Have you ever seen a book and said to yourself that "this book I'm going to read"? Many bookshelves are filled with books not even opened, and lately I've been reminded about all the books I once started on, but never finished and all the classics I should have read.
Well, now my chance has come through the course I'm taking this semester; "British Literature and Culture"
And what a coincidence; since I promised myself to read more this year and also be able to read to relax. And maybe my curriculum and lectures would be perfect just for this simple reason.
I have always been told that I'm a rather energetic person. Being like that may prove an advantage some times, but it also means I can burn myself up so to speak. A balance is what I need, and luckily I don't need to worry about my bachelordegree anymore, since I finished it last month. So time to enjoy the fruits of British literature to the fullest.
My curriculum covers both prose, poems and plays, and I decided to start with the plays. And what a revelation I had! I felt like a kid again, living the characters, and I must have disturbed my brother a little, walking round in my room, talking loudly to myself. But I will have to do that with all the books, since I have no other chance to stay properly focused while reading. I've re-discovered Shakespeare through "The Tempest", laughed while reading "The importance of being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde, been confused and utterly intrigued by "Endgame", signed Samuel Beckett and will now try my luck with "Blasted" by Sarah Kane.
The next group I will deal with are the poems, and I've decided that when I find a poem is this collection of a certain value and importance to me, or even my friends, I will share it with you here.
And I will work chronologically, so here you are: "Batter my heart" by John Donne
Batter my heart, three-person'd God ; for you
As yet but knock ; breathe, shine, and seek to mend ;
That I may rise, and stand, o'erthrow me, and bend
Your force, to break, blow, burn, and make me new.
I, like an usurp'd town, to another due,
Labour to admit you, but O, to no end.
Reason, your viceroy in me, me should defend,
But is captived, and proves weak or untrue.
Yet dearly I love you, and would be loved fain,
But am betroth'd unto your enemy ;
Divorce me, untie, or break that knot again,
Take me to you, imprison me, for I,
Except you enthrall me, never shall be free,
Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me.
As yet but knock ; breathe, shine, and seek to mend ;
That I may rise, and stand, o'erthrow me, and bend
Your force, to break, blow, burn, and make me new.
I, like an usurp'd town, to another due,
Labour to admit you, but O, to no end.
Reason, your viceroy in me, me should defend,
But is captived, and proves weak or untrue.
Yet dearly I love you, and would be loved fain,
But am betroth'd unto your enemy ;
Divorce me, untie, or break that knot again,
Take me to you, imprison me, for I,
Except you enthrall me, never shall be free,
Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me.
My revels now are ended, as they say...hope you will like to follow me on this literary trip
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1 comment:
You are a very fast reader if you finished those 3 already! That's probably a good thing given how much you have to read then :) Sounds like it will be a great change to read all of those books and poems that you're interested in compared to the academic reading last year.
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