Elizabethan Poetry

BibliographyAsbee, S. (2006) Approaching Poetry, Milton Keynes, The Open UniversityReid, N. (2006) Coleridge, Form and Symbol, Or the Ascertaining Vision, Aldershot, Ashgate PublishingWellek, R. (1963) The Concept of Romanticism in literary historyin Bygrave, S (2006) Romantic Writings London, The Open UniversityZuk, E. Coleridges Blank Verse [online], http://www.expansivepoetryonline.com/journal/cult072004.html (Accessed 28th April 2008)

One of the most inauthentic sonnets of the Elizabethan Era is that of Shakespeare’s Sonnet 130. “My Mistress’s eyes,” fails to provide an accurate portrayal of love and the unencumbered passion that is typically seen in many of the traditional sonnets of his time, such as that of Sonnet 18. Unlike Sonnet 18 which testifies a beauty which transcends the heavens, Sonnet 130 merely satirizes the unequivocal devotion to one’s love, as well as love itself, found in many traditional sonnets during the Elizabethan Era. The sharply contrasted styles of Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18 and Sonnet 130 are exemplified within the opening lines, where Shakespeare opens both sonnets with a traditional comparison.

     During the Renaissance, it was common for poets to employ Petrarchan conceit to praise their lovers. Applying this type of metaphor, an author makes elaborate comparisons of his beloved to one or more very dissimilar things. Such hyperbole was often used to idolize a mistress while lamenting her cruelty. Shakespeare, in Sonnet 18, conforms somewhat to this custom of love poetry, but later breaks out of the mold entirely, writing his clearly anti-Petrarchan work, Sonnet 130.

The Elizabethan Era is often considered the ‘Golden Age’ or ‘Renaissance’ of English History. It was called Elizabethan simply because it coincided with Queen Elizabeth I’s rule. It was a generation of expansion of ideas and flowering of poetry, music, and literature and it greatly contributed to the theatre field. Many of the most famous people in English literature have come from the Elizabethan Era. Like all the other eras in English history, the Elizabethan had many notable similarities and contrasts with the present day.

During the 16th Century, English poetry was dominated and institutionalised by the Court. Because it 'excited an intensity that indicates a rare concentration of power and cultural dominance,' the Court was primarily responsible for the popularity of the poets who emerged from it. Sir Thomas Wyatt, one of a multitude of the so-called 'Court poets' of this time period, not only changed the way his society saw poetry through his adaptations of the Petrarchan Sonnet, but also obscurely attempted to recreate the culture norm through his influence. Though much of his poems are merely translations of Petrarch's, these, in addition to his other poetry, are satirical by at least a cultural approach.

In the time of the Elizabethan Era there was a strict role of diversity. People were judged by fame, wealth, skills, and birth; then placed in social groups based on how they were judged. In this era many people did not rise above what they were born into, but for William Shakespeare he made becoming famous in the late 1500’s look easy. Still to this day he is talked about, even though somethings about his personal life are uncertain.

The Elizabethan Age was a time of change and new ideas (Holzknecht 33). In this period, the Renaissance, or rebirth, spread throughout Europe (“Elizabethan Age”). This brought an increase in nationalism in England (“Elizabethan Age”). In addition, there were many improvements in navigation and exploration at this time (“Elizabethan Age”). During the reign of Elizabeth I, who was the Queen of England from 1558-1603, there was a golden age (“Elizabethan Drama”). Queen Elizabeth was very influential in area of the arts and learning (“Elizabethan Age”). She recognized the universities Oxford and Cambridge as focus for England’s intellectual activities (“Elizabethan Age”). Although Elizabeth enjoyed theater, she created many regulations for it. In 1559, she did not allow plays not licensed by her and she only licensed six acting companies (“Elizabethan Drama”). In 1570, mystery plays were banned where men acted as God because it was considered idolatry (“Elizabethan Drama”). After the regulation,

Edgar Allan Poe gave a lecture regarding his Philosophy in writing in Franklin Asylum, Providence, Rhode Island that comprised of 2000 people. In this lecture, he gave everyone a glimpse in the mind of genius. He spoke of how to compose poetry, the proper length, the purpose in making one. The words of Poe regarding his principle will be restated to assimilate his own point of view: “Previously, talking of the Poetic Principle, I bring no configuration on a chance to be possibly careful or profound. Same time discussing, a whole lot toward random, the centrality from claiming what we call Poetry, my vital motivation will be on refer to for attention a portion couple for the individuals minor English or American poems which best suit of reinforcement

This essay will address how Shakespeare and Rossetti engage with the sonnet form, through Rossetti’s “A Sonnet” and Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 52”. Both poets arguably subvert the traditional Petrarchan sonnet genre, though in different ways. Rossetti’s ‘A Sonnet’ explores the sonnet as an art form rather than as a means of currency, as sonnets were seen to be at the time, and how if treated as a commodity, the value of a sonnet is diminished. Similarly, Shakespeare’s ‘Sonnet 52’ explores the connection between frequency and worth. However, ‘Sonnet 52’ adheres more closely to traditional sonnet form, as the prevalent theme is romance, and the idealisation of the “fair youth”. In contrast to Shakespeare’s adherence to the traditional romantic focus of sonnets, Rossetti subverts the genre by using “The Sonnet” as a metatextual device to explore his ideas around the form of a sonnet itself.

Verdiccio, Massimo (Editor); Burch, Robert (Editor). Between Philosophy and Poetry : Writing, Rhythm, History.London, GBR: Continuum International

Dating back to 1609, William Shakespeare artfully crafts a poem, in which illuminates a man’s struggle through self-reflection and faith. With fourteen lines in iambic pentameter, the poem embodies the characteristics of an English sonnet. Allowing the character to “look upon myself,” Shakespeare writes about the feelings of a singular person; thus, creating a lyric poem. Masterfully working within the tough parameters of closed form, Shakespeare strays away from typical meter and rhyme scheme only when emphasizing the true nature of the persona’s spirit. In Shakespeare’s sonnet “When, in disgrace with Fortune and men’s eyes,” the poet employs numerous poetic devices to exemplify the persona’s struggle with loneliness and self-worth,

If we pay more attention to the difference between poetic and other kinds of thought, and deal with such a word only in its specific dramatic contexts, our other and better feeling that Shakespeare’s plays take us into the very center of human wisdom will be justified. (37).

Poetry in Elizabethan time was based on courtly love conventions which included conceits and complements. Themes such as the unattainability of the lady, sleeplessness, constancy in love, cruelty of the beloved, renunciation of love, fine passion of the lover versus icy emotions of the beloved, praise of the beloved’s beauty and eternalizing her as being subject of the poem; these all are

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 Nest Of Singing Birds.

Whereas in the Victorian era (which came after the Romantic Period), the subject matter for poetry was often socially-oriented. Victorian literature often saw a drive for social advancement. There was a set of standards and codes of conduct making people have, what was seen as “proper” behaviour. This in turn led to Modernism.