3. These particular sonnets I find to be much like the last in that Petrarch is very dramatic. Part of this is probably due to the death of his beloved Laura. Petrarch even goes as far as to say that, " Death cannot make her sweet face bitter, but her sweet face can make death sweet." This is a very powerful statement, although for me it is a little bit confusing because Petrarch went most of his life without even knowing Laura, but yet he cannot live without her? Towards the end of these sonnets Petrarch begins to regret spending so much time chasing after a woman, he even asks for forgiveness from God. I find this odd because he had never really established a relationship with God, he was relying solely on Laura to bring him up.
4. Petrarch continues to view Laura in a heightened way, as if he put her on a pedestal, but this time it is slightly different. His heightened views of Laura appear when he asserts that "her sweet face can make death sweet." However, since Laura has died he has lost his will to live which he never would have done if she was still in his life. Also, in previous sonnets he was unable to recognize that loving Laura and chasing after her was a waste of time.
5. I did not find much in my research that would show that this section is either typical or not of Petrarch. However, as I have previously mentioned I think it was unusual of Petrarch to give up on his love (or lust) for Laura after many, many years.
6. I think that due to the death of Laura and Petrarch's realization that after all of this time he was in love with a woman who never really loved him back made the tone of these sonnets different. Petrarch's view of Laura dramatically changed in this section from him being completely infatuated with her to him recognizing that she was not really worth it and it shows in his negative tone where he makes it clear that he has surrendered. For the most part rhyme scheme was the same, and it was his typical format except for sonnet 359 which was abnormally long.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Petrarch, 6-16
3. In these sonnets, Petrarch's attraction to Laura becomes even more evident. I also feel that it becomes obvious that his feelings for her are unrequited. He feels so strongly towards her and it is implied that he feels that he did not have any other choice but to love her. Petrarch has become so invested in his love for Laura that it holds so much power over him and it could potentially destroy him. After reading these sonnets I am not convinced that what Petrarch feels for Laura is love. He gives many descriptions of her physically, and speaks of his desires for her to bring him up, but is that love? Is he merely captivated by her beauty or perhaps in love with the idea of her and the fact that she could be his pathway to Heaven? Towards the end of these sonnets he alludes to the idea that he can only be free of his love in death.
4. I think that these last sonnets continue to discuss Petrarch's feelings for Laura. This last section is very similar to the last although his feelings seem to be more dramatic. Laura seems to have a hold on him, so strong that he feels powerless to release himself from it. Although these sonnets continue to talk about Laura, there are a few random ones also. The seventh sonnet, for example, refers to at least a few of the seven deadly sins such as gluttony or perhaps sloth. Also, there is a hint of Petrarch's humanistic views when he suggests the importance of poetry and higher education.
5. I found that the sonnets that were not discussing how Petrarch views Laura such as the ones speaking of poetry very much supported what I found in my research. Petrarch speaks of the importance of appreciating poetry, higher education, and religion which fall right in line with his humanistic views and support the name Petrarch was given, "Father of Humanism".
6. Nothing much has changed regarding Petrarch's style since the last section. He continues to employ the same rhyme scheme, however, I did not see any examples where Petrarch played on Laura's nam, as he did in the last section.
4. I think that these last sonnets continue to discuss Petrarch's feelings for Laura. This last section is very similar to the last although his feelings seem to be more dramatic. Laura seems to have a hold on him, so strong that he feels powerless to release himself from it. Although these sonnets continue to talk about Laura, there are a few random ones also. The seventh sonnet, for example, refers to at least a few of the seven deadly sins such as gluttony or perhaps sloth. Also, there is a hint of Petrarch's humanistic views when he suggests the importance of poetry and higher education.
5. I found that the sonnets that were not discussing how Petrarch views Laura such as the ones speaking of poetry very much supported what I found in my research. Petrarch speaks of the importance of appreciating poetry, higher education, and religion which fall right in line with his humanistic views and support the name Petrarch was given, "Father of Humanism".
6. Nothing much has changed regarding Petrarch's style since the last section. He continues to employ the same rhyme scheme, however, I did not see any examples where Petrarch played on Laura's nam, as he did in the last section.
