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Earl Grey Society
In its third year, the society has covered a great deal of diverse ground. The first meeting led to a
wonderfully heated discussion over translations of The Bible, between smells and bells traditionalists
and modernising dissenters. Although no-one was actually burnt for heresy, voices were raised and
passions vented. Much calmer was a look at the psychology of Wordsworth’s ‘Lucy’ poems and later
we considered the role of Women in World War II literature. A session on metre covered technical
matters and ended with ‘Marlowe’s mighty line’.
In the dark winter afternoons we viewed a film version of ‘the Handmaid’s Tale’ and in Spring
considered the proposition: ‘I may not know much about literature, but I know what I like.’ The
question was about how we validate our opinions in studying literature, and, as usual, there was
healthy disagreement.
The new English specifications emphasis on wider reading means that regular members if society are
at an advantage when it comes to examinations. Future meeting will be concerned with ‘Love
Through The Ages’, and recent meeting have already considered verse by Sidney, Donne and
Marvell, scurrilous stuff by Rochester and Dorset and by Jonathan Swift¸ and more sublime raptures
from Milton’s lost paradise.
A tea party in a tea shop on Steep Hill is projected and its hopes to repeat The Earl Grey Society
River Cruse and Barbecue as a civilised end to the Society’s year.
‘Poetry can be appreciated long before it is understood’ – T.S.Eliot
‘How reassuring!’- The Earl Grey Society
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