BU - English 203 Approaches to Lit - S23

Who is Robert Browning? Robert Browning was a significant English poet of the Victorian era. He was born in London on May 7, 1812 and passed away in Venice on December 12 1889. Browning was a bright child who began reading at the age of five and wrote his first poems at the age of six. He read widely from his father's sizable collection of rare books, gaining a substantial, if haphazard knowledge of a wide range literary genres. Alfonso || d'Este, who served as the Duke of Ferrara from 1533 to 1598 was the subject of Robert Browning's Poem. At the age of 25 Ferrara wed Lucrezia di Cosimo Medici,  Lucrezia  was apart of the Medici Family, a very prosperous banking family that rose to political prominence in the 15th century .                         Alessandro_Allori_-_Lucrezia_de’_Medici_-_North_Carolina_Museum_of_Art.jpg What is the poem about? The poems opening line "Ferrara" identifies the speaker as Alfonso d'Este the fifth Duke of Ferrara (1533-1598) wh

Who is Joyce Carol Oates?  Oates in her hometown in 1949: 11 years old (1).  Joyce Carol Oates is an American writer. She was born on June 16, 1938 in Lockport, New York. She lived on her parents farm and enjoyed living in a farm country environment. Ever since she was younger, she showed a great interest in reading and writing. She started her writing journey at the ripe age of fourteen years old. That is how old she was when her grandmother provided her first typewriter. Since receiving her typewriter, she wrote many novels throughout high school and college. Although her parents were not very educated, they supported her and pushed her to strive for excellence within her own education. Throughout her education, she did just as her parents wanted. She graduated valedictorian of her class and attended Syracuse University on a scholarship to study English. She earned her masters in one year at Wisconsin University. (1).  THE SHORT STORY 👉   link to the short story   Charles Schmid (3

Unveiling the Complexities of "My Last Duchess": A Study of Robert Browning's Poetic Masterpiece Who is Robert Browning?  Robert Browning, a prominent Victorian poet, is celebrated for his rich and complex poetry that delves into the intricate workings of the human mind. One of his most famous poems, "My Last Duchess," is a dramatic monologue that offers readers a glimpse into the mind of a Renaissance nobleman as he discusses his deceased wife, the Duchess, with an unnamed listener. This poem is known for its compelling narrative, vivid imagery, and psychological depth, making it a subject of much critical analysis and interpretation. In this blog post, we will delve into the nuances of Browning's "My Last Duchess" to uncover its themes, characters, and poetic techniques, and explore how this poem continues to captivate readers with its enduring relevance.                                                                                            

     The Tragedies of Poe and "The Cask of Amontillado"                     Edgar Allen Poe was a dark and dramatic writer who produced influential, emotionally charged poems and short stories in the 19th century. These stories still have a strong effect today.                                                                                    Before the Storm Rolled In A photograph of Poe circa 1845  (5)   Poe was born in 1809 in Boston. (1) His parents died, leaving him to be fostered by an export from Richmond who sent Poe to prestigious schools, yet failed to financially support him the whole way through. Their relationship deteriorated, and Poe joined the army in 1827 to get away. (4) He later attended West Point where he published his first collection of poetry. He was discharged due to Allen's financial neglect. Poe then moved to Baltimore to live with his aunt and his cousin Virginia. Poe continued to publish poems and short stories, and he gained recognition for h

How Sandra Cisnero's Life Influenced "Barbie-Q" "Barbie-Q" by Sandra Cisneros describes a little girl's love for Barbie dolls despite her low socioeconomic status. Due to her economic standing, she can only afford waterlogged or burnt Barbies. However, most readers fail to realize the symbolism behind the damaged dolls.  Who is Sandra Cisneros?  "I am a woman, and I am a Latina. Those are the things that make my writing distinctive. Those are the things that give my writing power" (2).  Sandra Cisneros, a Mexican American writer, was born in Chicago on December 20, 1954. She was the only girl in a family of seven children. Cisneros is best known for her book,  The House on Mango Street,  which allowed her to win the National Medal of Arts in 2016. Furthermore, she helped create the Latino MacArthur Fellows group, also known as Los MacArturos. Additionally, she continues to make a positive impact on the Latino community by founding the Macondo Found

