Wrung

Part of Speech: Past tense and participle of the word Wring which is a verb

Definition: To squeeze (someone’s hand) tightly, with sincere emotion

Source: Oxford Dictionary

Found in the Ballad, “My Boy Willie” by Anonymous – Line 25: “She wrung her hand and she tore her hair”

The definition of the word wrung allowed me to figure out what Line 25 meant. Although, the speaker was feeling hopeful in finding her lover she ends up finding out that he had drowned. When the speaker found out the bad news, “She wrung her hands and she tore her hair.” In other words, the speaker lost all hope she had within in searching for husband leaving her heartbroken that she reacted in such a way. She grabbed her own hands with sincere emotion possibly the way her lover would hold hers for comfort.

Narcissus

Part of Speech: Proper Noun

Definition: A bulbous Eurasian plant of a genus that includes the daffodil, especially (in gardening) one with flowers that have white or pale outer petals and a shallow orange or yellow cup in the center

Source: Oxford Dictionary

Found in Rita Dove’s Poem “Persephone, Falling” – Line 1: “One narcissus among the  ordinary beautiful”

The definition of the word Narcissus helped me understand what Rita Dove was trying to say within the first line of the poem. She says: “One narcissus among the ordinary beautiful.” The “narcissus” was the flower that caught her attention. It stood out to her. As the lines goes on it states: “.. Flowers/One unlike all the others” which brings me back to the point that she is on a search for something greater. This helps me understand the poem because she is not specifically referencing to a flower itself, it is being used metaphorically to resemble a person.

Temperate

Part of Speech: Adjective

Definition: Not extreme in behavior or language

Source:  Oxford Dictionary

Found in Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18 – Line 2: “Thou art more lovely and more temperate”

The definition of the word Temperate helped me understand what Shakespeare was trying to say within the first two lines. He says: “Shall I compare thee to a summers day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate.” With this being said my interpretation is that he is comparing who he loves to a summer day while stating that his lover is beautiful and shows consistency.