1A
As the adage rings, “Pride goes before the fall,” so does the gut-wrenching
despair of a demon resound in Shakespeare’s Henry VIII. Cardinal Wolsey exemplifies
the utter pain that accompanies the loss of one’s job, reputation, and – essentially – life.
Shakespeare, in a way that is true and tributary to his literary genius, presents this human
experience through allusion, metaphor, and tone. His usage of these literary devices
heightens the meaning of his work, and deepens readers’ recognition of these unpleasant
emotions.
Christianity pervades literature, and Shakespeare is no exception. Whether a
reality or fiction, the depth of the emotion exuded in the Bible is undeniable. Shakespeare
knew this, and used an allusion from the Bible to exhibit the complex emotional response
of Cardinal Wolsey. Shakespeare compares Wolsey’s fall to that of “Lucifer”. The fall is
so shattering to both that they will “never …hope again.” Lucifer is a character in the
Bible who experience elation and joy, which stemed from his position at God’s left-hand
side. Yet when he craved too much power and tried to overthrow him, he felt the fires of
hell like no other had. Such contrasting lifestyles are applied to Wolsey, by means of the
allusion. All readers will unlikely know what it feels like to experience demotion from
position as a king’s advisor – we might even consider such complaint about the situation
trivial. Yet, when Wolsey’s state is juxtaposed next to Lucifers, we can start to see that a
complex set of emotions is involved, not just petty power-hungriness. Through
Shakespeare’s allusion, it is evident that Wolsey suffered the worse fall imaginable for a
human, or an angel. It doesn’t get much worse than this.
Shakespeare also employs the use of figurative language; in specific, metaphor. In
lines 3 – 9, Wolsey compares his life to “tender leaves of hope” “blossoms”, and
“blushing honors.” This image – evoking extended metaphor to flora gives a sense of life
and health, of springtime. Yet immediately follows are sobering metaphors: “frost, a
killing frost” and roots that are “nip[ped]”. The metaphor of life that is soon destroyed
by a grave, morbid winter exhibits Wolsey’s starkly contrasting moods: spring murdered
by winter. More specifically, Wolsey’s happiness and lively woarmth is weeded out and
frozen over by grave circumstances. Through metaphor, Shakespeare exposes his
audience to the reality that it is nearly impossible to grasp the extent of Wolsey’s
depression.
Tone often plays a crucial role in the meaning of a work, just as it does in
humans’ everyday lives. Wolsey’s soliloquy is no different. His tone is a way for readers
to infer his subtle emotional state, beyond what is explicit and expressed. Tone pervades
the piece. One reaccuring motive of tone is a long, reflective sentence, followed directly
by a short outburst of despair. In addition to the second line (“a long farewell to all my
greatness!”), the 16th line exemplifies Wolsey’s emotions. He just finished another
extended water metaphor, and then bursts out, “van pomp and glory of this world, I hate
ye!” such bipolar speaking styles is indicative of the inner battle that is waging inside of
Wolsey. It is evident that the is attempting to be calm and reflective in the extended
metaphor, yet when the tone abruptly switches, Wolsey reveals something about himself:
bitterness. So far, we have seen remorse and regret and deptression, but spruts of
bitterness add a facet to Wolsey’s character. The spurts show that no only does loss of
pride depress, embarrass, torture, and plague you, it also hardens your heart, without the
prospect of softening.
Shakespeare exemplifies the human condition through Wolsey’s soliloquy, and
preaching of the dangers of flying too high. After all, the fall is not pleasant.
Score: 8
This essay presents a persuasive analysis of Shakespeare’s use of figurative
language in conveying Wolsey’s reaction to his dismissal. There is a detailed
description of Shakespeare’s allusion to Lucifer: “Lucifer is a character in
the Bible who experienced elation and joy…Yet when he craved too much
power and tried to overthrow [God], he felt the fires of hell like no other
had.” The essay follows up with a brief observation about how Shakespeare
might be employing the allusion to develop Wolsey’s character. The
discussion of tone is perceptive: “It is evident that [Wolsey] is attempting to
be calm and reflective in the extended metaphors, yet when the tone abruptly
switches, Wolsey reveals something about himself: bitterness.” While this
essay as a whole offers convincing analysis, its uneven development and
sometimes imprecise use of language earned it a score of 8 rather than a 9.
