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Persian Learner Posted 9 years ago
Grammar

Soft obscurity + academic bowers

Hi.

Johnson had worked for nine years, 'with little assistance of the learned, and without any patronage of the great; not in the soft obscurities of retirement, or under the shelter of academic bowers, but amidst inconvenience and distraction, in sickness, and in sorrow'.

What does the underlined parts mean?
  

Top answer

soft obscurities of retirement Here's the idea. Retirement is often seen as obscurity, a time when even famous people are no longer remembered. Soft here means undemanding.

  • soft obscurities of retirement Here's the idea.
  • Retirement is often seen as obscurity, a time when even famous people are no longer remembered.
  • Soft here means undemanding.
  • academic bowers I assume you know what 'academic' means.
  • A bower is literally a secluded place, surrounded by foliage.
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1 Answers
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soft obscurities of retirement Here's the idea.
Retirement is often seen as obscurity, a time when even famous people are no longer remembered.
Soft here means undemanding.

academic bowers I assume you know what 'academic' means.
A bower is literally a secluded place, surrounded by foliage. Academic people are often seen metaphorically

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