Essay - The Bride of the Greek Isle Introduction the Purpose of...

THE BRIDE OF THE GREEK ISLE

INTRODUCTION

***** purpose of this paper is to introduce and discuss the poem "The Bride of ***** Greek Isle," by Felicia Hemans, ***** discuss the author's life as it relates ***** the poem.

***** BRIDE OF THE GREEK ISLE

During her brief lifetime, Felicia ***** wrote numerous poems, beginning when she was only fourteen. She had a romantic view ***** ***** world, and often copied the style of famous poets of the time that she admired, such as Byron.

***** wrote often of love and of her feelings about relationships. She lived apart from her husband for many years, and this may have colored how she looked on relationships. Many of her ***** dealt with tragedies, like "***** Bride of the Greek Isle," or death, such as "Hymn ***** the Sick-bed of a Mother." She also wrote about issues that women faced at the time, like childbearing, child m*****tality, ***** religious beliefs. "In many poems, Hemans responded to the concerns ***** women of her time by idealizing and *****izing woman's role and relationships. Her portrayal of cultural ideals offered comfort and support ***** those who found them meaningful" (Editors).

***** Bride of the ***** Isle" starts out predictably. The bride is afraid to leave ***** ********** home and her family, ***** she weeps "on her mother's faithful breast." She realizes ***** ***** is leaving for a new life, *****nd she cries over the flowers and vines she will leave behind. Flowers and plants are a comm***** theme in ***** of Hemans works, ***** fact Sir Walter Scott criticized her work for "...***** 'too poetical' ***** for having 'too many flowers' and 'too little fruit.'"

Finally, she is ready to leave home, and have the wedding to take place. "She wept-yet laid her h***** awhile, In his that waited her dawning smile-." She is ***** to begin her new life with her *****. These are all normal reactions ***** a young girl leaving home for the first time, and Hemans develops them well. The reader might think she ***** the same feelings on the eve ***** her own wedding to Captain Hemans.

***** on the "Greek Isle," the wedding takes *****, ***** the ***** party gat*****s in a beautiful wooded *****a to celebrate the marriage. "And thither Iant***** had brought his *****, And the guests were met ***** that founta*****-side; They lifted the veil from Eudora's face, It smiled out softly in pensive grace, With lips of love, and a brow serene, Meet ***** the soul of the deep wood-scene.-" ***** has accepted her marriage - in ***** she is now ready to celebrate it w*****h w*****e and song.

Ho*****ver, the poem turns tragic here, much ***** Hemans own life. The bride never gets to consummate her *****, because ***** wood is raided by a band ***** pirates, who kill most of the *****, including Iant*****, ***** new bridegroom. "She saw but Ianthis before her lie, With the blood from his breast in a gushing