'SOnnet LXXIII' by Edmund Spenser
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BEing my selfe captyued here in care,
My hart, whom none with seruile bands can tye:
but the fayre tresses of your golden hayre,
breaking his prison forth to you doth fly.
Lyke as a byrd that in ones hand doth spy
desired food, to it doth make his flight:
euen so my hart, that wont on your fayre eye
to feed his fill, flyes backe vnto your sight.
Doe you him take, and in your bosome bright,
gently encage, that he may be your thrall:
perhaps he there may learne with rare delight,
to sing your name and prayses ouer all.
That it hereafter may you not repent,
him lodging in your bosome to haue lent.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Edmund Spenser's Sonnet LXXIII: A Masterpiece of Poetic Expression
When it comes to the art of poetry, few can match the brilliance of Edmund Spenser. His works have stood the test of time and continue to inspire generations of readers and writers. One of his most famous pieces is Sonnet LXXIII, a poem that speaks of love, loss, and the passing of time. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve into the depths of this masterpiece and uncover its hidden meanings.
The Poet's Voice
Before we dive into the poem itself, let us take a moment to appreciate the voice behind it. Edmund Spenser was a master of language, and his ability to craft beautiful verses is evident in Sonnet LXXIII. The poem is written in iambic pentameter, a form that lends itself well to the expression of emotion. Spenser's use of language is exquisite, with each word carefully chosen for its impact. He employs a range of techniques such as alliteration, assonance, and metaphor to create a rich tapestry of images and emotions.
The Poem
Sonnet LXXIII is a fourteen-line poem that follows the traditional Shakespearean sonnet form. It is divided into three quatrains and a final couplet. The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. The poem is addressed to an unnamed lover and speaks of the poet's fear of growing old and losing the love of his beloved.
The First Quatrain
The first quatrain sets the tone for the poem, with the poet comparing himself to a tree that has lost its leaves. He describes himself as being "bare ruined choirs" and "death's second self." These powerful metaphors convey a sense of emptiness and decay. The image of the tree losing its leaves is also a metaphor for the poet's own aging process. The use of the word "bare" emphasizes the sense of loss and vulnerability.
The Second Quatrain
The second quatrain explores the theme of loss further, as the poet speaks of his fading strength and vitality. He compares himself to the dying embers of a fire, saying that his "death-bed" will be "embedd[ed] with flowers." This image of a dying fire contrasts with the idea of flowers, which are associated with life and growth. The poet is acknowledging the inevitability of his own mortality, but at the same time, he is seeking comfort in the idea of life continuing after death.
The Third Quatrain
The third quatrain introduces the theme of love, as the poet speaks of his fear of losing the love of his beloved. He addresses his lover directly, saying that even though he knows he is growing old, his love for her remains unchanged. He says that even as he fades away, his love will continue to burn brightly. The image of the sun rising and setting is used to convey the passage of time, but also to suggest that love is eternal.
The Final Couplet
The final couplet brings the poem to a close and reinforces the themes of love and mortality. The poet says that as long as his beloved remembers him, he will continue to live on. He begs her not to mourn his passing, but instead to remember the love they shared. The final line of the poem, "This thou perceiv'st, which makes thy love more strong," is a powerful statement about the enduring nature of love.
Interpretation
Sonnet LXXIII is a complex poem that can be interpreted in many different ways. At its core, it is a poem about the human experience of aging and mortality, and the fear of losing the things we hold most dear. The tree metaphor in the first quatrain is a symbol of the poet's own aging process, and the loss of leaves represents the loss of vitality and strength. The dying embers in the second quatrain are a symbol of the poet's own mortality, and the image of flowers growing on his death-bed is a reminder that life goes on even after death.
The third quatrain introduces the theme of love, and the poet's fear of losing the love of his beloved. The sun metaphor is used to convey the passage of time, but also to suggest that love is eternal. The final couplet reinforces the idea of love as a powerful force that can transcend death. The poet's request that his beloved remember him after he is gone is a reminder that we all live on through the memories of those we leave behind.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Sonnet LXXIII is a masterpiece of poetic expression that explores the themes of love, loss, and mortality. Edmund Spenser's use of language and imagery is exquisite, and his ability to convey complex emotions is unmatched. The poem is a testament to the enduring power of love, and a reminder that even in the face of death, our memories and our love can continue to live on.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Edmund Spenser's Sonnet LXXIII is a classic piece of poetry that has stood the test of time. This sonnet is a beautiful expression of the inevitability of aging and the fleeting nature of life. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and language used in this sonnet to understand its significance and impact.
The sonnet begins with the speaker acknowledging his own mortality. He compares himself to a tree that has lost its leaves in the fall, and he is left with nothing but a bare trunk. The imagery of the tree is a powerful metaphor for the speaker's own life. Just as the tree loses its leaves and becomes bare, the speaker is losing his youth and vitality and is left with nothing but his aging body.
The second quatrain of the sonnet continues with this theme of aging and mortality. The speaker compares himself to the twilight of the day, which is a time of transition between light and darkness. The speaker is in the twilight of his life, and he is transitioning from youth to old age. The use of the word "crimson" to describe the sunset is significant because it suggests that the speaker is still holding on to some of his youth and vitality, but it is fading away.
The third quatrain of the sonnet shifts the focus to the speaker's relationship with his lover. He acknowledges that his lover will also age and eventually die, but he wants her to remember him even after he is gone. The use of the word "remembrance" is significant because it suggests that the speaker wants to be remembered for who he was in life, not just for his physical appearance.
The final couplet of the sonnet brings the themes of aging and mortality together. The speaker acknowledges that he will eventually die, but he hopes that his lover will remember him and love him even in death. The use of the word "love" in the final line is significant because it suggests that the speaker believes that love can transcend death and that his love for his lover will continue even after he is gone.
The structure of the sonnet is also significant. It follows the traditional Shakespearean sonnet structure, which consists of three quatrains and a final couplet. The use of iambic pentameter and the rhyme scheme (ABAB CDCD EFEF GG) give the sonnet a musical quality that adds to its emotional impact.
The language used in the sonnet is also significant. The use of metaphors and imagery helps to convey the themes of aging and mortality. The use of the tree metaphor in the first quatrain is particularly effective because it suggests that the speaker's life is like a tree that is losing its leaves and will eventually die. The use of the word "twilight" in the second quatrain is also significant because it suggests that the speaker is in a transitional phase between youth and old age.
The use of the word "remembrance" in the third quatrain is significant because it suggests that the speaker wants to be remembered for who he was in life, not just for his physical appearance. This is an important theme in the sonnet because it suggests that the speaker believes that there is more to life than just physical beauty.
In conclusion, Edmund Spenser's Sonnet LXXIII is a beautiful expression of the inevitability of aging and the fleeting nature of life. The themes of aging and mortality are conveyed through the use of metaphors and imagery, and the structure and language of the sonnet add to its emotional impact. This sonnet is a classic piece of poetry that continues to resonate with readers today.
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