ELIT100

Assignment 1

“Upon Julia’s Clothes” is the name of Herrick’s poem, which raised many different opinions
about itself. Some say that the poem is not about Julia, but her clothes and the way she looks in them.
Elisabeth Schneider, on the other hand, says that Herrick’s subject in this poem is strictly Julia dressed
and Julia undressed. She points out that the word next helps introduce change in the stanzas, the first
describing Julia in her clothes and the second, without them.

To further clarify her views, she discusses about the differences in today’s English and English
from Herrick’s time. Back in the day, the word vibration didn’t necessarily translate as swift oscillation,
but also as, for example, swinging movement of the pendulum or indoor walking exercise, as Jeremy
Bentham called it. It’s the same case with the word glitter. Today it is associated with something
unnatural, metallic and cold. NED (New English Dictionary) explains that in the 16th and 17th century,
glitter was even used to describe scenes in the nature, as well as something beautiful, something that
shines and is highly noticeable; flesh in the context of the poem.

Apart from the periodic difference in definition of certain words, the reason for using words that
seem out of context is, as Schneider says “…the edge and detachment, the unromantic grit in the oboe,
the ironic flavor…”. Herrick, trying to be subtle, wanted to reduce the impact of this inevitably erotic
poem, and wished not to be so direct when describing his dreams and desires.

Amar Ismić