  Who Is Robert Browning? Robert Browning , (born May 7, 1812, London—died Dec. 12, 1889, Venice), major English poet of the Victorian age, noted for his mastery of dramatic monologue and psychological behavior.  Browning was an intellectually precocious child who read at the age of five and composed his first poetry at six. He read widely from his father’s extensive rare book collection, acquiring an abundant, if unsystematic, knowledge of a broad range of different literatures. Robert Browning loosely based this poem on the life of Alfonso II d’Este, the Duke of Ferrara from 1533 to 1598. Ferrara married Lucrezia di Cosimo Medici when he was twenty-five. Lucrezia was part of the Medici family, an incredibly wealthy banking family that gained political prominence during the 15th century.  What is the poem about? The poem is preceded by the epigraph "Ferrara" indicating that the speaker is Alfonso || d'Este, the fifth Duke of Ferrara (1533-1598) who, in 1558 had married t

Robert Browning (1)     Robert Browning was a poet, who was born on May 7, 1812, in Camberwell, England (1). Browning's written work was widely unpopular but was known for his dramatic monologues. However, his techniques of diction, rhythm, and symbol became incredibly inspirational to aspiring writers of the twentieth century.      One of Browning's most notable works in the Bell's and Pomegranates series was unsuccessful at the time, yet captured one of his most popular poems, I. Italy  later got retitled as The Last Duchess (2). In 1838, Browning traveled to Italy, where his infatuation with the art and the cultural environment developed behind his inspiration for his many works (3) (4). However, Browning's inspiration for The Last Duchess came from the Renaissance Duke, Alfonso II of Ferrara, who had married his second wife by the name of Lucrezia de Medici (2). Lucrezia de Medici was from a family that was becoming one of the most powerful families in Europe during

  Who is Edgar Allan Poe?- Brief introduction -He was born: on January 19, 1809, in Boston, Massachusetts, and died: on October 7, 1849, in Baltimore, Maryland. He is an American, short-story writer, poet, critic, and editor. He wrote some of the most famous works, like: "Macabre", "The Murders in the Rue Morgue", "Detective Theory, "Tales of Horror", and "The Raven". He is the son of Elizabeth Arnold Poe, an English-born actress, and a Baltimore actor named David Poe, Jr. When his mother died, he was taken in by a Richmond merchant named John Allan, who was presumed to be his godfather and his barren wife. In 1826 and 11 months in he went to school at the University of Virginia. He had a gambling problem which led to him not being able to go back to school. He later got engaged to a woman named Sarah Elmira Royster. In 1827 he went to Boston to publish a Pamphelt of Youthful Byronic poems, like "Tamerlane," and other poems. He joi

Robert Browning's "My Last Duchess" is a fascinating example of how Italian Renaissance-era men traditionally conformed to the pigeonhole of dominant, hyper-masculine personalities. In doing so, this often cast a shadow over the significance of women and furthered the gendered divide of society. This blog article explores this divide, breathes life into the duchess and defines her as more than just an artistic work, and identifies the relationship between vital historical context and the message eminent in Browning's work.  Portrait of Lucrezia de' Medici (1) Duchess of Ferrara- who was she? According to Wikipedia, Lucrezia de' Medici was born in Florence in the 14th century, and was the third daughter of Cosimo I de' Medici. Following under the strict Spanish court ceremonial, Lucrezia was introduced to Alfonso II d'Este in 1557, and contracted to marry him and become the Duchess of Ferrara. At the time that the two were married, Alfonso was 24 years

"Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" with an introduction by Elaine Showalter (5). The Narrative A sort of terror lives within Joyce Carol Oates' 1966 story,  "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?"  in which readers meet fifteen-year-old Connie at the height of her navigation of adolescence. The story follows Connie as she spends time with her friends, meets boy, and gets into fights with her mother. As Connie's exploration of her own womanhood puts her on the radar of a dangerous man, the story takes a turn for the worst. This is the kind of thing that nightmares are made of, as readers realize Connie's situation is a mirror held to the reality for so many women who have been targeted and exploited for their naivety. The Real Story Oates drew inspiration for Connie's story from a 1966 article she first read in Life Magazine, titled  The Pied Piper of Tucson  and written by Don Moser. It reported the murders of Alleen Rowe, Gretchen Fritz