Petrarch, 1-5
3. In the first sonnet Petrarch is describing the day before he met Laura, as if he is setting it up to show the change between how he was before he met her compared to the man he will be with her in his life. The second sonnet, however, is discussing Cupid and, "Love took up his bow again secretly, like a man who waits for the time and place to hurt," suggesting that he was ambushed by Cupid, or, his love for Laura. The third sonnet continues to speak of this love including when Petrarch states that, " Love found me altogether disarmed, and the way open through my eyes to my heart, my eyes which are now the portal and passageway of tears." This exemplifies the idea that he was not ready for his love for Laura to be so powerful. In the fourth sonnet, Petrarch compares Laura to Jesus, and also compares her to the sun, alluding to the idea that she is the light of his life. In the fifth and final sonnet, Petrarch is addressing Laura and her "regal state" and he speaks of his desire to be with her and have her be his pathway to Heaven.
4. In these first five sonnets, Petrarch describes himself as needing to repent, and also needing Laura to make him a better person. He puts Laura on a pedestal, and suggests that she brings him up and she will be his way into Heaven. Currently, Petrarch's view of Laura and his love for her is heightened, infact, Petrarch makes a comparison between Laura and Jesus in the last stanza of the fourth sonnet, " And now from a small village He has given us a sun, such that Nature is thanked and the place where so beautiful a lady was born to the world."
5. After reading these first sonnets, I found that so far this work is very typical of Petrarch. The first example of this would be that the rhyme schemes match. Also, many scholars suggested that Petrarch wrote this poem about a woman that he was in love with, but that was also married. These sonnets seem to agree with this as he is talking about Laura and his unrequited love for her, and also the desire for her to bring him up.
6. When this poem was first written in Italian it employed end rhyme in the Italian form to make it flow and seem as if it could be a song, however, in English it does not rhyme. In these sonnets Petrarch plays on the syllables of Laura's name in a Latinized version, Laureta. He also uses the word "laurel" frequently when referring to her.
4. In these first five sonnets, Petrarch describes himself as needing to repent, and also needing Laura to make him a better person. He puts Laura on a pedestal, and suggests that she brings him up and she will be his way into Heaven. Currently, Petrarch's view of Laura and his love for her is heightened, infact, Petrarch makes a comparison between Laura and Jesus in the last stanza of the fourth sonnet, " And now from a small village He has given us a sun, such that Nature is thanked and the place where so beautiful a lady was born to the world."
5. After reading these first sonnets, I found that so far this work is very typical of Petrarch. The first example of this would be that the rhyme schemes match. Also, many scholars suggested that Petrarch wrote this poem about a woman that he was in love with, but that was also married. These sonnets seem to agree with this as he is talking about Laura and his unrequited love for her, and also the desire for her to bring him up.
6. When this poem was first written in Italian it employed end rhyme in the Italian form to make it flow and seem as if it could be a song, however, in English it does not rhyme. In these sonnets Petrarch plays on the syllables of Laura's name in a Latinized version, Laureta. He also uses the word "laurel" frequently when referring to her.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Petrarch
1. Francesco Petrarca is also known as "Father of Humanism." He lived from July 20, 1304 to July 19, 1374, or Early Renaissance time period. He lived and worked in Italy near Florence.
2. This is lyrical poetry, when it was originally written in Italian it followed the abba abba cde cde form, later called Petrarchan or Italian. In his works he introduces many humanistic ideas and his sonnet form became widely imitated and respected in later years. He was also credited with being one of the first people to create the idea of "The Dark Ages." Many scholars suggest that Laura did not even know Petrarch existed until after he became famous. He is writing about the universal theme of love, specifically unrequited love. He was in love with a woman named Laura who was married to a Count, therefore the love he had for her was not returned and therefore became the subject of this work.
2. This is lyrical poetry, when it was originally written in Italian it followed the abba abba cde cde form, later called Petrarchan or Italian. In his works he introduces many humanistic ideas and his sonnet form became widely imitated and respected in later years. He was also credited with being one of the first people to create the idea of "The Dark Ages." Many scholars suggest that Laura did not even know Petrarch existed until after he became famous. He is writing about the universal theme of love, specifically unrequited love. He was in love with a woman named Laura who was married to a Count, therefore the love he had for her was not returned and therefore became the subject of this work.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Astrophil and Stella, 28-32
3. In the first sonnet of this section, Sidney was discussing the elements. For example, "dig so deepe" could imply the earth. "the raines of Love" was referring to rain, and the sentence that contains both "breathe out the flames which burne within my heart" is talking about air and fire. The word quintessence is alluding to the idea that there is a fifth element, which is love. Sidney is implying that love is simple, it is elemental. Is Sidney then also inferring that just like the other four elements love is necessary for life? Also, in the next sonnet Sidney is suggesting that the man that Stella is married to merely lusts her while Astrophil loves her. "And thus her heart escapes, but thus her eyes serve him with shot, her lips his heralds arre: her breasts his tents, legs his triumphall carre: her flesh his food, her skin his armour brave..." This line exemplifies both that her husband lusts while he loves, and also that these are purely physical reasons of love. In the next couple of sonnets Sidney is suggesting that love is somewhat similar to war. He does by comparing the Turkish people to the Christians who fought against each other in a war, or the French and the Dutch, etc.
