Behn/Rochester Poems in Conversation

1. Behn & Rochester address similar situations in their poems. What is the same about them? What is different?
2. Both poems express elements of libertinism and draw upon pastoral conventions. Assess each poem in these terms.

1. What problem do the characters in Rochester's poem face? Why does this occur?
2. Who is held responsible for what happens?
3. What poetic devices are used in the poem?

1. In addition to answer the questions above, how does the snake function metaphorically in the poem?
2. What commonalities do you see between "The Disappointment" and "The Golden Age"?

• Swift & Montagu offer two alternative perspectives on the same fictional event. What is the same about the two situations? What is different?
• Swift was not well regarded as a poet, and Montagu's poem parodies a number of the conventions he draws upon. If you know Swift's other work, comment on this.

• What elements of pastoral do you see in this poem? What effect does this have?
• What is Strephon doing in Celia's room? What discoveries does he make?
• What poetic devices are used in the poem?
• What do you think of the speaker's moralizing at the end of the poem?

• Montagu had a reputation of being a good poet. Is this poem "good poetry"? Why?
• How does Montagu depict Swift?
• Swift was famous for his lengthy, sometimes gratuitous, digressions. How does Montagu make use of this? What does the speaker say in "the digression"?
• In the poem, the two characters argue about the events of the poem and what caused them. What do they say? What do they plan to do as a result?