DICTIONARYY

how do y'all feel about the diction of this book., to me it seems partly hard to understand..ikeep having to go to the dictionary.!

Setting of MU!

So, for our second discussion we are supposed to taalk about the setting of MU, and we have quite a wide variety here in our book. Maybe as we settle into the heart of the story the setting will stay as one, but for now lets enjoy the pretty variety!
(Don't forget text support guys! With page numbers!)

Love is in the Air

It seems my guessing of Valancourt's and Emily's affection for each other was not unfounded. Valancourt becomes a suitor to Emily after her father's death, but he met heavy opposition from Emily's guardian Madame Cheron. Would you agree with Madame Cheron's motive of at first denying Valancourt, but then changing her mind? Surely earning Emily wealth and position is the best for her right? After all, would she not become exhalted in the family because of it? Or, do you agree with Emily's thoughts of her affections with Valancourt and calling her guardian's judgement unfair? Discuss if you so wish on this subject.

I leave the flowery path for aye

Of childhood, where I sported many a day.

Warbling and sauntering carelessly along;

Where every face was innocent and gay,

Each vale romantic, tuneful every tounge,

Sweet, wild, and artless all.

The Minstrel

Melancholy

I noticed that the word melancholy was used very often. I thought that it was very interesting how St. Aubert was living a simple life surrounded by beauty in an attempt to be happy, but everything around him made him feel melancholy.

The Adventures of Valancourt

Well, not adventures of his exactly. More like Valancourt's time with St. Aubert and Emily as they try to get away from their sorrows. Valancourt plays a rather significant role, cheering up St. Aubert significantly with his company. His impact in the story overall may be little (although he may reappear later in the story), but he still comes across as a likable character.
Valancourt is basically a young man, whom's brother has been acquainted with St. Aubert, who possess a sound mind and enjoys traveling through nature with his dogs. His friendly many caused him to become quick friends with St. Aubert. Please, consider the following if you have not gotten to these points if you have not gotten that far yet:

1) Valancourt's relationship with St. Aubert.
2) Emily's thoughts of Valacourt
3) The representation that Valacourt is to St. Aubert's youth
and finally
4) Valancourt parting with his book of poems by Petrarch in exchange for one of Emily's

The last one may hint of Emily's affection for Valancourt, but this comes from a very brief moment of the book and the idea is very vague. This is even more so because the entire time they were on the road it followed more of St. Aubert's thoughts rather than Emily

I care not, Fortune! what you me deny;

You cannot rob me of free nature's grasp;

You cannot shut the windows of the sky,

Through which Aurora shews her brigthening face;

You cannot bar my constant feet to trace

The woods and lawns, by living stream, at eve:

Let health my nerves and finer fibres brace,

And I their toys to the great childreb keave:

Of fancy, reason, virtue, nought can me bereave.

Thomson                                          

Frankenstien and MU!

What similarities do yall see with MU and Frankenstein? Thoughts on how they relate as gothic novels?

Scenery!

Well, as we've began the journey into The Mysteries of Udolpho we are only beginning to notice little bitty things, like scenery! The scenery in the early stages and few pages of this book show us that it WILL be a big deal to the story. The story is set in a beautiful place that seems like somewhere anyone would love to live in, but there is something almost eerie about this place. How much more of an indicator is there other than the first paragraph and first few sentences of the book speaking of " the majestic Pyrenees", and "pastoral landscapes". What are yall's thoughts on this topic, and scenery playing a major role in MU?

Poems, Poems, Poems!

The first thing I noticed while reading the Mysteries of Udolpho is the amount of poems we find within the book. They are used to explain a character's actions, at the beginning of chapters to set the mood, and even just muses the characters came up themselves. This may cause interpreting the actions and emotions of the characters to become simple, but then again it also depends on how you make of it. Also, please make not that each chapter begins with a simple and short exerpt from these poems that set the tone of each chapter. Use it as a reference in case you are ever confused about anything within the book.

Sonnet

Go, pencil! faithful to thy master's sight!

Go---tell the Goddess of the fair scene,

When next her light steps wind these wood-walks green,

Whence all his tears, his tender sorrows, rise;

Ah! paint her form, her soul-illumin'd eyes,

The sweet expression of her pensive face,

The light'ning smile, the animated grace--

The portrait well the lover's voice supplies;

Speaks all his heart must feel, his tounge would say:

Yet ah! not all his heart must sadly feel!

How oft the flow'ret's silken leaves conceal

The drug that steals the vital spark away!

And who that gazes on that angle-smile,

Would fear its charm, or think it could beguile!