Ben Jonson

Ben Jonson

“On My First Son”

and

“Song To Celia”

“On My First Son”

• Serves as a goodbye to his son– “Farewell, thou child of my right hand, and joy;” (1)– First word sets the tone

• Feels that he has sinned – “My sin was too much hope of thee, lov’d boy.” (2)

• Loving his son too much • He forgot how precious life was?

“On My First Son”

“Seven years thou wert lent to me, and I thee pay.

Exacted by the fate, on the just day.” (3-4)

• God loaned him his son and needed him back after seven years

• Fate caused his death

“On My First Son”

“Oh, could I lose all father now! For why

Will man lament the state he should envy?”( 5-6)

• Doesn’t want to remember all of the joys he had being a father

• Man will mourn for his loss what he once would have envied (fathering)

“On My First Son”

“To have so soon ‘scaped world’s and flesh’s rage,

And, if no other misery, yet age?” (7-8)

• Heaven is the goal in life

• He escaped the hardships and cruelty of the world

“On My First Son”

“Rest in soft peace, and asked, say, ‘Here doth lieBen Johnson his best piece of poetry;

For whose sake henceforth all his vows be suchAs what he loves may never like too much.’”

(9-12)• Rest in peace • There lies the best of himself • He will never love as much because he may lose them

like his son

“On My First Son”

• Poetic devices

• Theme – Loss of his son

“On My First Son”

• Poetic devices

• Tone/mood – Sad and nostalgic

• “Farewell, thou child of my right hand, and joy” (1)

“On My First Son”

• Poetic devices

• Conceit – Compares having his son to a loan from God– Indicates the shortness of his life and the

aspect of fate

“On My First Son”

• Poetic devices

• Rhyme scheme– aa,bb,cc,dd,ee,ff,

“On My First Son”

• Poetic devices • Epitaph

– Inscription on a grave

“Here doth lie

Ben Johnson his best piece of poetry;

For whose sake henceforth all his vows be such

As what he loves may never like too much.” (9-12)

– Presents the theme of the poem- love and loss

“Song: To Celia”

Drink to me, only with thine eyesAnd I will pledge with mine;Or leave a kiss but in the cup,And I'll not look for wine. (1-4)

• Love song to woman • Drink= look at him lovingly • Pledge= promise • He “thirsts” for love

“Song: To Celia”

• Tone– Assertive, yearning– Wants a pledge from the woman– Make her pledge with her eyes – Wants her to give into him

“Song: To Celia”

“The thirst that from the soul doth riseDoth ask a drink divine:But might I of Jove's nectar supI would not change for thine.” (5-8)

• His soul is thirsty • Says her love is divine • Jove’s nectar cup- he wouldn’t trade a

drink from his cup for her

“Song: To Celia

• Idealizes her

• Give up a drink from Jove’s cup for a taste from hers

“Song: To Celia”

“I sent thee late a rosy wreath,Not so much honouring theeAs giving it a hope that thereIt could not withered beBut thou thereon didst only breathAnd sent'st it back to me:Since, when it grows and smells, I swear,Not of itself but thee.” (9-16)

“Song: To Celia”

• Sent her wreath hoping it would live

• She sent it back with her sweet fragrance on it

• The wreath grows and energizes his love for her

“Song: To Celia”

• Poetic devices

• Theme– Live and love

“Song: To Celia”

• Poetic devices

• Tone and mood– Loving and desirous

“Song: To Celia”

• Poetic devices

• Rhyme scheme– abcbabcb

“Song: To Celia”

• Poetic devices

• Allusion– Jove (Jupiter) Supreme God of Roman

Mythology – Idealization of her and his love

“Song: To Celia”

• Poetic Devices – Alliteration

• “Doth ask a drink divine:” (6)–Emphasizes the value he places on her