Ben Jonson

In "An Ode to Himself," Ben Jonson uses animalistic imagery to criticize his audience and critics, depicting them as incapable of appreciating his art. He contrasts this with classical imagery,...

The poem "It's Not Growing Like a Tree" by Ben Jonson emphasizes valuing quality over quantity in life. Jonson uses the metaphor of a short-lived lily to illustrate that brief, beautiful moments are...

In Volpone, disguise is used extensively to deceive and manipulate. Volpone himself uses physical disguises to trick others, such as pretending to be the sickly Volpone or impersonating Scoto the...

Although it's possible that "The Triumph of Charis" is a celebratory poem, I think the language is more complex than that. The "triumph" might be a simple celebratory procession and not even an act...

The phrasing in Jonson's "Come, my Celia, let us prove" that ironically undercuts the speaker's attractiveness includes his coercive arguments and disregard for Celia's autonomy. He dismisses her...

The tone of the second stanza in Ben Jonson's poem "Drink to me only with thine eyes" is one of disappointment and longing. The speaker sends a wreath of flowers to his beloved, hoping it will be...

While Ben Jonson's “To Penhurst” presents an ideal place through vivid detail, appealing images, and an easy style, while T. S. Eliot's “The Waste Land” rejects such ideals and presents the...

In "On My First Son," Ben Jonson uses literary terms and diction to express his profound grief and love for his deceased son. The poem employs metaphors, such as referring to his son as his "best...

Ben Jonson, a contemporary of Shakespeare, is renowned for his dark, cynical comedies like Volpone and The Alchemist. His works often explore human folly and vice. Jonson also crafted masques for the...

While Ben Jonson's The Alchemist is typically categorized as a farce, not an allegory, it uses "typical" characters to mock social elements like swindlers and victims. Although it is not an allegory...

"Song to Celia" by Ben Jonson is a lyrical love poem that expresses devotion through unique metaphors. The speaker asks Celia to express love through a look rather than a toast, valuing her affection...

Ben Jonson's "Epitaph on S. P., a Child of Queen Elizabeth's Chapel" and Robert Herrick's "Upon Prue, His Maid" both commemorate the deceased but differ significantly. Herrick's brief, conventional...

The tone of Ben Jonson's "On My First Son" is deeply sorrowful and sincere, reflecting grief over the loss of his child. In contrast, "Song to Celia" has a tone of desperate longing and hope,...