Professor Cripps
2-1-Q
Chapter 11
Student: Anthony Lacaprucia
2 – Offer 2 Specific Details from the chapter. For each, ID/quote and add 3-8 sentences of your own explanation
- “The author of Romeo and Juliet shared his interest in Lucretian materialism with Spenser, Donne, Bacon, and others. Though Shakespeare had not attended either Oxford or Cambridge, his Latin was good enough to have enabled him to read Lucretius’ poem for himself” (Greenblatt second page of chapter). I think this section is important because it shows how far Lucretius’ ideas have reached. I’m sure we all read Romeo and Juliet in high school. I never would’ve thought Lucretius had a direct impact on their story.
- “It is in the same spirit in “Apology for Raymond Sebond” that he mocked the fantasy that humans are the center of the universe: Why shall a gosling5 not say thus: “All the parts of the universe have me in view; the earth serve for me to walk on, the sun to give me light, the stars to breathe their influences into me; I gain this advantage from the winds, that from the waters; there is nothing that the heavenly vault regards so favorably as me; I am the darling of nature” (Greenblatt third page of chapter). This writing from Montaigne which was heavily influenced by Lucretius clearly shows why the Church would be so against Lucretius’ writing. It is a clear challenge against the church. Montaigne is mocking the idea of how humans are the center of the universe stating that the heavens have nothing for him.
1 – Make 1 Connection to Self, to World, or to Text – or Extend by offering a little detail about something mentioned in the text (some light research needed to Extend)
- I felt like the text didn’t do a great job of explaining who Montaigne really was so I wanted to do some research about it. Michel de Montaigne was a French writer and thinker from the 16th century, famous for creating the modern essay format. In his work, he talks about human nature and questions what we know. He was very much inspired by Lucretius and agreed with many of his ideas. Montaigne encouraged people to think for themselves and question what everyone else believes.
Q – Give us a Good Question to chew on – 1-3 sentences
- How does Montaigne’s views challenge the church of human actions and choices, influenced by Lucretius, challenge the idea that humans don’t truly have control over their own lives and decisions?
