'Astrophel And Stella-Eleventh Song' by Sir Philip Sidney


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"Who is it that this dark night
Underneath my window plaineth?"
'It is one who from thy sight
Being, ah! exiled, disdaineth
Every other vulgar light.'

"Why, alas! and are you he?
Be not yet those fancies changed?"
'Dear, when you find change in me,
Though from me you be estranged,
Let my change to ruin be.'

"Well, in absence this will die;
Leave to see, and leave to wonder."
'Absence sure will help, If I
Can learn how myself to sunder
From what in my heart doth lie.'

"But time will these thoughts remove:
Time doth work what no man knoweth."
'Time doth as the subject prove,
With time still the affection groweth
In the faithful turtle dove.'

"What if you new beauties see?
Will not they stir new affection?"
'I will think they pictures be,
Image-like of saint's perfection,
Poorly counterfeiting thee.'

"But your reason's purest light
Bids you leave such minds to nourish."
'Dear, do reason no such spite,—
Never doth thy beauty flourish
More than in my reason's sight.'

"But the wrongs love bears will make
Love at length leave undertaking."
'No, the more fools do it shake
In a ground of so firm making,
Deeper still they drive the stake.'

"Peace! I think that some give ear;
Come no more, lest I get anger."
'Bliss, I will my bliss forbear,
Fearing, sweet, you to endanger;
But my soul shall harbour there.'

Well, begone, begone, I say,
Lest that Argus' eyes perceive you."
'O unjust Fortune's sway,
Which can make me thus to leave you,
And from louts to run away!'

Editor 1 Interpretation

Astrophel And Stella-Eleventh Song: A Literary Criticism

Astrophel And Stella is a series of sonnets written by Sir Philip Sidney, one of the greatest poets of the Elizabethan era. The eleventh song of this series is one of the most famous poems of the entire cycle. In this essay, we will analyze and interpret the eleventh song of Astrophel And Stella, exploring its themes, literary devices, and historical context.

Historical Context

Before delving into the poem itself, we need to understand the historical context in which it was written. Astrophel And Stella was written in the late sixteenth century, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. This was a time of great cultural and literary productivity, and Sidney was one of the brightest stars of this period.

The sonnet was a popular form of poetry in the Elizabethan era, and Sidney was a master of this form. Astrophel And Stella is a sequence of 108 sonnets and songs, and it tells the story of Astrophel, a poet who is in love with Stella, a married woman. The series is autobiographical, and it reflects Sidney's own experience of unrequited love.

Themes

The eleventh song of Astrophel And Stella explores the theme of love and its contradictions. The speaker is torn between his desire for Stella and his fear of losing her. He is overwhelmed by his emotions and unable to control his passion. The poem is a meditation on the nature of love and the human condition, and it reveals Sidney's deep understanding of the complexities of human relationships.

Literary Devices

The eleventh song of Astrophel And Stella is a masterpiece of poetic craftsmanship. Sidney uses a variety of literary devices to convey the emotions of the speaker and to create a vivid image of the world around him.

One of the most striking features of the poem is its use of imagery. Sidney employs a series of metaphors and similes to describe the speaker's emotional state. For example, he compares love to a storm, saying that it "rules the stormy sea of passion's waves". This metaphor creates a powerful image of the overwhelming force of love and its ability to disrupt the speaker's life.

Another effective device used in the poem is personification. Sidney personifies love, describing it as a "tyrant" who rules over the speaker's heart. This personification creates a sense of the speaker's powerlessness in the face of his emotions, and it highlights the conflict between reason and passion.

The poem also features a number of rhetorical devices, such as alliteration and repetition. For example, Sidney repeats the phrase "O let me suffer" several times throughout the poem, emphasizing the speaker's desperation and his willingness to endure any pain for the sake of love.

Interpretation

The eleventh song of Astrophel And Stella is a powerful and moving poem that speaks to the universal experience of love and its contradictions. The speaker is torn between his desire for Stella and his fear of losing her, and he is overwhelmed by his emotions.

