AP Question 1987 #1

A nostalgic George Eliot reminisces about the better days when leisure meant enjoying the little things and being content with being idle. She feels as though this “Old leisure” has been lost among the hustle and bustle of the new age only to be replaced a disappointing new standard. This new leisure does not seem to be leisure at all, there is no stopping and smelling the flowers, no sitting on the porch with tea. Instead the new age leisure is eager to find entertainment, to move around, to participate. Gone are the days when pointless strolls and idle hands are acceptable, and because of this Eliot grieves. Eliot expresses her disappointment and longing for “Old Leisure” through personification and vivid imagery.

Eliot personifies Old Leisure to make her argument more convincing. She describes him as an innocent, agreeable fellow and instantly the reader feels a sense of compassion and connection. “He lived chiefly in the country, among pleasant seats and homesteads, and was fond of sauntering by the fruit tree wall and scenting the apricots when they were warmed by the morning sunshine, or of sheltering himself under the orchard boughs at noon, when the summer pears were falling,” depicts a warm inviting scene that appeals and resonates with the audience. Because Eliot describes Old Leisure as a person, the audience is able to picture walking along side him on this pleasant summer afternoon. Her views and grievances that these Old Leisure days have now passed are conveyed through the constant use of personifying sentences like these.

Playing off her personification, Eliot also employs vivid imagery to convey her feelings. By describing Old Leisure in great detail we can see her affection and appreciation for it. Her carefully chosen wording shows how much she values Old Leisure and how disappointed she is that it is now only a thing of the past. Her attention to detail by including things  such as port wine , and summer days helps the audience imagine these days she is so desperately longing for.

 George Eliot is having trouble coming to terms with the fact that that her favorite type of leisure, Old Leisure, has been replaced with a new active, energized variety. Her nostalgic attitude and notable longing are expressed through personification and vivid images.