'Sonnet LXXII' by Edmund Spenser
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OFt when my spirit doth spred her bolder winges,
In mind to mount vp to the purest sky:
it down is weighd with thoght of earthly things:
and clogd with burden of mortality,
Where when that souerayne beauty it doth spy,
resembling heauens glory in her light:
drawne with sweet pleasures bayt, it back doth fly,
and vnto heauen forgets her former flight.
There my fraile fancy fed with full delight,
doth bath in blisse and mantleth most at ease:
ne thinks of other heauen, but how it might
her harts desire with most contentment please,
Hart need not with none other happinesse,
but here on earth to haue such heuens blisse.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Sonnet LXXII by Edmund Spenser
Author: Edmund Spenser
Title: Sonnet LXXII
Date of Publication: 1595
Introduction
"Sonnet LXXII" by Edmund Spenser is a part of his "Amoretti" sonnet sequence, which is a series of poems that describe the courtship and eventual marriage of Spenser to Elizabeth Boyle. The sonnet sequence was published in 1595 and is considered to be one of the great works of Elizabethan poetry.
Spenser's sonnets are known for their intellectual complexity and intricate use of language. In "Sonnet LXXII," Spenser explores the theme of love and loss through a series of vivid and richly drawn images. The sonnet is an example of the Petrarchan sonnet form, which consists of an octave and a sestet.
The sonnet is written in iambic pentameter and follows the rhyme scheme ABBAABBA CDCDCD.
Analysis
The speaker in "Sonnet LXXII" is addressing his beloved, who is not named in the poem. The poem begins with the speaker lamenting the loss of his beloved, who has gone away from him. The speaker describes his beloved as a "little pretty one," which suggests that she is small and delicate.
The octave of the sonnet is focused on the speaker's feelings of loss and despair. The speaker describes his beloved as having "stolen" his heart, which suggests that she has taken something from him. The tone of the octave is one of sadness and longing.
In the sestet, the speaker shifts his focus to the concept of time. The speaker suggests that time is the enemy of love, and that it is responsible for the loss that he feels. The speaker asks his beloved to remember him even though she is far away, and he suggests that his love for her will endure even though they are separated.
The sestet ends with the speaker acknowledging that his love may never be able to bridge the distance between them, but he still hopes that his beloved will remember him fondly.
Spenser's use of language in "Sonnet LXXII" is particularly noteworthy. The poem is rich with vivid and powerful images, such as the "golden sunne" and the "silver moone." These images create a sense of romance and mystery, and they help to reinforce the speaker's feelings of longing and loss.
Spenser also uses language to create a sense of movement and progression in the poem. The octave is focused on the speaker's feelings of loss and despair, while the sestet shifts the focus to the concept of time. This movement helps to create a sense of tension and anticipation, which adds to the emotional impact of the poem.
Interpretation
"Sonnet LXXII" is a poem that explores the theme of love and loss. The speaker is lamenting the loss of his beloved, who has gone away from him. The poem is an expression of the speaker's feelings of sadness and longing, and it explores the idea that time is the enemy of love.
The poem can be interpreted as a reflection on the nature of love itself. The speaker suggests that love is a powerful force that can bring people together, but it is also fragile and subject to the ravages of time. The poem suggests that even the strongest love can be lost or forgotten over time, and that this loss can be particularly painful.
"Sonnet LXXII" can also be interpreted as a meditation on memory and the power of the human heart. The speaker asks his beloved to remember him even though they are separated, and he suggests that his love for her will endure even though they are apart. This suggests that memory and the power of the human heart are capable of transcending the limitations of time and space.
Finally, "Sonnet LXXII" can be interpreted as a celebration of the power of language and art. Spenser's use of vivid and powerful images creates a sense of romance and mystery in the poem, and it helps to reinforce the emotional impact of the speaker's words. The poem suggests that language and art are capable of expressing the deepest emotions and most profound experiences of human life.