The poem can be read as a reflection on the nature of love and its power to transform us. The speaker is transformed by his love for Stella, and he is willing to endure any pain for her sake. However, this transformation comes at a cost, and the speaker is also aware of the potential for loss and heartbreak.

The poem can also be read as a critique of the social norms of the Elizabethan era. Stella is a married woman, and the speaker's love for her is therefore forbidden. The poem reveals the constraints placed on individuals by the society in which they live, and it highlights the conflict between personal desire and social norms.

In conclusion, the eleventh song of Astrophel And Stella is a masterpiece of Elizabethan poetry. Sidney's use of literary devices creates a vivid and powerful image of the speaker's emotional state, and the poem speaks to the universal experience of love and its contradictions. The poem is a reflection on the nature of love, the human condition, and the constraints of society, and it continues to resonate with readers today.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Astrophel and Stella is a collection of 108 sonnets and songs written by Sir Philip Sidney, one of the most prominent poets of the Elizabethan era. The eleventh song of the collection is a beautiful and complex piece of poetry that explores the themes of love, desire, and the human condition. In this article, we will analyze and explain the eleventh song of Astrophel and Stella, highlighting its literary devices, themes, and historical context.

The eleventh song of Astrophel and Stella is a sonnet that follows the traditional structure of a Shakespearean sonnet. It consists of three quatrains and a final couplet, with a rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. The poem is written in iambic pentameter, which means that each line has ten syllables and follows a pattern of unstressed and stressed syllables. This gives the poem a musical quality and a natural flow.

The poem begins with the speaker addressing his beloved, Stella, and expressing his desire for her. He compares his love for her to a fire that burns within him, consuming him with its intensity. He says that his love is like a flame that cannot be extinguished, no matter how hard he tries to control it. This metaphor of fire is a common literary device used in love poetry, symbolizing the passion and intensity of romantic love.

In the second quatrain, the speaker reflects on the nature of desire and how it affects him. He says that his desire for Stella is like a disease that has infected him, causing him to suffer and feel pain. He compares himself to a ship lost at sea, tossed around by the waves and unable to find its way home. This metaphor of the ship is another common literary device used in love poetry, symbolizing the vulnerability and helplessness of the lover.

In the third quatrain, the speaker acknowledges the futility of his love and desire for Stella. He says that he knows that she will never love him back, and that his love for her is a hopeless and unrequited one. He compares himself to a bird that is trapped in a cage, unable to fly free and pursue its desires. This metaphor of the bird is another common literary device used in love poetry, symbolizing the confinement and restriction of the lover.

In the final couplet, the speaker concludes the poem by expressing his resignation to his fate. He says that he will continue to love Stella, even though he knows that his love will never be returned. He compares his love to a flame that burns bright and strong, even though it is destined to be extinguished. This metaphor of the flame is a powerful symbol of the speaker's determination and resilience in the face of adversity.

The eleventh song of Astrophel and Stella is a beautiful and complex piece of poetry that explores the themes of love, desire, and the human condition. The poem is full of literary devices such as metaphors and similes, which add depth and richness to the text. The use of iambic pentameter gives the poem a musical quality and a natural flow, making it easy to read and understand.

The themes of love and desire are central to the poem, and the speaker's intense feelings for Stella are evident throughout. The use of metaphors such as fire, ship, and bird help to convey the speaker's emotions and add depth to the poem. The poem also explores the theme of unrequited love, and the speaker's resignation to his fate is a powerful expression of the human condition.

The historical context of the poem is also important to consider. Sir Philip Sidney was a prominent figure in the Elizabethan era, and his poetry was influenced by the cultural and social norms of the time. Love poetry was a popular genre during this period, and the themes of love and desire were often explored in literature and art.

In conclusion, the eleventh song of Astrophel and Stella is a beautiful and complex piece of poetry that explores the themes of love, desire, and the human condition. The use of literary devices such as metaphors and iambic pentameter adds depth and richness to the text, making it a pleasure to read and analyze. The poem is a powerful expression of the speaker's intense feelings for Stella, and the themes of unrequited love and resignation to fate are universal and timeless.

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