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E211: British Literature to 1760 Sir Thomas Browne Study Questions Alfred J. Drake. Office: Hum. 520 | W 3-4 | ajdrake@ajdrake.com Religio Medici (The Religion of a Doctor) 1. How might you compare Bacon's attitude towards the relationship between words and things with that of Browne? This question might be turned into a paper taking into account the two authors' writing style as well as their basic comportment towards what they consider "error." 2. How does Browne deal in this selection with what calls the errors of others? See, for example, his remarks on 1571 about Catholicism's emphasis on ceremony and holy objects? Is he consistent in his attitude towards others' beliefs? 3. On 1572-73, what is the proper function of reason in Browne's view? To what extent and in what circumstances does he say we ought to depend upon our capacity to reason instead of resorting to simple faith? What limitations does he place on reason? See 1572-73. 4. Browne is sometimes considered a quirky individualist because his essays, while dealing with moral subjects, often seem whimsical and wandering. But on 1572 and elsewhere, he makes some interesting suggestions about our prospects for genuine uniqueness of opinion and personality. Discuss. 5. On 1574-75, how does Browne deal with the value of nature to humans? In what sense is nature "art," for example? 6. On 1575-76, how does Browne address the status of humankind in relation to all else in the created order? What does he make of the traditional Renaissance notion that a human being is a microcosm, a "little world"? 7. On 1577-78, what kind of political bent emerges in Browne's musings? What does he imply about class distinctions, for instance--what really distinguishes one person from another? Hydriotaphia, or Urn-Burial 8. What seems to be Browne's interest in exploring the burial customs of different civilizations--what is there to gain from such a study, given his Christian beliefs about the primacy of the spirit over the body? 9. How might this selection be taken as suggestive regarding Browne's view not only of burial practices but of human history as a whole? Explain. Edition: Abrams, M.H. et al. The Norton Anthology of English Literature, Vols. 1A, 1B, 1C. 7th. edition. New York: Norton, 2000. ISBN #'s: 1A = 0393975657, 1B = 0393975665, 1C = 0393975673.
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