Conclusion
"Sonnet LXXII" by Edmund Spenser is a powerful and moving poem that explores the theme of love and loss. The speaker laments the loss of his beloved, and he suggests that time is the enemy of love. The poem can be interpreted as a reflection on the nature of love itself, as well as a meditation on memory and the power of the human heart. Finally, the poem can be interpreted as a celebration of the power of language and art.
Spenser's use of vivid and powerful images creates a sense of romance and mystery in the poem, and it helps to reinforce the emotional impact of the speaker's words. "Sonnet LXXII" is an example of the complexity and beauty of Elizabethan poetry, and it remains a powerful expression of human emotions and experiences to this day.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Edmund Spenser's Sonnet LXXII is a classic piece of poetry that has stood the test of time. It is a beautiful and intricate work that showcases Spenser's mastery of language and poetic form. In this analysis, we will delve into the meaning and significance of this sonnet, exploring its themes, structure, and language.
The sonnet begins with the speaker addressing his beloved, whom he describes as "most blessed faire." The use of the word "blessed" suggests that the speaker sees his beloved as a gift from God, someone who is inherently good and deserving of praise. The word "faire" is also significant, as it suggests physical beauty, but also moral goodness and purity.
The speaker goes on to describe his beloved's eyes, which he compares to "two bright stars." This is a common metaphor in poetry, but Spenser takes it a step further by describing the stars as "heavenly torches." This suggests that the speaker sees his beloved's eyes as not just beautiful, but also powerful and divine.
The next few lines of the sonnet are somewhat ambiguous, as the speaker seems to be describing his own feelings rather than his beloved's qualities. He says that his heart is "ravished" by his beloved's beauty, and that he is "enrapt in love." This suggests that the speaker is deeply in love with his beloved, and that her beauty has a powerful effect on him.
The speaker then goes on to describe his beloved's hair, which he compares to "golden wires." This is another common metaphor in poetry, but Spenser's use of the word "wires" is interesting. It suggests that the speaker sees his beloved's hair as something that can be manipulated or controlled, like the strings of a musical instrument.
The final quatrain of the sonnet is where things get really interesting. The speaker says that his beloved's beauty is so great that it has the power to "make a lion mild." This is a powerful image, as lions are traditionally seen as fierce and dangerous animals. The fact that the speaker suggests that his beloved's beauty can tame even the wildest of beasts is a testament to her power and influence.
The final couplet of the sonnet is perhaps the most famous part of the poem. The speaker says that his beloved's beauty is so great that it will "outlive this world, and all the worlds to come." This is a bold claim, and one that suggests that the speaker sees his beloved's beauty as something eternal and timeless.
So what does all of this mean? At its core, Sonnet LXXII is a love poem. The speaker is deeply in love with his beloved, and he uses language and metaphor to express the depth of his feelings. But there is more to the poem than just a simple expression of love. The speaker's use of metaphor and imagery suggests that he sees his beloved as something more than just a physical object of desire. He sees her as a powerful and divine force, someone who has the ability to tame even the wildest of beasts and outlast the world itself.
The structure of the sonnet is also worth noting. It follows the traditional Shakespearean sonnet form, with three quatrains and a final couplet. This structure allows Spenser to build up to the final couplet, which is the climax of the poem. The use of iambic pentameter also gives the poem a sense of rhythm and flow, which adds to its beauty and elegance.
Finally, it is worth noting the language that Spenser uses in the sonnet. His use of metaphor and imagery is masterful, and he manages to convey complex ideas and emotions through his choice of words. The use of archaic language and spelling may make the poem difficult for modern readers to understand, but it also gives the poem a sense of timelessness and tradition.
In conclusion, Sonnet LXXII is a beautiful and intricate work of poetry that showcases Spenser's mastery of language and poetic form. It is a love poem, but it is also much more than that. Through his use of metaphor and imagery, Spenser suggests that his beloved is a powerful and divine force, someone who has the ability to tame even the wildest of beasts and outlast the world itself. The structure and language of the sonnet add to its beauty and elegance, making it a classic piece of poetry that will continue to be admired and studied for generations to come.
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