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Astrophil and Stella sonnet sequence. Introduction. Meaning of the sonnet sequence: Title of the sonnet sequence:. The main characters:. Astrophil :
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Introduction • Meaning of the sonnet sequence: • Title of the sonnet sequence:
The main characters: • Astrophil: • .......Astro- (the first two syllables of Astrophel) derives from the Greek word for star, astron; -phel (the last syllable of Astrophel) is a loose transliteration of part of the Greek word philos (love or loving) or philein (to love). Thus, Astrophel means star-lover or loving a star.
The main characters:2 • StellaStella is the heroine of the poem and the object of Astrophil's desire. The name "Stella" comes from the Latin word meaning "star." This definition has two possible meanings in the context of the poem. In one respect, the name could suggest Stella's superiority to Astrophil.
. As a star, Stella is a celestial being, far beyond the reach of a human like Astrophil. On the other hand, however, as a star, Stella is just one of a million other stars in the skies. She is not unique or, perhaps, not even worthy of Astrophil's attention. • .
The Idea of the sonnet sequences: Sidney's sonnets centered on the love of a man named Astrophil for a beautiful woman named Stella. Sidney based Astrophil on himself and Stella on a woman his aunt introduced to the queen's court in 1581, Penelope Devereux (1562-1607), daughter of the 1st Earl of Essex.
Sidney exhibited an interest in her; her father hoped she would marry Sidney. But after her arrival at court, she married Robert Rich, 1st Earl of Warrick. Nevertheless, Sidney fell in love with her. In 1582, he wrote Astrophil and Stella • .......In the sonnets, Astrophil says Stella keeps her distance and in time marries another man. But she is not happy in her marriage and eventually falls in love with Astrophil. However, she remains true to her marriage vows and declines his invitation to become intimate.
The poem • Loving in truth, and fain in verse my love to show,That she (dear she) might take some pleasure of my pain;Pleasure might cause her read, reading might make her know;Knowledge might pity win, and pity grace obtain;
The poem • I sought fit words to paint the blackest face of woe,Studying inventions fine, her wits to entertain;Oft turning others' leaves, to see if thence would flowSome fresh and fruitful showers upon my sunburnt brain.
The poem • But words came halting forth, wanting invention's stay;Invention, nature's child, fled step-dame study's blows;And others' feet still seemed but strangers in my way.Thus great with child to speak, and helpless in my throes,
The poem • Biting my truant pen, beating myself for spite,'Fool,' said my muse to me; 'look in thy heart, and write
Key theme of the sequence: The impossibility of a successful relationship between the two of them • Theme in general : • Love is the theme ofAstrophil and Stella—anguished love, passionate love, joyous love. But in the end, it is unrequited love; for Astrophil and Stella remain separated.
Major Themes • Reason versus Love • Petrarch’s sonnet form • Love versus Desire • The Sun • Day versus Night • Wit • Poetic Ability
Analyses • Loving in truth, and fain in verse my love to show,That she (dear she) might take some pleasure of my pain;Pleasure might cause her read, reading might make her know;Knowledge might pity win, and pity grace obtain;
The poem • I sought fit words to paint the blackest face of woe;Studying inventions fine, her wits to entertain, Oft turning others' leaves to see if thence would flowSome fresh and fruitful showers upon my sun-burned brain
Words explanation • Fit words: suitable words to express love • Woe: sorrow • Fresh and fruitful showers : new and suitable words
The poem • But words came halting forth, wanting Invention's stay, Invention, Nature's child, fled step-dame Study's blows,4And others' feet still seem'd but strangers in my way. Thus, great with child to speak,5and helpless in my throes,
Words explanation inventions: the ancient division of oratory devoted to producing novel or interesting material. halting: limping. stay: crutch, support. step-dame: step-mother (traditionally ill-disposed to a child). Used to personify study.
Words explanation feet: used ambiguously for feet in the walking image and poetic feet. great with child: i.e., pregnant, ready to deliver a child.
The poem • Biting my truant pen, beating myself for spite,'Fool,' said my muse to me; 'look in thy heart, and write.‘
The rhyme scheme • abab, abab, cdcd, ee. • Identifying the poem’s rhyme scheme, however, is less challenging. The poem is written so that every other sentence rhymes. That is, the last word in the first sentence rhymes with the last word in the third, fifth, and seventh sentence. The same rhyme pattern is true for the even numbered sentences
The rhyme scheme 2 • The last words in sentences two, four, six, and eight are pain, obtain, entertain, and brain respectively. There are two minor anomalies that accrue in the poem’s rhyme scheme. The most obvious variation is found in the last two sentences. These two sentences are the only consecutive rhyming sentences in the poem.
Comment • The author opens this first sonnet by explaining his motivation for composing the sonnet sequence. He believes that if his love was to read the sonnets, she would eventually return his affection.
Comment: • He argues that her pleasure in his pain would cause her to read his sonnets, and her reading of the sonnets would allow her to know the extent of his affection, which might make her pity the author's situation-and this pity may transform into grace and love.
Comment: • The author also describes his difficulties in composing the sonnet sequence. He has struggled to express the pain and misery of his emotions and has tried to look at other poets' works in order to gain inspiration. Still, he has been unsuccessful. Finally, the author has realized that the only way to fully express his love for Stella in his poetry is to write from his heart.
analyses of the sonnet all together • Sidney's actions of writing about how to compose a love sonnet allows him to do just that: compose a love sonnet. With this in mind, he warns the reader that the emotions expressed in the entire sonnet sequence stems directly from the heart, thus, he cannot be held rationally responsible.
The statements in this first sonnet make clear that Sidney (who already can be identified with the author of the love sonnets) is conflicted in his role as a zealous lover and a self-critical poet. This sonnet demonstrates the first of many clashes between reason and passion that appear in the sonnet sequence. He already seems to know that he will never truly win Stella, but he cannot help but desire her. This conflict between contradicting forces is a crucial element of the sequence.
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