Linguistics & “Terence, this is Stupid Stuff” Blog Post #14
Original Essay: In “Terence, This is Stupid Stuff,” A.E. Houseman alludes to historical texts and the Roman myth of Mithridates through rhyming couplets and gustatory imagery. He uses these elements to create an extended metaphor of beer to the Industrial Revolution, portraying the ironically morbid reality in the “Age of Promise.”
In Houseman’s first stanza, he establishes the scene and the writing style, first introducing the satirical message he wants to convey. Terence is very drunk on the beer, has killed the cow with his happy tunes and has now turned them onto his friends. Terence and his beer are symbolic of the Industrial revolution, having ruined the farming industry, or in Terence’s case, the cow, and is now killing factory employees, or the other friends in the pub. The litotes Houseman implements into the title reflects these ideals, calling the beer and drunken festivities, “stupid stuff” while also commenting on the effects of the Industrial Revolution which are much more serious than ‘stupid’.
The poem addresses the disillusionment many workers had with Christianity as well by alluding to Milton’s “Paradise Lost,” Houseman sarcastically states that, “Malt does more than Milton can (21)” establishing his lack of belief in Milton’s credulity, and then going on to say, “to justify God’s ways to man (220.” Houseman is completely disillusioned with God, no longer believing that god is among the working class.
Houseman then pretends to recall a personal anecdote to when he was drunk, symbolizing when he was young and naïve enough to believe the Industrial “Age of Promise.” He says, “Happy till I woke again…” Heigho, the tale was all a lie (36-38).” He then says, “And nothing now remained but to begin the game anew (41-42),” reflecting the idea that all he can do is keep working. Hope may be futile, but it is inevitable.
Expanding on this idea, Houseman ends with the retelling the myth of Mithridates. The all-powerful, invincible king becomes the English government and the Industrial Revolution. As the king’s enemies attempt to poison him, they symbolize the working class. The ending message Houseman creates I, no matter how hard the people of England may try, the Industrial Revolution will not be defeated and it will die on its own time—it will, as Mithridates preceded it, “[die] old (76).”
Houseman’s poem satirizes English society and the so-called “Age of Promise,” reflecting the belief that anyone who believes in the lie that it is indeed an age of progression is drunk and impaired.
1.) Definition of Structuralism:
Structuralism is the pattern and relationship between the signer and the signified communicating signs through their actions and language. Writers use different elements within their works seen in the form, content, and use of the writing and structuralism is how these elements are linked to the parts, like icons and symbols, and the whole of the literary work.
2.) List the binary opposites you found within the poem; write the thesis statement about binary opposites
- Good/ill
- Sun/moon
- Heart/head
- Past/present
- Old/anew
- Birth/died
- Sobriety/drunkenness
Thesis: The binary opposites incorporated into the poem represent the contrasting ideals that create the complexity of life and reveal the wide gap in intelligence between the shallow friends and the deep thoughts of Terence.
3.) List the words that focused on sound devices; include the sound device thesis and the literary devices like alliteration, consonance, assonance
Open vowels: “stuff; enough”, “clear; beer”, “make; ache”, “now; cow”, “rhyme; time”
In the first stanza, Terence’s friends are complaining about his poetry. The assonance of the ending vowels of each line are long, open vowels, representing the way language is drawn out when people complain.
Hard consonants: Why, if ‘tis dancing you would be, There’s brisker pipes than poetry, Say, for what were hop-yards meant, Or why was Burton built on Trent?
When the poem shifts to Terence’s point of view, he uses the alliteration and consonance of hard consonants to portray his harsh, attacking tone he takes with his less intelligent friends.
Thesis: The use of cacophonous and euphonious sounds and open vowels by Houseman create the differences in speech patterns between the friends and Terence, revealing their intellectual differences as well.
4.) Line: “Is not so brisk a brew as ale: (50)”
Definition of brisk: (adj.) active, fast, and energetic; sharp or abrupt (Google.com)
How does this contribute to the meaning of the whole: I thought this line was interesting because there is irony within this line. Ale may taste ‘brisk’ or, as it is defined, sharp and stimulating, but ale does the opposite as it causes the mind to lose its sharp and quick wit. This contributes to the poem’s complexity. It also adds to the overall harsh tone Terence takes when addressing his friends.
5.) Origin/Etymology: French and old English from “brusque”
Definition of brusque: short or abrupt in a manner of speech; harshness (Google.com)
Difference in definitions: The definition of brusque pertains only to language whereas te modern definition of brisk can also describe actions or character
How does the definition of “brusque” contribute to the meaning of the poem: This definition coincides with the way Terence speaks to his friends with harsh, hard, cacophonous diction.
6.) Rhyme Scheme: iambic pentameter
Rhythm: rhyming couplets
Thesis: In A.E. Housman’s, “Terence, this is Stupid Stuff,” Terence condescends on his friends’ intellectual inferiority. Speaking in iambic pentameter and rhyming couplets, Terence establishes his intelligence through the complex and rhythmic pentameter, but mocks his friends’ stupidity by incorporating the simple, childlike rhyming couplets.
7.) List the definitions and effects of FIVE literary devices that specifically relate to syntax within your poem
1.) Rhetorical Question
a. Definition: a figure of speech in the form of a question (Google.com)
b. Effect: to make a point rather than elicit a response
2.) Repetition:
a. Definition: A literary device where words or phrases are repeated (LiteraryDevices.net)
b. Effect: Secures emphasis
3.) Amplification:
a. Definition: A literary device where a writer embellishes a sentence by adding more information to it (LiteraryDevices.net)
b. Effect: increases sentences worth and understandability
4.) Chiasmus:
a. Definition: figure of speech containing two phrases that are parallel but inverted to each other (LiteraryDevices.net)
b. Effect: emphasizes the complexity of an idea or argument
5.) Circumlocution:
a. Definition: form of writing where the writer uses exaggeratedly long and complex sentences in order to convey a meaning that could have otherwise been conveyed through a shorter, much simpler sentence
b. Effect: stating an idea or a view in an indirect manner that leaves the reader guessing and grasping at the actual meaning; emphasizes the writer’s intelligence
8.) Thesis: The literary devices used within the poem emphasize the intelligence and complexity of Terence’s argument while also condemning the intellectual inferiority of Terence’s friends.
9.) Select one line that is ambiguous, write semantic meaning, pragmatic meaning of line:
Ambiguous Line: “And nothing now remained to do/But begin the game anew (41-42)”
Semantic Meaning: Terence was left with nothing left to do than drink again
Pragmatics: In context, this line means Terence was left with nothing else to do, but continue in the mundane and stupid way of life his friends uphold when they continuously drink
10.) Terence’s friends structure their argument inductively. Terence structures his argument deductively.
