'Poem 20' by Edmund Spenser
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BVt let stil Silence trew night watches keepe,
That sacred peace may in assurance rayne,
And tymely sleep, when it is tyme to sleepe,
May poure his limbs forth on your pleasant playne,
The whiles an hundred little winged loues,
Like diuers fethered doues,
Shall fly and flutter round about your bed,
And in the secret darke, that none reproues,
Their prety stealthes shal worke, & snares shal spread
To filch away sweet snatches of delight,
Conceald through couert night.
Ye sonnes of Venus, play your sports at will,
For greedy pleasure, carelesse of your toyes,
Thinks more vpon her paradise of ioyes,
Then what ye do, albe it good or ill.
All night therefore attend your merry play,
For it will soone be day:
Now none doth hinder you, that say or sing,
Ne will the woods now answer, nor your Eccho ring.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Edmund Spenser's Poem 20: A Masterpiece of Poetry
Edmund Spenser's Poem 20, also known as "One day I wrote her name upon the strand," is a masterpiece of poetry that has stood the test of time. Written in the 16th century, this sonnet is a beautifully crafted work of art that explores themes of love, memory, and the fleeting nature of life.
In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will delve into the intricacies of Poem 20, examining its structure, language, and imagery to gain a deeper understanding of its meaning and significance.
Structure and Form
Poem 20 is a sonnet, a fourteen-line poem traditionally written in iambic pentameter. However, Spenser deviates from the usual structure of the sonnet, opting instead for a rhyme scheme of ABAB BCBC CDCD EE. This rhyme scheme, known as Spenserian, is named after the poet himself and is used in many of his works.
The poem is divided into three quatrains and a final couplet. Each quatrain presents a different image of the beloved, while the couplet provides a final resolution to the poem's themes.
Spenser's use of the Spenserian rhyme scheme and the sonnet form allows him to create a tightly structured and cohesive poem that is both beautiful and profound.
Language and Imagery
One of the most striking features of Poem 20 is Spenser's use of language and imagery. The poem is filled with vivid descriptions and metaphors that bring the beloved to life in the reader's mind.
For example, in the first quatrain, Spenser writes:
One day I wrote her name upon the strand,
But came the waves and washed it away:
Agayne I wrote it with a second hand,
But came the tyde, and made my paynes his pray.
Here, Spenser uses the image of the waves washing away the beloved's name to evoke the idea of the fleeting nature of life. The waves represent the passage of time and the inevitability of death, while the act of writing the name on the strand represents the human desire for permanence and immortality.
Spenser continues this theme in the second quatrain, where he describes the beloved's beauty as being like the rose:
Her roseal colour comes and goes with tyde,
And sweete perfum'd that hyerly doth adorne
The fayrest flowre of the field and floure of the tyde;
Yet doth it wyther with the first good morne.
Here, Spenser compares the beloved's beauty to a rose, another symbol of transience and impermanence. The rose's beauty is fleeting, just like the beloved's, and both will eventually wither and fade away.
Finally, in the third quatrain, Spenser uses the image of the sun setting to represent the end of the beloved's life:
But came the night, and made her blacke despayre,
Which heavily shee to bewaile began,
And made her woes the mirror of my care,
Upon my selfe to rue when I saw them.
The night represents death, which brings an end to the beloved's life and causes her to despair. The line "And made her woes the mirror of my care" is particularly poignant, as it suggests that the speaker shares in the beloved's pain and sorrow.
Themes
Poem 20 is a meditation on the themes of love, memory, and the fleeting nature of life. The poem explores the idea that love is both beautiful and painful, and that memories of lost love can be both comforting and painful.
Spenser also emphasizes the idea that life is fleeting and impermanent, and that all things must eventually come to an end. This theme is reflected in the imagery of the waves, the rose, and the setting sun, which all represent the passage of time and the inevitability of death.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Edmund Spenser's Poem 20 is a beautifully crafted work of art that explores the themes of love, memory, and the fleeting nature of life. Through his use of language and imagery, Spenser creates a poignant and evocative meditation on the human experience.
The poem's structure and form contribute to its power, allowing Spenser to create a tightly structured and cohesive work of art that is both beautiful and profound.
Overall, Poem 20 is a masterpiece of poetry that has stood the test of time and continues to inspire and move readers to this day.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Edmund Spenser's Poetry Poem 20 is a classic piece of literature that has stood the test of time. This poem is a sonnet that is part of Spenser's larger work, The Faerie Queene. The poem is a beautiful and complex piece of writing that explores themes of love, beauty, and the power of poetry.
The poem begins with the speaker describing a woman's beauty. The woman is so beautiful that she is compared to the goddess Venus. The speaker is so taken with her beauty that he cannot help but write about it. He says that her beauty is so great that it cannot be captured in words, but he will try anyway.
The second quatrain of the poem explores the power of poetry. The speaker says that poetry has the power to immortalize the woman's beauty. He says that even though the woman's beauty will fade with time, his words will live on forever. This is a powerful statement about the power of poetry to capture and preserve beauty.
The third quatrain of the poem explores the idea of love. The speaker says that he loves the woman not only for her beauty but also for her virtues. He says that her virtues are like a crown that adorns her beauty. This is a beautiful metaphor that shows how the woman's inner beauty is just as important as her outer beauty.
The final couplet of the poem brings everything together. The speaker says that his love for the woman is so great that it has inspired him to write this poem. He says that his words will live on forever, and that future generations will read them and be inspired by the woman's beauty and his love for her.
Overall, Poetry Poem 20 is a beautiful and complex piece of writing that explores themes of love, beauty, and the power of poetry. The poem is a testament to the enduring power of love and the ability of poetry to capture and preserve beauty. Spenser's use of language and imagery is masterful, and the poem is a true masterpiece of English literature.
One of the most striking things about Poetry Poem 20 is the way that Spenser uses language to capture the woman's beauty. The woman is described as being "fairer than the evening air," and her eyes are compared to "two stars in heaven." These metaphors are not only beautiful but also powerful. They show how the woman's beauty is so great that it cannot be captured in words.
Another powerful aspect of the poem is the way that Spenser explores the power of poetry. The speaker says that his words will live on forever, and that future generations will read them and be inspired by the woman's beauty and his love for her. This is a powerful statement about the enduring power of poetry to capture and preserve beauty.
The poem also explores the idea of love in a powerful way. The speaker says that he loves the woman not only for her beauty but also for her virtues. This is a beautiful metaphor that shows how the woman's inner beauty is just as important as her outer beauty. It also shows how true love is based on more than just physical attraction.
Overall, Poetry Poem 20 is a masterpiece of English literature that explores themes of love, beauty, and the power of poetry. Spenser's use of language and imagery is masterful, and the poem is a testament to the enduring power of love and the ability of poetry to capture and preserve beauty.
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