136. DSM 101/DSC 101 Amoretti No. 78 (10)
1. What are the major themes of Spenser's Amoretti sequence?
Ans:- The sonnet "Amoretti 78" was written by Edmund Spenser who was born in 1552 and died in 1599. The poet is best known for his epic poem "The Faerie Queene" where he created his famous Spenserian stanza.
The meaning of Amoretti is "little love". One of the major themes of Spenser's Amoretti sequence is the frustration of unrequited love. This was a common theme in Elizabethan poetry and Spenser exploits it to the full. Later on in the sequence, however, he will depart from the prevailing norm and present us with a celebration of love both human and divine.
In the early sonnets of the Amoretti sequence, Spenser concentrates mainly on the frustrations of unrequited love. He is in good company here because this particular theme was quite common in Elizabethan poetry.
The poem is addressed to the nineteen years old young lady he loved who was named Elizabeth Boyle. Love is the main subject in the sonnet. It is filled with emotional turmoils of unrequited love. The lover is absent in the poem or the lady is free-standing figure in the same poem.
The poem personifies the various moods of the poet.
2. What is the meaning of Amoretti?
A:- 'Amor' means love. 'Etti' means a little. Amoretti together signifies 'little love.'
3. Comment on the style of the sonnet.
A:- The sonnet belongs to the 89 sonnet sequence by Edmund Spenser which came together with Epithalamion in 1595 in one volume. It was published by William Ponsonby.
All the sonnets were addressed to same lady named Elizabeth Boyle who was a nineteen years old young lady. She was a woman of Anglo-Irish decent who belonged to a cultured high society. The poem was later successful in marrying her. The sonnets celebrate love, relationships and marriage. The wooing of his lady-love helps him in self educating and in the process of self-growth and in becoming a better human being.
The poet seeks union in his lover. He wants to see the world through her eyes. And wants to be forever with her. He is unable to think severing himself from the lady he loved immensely. There was unconditional love. He set no conditions or expectations from her side but just wanted her as she was. There was tremendous sense of acceptance and respect for her in him as a human of idealism and worth of love and reverence. Without her he compares himself to a young fawn who lost the hind. He keeps on searching for her or waiting for her and visits the fields or bowers where she ever set foot and which he could access. She was absent there but he imagines her full presence there with utmost love.
There are three quatrains in the poem. It is teemed with conceits, ideas, imagery, valuable syntax and important themes. There is an anticlimactic ending. There is blend of humour, parody and comedy. The line "I know her art" reflects humour in the absent lover's stubbornness. Spenser was a deep mythographer and there are indirect references to greek mythological analogy like Daphne and Phoebus.
It is a Spenserian sonnet and blended Shakespearen and Petrarchan style. The rhyming scheme is abab/bcbc/cdcd/ee. It is a Renaissance sonnet filled with expected wit, frustrations, fantasies, hopes and despairs.
4. Write the summary of the sonnet.
A:- The sonnet "Amoretti 78" was written by Edmund Spenser who was born in 1552 and died in 1599. The poet is best known for his epic poem "The Faerie Queene" where he created his famous Spenserian stanza. The sonnet belongs to the 89 sonnet sequence by Edmund Spenser which came together with Epithalamion in 1595 in one volume. It was published by William Ponsonby. All the sonnets were addressed to same lady named Elizabeth Boyle who was a nineteen years old young lady. She was a woman of Anglo-Irish decent who belonged to a cultured high society. The poem was later successful in marrying her.
The meaning of Amoretti is "little love". One of the major themes of Spenser's Amoretti sequence is the frustration of unrequited love. This was a common theme in Elizabethan poetry and Spenser exploits it to the full. Later on in the sequence, however, he will depart from the prevailing norm and present us with a celebration of love both human and divine.
In the early sonnets of the Amoretti sequence, Spenser concentrates mainly on the frustrations of unrequited love. He is in good company here because this particular theme was quite common in Elizabethan poetry.
The poem is addressed to the nineteen years old young lady he loved who was named Elizabeth Boyle.
Love is the main subject in the sonnet. It is filled with emotional turmoils of unrequited love. The lover is absent in the poem or the lady is free-standing figure in the same poem. The sonnets celebrate love, relationships and marriage. The wooing of his lady-love helps him in self educating and in the process of self-growth and in becoming a better human being.
The poet seeks union in his lover. He wants to see the world through her eyes. And wants to be forever with her. He is unable to think severing himself from the lady he loved immensely. There was unconditional love. He set no conditions or expectations from her side but just wanted her as she was. There was tremendous sense of acceptance and respect for her in him as a human of idealism and worth of love and reverence. Without her he compares himself to a young fawn who lost the hind. He keeps on searching for her or waiting for her and visits the fields or bowers where she ever set foot and which he could access. She was absent there but he imagines her full presence there with utmost love.
There are three quatrains in the poem. It is teemed with conceits, ideas, imagery, valuable syntax and important themes. There is an anticlimactic ending. There is blend of humour, parody and comedy. The poem reflects humour in the absent lover's stubbornness and the poet's seeking for her as a lost animal without her. Spenser was a deep mythographer and there are indirect references to greek mythological analogy like Daphne and Phoebus.
It is a Spenserian sonnet and blended Shakespearen and Petrarchan style. The rhyming scheme is abab/bcbc/cdcd/ee. It is a Renaissance sonnet filled with expected wit, frustrations, fantasies, hopes and despairs.
5. What is the poetic form of "Amoretti 78"?
A: "Amoretti 78" is a sonnet, following the traditional 14-line structure.
