Katherine Philips's Poetry
Support for studying English GCSE and A Level
Katherine Philips - BiographyKatherine (Catherine) Philips was born (London, England) on 1 January 1631/2 and died on 22 June 1664 (London, England). She was a 17th century poet and one of the first female poets to be well-known in her lifetime.
Philips’ parents were John and Katherine. She was intellectually advanced and could apparently read the Bible (according to a cousin) at four years old. Philips was fluent in a number of languages. She was educated at a boarding school in Hackney (London) from 1640-1645. Philips’ wrote verse during her time at school. Katherine eventually married Welsh Parliamentarian James Philipps in 1647. They had two children, but their son Hector did not live past infancy. Philips was part of a literary group called the ‘society of friendship’. Participants wrote letters and poems under pseudonyms – Philips was ‘Orinda’, her friends Anne Owen and Mary Aubrey were ‘Lucasia’ and ‘Rosania’; Philips’ husband James was ‘Antenor’. Critics have speculated about Philips’ sexuality – especially because many of her poems are written to Anne Owen and Mary Aubrey (Society of Friendship members). Philips died of smallpox, aged thirty-two. |
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Katherine Philips - 'A Dialogue of Friendship Multiplied' - Annotation
Annotation prompts for Katherine Philips 'A Dialogue of Friendship Multiplied’. 'A Dialogue of Friendship Multiplied’ is a poem that explores whether friendship is exclusive to two people or if it can admit more. It was printed in 1667. Philips (01.01.1632 – 22.06.1664) is one of 17th century English ‘metaphysical poets’ – a term coined by Samuel Johnson. These poets creatively use conceits (extended metaphors), wit, and engage with topics such as love or religion. ‘Metaphysics’ = branch of philosophy. It deals with first principles, including ontology (nature of existence) / cosmology (origin and structure of universe – laws, space, time, causality, and freedom) / intimately connected with epistemology (origin, nature, methods, and limits of human knowledge). At 16, she married a Welsh Parliamentarian named James Philips. Philips wrote under a pen name ‘Orinda’ to maintain her good name. She was the first English woman to become famous as a poet during her own lifetime. Her poetry is seen as refined / respectable and often dealt with themes of female friendship. Some critics argue she was a lesbian. She died of small pox (aged 32). Could this poem be a conversation that took place in some form? The annotation prompts are a supportive tool, intended to encourage further poetry analysis and interpretation. |
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Katherine Philips - 'To My Excellent Lucasia, on Our Friendship’ - Annotation
Annotation prompts for Katherine Philips’ ‘To My Excellent Lucasia, on Our Friendship’. ‘To My Excellent Lucasia, on Our Friendship’ is poem that explores an intense relationship between Ornida and Lucasia. Is the relationship referred to just emotional, or does it have a physical aspect? The annotation prompts are a supportive tool, intended to encourage further analysis and interpretation. |
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Katherine Philips - 'Orinda to Lucasia’ - Annotation
‘Orinda to Lucasia’ is poem that explores the bond between Orinda and Lucasia. Is the relationship referred to just emotional, or does it have a physical aspect? The annotation prompts are a supportive tool, intended to encourage further analysis and interpretation. |
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