sentiments.