HUMAN 120, Spring, 2013
Prof. DeGrassi and Dr. Harnett
Week 8 Class Notes, page 1
Monday, April 8, 2013
Reminder: Attendance to all classes is required and expected. Please note the
attendance policy on the syllabus.
Design Assignment 2, with Line added, is due today.
Harnett: THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY: The Age of Reason or The
Enlightenment or the Neoclassical Age
Background on The Enlightenment :
http://public.wsu.edu/~brians/hum_303/enlightenment.html
 Poetry by Alexander Pope: “Eloisa to Abelard” (lines 1-8, 41-48,
107-128) at
https://tspace.library.utoronto.ca/html/1807/4350/poem1630.html Find
evidence in the poem for your conjectures in response to these questions:
1. Lines 1-8: What appears to be the situation with Abelard and Eloisa?
2. Lines 41-48: What additional information about the situation between
Abelard and Eloisa is shown here?
3. Lines 107-128: What is it that Abelard and Eloisa had to do? What does
Eloisa make clear she would much prefer?
 Voltaire, “Micromegas” (1752) Part 1
http://www.accuracyproject.org/t-Voltaire-Micromegas.html
1. The name Micromegas could mean__________________.
2. Describe his size in detail.
3. Describe the calculated size of his home, ______.
4. What studies has Micromegas pursued? Does he pursue his talent or
his true desire in his chosen field? What subject of study got
Micromegas into some trouble with the mufti [scholars] of his nation?
5. Having been exiled from his home, how and where does Micromegas
travel?
6. How well does Micromegas get along with some of the inhabitants of
the place he visits,
a. At first? Why does he feel this way?
b. Later? What does he realize?
DeGrassi: Art of the Englightenment:
Jacques-Loius David (1744-1825)
http://www.artchive.com/artchive/D/david.html see image list below
article
How Neoclassical Art Differs from Baroque Art
Review of Baroque Art
Caravaggio http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/caravaggio/
Annibale Carracci http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/carracci/
Rembrandt van Rijn http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/rembrandt/
Review of Baroque Literature
John Donne http://www.luminarium.org/sevenlit/donne/donnebib.htm
• John Donne, Meditation XVII at
http://www.luminarium.org/sevenlit/donne/meditation17.php;
HUMAN 120, Spring, 2013
Prof. DeGrassi and Dr. Harnett
•
Week 8 Class Notes, page 2
o What messages does Donne convey in the Meditation? Note statements
about
 awareness
 responsibility
 humanity
 affliction and misery
 other topics?
o Focus on the famous “No man is an island” section: what does this
section say and/or imply?
Donne, Sermon 12, parts 1-4 at http://www.msgr.ca/msgr3/john_donne_sermon_08.htm (part 1): the infinite nature of God’s presence
and love of all creation, http://www.msgr.ca/msgr3/john_donne_sermon_08b.htm (part 2): the mystery of creation—God
making something out of nothing, http://www.msgr.ca/msgr3/john_donne_sermon_08c.htm (part 3): glory of man vs. glory of God, and
http://www.msgr.ca/msgr-3/john_donne_sermon_08d.htm (part 4): knowledge
of man vs. knowledge God has.
o
John Milton (1608-1674) “On his Deceased Wife” (1658)
http://www.luminarium.org/sevenlit/milton/sonnet23.htm
1. Explain the reference to Alcestis in Line 2.
2. How had the speaker’s wife died?
3. What does the speaker of the poem feel as he sees his deceased wife appear to
him again?
4. What happens just as his wife is about to embrace him?
5. What message about love do you derive from this incident described in the poem?
Note: By most accounts, Milton developed glaucoma and was completely
blind by the age of 43 in 1654. But he came to terms with his condition,
and was able to write poems by dictating them to amanuenses (helpers).
One of these helpers was the major English poet Andrew Marvell, who
also spoke for him in his place in Parliament. Milton held several
important government positions, and also got himself into trouble through
his writings. One of his books was publicly burned as a reprimand and a
warning.
• “On His Blindness” (1655) at
http://www.luminarium.org/sevenlit/milton/sonnet19.htm
1. What is the problem that the speaker of the poem faces?
2. How does the speaker come to terms with this problem, as he says
later in the poem?
 John Milton, Paradise Lost excerpts from Book 1, [27-49—overview] lines
84-109; 242-270:
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~milton/reading_room/pl/book_1/index.shtml
o What makes Satan a complex dramatic character?
o How is he portrayed in a way that might even make readers
sympathetic to him in some ways?
HUMAN 120, Spring, 2013
Prof. DeGrassi and Dr. Harnett
Week 8 Class Notes, page 3
o Illustrations by various artists (John B. Medina did the book’s 4th
edition and 1st folio): http://www.paradiselost.org/4-storiespictures.html
o Illustrations by Doré (19th Century) at http://www.danshort.com/pl/
•
Luis Gongora (Spain)
•
Some Qualities of Baroque Era creations: Period roughly early
1500s to the French Revolution (1789)
Elaborate, ornate compositions, rich colors, even excessively so, including
metaphysical conceits in literature
Insights and influences from scientific advances, such as optics and the
human anatomy, psychology and mathematical precision, creating order
in the product
o Tactile quality of art to show various surfaces, textures
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Theatrical lighting and settings
Dramatic situations, expressing emotion
Counterpoint: one theme or rhythm balanced against another
For Next Time: Exam 3 is next time (Wednesday, April 10). It will have two
parts:
o Art: describe a painting from the Baroque Era in some detail. What
scene is shown, what does it mean, what story is involved, such as a
religious story, etc.? Show what people are doing, what appears to
have happened, etc.
 Describe uses of colors, lighting effects, underpainting, etc.
and other techniques and effects that the artist created as the
painting was designed and accomplished.
 Then explain specific qualities of it that characterize it as
Baroque. Be as thorough with this part as possible.
o Literature: Interpret meanings in a poem we have discussed from
the Baroque Era (the Later Renaissance in England). Support your
interpretation with specific quotes and citations of the poem itself
as evidence.
 Show what makes this poem characteristic of the Baroque
Era, again making specific references to the poem in the
form of quotations and citations that you select and explain.
As you analyze a work of literature, point out particular features, then explain
how those features are evident. For instance, if you say that a work is complex to
the point of being ornate, show exactly what about it is ornate—provide a quote
and explain how that quote demonstrates ornateness.
Some Reminders and Rules:
HUMAN 120, Spring, 2013
Prof. DeGrassi and Dr. Harnett
Week 8 Class Notes, page 4
Notes are allowed for the exam. On the other hand, you must follow the GCC
Academic Honesty Policy, meaning that you must do your own work. You should
not use anything pre-written as an essay. You should not give or receive any kind
of information with anyone else in class. You should not use a device such as a
phone or refer to materials other than your notes and the works themselves. If
you have any questions or problems, during the exam, just ask us.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Exam 3 in class.
For Monday, April 22:
Read Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe, Faust (selections/excerpt) begin at
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/14591/14591-h/14591-h.htm Read these selected
scenes:








“Prelude at the Theatre”
“The Prologue in Heaven”
“Night”
III-IV. “In the Study”
VI. “Witches’ Kitchen”
XVI. “Martha’s Garden”
XX. “Cathedral”
XXV. “Dungeon”
** Annotations due on these excerpts, 1 or more Fact and corresponding
Insight from each of the 8 selected scenes, plus 2 other annotations from
any scenes.