6. Can you provide the briefest summary of the theme of "Amoretti 78"?
A: The sonnet expresses the speaker's intense emotions and love for the beloved, celebrating the beauty and virtues of the person.
7. What is the central metaphor used in "Amoretti 78"?
A: The central metaphor revolves around the idea of the speaker's heart being like a ship guided by the beloved's virtue and beauty.
8. Q: How does the sonnet reflect the Renaissance poetic tradition?
A: "Amoretti 78" reflects the Renaissance tradition by employing Petrarchan conventions, exploring themes of love, and using elaborate language and metaphor.
9. Critically assess the poem.
A:- "Amoretti Sonnet 78" is a poem written by Edmund Spenser. In this sonnet, the speaker expresses his love for the subject, celebrating the enduring nature of true love. The poem highlights the idea that genuine love transcends physical beauty and remains steadfast even in the face of challenges. Spenser employs rich imagery and metaphor to convey the depth and sincerity of his emotions, making "Amoretti 78" a poignant exploration of love's enduring power. In "Amoretti Sonnet 78," Spenser reflects on the constancy of true love, emphasizing that it persists despite the passage of time. The poet describes how the beauty of his beloved is not subject to the effects of age or decay. The use of classical and mythological references enhances the timeless quality of the love he describes. Overall, the sonnet encapsulates the enduring nature of genuine and unchanging love.
In "Amoretti Sonnet 78," Edmund Spenser delves into the theme of enduring love by employing rich imagery and metaphorical expressions. The poem consists of 14 lines, following the traditional structure of a sonnet, and unfolds as a declaration of the speaker's unwavering affection for his beloved.
The poet begins by comparing his love to a "rose that is newly sprung," suggesting the freshness and beauty of his beloved. However, unlike a typical rose that may wither over time, the poet contends that his beloved's beauty will not fade as the seasons change. This comparison sets the tone for the central theme of the poem— the timelessness of true love.
Spenser uses classical and mythological allusions to reinforce the idea of enduring love. The mention of Adonis, a figure from Greek mythology renowned for his beauty, serves as a contrast to the mortal and fleeting nature of physical attractiveness. The poet implies that his beloved surpasses even the most celebrated examples of beauty in history.
As the sonnet progresses, the speaker asserts that his love is not swayed by external factors, such as the changing seasons or the passage of time. The use of the phrase "Yet sweet, but with a kind of dying sweet" conveys a bittersweet quality to the love, acknowledging the inevitable temporality of human existence while underscoring the enduring sweetness of genuine affection.
The sonnet concludes with a resolute declaration of the poet's commitment to his beloved, asserting that their love will remain steadfast and untarnished. Through skillful employment of poetic devices, Spenser crafts a timeless exploration of the enduring nature of true love, using vivid imagery and classical references to elevate the theme to a universal and profound level.
10. Style and Structure of Amoretti 78
A:- Edmund Spenser's "Amoretti 78" is a sonnet that adheres to the Petrarchan (or Italian) sonnet form, consisting of 14 lines written in iambic pentameter. The sonnet is part of a larger collection titled "Amoretti," which is a sequence of 89 sonnets depicting the poet's courtship of Elizabeth Boyle. In "Amoretti 78," Spenser employs a structured rhyme scheme (ABBA ABBA CDC DCD) and explores themes of love, time, and the enduring nature of poetic expression.
The sonnet begins with an octave, the first eight lines, which sets the stage for the poet's contemplation of the temporal nature of love. The opening quatrain (ABBA) introduces the central theme of the poem: the transience of human life and the inexorable march of time. The first two lines lament the fleeting nature of life, describing it as a "mortal blaze," emphasizing the ephemeral quality of existence. The subsequent lines employ the metaphor of a fading flame to symbolize the brevity of human life.
Transitioning into the second quatrain (ABBA), the poet introduces the theme of love as a counterforce to time's destructive power. He personifies Love as an eternal force that transcends the limitations of mortal life. The use of the word "adorn" suggests that love embellishes and beautifies the passing hours, acting as a salve against the ravages of time.
Moving on to the sestet (CDC DCD), Spenser shifts his focus to the act of immortalizing love through poetry. The poet expresses the belief that through his verse, he can preserve the essence of his love for his beloved. The shift in tone from the octave to the sestet reflects the poet's move from contemplation of temporal concerns to a resolution to overcome transience through artistic creation.
The ninth line introduces the metaphor of the "golden hook," a symbol for the poet's ability to capture and preserve the essence of love. The choice of "golden" implies both value and permanence, emphasizing the enduring quality of the poetic art.
Lines 10 to 12 reinforce the idea that the poet's verses can withstand the erosive force of time. The use of "learned pen" implies a skillful and knowledgeable approach to writing, suggesting that the poet's craftsmanship contributes to the timeless quality of his work.
The concluding couplet (DD) reinforces the power of poetry to immortalize love. By stating that the poet's verse can outlive "brass" and "marble," traditional symbols of durability and longevity, Spenser asserts the superiority of his poetic medium in preserving the essence of love. The couplet acts as a final assertion of the poet's confidence in the enduring nature of his written expressions of love.
In summary, "Amoretti 78" is a Petrarchan sonnet that explores the themes of love, time, and the transformative power of poetry. The structured rhyme scheme and the progression from lamentation to resolution contribute to the poem's effectiveness in conveying the poet's contemplation on the transient nature of life and his belief in the enduring quality of love as captured through the art of verse