4. In these particular sonnets, the way that Astrophil views Stella has definitely changed. Up until this section he hasn't really spoke of love in any other way than this amazing thing that can help him change his ways, that loving Stella brings him back up. Now, however, he is starting to realize that love has similarities with war, in that he realizes now that he has to fight for what he wants. His view of love is now much more realistic and he understands that loving someone is not always an easy thing to to do, it is not going to be perfect, he will have to work for it.
5. I found that this section does not support what I found in my research about Sidney as much as the others did. He does not have the positive outlook that he had on love before, he has started to become frustrated that Stella does not love him back and because of this many of his words have a negative connotation such as, "shame".
6. Sidney continues to stay true to his typical style, Petrarchan, and also using end rhyme. He still capitalizes words like "Stella" or "Love" and in addition to this he capitalizes: " Turkish", "Christian", "Poles", "Moscovy", "French", "Dutch", "Holland", "Orange", "Ulster", and "Scottishe". He does this both to stress them and to point out the idea that love is war.
4. In these particular sonnets, the way that Astrophil views Stella has definitely changed. Up until this section he hasn't really spoke of love in any other way than this amazing thing that can help him change his ways, that loving Stella brings him back up. Now, however, he is starting to realize that love has similarities with war, in that he realizes now that he has to fight for what he wants. His view of love is now much more realistic and he understands that loving someone is not always an easy thing to to do, it is not going to be perfect, he will have to work for it.
5. I found that this section does not support what I found in my research about Sidney as much as the others did. He does not have the positive outlook that he had on love before, he has started to become frustrated that Stella does not love him back and because of this many of his words have a negative connotation such as, "shame".
6. Sidney continues to stay true to his typical style, Petrarchan, and also using end rhyme. He still capitalizes words like "Stella" or "Love" and in addition to this he capitalizes: " Turkish", "Christian", "Poles", "Moscovy", "French", "Dutch", "Holland", "Orange", "Ulster", and "Scottishe". He does this both to stress them and to point out the idea that love is war.
Astrophil and Stella, 23-27
3. In these sonnets, Sidney seems to be discussing his growing love for her. Also, in the line where it says, "Wealth breeding want, more blist, more wretched grow," it is implied that his infatuation with Stella is like an addiction. In the line before this however, it says, "And damning their owne selves to Tantal's smart," there is a comma separating the two lines is this a further description of his addiction? Sidney also discusses the idea that knowing love and actually loving are two completely different things. This is exemplified in the lines where it states, "As what their hands do hold, their heads do know, and knowing love, and loving, lay apart." Does this mean that he knows love as an emotion, but it is another thing to love Stella?
4. In these sonnets there has not really been much change or progression in the way that he views Stella. He continues to view Stella as this divine being who he is not worthy of loving, however he still yearns for her love. Although the feelings that he has for Stella are unrequited he does not cease loving her. Overall I think that Astrophil's feelings for Stella have not changed since the first sonnet that we read.
5. These sonnets continue to back up what I have researched about Sidney and his style. Most scholars that have researched Sidney said that this was a Romantic poem about his own life. This is further supported because in this section he talks a lot about riches, and fortunes that Astrophil is lacking. I think this means that he himself was lacking these things in his unrequited love for Penelope, who was married to a man who did have these riches.
6. Sidney is very good at following the typical Petrarchan rhyme scheme as he always follows the pattern. He continues to italicize and capitalize words, I think that this is because he wants the readers to stress this when it is read aloud.
4. In these sonnets there has not really been much change or progression in the way that he views Stella. He continues to view Stella as this divine being who he is not worthy of loving, however he still yearns for her love. Although the feelings that he has for Stella are unrequited he does not cease loving her. Overall I think that Astrophil's feelings for Stella have not changed since the first sonnet that we read.
5. These sonnets continue to back up what I have researched about Sidney and his style. Most scholars that have researched Sidney said that this was a Romantic poem about his own life. This is further supported because in this section he talks a lot about riches, and fortunes that Astrophil is lacking. I think this means that he himself was lacking these things in his unrequited love for Penelope, who was married to a man who did have these riches.