1B
In his somber soliloquy, Cardinal Wolsey feels both embittered and humbled;
felings that he conveys through the use of sarcasm, imagery and biblical allusions.
Though he feels somewhat reproachful towards the prince, he attributes a great deal of
the downfall to his own hubris.
Especially towards the beginning of his speech, Wolsey harbors resentment for
the kind and others for causing his downfall. Wolsey’s first two lines demonstrate bitter
sarcasm with a dash representing a reproachful pause and rhetorical question followed by
an exclamation that is hardly one of joy. The next six lines explore an extended metaphor
in which a plant represents Wolsey and the cruel forces of nature symbolize the situation
he finds himself in. By casting himself as an innocent plant, he transfers blame for his
downfall to others in the castle, who he claims have bestowed “blushing honors” in the
fair weather of their approval, only to capriciously switch their favors to “a killing frost”
that “nip[s his (Wolsey’s) root.” Nature is unpredictable and uncontrollable, and so by
comparing the king to forces of nature, Wolsey surrenders all guilt for his own demise.
After this first emotional outburst, however, Wolsey begins to concede his own
role in the downfall. In the next extended metaphor, he compares himself to a little boy,
happily riding on the “bladders” of his “high-blown pride” over deeper and deeper
waters. In this comparison, Wolsey admits to thinking naively, as a little boyk, that his
inflated ego would never burst, and so wandered into territory much too dangerous and
unfathomable. Thus he admits that his “vain pomp and glory” led to his drowning in the
stream of failure. He proceeds to compare himself to Lucifer in a biblical allusion to the
sotry of an angel’s failed plan of insurrection, fueled by pride, that led to Satan’s descent
to Hell. With this powerful allusion, Wolsey reminds himself of his hubris and his
undeniable role in his downfall. Though it takes him a while to accept it, Wolsey
understands that he is to blame for his failure.
Score: 6
This essay is characterized by compactness. The student insightfully states the main ideas
regarding “the use of sarcasm, imagery and biblical allusions” to inform Wolsey’s response
to being dismissed from court. References to the text are somewhat effective, but the
analysis is not as fully detailed as the analyses in essays that earned scores in the top tier.
Both the fluid writing and the apt word choice help to solidify a score of 6.
1C
William Shakespeare, the great master of the English language, includes in his
play “Henry VIII” Cardinal Wolsey to serve as an example of the effort of man. Wolsey,
dismissed from his position as advisor to the king, is discouraged and remorseful that his
tremendous amount of effort has been killed. The cardinal’s soliloquy qualifies his
feelings using allusions, figurative language, and tone, giving the reading insight into
how truly discouraging the promise of triumph can be.
Cardinal Wolsey first alludes to the cyclical nature of life. He states man first,
“puts forth the tender leaves of hope.” The hope Wolsey experienced then blossomed and
he beared “his blusing honors thick upon him.” In accordance with the loss of his
position Wolsey continues to explore the path of life where on the third day “his
greatness is a-ripening” but instead of the much awaited success it is “nipped by a
“killing frost”. This reference created by William Shakespeare conveys Cardinal
Wolsey’s unrequited efforts to succeed and become great at this duty. A final allusion,
however, that fully encompasses Cardinal Wolsey’s pain is to Lucifer. Wolsey himself
has fallen from triumph, and in the final lines of this passage he compares himself to
Lucifer who has fallen, never to hope again. Hopefless and discouraged, Cardinal
Wolsey will never rise again.
The figurative language in this passage is also important in conveying Wolsey’s
response to his dismissal from court. He first compares his loss to a winter frost claiming
that his efforts were not even given the opportunity to reach their full potential.
