Explain any two of the excerpts of poems given below with reference to their context: (i) Now, sire”, quod she, “When we flee fro the bemesFor Goddess love, as taak som laxative.Up peril of my soule and o lif,I counseille yow the beeste, I wol nat lye,(ii) My loue is now awake out of her dreams (s),and her fayre eyes like stars that dimmed wereWith darksome cloud, now shew theyr goodly beamsMore bright then Hesperus his head doth rere.(iii) I wonder by my troth, what thou, and IDid, till we lov’d? were we not wean’d till then?(iv) Damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer,And without sneering, teach the rest to sneer;Willing to wound, and yet afraid to strike

Explain any two of the excerpts of poems given below with reference to their context: (i) Now, sire”, quod she, “When we flee fro the bemesFor Goddess love, as taak som laxative.Up peril of my soule and o lif,I counseille yow the beeste, I wol nat lye,(ii) My loue is now awake out of her dreams (s),and her fayre eyes like stars that dimmed wereWith darksome cloud, now shew theyr goodly beamsMore bright then Hesperus his head doth rere.(iii) I wonder by my troth, what thou, and IDid, till we lov’d? were we not wean’d till then?(iv) Damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer,And without sneering, teach the rest to sneer;Willing to wound, and yet afraid to strike

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Let’s explore the context and meaning of each of the excerpts one by one:

(i) “Now, sire”, quod she, “When we flee fro the bemes / For Goddess love, as taak som laxative. / Up peril of my soule and o lif, / I counseille yow the beeste, I wol nat lye,”

• Context: This is from Geoffrey Chaucer’s “The Canterbury Tales”, specifically from “The Wife of Bath’s Tale”. The Wife of Bath, a bold and outspoken character, is discussing the relationship between men and women, particularly in the context of marriage. She often gives advice based on her own experience, showing that she values practical solutions over modesty or decorum.
• Explanation: The Wife of Bath is giving somewhat humorous and practical advice to the man, suggesting he take a laxative to ease discomfort, possibly in a metaphorical sense to let go of his troubles. She guarantees the effectiveness of her counsel, humorously staking her soul and life on it. Her tone is one of frankness, reflecting her down-to-earth nature.

(ii) “My love is now awake out of her dreams (s), / and her fayre eyes like stars that dimmed were / With darksome cloud, now shew theyr goodly beams / More bright than Hesperus his head doth rere.”

• Context: This excerpt is from Edmund Spenser’s “Amoretti”, a series of sonnets written in the 16th century. Spenser wrote these sonnets for his courtship with Elizabeth Boyle, who later became his wife. In this sonnet, Spenser celebrates the awakening of his beloved, both literally and metaphorically.
• Explanation: The speaker is describing his lover awakening from sleep, with her eyes now shining like stars after being dimmed by clouds. The stars are compared to Hesperus (the evening star), symbolizing that her beauty is more radiant than even the most brilliant star. The poem reflects the joy of love and admiration for the beloved’s beauty and presence.

(iii) “I wonder by my troth, what thou, and I / Did, till we lov’d? were we not wean’d till then?”

• Context: This is from John Donne’s “The Good-Morrow”, a metaphysical poem. The speaker is reflecting on the profound experience of falling in love and how it has transformed his understanding of life.
• Explanation: The speaker muses on the transformative power of love, wondering what he and his beloved were doing before they fell in love, as if their lives were insignificant or incomplete. The use of “wean’d” suggests that before love, they were like infants who had not yet matured or experienced the fullness of life. The poem expresses a deep sense of awakening through love.

(iv) “Damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer, / And without sneering, teach the rest to sneer; / Willing to wound, and yet afraid to strike”

• Context: This excerpt is from Alexander Pope’s “Epistle to Dr. Arbuthnot”. In this satirical work, Pope criticizes the insincerity and hypocrisy in literary and social circles. He is addressing how people can subtly insult or undermine others while pretending to be polite or civil.
• Explanation: Pope describes a person who gives faint praise—praise that is so weak it serves more as a subtle insult. The person agrees with others in a superficial way (“assent with civil leer”), while teaching others to sneer without openly mocking. They are ready to harm with words (“willing to wound”), but lack the courage to make a direct attack (“afraid to strike”). This is a biting commentary on the duplicity in society.

Each of these excerpts highlights different poetic techniques and themes, ranging from humor and practical wisdom in Chaucer, to love and beauty in Spenser and Donne, and biting social satire in Pope.