** Rilke's sonnet cycle is entitled "Sonnets to Orpheus." Why Orpheus? What is his relation to Dionysus or Apollo?
** Trace an image that Rilke uses frequently (e.g. angels, birds, etc)
** "For beauty is nothing but the beginning of terror, which we are just able to endure, and we are so awed by it because it serenely disdains to destroy us" (Elegy 3). Say more :)
** Is love consoling, sweet, and gentle to Rilke, or is it a more powerful force. Explain.
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Rilke's sonnet cycle is entitled "Sonnets to Orpheus." Why Orpheus? What is his relation to Dionysus or Apollo?
The myth of Orpheus contains numerous references to both Apollo and Dionysus. In some versions of this myth, Apollo is named as Orpheus's father. It is also important to mention that Apollo was the one that gave Orpheus his lyre when he was still a child, and taught him how to play it.
Orpheus himself was a follower of both gods, and supported the worship of Apollo and Dionysus until his death, a death incredibly similar to that of Pentheus.
In his life, Orpheus was a remarkable man, and a man with many talents. His music was enchanting and enthralling, and through it he honored both the Dionysian and the Apollonian aspects of nature. The famous story of Orpheus' journey to Hades has a predominating Dionysian elements, because Orpheus is drawn entirely by passion for his lost love, and his actions are beyond any mortal reason.
It seems as though the myth of Orpheus could not pertain to one man, unless that man was indeed a God, because he embodied too many ideals and talents. However, his mourning for the loss of his love makes his character incredibly human and real, and leaves historians wondering which hypothesis is more probable, was he a man, or did Orpheus embody an ideal?
The dual nature of the myth of Orpheus, and his commitment to both Apollo and Dionysus is what makes his character even more interesting and enchanting.
"For beauty is nothing but the beginning of terror, which we are just able to endure, and we are so awed by it because it serenely disdains to destroy us"
Somethings that people consider beautiful can cause terror and destroy you. The sun is something that people may consider beautiful and one day it will destroy earth. I think life is beautiful, but to some the pressures of life can get to them and cause havoc in their life and maybe cause them to end their life. I think what is meant by this line is that people can get lost in the beauty of things and neglect other important things in their life.
** Is love consoling,sweet,and gentle to Rilke, or is it a more powerful force. Explain.
- I believe love to Rilke is more of a powerful force and not only the good side of love but the dark side of love as well. This is apparent in his "Duino Elegies." The love he describes seems vigorous and not the faint kind of love. An example of love being more of a powerful force to Rilke can be seen in the (The Fourth Elegy) lines "Murders are easy to understand. But this: that one can contain life has begun,can hold it to one's heart gently, and not refuse to go on living, is inexpressible." I get the impression that Rilke is expressing the love a woman has for her unborn child which he does in a manner that is both fervent and passionate.
** "For beauty is nothing but the beginning of terror, which we are just able to endure, and we are so awed by it because it serenely disdains to destroy us" (Elegy 3).
Usually, people do not regard something as true beauty unless it causes some sort of anxiety that paralyzes their senses and forces them into an unfamiliar mind or emotional state. We find things beautiful when they cause us to lose control of our emotions or the capability for rational thought, which is scary because we become powerless within ourselves. A wedding ceremony or birth can be so overwhelming that it causes those involved to cry uncontrollably out of sheer happiness, even though crying is usually affiliated with sadness. Some could find beauty in love when it causes them to completely abandon rationality and perform actions or neglect needs that they would otherwise not have had they not been in love. In Mann’s ”Death in Venice,” Aschenbach risks poor health and ultimately death by staying in Venice (even after learning about the cholera epidemic) so that he can remain close to Tadzio. In Brecht’s “The Good Woman of Setzuan,” Shen Te gives the old couple’s money to Yang Sun instead of paying off the debt on the tobacco shop, and it is obvious that she did this out of love because as Shui Ta she sees the error in this decision.
I could be sitting down learning about a certain reaction mechanism in organic chemistry and all of a sudden have a "HOLY CRAP" moment when I realize the beauty in how organisms in nature compliment each other so well that one's waste is another's food. A common example: How trees use carbon dioxide (that we expel as waste) to create food for themselves and then release oxygen for us to use for energy production. For something so elementary and yet genius at the same time to occur in nature requires some careful artistry that is unfathomable to my mind. And so going from studying a simple chemical reaction to contemplating the existence of a celestial being (maybe God, who knows) is both beautiful and terrifying to me. Beauty leaves us seeking the answers to questions we would not otherwise pose in its absence, and it is that state of awe that really scares us.
