This delightful handbook by John Gough provides an array of amorous phrases and songs, clever and crafty dialogues and discourses, and an assortment of love letters for wooing the object of one's affection. Gough's romantic rhetoric and indulgent imagery capture the quixotic, poetic spirit of the period. Originally published in 1639, it was reprinted several times before this expanded edition appeared in 1684.-GS
Gough, John. The academy of complements, with many new additions. London for P. Parker. 1684. Folger Call Number G1406.
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Title Page
Pp. 76-77
Pp. 86-87
Teacher Ideas
Gina Savino / Smithtown High School, Smithtown, NY / English
Read the exchange between Phoebe and Silvius, 5.2.87-77 in As You Like It. Next, read page 77 in Gough's text where he lists common questions and answers about courtship and love. Discuss the similarities you find. Does this idea hold true today? Why or why not?
Read Romeo's speech, 1.5.51-60 in Romeo and Juliet and compare this to Gough's poem on page 87. Discuss the striking similarities.
Click here to see Gina Savino's full-length lesson plan using this primary source.
Amanda Parker / East Chapel High School, Chapel Hill, NC / English
As a pre-writing or journal writing activity, ask students to describe their perfect mate. Use this as a springboard for a discussion about their twenty-first century ideals about love. Introduce and read the primary source text as a class, and discuss how the ideas of love have changed since the sixteenth century.
Jennifer Breen / Brookline High School, Brookline, MA / English
Using contemporary R&B, rock lyrics, or any other appropriate genre, have students create a twenty-first century "Lexicon of Love".
