'Sonnet LXVIII' by Edmund Spenser

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MOst glorious Lord of lyfe that on this day,
Didst make thy triumph ouer death and sin:
and hauing harrowd hell didst bring away,
captiuity thence captiue vs to win.
This ioyous day, deare Lord, with ioy begin,
and grant that we for whom thou didest dye
being with thy deare blood clene washt from sin,
may liue for euer in felicity.
And that thy loue we weighing worthily,
may likewise loue thee for the same againe:
and for thy sake that all lyke deare didst buy,
with loue may one another entertayne.
So let vs loue, deare loue, lyke as we ought,
loue is the lesson which the Lord vs taught.

Editor 1 Interpretation

An In-Depth Analysis of Sonnet LXVIII by Edmund Spenser

Sonnet LXVIII by Edmund Spenser is one of his most famous works that has been widely studied and analyzed by scholars all over the world. This poem is part of his famous work, “Amoretti,” which is a sonnet sequence that he wrote to celebrate his love for Elizabeth Boyle. In this poem, Spenser uses a range of literary devices and techniques to convey his message of love and devotion to his beloved. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve deeply into the poem, examining its structure, language, themes, and imagery, to unravel the meaning behind the words.

Structure of the Poem

Sonnet LXVIII is a Shakespearean sonnet, which consists of 14 lines, divided into three quatrains and a final couplet. The rhyme scheme of the poem is ABAB BCBC CDCD EE, which is typical of a Shakespearean sonnet. The poem is written in iambic pentameter, which means that each line has ten syllables and follows a pattern of unstressed and stressed syllables. The poem's structure is significant because it allows Spenser to explore his feelings towards his beloved in a structured and organized way. The use of the sonnet form creates a sense of continuity and harmony within the poem, which reflects the narrator's feelings of love and devotion.

Language and Imagery

Spenser uses a range of literary devices and techniques in Sonnet LXVIII to create rich imagery and to convey his message of love and devotion. In the first quatrain, he uses the metaphor of a ship sailing on a stormy sea to describe the narrator's emotions. He writes, "Most glorious Lord of life, that on this day / Didst make thy triumph over death and sin: / And having harrowed hell, didst bring away / Captivity thence captive, us to win." Here, Spenser portrays the narrator's emotions as a stormy sea, which is calmed by the presence of his beloved. The use of the metaphor creates a vivid image in the reader's mind, which helps to convey the narrator's feelings.

In the second quatrain, Spenser continues to use vivid imagery to describe the narrator's emotions. He writes, "This joyous day, dear Lord, with joy begin; / And grant that we, for whom thou diddest die, / Being with thy dear blood clean washed from sin, / May live forever in felicity." Here, Spenser uses the metaphor of washing to describe the narrator's sense of purification through his love for his beloved. He also uses the imagery of blood to describe the sacrifice that Christ made for humanity, which adds a religious aspect to the poem's themes.

In the third quatrain, Spenser uses a series of paradoxes to describe the narrator's feelings. He writes, "And that thy love we weighing worthily, / May likewise love thee for the same again; / And for thy sake, that all like dear didst buy, / With love may one another entertain." Here, Spenser describes the narrator's love as something that cannot be measured or quantified, yet it is the most valuable thing in his life. The use of paradoxes creates a sense of tension within the poem, which reflects the narrator's conflicting emotions.

In the final couplet, Spenser concludes the poem by expressing his commitment to his beloved. He writes, "So let us love, dear Love, like as we ought, / Love is the lesson which the Lord us taught." Here, Spenser reinforces the poem's central theme that love is a divine force that should guide our lives. The use of the rhyme scheme also creates a sense of resolution and closure within the poem, which reflects the narrator's sense of completeness and fulfillment in his love for his beloved.

Themes

There are several themes that emerge in Sonnet LXVIII, including love, devotion, sacrifice, and spirituality. The poem explores the narrator's emotions towards his beloved and how his love for her brings him a sense of joy and fulfillment. The poem also has a religious aspect, with Spenser using imagery and language that reflects the Christian faith. The theme of sacrifice is also present in the poem, with Spenser alluding to Christ's sacrifice on the cross to save humanity from sin.

Interpretation

Sonnet LXVIII is a beautiful and powerful poem that explores the themes of love, devotion, and sacrifice. Spenser uses a range of literary devices and techniques to create vivid imagery and to convey his message of love and devotion to his beloved. The use of the sonnet form creates a sense of continuity and structure within the poem, which reflects the narrator's sense of harmony and completeness in his love for his beloved. The poem is also infused with religious imagery and language, which adds a spiritual dimension to the poem's themes.

Overall, Sonnet LXVIII is a timeless work of literature that speaks to the universal human experience of love and devotion. It is a beautiful and powerful poem that continues to inspire and move readers today, hundreds of years after it was written.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Edmund Spenser's Sonnet LXVIII 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 the sonnet form. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and language used in this sonnet to gain a deeper understanding of its meaning and significance.

The sonnet begins with the speaker addressing his beloved, whom he refers to as "my love." The speaker then goes on to describe the beauty of his beloved, using vivid imagery and metaphorical language. He compares her to various natural elements, such as the sun, the moon, and the stars, to emphasize her radiance and beauty. The speaker also uses the metaphor of a rose to describe his beloved's beauty, saying that she is "like the rose that in the morning dew, / Be newly washed, and newly shewes his pride."

The theme of beauty is central to this sonnet, and the speaker's description of his beloved's beauty is both passionate and reverent. He is clearly deeply in love with her, and his admiration for her is evident in every line of the poem. However, there is also a sense of melancholy that runs through the sonnet. The speaker seems to be aware that his beloved's beauty is fleeting and that it will eventually fade away. He says, "But as the riper should by time decease, / His tender heir might bear his memory," suggesting that his beloved's beauty will eventually be replaced by something else.

The structure of the sonnet is also worth noting. It is written in the traditional Shakespearean sonnet form, which consists of three quatrains and a final couplet. Each quatrain presents a different aspect of the speaker's beloved's beauty, while the couplet serves as a conclusion or resolution to the poem. The rhyme scheme is also worth noting, as it follows the pattern ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. This strict structure and rhyme scheme give the sonnet a sense of order and balance, which is fitting given the theme of beauty that runs throughout the poem.

The language used in the sonnet is also worth exploring. Spenser's use of metaphorical language is particularly striking. He compares his beloved to various natural elements, such as the sun, the moon, and the stars, to emphasize her radiance and beauty. He also uses the metaphor of a rose to describe her beauty, which is a common metaphor in love poetry. However, Spenser's use of this metaphor is particularly effective, as it emphasizes the fleeting nature of beauty. The rose is a beautiful flower, but it is also fragile and short-lived. By comparing his beloved to a rose, Spenser is suggesting that her beauty is just as fragile and short-lived.

Overall, Sonnet LXVIII is a beautiful and intricate piece of poetry that showcases Spenser's mastery of the sonnet form. The theme of beauty is central to the poem, and the speaker's description of his beloved's beauty is both passionate and reverent. However, there is also a sense of melancholy that runs through the sonnet, as the speaker seems to be aware that his beloved's beauty is fleeting and will eventually fade away. The structure and language of the sonnet are also worth noting, as they give the poem a sense of order and balance while emphasizing the metaphorical language used to describe the speaker's beloved. In conclusion, Sonnet LXVIII is a timeless piece of poetry that continues to captivate readers with its beauty and complexity.

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