"For beauty is nothing but the beginning of terror, which we are just able to endure, and we are so awed by it because it serenely disdains to destroy us"
People always are always worried about how they look or dress. i feel that this means people are afraid to look are there real self if they dont have let say make up. be who u can be and no one else.
** "For beauty is nothing but the beginning of terror, which we are just able to endure, and we are so awed by it because it serenely disdains to destroy us" (Elegy 3). Say more :)
Beauty can be a dangerous and cause depression or chaos. It causes one to fall in love and loose loose their original sense of reality; in other works it can blind one from seeing the truth which can be so dangerous. Beauty has power to gain full control of one.
Basically beauty leading to love, love can lead to depression or possibly murder or suicide.
"For beauty is nothing but the beginning of terror, which we are just able to endure, and we are so awed by it because it serenely disdains to destroy us"
I think that this means that sometimes people get so wrapped up the outwardness of things that they don't always see the real inner beauty of things. also this could mean that people get wrapped up in something or someones beauty, that it cause jeaousy and could destroy them.
"For beauty is nothing but the beginning of terror, which we are just able to endure, and we are so awed by it because it serenely disdains to destroy us"
Beauty can be either good or bad. Beautiful people or good looking people tend to get chosen for a job versus someone who is okay looking or ugly. Looks don't always determine someone's true personality. Someone who may not be as pretty or good looking may have more skills and could bring more to the table. Same goes with people in relationships. A beautiful girl or a good looking guy may not be beautiful in the inside. Their true personalities would really show once he or she starts to open up, which could cause terror in the relationship.
"For beauty is nothing but the beginning of terror, which we are just able to endure, and we are so awed by it because it serenely disdains to destroy us"
True love is a beautiful thing but what does it feel like to be truly in love? I believe that it is such a great emotion that overpowers a person and it causes them to do things that they have never pictured themself doing. It may cause one to do things that are not always in their best interest, things that can cause pain, not always in a physical sense but an emotional one. This is the beauty that slowly breaks us down little by little. To many, love is a very scary thing. Devoting your life to just one other person and being with them for the rest of your life, who wouldn't be scared?
Rilke's sonnet cycle is entitled "Sonnets to Orpheus." Why Orpheus? What is his relation to Dionysus or Apollo?
Orpheus was the son of the muse, Calliope, a follower of Apollo. Apollo became very charmed with Orpheus’s abilities and made him a lyre to play music on. He followed Dionysus for some time, however, and died when he attempted to worship Apollo (whom he thought of as the sun-god) and Dionysus’ maenads tore him to pieces, leaving his head to float down the river. The head was eventually buried, and temple for Dionysus was erected above it. Apollo in turn placed Orpheus’s lyre among the stars.
Orpheus also worked on creating cults concerning both Apollo and Dionysus in his lifetime.
Furthermore, one could argue that Orpheus is related to Dionysus in that he impulsively and valiantly went off to Hades to attempt to get his wife back. When he lost her a second time, he swore off women and thus offended Dionysus and his maenads. Needless to say, the maenads were not too happy with him when the attacked him and killed him.
And lastly, some myths state that Orpheus was in fact the son of Apollo, thus creating an obvious relationship between the two.
I think Rilke is as confused about the power of love as much as the rest of us. For example, he writes ,in his poetry, about the overwhelming power of love and how terrifying it can be at times. On the other hand, he suggests that he can not live without it and seems to seek it. Rilke views on love are similar to that of beauty. They are both terrifying elements that are often woven together.
** "For beauty is nothing but the beginning of terror, which we are just able to endure, and we are so awed by it because it serenely disdains to destroy us" (Elegy 3). Say more :)
Once someone is in awe over anothers beauty that in itself will more than likely lead to disparity. However, beauty through all of its fine essence is seen to many as terror because the same thing that could make a person feel good and loved can also turn that person away. For instance, there have been times in relationships where an argument occurs and for that instance alone, both view each other in a different light because another side was shown. Being beautiful isn't just about looks, but also about who one is as a person.
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