Aphra Behn: Poems Glossary

Aphra Behn: Poems Glossary

cou'd

could

whispring

whispering

strive

to try in a determined fashion

cease

end

trembling

soft, shaky motion - conveys vulnerability

balmy

of medium, comfortable temperatures

Virgin-Innocence

the object of protection for women who are raised to preserve their status as "maidens." Behn's connection of virginity and the lack of committing defiling act shows how those in the 1600s conceived of female status. The use of Virgin-Innocence is a use of the term instead of a symbol of Behn's overall ideas; much of her work was criticized for its perceived bawdiness.

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