Week Eight

Reading One: "A Certain Lady"

1. To whom does the speaker seem to be talking?

The speaker is speaking to a man who his the speakers friend, yet the speaker is in love with the man.

2. What sort of person is she?

The woman speaker is a woman who is in love, yet the man does not realize her love for him. Yet the speaker is in sorrow for the unconventional connection of love.

3. How do you feel about her?

I feel sorrow and connection with the woman speaker. We have all lived in moments of love, yet the one we love does not understand.

4. Which habits and attitudes of her's do you like least?

I suppose I am not a fan of her "secrecy" of a love the guy, "And all the straining things within my heart---you'll never know". I believe that we must say what we want, go for what we want, don't hold back, and never to live in regret.

5.How soon can you tell that the speaker is not altogether happy about her conversation and conduct?

"And you laugh back, nor can you ever see---the thousand little deaths my heart has died." This is the first line that tells the reader that she is a girl in love. The speaker does everything right in front of a guy, yet lives in a love bounded by only one heart.

6. What attitude would you try to express toward the person spoken to?

If I were to read this poem to a person in the way the speaker has meant for the poem to be read, then I would speak in a tone of sadness yet love.

7. What tone would you use for the last two lines?

The speaker's tone for the last two lines would be as if a broken heart was speaking of love. 

8. How would you describe the speaker's personality?

The speaker is a genuine caring person. The speaker allows the person that the poem is intended for to speak of his own love adventures to her, even though she has a profound love for him. 

9. What aspects of her behavior are most crucial to the poem's effect?

The behavior she exhibits throughout the poem is being a lady, "And paint my mouth for you a fragrant red,". The woman dresses like a lady and loves him like a lady yet is caught being just friends, "Thus do you want me--Marveling, gay, and true--Nor do you see my staring eyes of nights."