English Renaissance Poetry :Sir Philip Sidney(1554-86)
Sidney's life:
- His Family:
-He was born in Kent Penshurst -He was named after Philip of Spain . He was the eldest son of Sir Henry Sidney ,Elizabeth's Lord Deputy in Ireland .His mother ,Lady Mary Dudley ,was a daughter Of the Duke Northumberland .His uncle Robert Dudley ,the fifth son of John Dudley ,the Earl of Leicester. Robert's wife Amy Robert who died of poison from him , he died at Cornbury , of poison rumored to have been intended for his wife - General notes:
- He was courtier , poet , critic , author of prose romance. He entered school in Shrewsbury. - His friend Sir Fulke Greville , long-life friend and future biographer. In 14he left his school to Christ church in Oxford . he traveled to France , Germany , Austria , Italy. He studied history , ethics , astronomy , music .he was appointment as governor of Flushing.
-His Death :
- He was wounded in the fight in October2 , 1586 . The wound proved fatal , and did not heal and within22 days he was dead. He dead in 24 October 1586 .
- Sidney's Works :- Sidney's works consist of his famous pastoral romance Arcadia, his sonnets Astrophel and Stella, and his Apologie for Poetrie, afterwards called Defence of Poesie.
From Astrophel and Stella
Sonnet 1
Loving in truth, and fain in verse my love to show,
……………………………………………………………………………..
'Fool', said my muse to me; 'look in thy heart, and write.'
-Word's explanation:-Fain: with pleasure -Fit words: suitable words to express love - Woe: sorrow -Fresh and fruitful showers: new and suitable words -Nature's child: invention -Truant: idle pen which does not produce what the poet aspires to write. - Spite: ill will -Muse: a spirit that inspires the poet to write poetry.
-General speaking about the poem:
-It is a poem that leaps to triumphant climax of it's last line .It is opening sonnet in Sidney 's sequence Astrophel and Stella . The sequence is widely believed to be written to honor Penelope, the daughter of the Earl of Essex. Penelope is stated to be Stella of the poem. However, it should be remembered that this sonnet together with other sonnets were written at a time when the poet was making plans for his wedding to Francis, 14 year old daughter of his friend Francis Walsingham. Sidney chose Penelope because she was an excellent symbol for the poet. The sonnets are in fact merely compliments of a courtier.
- Conclusion:
In this sonnet, Sidney feels the self-conscious necessity to act out the process of true invention and portray it in part as youthful, plain talking and explosive. However, the sonnet does not disclaim artifice and convention. It associates the conventionally hallowed image of the mistress with the reminder.
- The rhyme Scheme:
The rhyme Scheme is : abab cdcd efef gg
B-E-S-T M-A-N
G-O-O-D L-U-C-K
23/11/2010