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.