Elizabethan Poetry - 941 Words

Elizabethan Poetry I Drama dominates our syllabus but the Renaissance was a Golden Age not just for English drama, but also for English poetry. But what was English poetry? George Puttenham’s The Arte of English Poesie (1589) and Sir Philip Sidney’s The Defense of Poesie (1595): early attempts to think about English poetry as a distinct national tradition. Puttenham and Sidney were concerned to build a canon and help shape English poetry into a tradition capable of rivalling more prestigious literatures (for example of Italy and France). The courtly lyric/ Petrarchan love sonnet introduced to English by Sir Thomas Wyatt and Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey: not the only poetic genre in the Renaissance, but one of the most interesting,†¦show more content†¦How do we understand the pain and frustration expressed in this poetry? How can we make sense of this form and its popularity? Three points/suggestions: 1. Renaissance writers and critics generally did not value poetry in terms of its genuineness or sincerity. The idea that poetry should be genuine or sincere is a much more recent conception, which goes back to the Romantic period. 2. Writing Petrarchan poetry was part of a cultural performance, a way of demonstrating wit, grace and mastery – i.e. â€Å"sprezzatura†. Consider the extreme competitiveness of the Elizabethan courtly milieu. 3. Petrarchan conventions also function as a code for other, non-erotic problems and experiences. Wyatt, Surrey and Sidney belonged to England’s most illustrious families and were all extremely proud and ambitious men, but they didn’t always get the treatment they thought they deserved. The use of Petrarchan conventions to vent frustrated ambition became especially widespread after 1558, when there was a woman on the throne. Finally a few words about Sir Philip Sidney (1554-86), the Elizabethan courtier, diplomat, politician, soldier, scholar, lover, patron and poet (QEI: â€Å"the most accomplished gentleman in Europe†). Dying at 32 in the Netherlands fighting for Elizabeth’s army in the war against Catholic Spain, Sidney was turned into a quasi-mythical figure, supposedly embodying all truly English gentlemanly virtues. TheShow MoreRelatedElizabethan Poetry Essay582 Words   |  3 Pages It was during the Elizabethan age that England felt the complete effect of the Renaissance. There occurred a revival of the old and classical literature of Greece and Rome and this was manifested in the poetry of the age. The Elizabethan age was characterized by an extreme spirit of adventure, aestheticism and materialism which became the characteristic features of Elizabethan poetry. Many poets displayed their skill in versification during this time and England came to be called The NestRead MoreElizabethan Poetry Analysis1292 Words   |  6 PagesThe Female Figure in Elizabethan Drama and Poetry The Elizabethan era was marked by a flourishing of the arts, particularly literature. Many famous poets and writers such as Shakespeare and Marlowe were prevalent in this time and they all sought to be unique from one another. Through this race to be the best, they used common themes while taking a wide variety of approaches towards each subject. Even works done by the same author hold different values in an attempt to stand out among the crowd.Read MoreEssay on Pre 1914 Love Poetry from the Victorian and Elizabethan Era3579 Words   |  15 PagesPre 1914 Love Poetry from the Victorian and Elizabethan Era Conventional females were considered to be second class citizens who were expected to refrain in conveying their natural feelings and emotions. 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Women, however, were expected to wait on the men hand and foot, they would have to make dinner, cook, clean, do whatever their husband wishedRead MoreA Brief History of English Literature1782 Words   |  8 PagesA brief history of English literature 1. Anglo-Saxon literature Written in Old English c.650-c.1100. Anglo-Saxon poetry survives almost entirely in four manuscripts. Beowulf is the oldest surviving Germanic epic and the longest Old English poem; other great works include The Wanderer, The Battle of Maldon, and The Dream of the Rood. 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