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Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
The meaning of a Shakespeare quote.
"The world is grown so bad, that wrens make prey where eagles dare not perch." This is a quote from Shakespeare's Richard III. Can someone please explain the meaning of this phrase?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Top answer
It means that the world is turned upside down. The wren is a somewhat timid bird, but the eagle is a bird of prey. Shakespeare has turned that around and amplified it.
- It means that the world is turned upside down.
- The wren is a somewhat timid bird, but the eagle is a bird of prey.
- Shakespeare has turned that around and amplified it.
- Not only is the wren a bird of prey, but it even goes in search of prey where eagles are too timid to even perch.
- In Measure For Measure, Shakespeare says that 'liberty plucks justice by the nose', with a similar meaning.
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1 Answers
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It means that the world is turned upside down. The wren is a somewhat timid bird, but the eagle is a bird of prey. Shakespeare has turned that around and amplified it. Not only is the wren a bird of prey, but it even goes in search of prey where eagles are too timid to even perch.
In Measure For Measure, Shakespeare says that 'liberty plucks justice by the nose', with a similar meaning
In Measure For Measure, Shakespeare says that 'liberty plucks justice by the nose', with a similar meaning
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