I believe I am improving in my ability to read poetry. Even with some improvement, I still catch myself rereading specific lines multiple times to fully grasp the sentence. More specifically, the older poems (such as Shakespearian poems) are less direct with their meaning. The sentence structure used in its lines is typically outdated today, which makes it read less fluently. At the same time, I believe this has prepared me to read Oepidus the King. One example of a poem by Shakespeare that uses rather indirect sentence structuring is “Sonnet 130: My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun.” A line such as “I have seen roses damasked, red and white, but no such roses see I in her cheeks…” doesn’t have the same flow as modern writing; therefore, it forces you to pay more attention to its meaning. Oepidus the King uses very similar language and sentence structuring; hence, I have experience to aid me in fully understanding each line.
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2 thoughts on “Jakob Yacker Discussion 7”
It sounds like you’re really engaging with the text, and it’s great to hear that you’re noticing your improvement in understanding poetry! Shakespeare’s language can definitely be challenging, especially with its complex sentence structures and older vocabulary. Your example from “Sonnet 130” illustrates how rich and layered his writing can be, requiring careful reading to unpack the meaning.
It’s interesting that you’re finding this experience helpful in approaching *Oedipus the King*. Both works demand a certain level of attention and patience, as the language can feel dense compared to modern writing. It’s also a testament to how studying one form of literature can prepare you for another, allowing you to appreciate the nuances of character and themes in both plays and poetry.
Jakob, it’s an interesting point you make about the archaic language we meet in both Shakespeare and Sophocles. It does force a reader to slow down. You certainly can’t skim and expect to understand anything.