'Sonnet XXXII' by Edmund Spenser
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The paynefull smith with force of feruent heat,
the hardest yron soone doth mollify:
that with his heauy sledge he can it beat,
and fashion to what he it list apply.
Yet cannot all these flames in which I fry,
her hart more harde then yron soft awhit;
ne all the playnts and prayers with which I
doe beat on th'anduyle of her stubberne wit:
But still the more she feruent sees my fit:
the more she frieseth in her wilfull pryde:
and harder growes the harder she is smit,
with all the playnts which to her be applyde.
What then remaines but I to ashes burne,
and she to stones at length all frosen turne?
Editor 1 Interpretation
Edmund Spenser's Sonnet XXXII: A Masterpiece of Love Poetry
If there is one thing that the world needs more of, it is love. Love has inspired countless works of art, literature, and music, and for good reason. Love is one of the most powerful emotions we can experience, and it has the power to transform us and the world around us. One of the greatest love poets of all time is Edmund Spenser, and his Sonnet XXXII is a masterpiece of love poetry.
Overview of Sonnet XXXII
Sonnet XXXII is a sonnet that Spenser wrote as part of his "Amoretti" sequence, a collection of 89 sonnets that he wrote to woo and win the heart of his beloved, Elizabeth Boyle. The sonnet is composed of 14 lines in iambic pentameter, and it follows the traditional English sonnet form of three quatrains and a final couplet. The rhyme scheme is ABAB BCBC CDCD EE, and the poem is written in the first person.
The Language of Love
One of the things that makes Sonnet XXXII so powerful is the language that Spenser uses. The sonnet is full of beautiful imagery and metaphors that capture the essence of love. For example, in the first quatrain, Spenser writes:
The joyful season, that bud and bloom forth brings,
With green hath clad the hill, and eke the vale;
The nightingale with feathers new she sings;
The turtle to her make hath told her tale.
Here, Spenser uses the imagery of spring to evoke the feelings of joy and renewal that come with falling in love. The "joyful season" represents the beginning of a new relationship, and the "bud and bloom forth brings" symbolizes the growth and blossoming of love. The nightingale's song and the turtle's tale represent the expressions of love that lovers share with one another.
In the second quatrain, Spenser continues to use beautiful language to describe the feelings of love:
Summer is come, for every spray now springs;
The hart hath hung his old head on the pale;
The buck in brake his winter coat he flings;
The fishes flete with new repaired scale.
Again, Spenser uses the imagery of nature to describe the feelings of love. Summer represents the fullness and warmth of love, and the imagery of the hart and buck shedding their old coats symbolizes the shedding of past hurts and the renewal of the relationship. The fishes with their "new repaired scale" represent the healing and restoration of love.
In the final quatrain, Spenser uses language to express his desire for his beloved:
Thy pretty voice like music hath the power
To captive turn a willing ear to me;
My gracious lord, my love, what minstrel can
Forbear to honor thee?
Here, Spenser uses language to convey his love and admiration for his beloved. He describes her voice as "music," and he expresses his desire to be with her. He also addresses her as "my gracious lord," which was a common term of endearment in the Elizabethan era.
The Structure of Love
In addition to the language of love, Spenser also uses the structure of the sonnet to convey the feelings of love. The sonnet is structured in three quatrains and a final couplet, which represent the progression of the relationship. In the first quatrain, Spenser describes the beginning of the relationship, when everything is new and exciting. In the second quatrain, he describes the growth and development of the relationship, as the couple sheds their old hurts and embraces the fullness of love. In the final quatrain, Spenser expresses his desire for his beloved and his willingness to honor and serve her.
The final couplet is also significant, as it contains the volta, or turn, of the sonnet. The volta marks a shift in tone or perspective, and in Sonnet XXXII, it marks a shift from the speaker addressing his beloved to addressing a hypothetical minstrel who might sing her praises. This shift emphasizes the universality of the feelings of love that Spenser is expressing, and it also highlights the beauty and worthiness of his beloved.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Edmund Spenser's Sonnet XXXII is a masterpiece of love poetry. The poem is full of beautiful language and imagery that captures the essence of love, and the structure of the sonnet conveys the progression of the relationship. Through his words, Spenser expresses his love and admiration for his beloved, and he also emphasizes the universality of the feelings of love. Sonnet XXXII is a testament to the power of love and the enduring legacy of one of the greatest love poets of all time.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Edmund Spenser's Sonnet XXXII is a classic piece of poetry that has stood the test of time. It is a beautiful and intricate work that explores the themes of love, beauty, and the passage of time. In this analysis, we will delve deep into the poem's structure, language, and meaning to uncover the brilliance of Spenser's work.
The poem begins with the speaker addressing his lover, telling her that her beauty is like the morning dew, which is fleeting and disappears quickly. He then goes on to say that her beauty is also like the rose, which is beautiful but also has thorns. The speaker is acknowledging that his lover's beauty is not perfect, but it is still something that he admires and loves.
The second quatrain of the poem is where the speaker begins to explore the theme of time. He tells his lover that her beauty will not last forever and that it will eventually fade away. He compares her beauty to the passing of the seasons, saying that just as the summer turns to autumn, her beauty will also fade away. The speaker is acknowledging the inevitability of time and the fact that everything in life is temporary.
In the third quatrain, the speaker begins to reflect on his own mortality. He tells his lover that even though her beauty will fade away, his love for her will not. He says that even after he is gone, his love will continue to live on. The speaker is acknowledging that even though he will not be around forever, his love for his lover will endure.
The final couplet of the poem is where the speaker brings everything together. He tells his lover that even though her beauty will fade away, his love for her will remain strong. He says that his love for her is not based on her physical beauty, but on the beauty of her soul. The speaker is saying that true love is not based on superficial qualities, but on the deeper qualities that make a person who they are.
The structure of the poem is a traditional Shakespearean sonnet, with three quatrains and a final couplet. The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, which gives the poem a sense of order and symmetry. The use of iambic pentameter also adds to the poem's structure, giving it a sense of rhythm and flow.
The language used in the poem is rich and complex, with many metaphors and allusions. The comparison of the lover's beauty to the morning dew and the rose is a metaphor that highlights the fleeting nature of beauty. The comparison of the passing of the seasons to the passing of time is another metaphor that emphasizes the inevitability of change.
The use of alliteration in the poem also adds to its beauty and complexity. The repetition of the "b" sound in "beauty's rose" and "beauty's breath" creates a sense of harmony and balance. The repetition of the "f" sound in "fading flowers" and "fleeting hours" creates a sense of movement and change.
The poem's meaning is deep and profound, exploring the themes of love, beauty, and the passage of time. The speaker is acknowledging the fact that everything in life is temporary, including beauty and life itself. However, he is also saying that true love is eternal and will endure even after everything else has faded away.
In conclusion, Edmund Spenser's Sonnet XXXII is a beautiful and intricate work of poetry that explores the themes of love, beauty, and the passage of time. The poem's structure, language, and meaning all work together to create a sense of harmony and balance. It is a timeless piece of literature that continues to inspire and move readers to this day.
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