Time After Time, Part 2
The keys to Historical Criticism or analysis come in the form of questions. We are going to converse on a deeper level with the text to uncover whatever it can tell us about the historical context in which it was created.
First, read this poem that was written back in 1779.
THE PRESENT AGE (1779)
Author unknown
OF all the ages ever known,
The present is the oddest;
For all the men are honest grown,
And all the women modest.
Nor lawyers now are fond of fees,
Nor clergy of their dues;
No idle people now one sees,
At church no empty pews.
No courtiers now their friends deceive
With promises of favor;
For what they made 'em once believe,
Is done and done for ever.
Our nobles - Heaven defend us all !
I'll nothing say about 'em;
For they are great and I'm but small,
So muse, jog on without 'em.
Our gentry are a virtuous race,
Despising earthly treasures;
Fond of true honor's noble chase,
And quite averse to pleasures.
The ladies dress so plain indeed,
You'd think 'em Quakers all,
Witness the wool packs on their heads,
So comely and so small.
No tradesman now forsakes his shop,
For politics or news;
Or takes his dealer at a hop,
Through interested views.
No soaking sot forsakes his spouse,
For mugs of mantling nappy;
Nor taverns tempt him from his house,
Where all are pleas'd and happy.
Our frugal taste the State secures,
Whence then can woes begin?
For luxury's turn'd out of doors,
And prudence taken in.
From hence proceeds th' abundant flow,
Of plenty through the land;
Where all provisions all men know,
Are cheap on ev'ry hand.
No pleasure - chaises fill the streets,
Nor crowd the roads on Sunday;
So horses ambling thro' the week,
Obtain a respite one day.
All gaming, tricking, swearing, lying,
Is grown quite out of fashion;
For modern youth's so self-denying,
It flies all lawless passion.
Happy the nation thus endow'd !
So void of wants and crimes;
Where all are rich and none are proud,
Oh ! these are glorious times.
Your characters (with wondering stare
Cries Tom) are mighty high, sir;
But pray forgive me, if I swear,
I think they're all a lie, sir.
Ha ! think you so, my honest clown ?
Then take another light on't;
Just turn the picture upside down,
I fear you'll see the right on't.
Now, thinking of this poem, read and answer the following questions about Historical Criticism.
- Conflict between the classes is seen in: "Our gentry are a virtuous race,/Despising earthly treasures" is stated ironically or sarcastically indicating that the rich are greedy
- People are obsessed with politics. "No tradesman now forsakes his shop,/For politics or news"
- The author is bitter and sacastic about the hipocricy, greed, oppression, and frivolity of the people of his time.
- "Cries Tom" referes to Thomas Paine, an author who urged people to rebel against England
- Royalty is mentioned as a group: "Our nobles - Heaven defend us all !/I'll nothing say about 'em"
- Quakers are mentioned as a group: "You'd think 'em Quakers all"
- Honesty, fidelity, modesty, hard work, security, generosity, and humility are valued by the author and probably by the society, though he accuses them of not practicing these values.
- Church is important and people are expected to attend.
- The conflict between royalty and commoners is seen in the corruption and favoritism expressed in: "No courtiers now their friends deceive With promises of favor;"
- Political unrest is evident due to government control of goods is shown in: "Our frugal taste the State secures,/Whence then can woes begin?/For luxury's turn'd out of doors,\And prudence taken in."
- People travel by horse as seen in the line: "So horses ambling thro' the week,/Obtain a respite one day"
- That during this period both sides were corrupt and conflicted
- That the war was disturbing to the every day lives of common people
- There were two sides to the war, loyalist and separatists, but not all people took sides.
