Discussion Questions for Works by William Morris

Students in English and History of Art 151, Brown University, 2004, 2006, and 2009

[Victorian Web Home —> Authors —> Pre-Raphaelitism —> William Morris —> Works —> Themes —> Style]

"The Blue Closet"

• Earthly love unfulfilled: "The Blue Closet" and "Bride Song"
• Dramatization within Symbolic Soundscapes: William Morris' "The Blue Closet"

"The Defence of Guenevere"

• The Medievalism and Modernity of "The Defence of Guenevere"
• Fluid Gender Roles in "The Defence of Guenevere"
• Truth and Sincerity in "The Defence of Guenevere"
• "Guinevere: hysterical and helpless or in control?"

"Golden Wings"

• The Ugly Swan: Standards of Love and Perfection in Morris' "Golden Wings"
• The Breakdown of Community in Morris' "Golden Wings"
• Love and the Loss of Utopia in Morris's "Golden Wings"
• From Tennyson's "The Lady of Shalott" to Morris' "Golden Wings": Similar Mediaeval Tendencies with some Drastic Innovations
• "The Golden Wings": Morris on time, love and loss

"King Arthur's Tomb"

• The Conversion of Launcelot in "King Arthur's Tomb"
• Confusion and Obsession in "King Arthur's Tomb"

"Shameful Death"

• The happy ending in William Morris's 'Shameful Death'
• Tragedy and Vengeance in William Morris's "Shameful Death"
• Simplicity and the Unsentimental in "Shameful Death"
• Vengeance's Shades of Grey in "Shameful Death"
• Heroism and Anti-heroism in "Shameful Death"
• Emotionless Revenge in Morris "Shameful Death"

"Summer Dawn"

• A division of heaven and earth: the sunrise in William Morris' "Summer Dawn"
• Waiting for the Day: William Morris's "Summer Dawn"
• Love fleeing with the rising sun: Transition in William Morris' "Summer Dawn"

"The Tune of the Seven Towers"

• Misdirection in "The Tune of Seven Towers"

"Two Red Roses Across the Moon"

• The Spirit of Medievalism in Morris's "Two Red Roses Across the Moon"
• The Knight and Fair Lady: "Two Red Roses Across the Moon"
• Medieval Romance as Perfection: "Two Red Roses Across the Moon"

Poems on Political Themes

• "The Message of the March Wind": William Morris' Message of Socialism
• A Societal Critique: The Call for Social Justice in "The Voice of Toil"

Other Poems

• "Near Avalon"
• William Morris' Ideas of Domestic Space
• Natural Landscape and Emotion in "A Garden by the Sea"

Morris's Decorative Arts and Design

• Peacocks and Dragons: William Morris and his Reworking of PRB Strategies
• Morris's Red House as a "Palace of Art"
• William Morris and the Artist's Perspective

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Last modified 10 November 2014