However, a much more complex realization is made later in his speech. He state ina
simile that he is like “little wanton boys that swim on bladders”, however he swam “far
beyond [his] depth.” This shows that though Wolsey is discouraged by his dismissal he
is also remorseful that he got so carried away with his appointment that the pride got to
him.
Finally, Wolsey’s tone is mostly conveyed by the previous literary devices and
allusions but is farther solidified when he states, “vain pomp and glory of this world, I
hate ye!” He believes that because he let the honor of his status go to his head he has
been punished and now must suffer the consequences.
Cardinal Wolsey, amidst his sadness at not being of such high honor anymore,
expressed discouraging and remorseful sentiments through his use of allusion, figurative
language, and tone.
Score: 5
The promise of the introduction (“The cardinal’s soliloquy qualifies his feelings using
allusions, figurative language, and tone, giving the reading insight into how truly
discouraging the promise of triumph can be”) goes largely unfulfilled, as the essay’s
development relies mostly on exposition: “. Wolsey himself has fallen from triumph, and
in the final lines of this passage he compares himself to Lucifer who has fallen, never to
hope again.” In the third paragraph, the student demonstrates some insight regarding the
similoy of the “little wanton boys that swim on bladders”, however he swam “far beyond
[his] depth.”: “This shows that though Wolsey is discouraged by his dismissal he is also
remorseful that he got so carried away with his appointment that the pride got to him.”
Still, the writing is superficial and pedestrian and frequently marred by surface errors in
phrasing.
1D
Cardinal Wosley’s speech following his destitution as the king’s advisor uses
many literary elements to portray his reactions.
He first metaphorizes the rise and fall of a glory-blessed man by comparing it to a
flower that blooms and then has its roots cut. The leaves of hopes and aspirations turn
into “blossoms” of success and recognition, but by the time he is basking in his success,
the “frost” of cruelty takes it aways, killing the blossom and chopping off its roots.
Another of the qualities present in this speech is Shakespeare’s word choice for
Wosley’s speech. Words with strong impact, like “killing frost”, his “high-blown pride”
and “vain pomp” add to how strongly Wosley feels about his deposition. His anguish is
heightened with phrases like “Vain pomp and glory of this world, I hate ye!”
demonstrating the tone of his speech. He expresses his pity of those who will replace
him in the king’s court, fearing that they will meet the same crushing demise he suffered.
Finally, he alludes to the fall of Lucifer from Heaven to add gravity to his situation.
Such allusion has a touch of irony to it as his is comparing himself to the Devil,
he being an agent of God.
Score: 3
This essay suffers mostly from think development and imprecise language. The student
tends to make assertions that suggest some insight (“His anguish is heightened with
phrases like ‘Vain pomp and glory of this world, I hate ye!’ demonstrating the tone of his
speech”), but without further development and analysis, these claims remain relatively
unpersuasive. References to the text are minimal.
1E
He puts a lot of influence on using references as to how the man feels. This way
you get the complete picture as to how terrible this man is truely feeling. He feels as
though he is shocked. The frost he refers to as a killing frost. This man is shocked to the
point that its making him feel as though death is near.
The loss of his job has took a dagger to his pride. He feels once he was happy,
but that happiness is long gone at the moment. Its like all his hard work and time put in
for nothing to simply be let go. He hates the way the world is. You work until your all
used and dried up then they just discard you.
Shakespeare refers to the man as Lucifer the fallen angel. Its like he waits on
princes and then they show him nothing in return. They drop him like a bad habit. Where
will this mans life go now.
Score: 1
This essay is unacceptably brief. It begins with an abrupt introduction that does nothing
to orient the reader to what is being discussed: “He puts a lot of influence on using
references as to how the man feels. This way you get the complete picture as to how
terrible this man is truly [sic] feeling.” These assertions demonstrate flawed writing and
no real attempt to analyze how literary elements convey Wolsey’s response to his
dismissal from court.