Day 13: June 18, 2014

The day began with me getting up and going back to the British Museum to see some other exhibits before the beginning of class. I didn't really have time to see a lot, but I was able to see the Enlightenment exhibit. That was very interesting. There were several statues of Greek gods around the exhibit that were really interesting.

Zeus

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cupid

 

 

 

The Enlightenment period is known for more than just it's exquisite art, but also for the breakthroughs in math and science, along with literature. There is not a place in all of western society that has not been changed, modified, or radicalized by the things that took place during this period. There is a reason why everyone studies the art of this period, knows about Sir Isaac Newton, and reads poetry written during this time. It is because this time period was the building block to current, thriving western civilization that includes London, England.

 

There were several other statues and artifacts in the room of Enlightenment, but these were my favorites. I left the British Museum to go to class. There, we read and analyzed several poems about the British culture by a few different poets and discussed them. Two of my favorite poems were:

 

Lord Byron (1788–1824).  Poetry of Byron.  1881.

IV. Satiric

England

(Beppo, Stanzas 47–49.) “ENGLAND! with all thy faults I love thee still,”   I said at Calais, and have not forgot it; I like to speak and lucubrate my fill;   I like the government (but that is not it); I like the freedom of the press and quill;         5   I like the Habeas Corpus (when we’ve got it); I like a parliamentary debate, Particularly when ’tis not too late;   I like the taxes, when they’re not too many;   I like a seacoal fire, when not too dear;         10 I like a beef-steak, too, as well as any;   Have no objection to a pot of beer; I like the weather, when it is not rainy,   That is, I like two months of every year. And so God save the Regent, Church and King!         15 Which means that I like all and every thing.   Our standing army, and disbanded seamen,   Poor’s rate, Reform, my own, the nation’s debt, Our little riots just to show we are free men,   Our trifling bankruptcies in the Gazette,         20 Our cloudy climate, and our chilly women,   All these I can forgive, and those forget, And greatly venerate our recent glories, And wish they were not owing to the Tories.

This poem is about accepting the bad, but rejoicing in the good. Despite all of London's flaws, it is still home and holds a special place in his heart. The tone of the poem is very sarcastic, and points out many of the city's flaws during the time. Some of these complaints may still resonate with current Londoners.                                
The Good, Great Man
By Samuel Taylor Coleridge

'How seldom, friend! a good great man inherits
Honour or wealth with all his worth and pains!
It sounds like stories from the land of spirits
If any man obtain that which he merits
Or any merit that which he obtains.'

Reply to the Above

For shame, dear friend, renounce this canting strain!
What would'st thou have a good great man obtain?
Place? titles? salary? a gilded chain?
Or throne of corses which his sword had slain?
Greatness and goodness are not means, but ends!
Hath he not always treasures, always friends,
The good great man? three treasures, LOVE, and LIGHT,
And CALM THOUGHTS, regular as infant's breath:
And three firm friends, more sure than day and night,
HIMSELF, his MAKER, and the ANGEL DEATH!
                            
The first part of the poem informs that despite the thought of man getting what he deserves, that often never happens. Man can either be great or good, but never both, because with greatness, there is corruption and with goodness, their is piety. Basically, the first stanza states that Karma is a lie.

The reply disagrees with the above statement. The good, great man exists and he does get rewarded for his actions. The things like love, light, and calm thoughts can't be given, but must be worked at, learned, and deserved. The last 3 friends are the only things that are certain and can be dependent upon no matter who you are, or the kind of life that you lead. There are some things that everyone is just certain to receive.

After class, I went back to take a nap. That concludes the day.