6. Sidney is very good at following the typical Petrarchan rhyme scheme as he always follows the pattern. He continues to italicize and capitalize words, I think that this is because he wants the readers to stress this when it is read aloud.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Astrophil and Stella, 18-22
3. In these particular sonnets Sidney seems to be discussing how the main character was given all of these heavenly gifts, and he spent them leaving him morally bankrupt. Then he met Stella who he now feels unworthy of because loving her brings back all of the bad things that he has done in the past. Every once and a while Sidney uses the word bend or bent, which leads me to believe that the main character is ashamed and wishes to change his ways and alter his path. Sidney also italicizes words such as nature in the first sonnet, but not in others, why is this?
4. So far in this collection, the main character's love for Stella seems to be unattainable as he has made her out to be this divine being who he is completely unworthy of because he has lead the life of a bachelor and spent all of his gifts. Sidney describes the main character's love for Stella in a very heightened way, as in loving Stella pulls him back up and away from his path of moral destruction. Sidney depicts love in a way that makes it seem capable of doing very powerful things to an individual.
5. So far, my interpretations are very typical of Sidney. In my research I found that Sidney was influenced by the Petrarchan style, and in these sonnets he follows this rhyme scheme almost exactly. Many scholars agreed that this is an autobiography of Sidney's life and he is Astrophil and Stella is a woman named Penelope that he was in love with. They came to the conclusion that is is a Romantic poem about his unrequited love that he has for this woman which is supported when he speaks of how much he loves for her but he has to keep himself in check and is therefore not worthy of Stella.
6. As previously mentioned, Sidney follows the Italian or Petrarchan form (abbaabba) and he also makes use of end rhyme to help the poem flow better, it is also written in iambic pentameter. Sidney capitalizes and italicizes words such as reason, nature, Stella, cupid, and love to really stress these words when they are pronounced.
4. So far in this collection, the main character's love for Stella seems to be unattainable as he has made her out to be this divine being who he is completely unworthy of because he has lead the life of a bachelor and spent all of his gifts. Sidney describes the main character's love for Stella in a very heightened way, as in loving Stella pulls him back up and away from his path of moral destruction. Sidney depicts love in a way that makes it seem capable of doing very powerful things to an individual.
5. So far, my interpretations are very typical of Sidney. In my research I found that Sidney was influenced by the Petrarchan style, and in these sonnets he follows this rhyme scheme almost exactly. Many scholars agreed that this is an autobiography of Sidney's life and he is Astrophil and Stella is a woman named Penelope that he was in love with. They came to the conclusion that is is a Romantic poem about his unrequited love that he has for this woman which is supported when he speaks of how much he loves for her but he has to keep himself in check and is therefore not worthy of Stella.
6. As previously mentioned, Sidney follows the Italian or Petrarchan form (abbaabba) and he also makes use of end rhyme to help the poem flow better, it is also written in iambic pentameter. Sidney capitalizes and italicizes words such as reason, nature, Stella, cupid, and love to really stress these words when they are pronounced.
Sidney
1. Philip Sidney lived from November 30th, 1554- October 17th, 1586. This particular work, "Astrophil and Stella" was thought to be written around 1580 in England, Europe.
2. "Astrophil and Stella" is a series of 108 sonnets written by Philip Sidney that are of lyrical form, and follow the Petrarchan style which is an octave that goes abbaabba followed by a sestet that is either cdecde or cdcdcd. Scholars that study Sidney agree that this is true Romanticism and suggest that Astrophil is supposed to represent himself and Stella is Penelope Rich who was married to another man. In these sonnets he seems to be writing about the universal themes of love and the desire to want what you can't have. Astrophil feels that Stella is too good for him and he is not worthy of her love, and loving her brings back the things he did in his past that he is not proud of. In many of Sidney's works he speaks of the power of love on an individual, and the power of love as an emotion, and this work is a very typical style of Sidney.
2. "Astrophil and Stella" is a series of 108 sonnets written by Philip Sidney that are of lyrical form, and follow the Petrarchan style which is an octave that goes abbaabba followed by a sestet that is either cdecde or cdcdcd. Scholars that study Sidney agree that this is true Romanticism and suggest that Astrophil is supposed to represent himself and Stella is Penelope Rich who was married to another man. In these sonnets he seems to be writing about the universal themes of love and the desire to want what you can't have. Astrophil feels that Stella is too good for him and he is not worthy of her love, and loving her brings back the things he did in his past that he is not proud of. In many of Sidney's works he speaks of the power of love on an individual, and the power of love as an emotion, and this work is a very typical style of Sidney.
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