"Men Call You Fair" by Edmund Spenser
Spenser describes the praise a beautiful woman receives and exposes the futility in looking to fleeting, outer beauty. This is a common theme mimicked throughout poetry, prose, and biblical text. Spenser then juxtaposes what the speaker values with what the majority of others value in a woman. He relates that “gentle wit” and “virtuous mind” received much more of his admiration than dazzling physical attractiveness. Describing the plight of such ideas, Spenser expresses the surprise the men will come to find when the women “lose that glorious hue.” Spenser has an elevated, contemplative tone. This is seen as Spenser continues to ponder the true meaning of beauty with depth and honesty. There is a shift when Spenser transfers from focusing on the earthly view of beauty to the heavenly view of beauty.
Employing alliteration, he explains that only true splendor is “free from frail corruption.” Many of the ideas expressed in this poem mirror biblical morals. Spenser continues with the religious motif by illustrating that all things lovely are derived from “that fair Spirit, from whom all true and perfect beauty did at first proceed.” He goes on to explain that only through the Spirit can true beauty ever be found. Utilizing a simile, Spenser ends with a powerful line describing how all other beautiful people “like flowers untimely fade.” This sonnet contains romantic, wistful diction that paints the picture of the speaker’s conclusions about the nature of true loveliness. Spenser concludes that true beauty is not a striking face and a stunning figure, but instead it is something only bestowed upon the soul of others by God.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
poetry response
Poetry Response: “A Barefoot Boy” by James Whitcomb Riley
This sonnet paints the image of a young boy and his delight in a lazy summer day spent rambling outside in nature. Riley utilizes an “abba” rhyme scheme. The first octave describes the appearance of the boy with his “dirty trousers” and “bare ankles grimy.” The depiction of the boy is messy, laid-back, and youthful. Riley describes, “[The] feverish stripes, hint vividly to me/ of woody pathways winding endlessly.” The line suggests the adventures of the boy wandering through the wilderness. This is a familiar image of a relaxed boy finding glee in the beauty of the summer and nature. The short, quick lines mimic the excited shouts and exclamations of an adolescent boy.
The sestet is used to shift from describing the appearance and disposition of the boy to depicting an event. Riley illustrates the way the boy leapt into the cold water and concealed his chill by yelling “warm.” His uncomfortable chill is overcome by his glee. The boy was “never with lack/ of joy.” Riley reveals his half envy at the “graceless barefoot and his track.” It seems that Riley covets the carefree innocence and unencumbered delight the boy experiences in his experience with nature. He ends with an unconventional portrayal of the boy’s stubbed toenail “knocked back/ like unto the clasp of an old pocketbook.” Riley captures nature’s enchantment and the way it can thrill carefree youth.
This sonnet paints the image of a young boy and his delight in a lazy summer day spent rambling outside in nature. Riley utilizes an “abba” rhyme scheme. The first octave describes the appearance of the boy with his “dirty trousers” and “bare ankles grimy.” The depiction of the boy is messy, laid-back, and youthful. Riley describes, “[The] feverish stripes, hint vividly to me/ of woody pathways winding endlessly.” The line suggests the adventures of the boy wandering through the wilderness. This is a familiar image of a relaxed boy finding glee in the beauty of the summer and nature. The short, quick lines mimic the excited shouts and exclamations of an adolescent boy.
The sestet is used to shift from describing the appearance and disposition of the boy to depicting an event. Riley illustrates the way the boy leapt into the cold water and concealed his chill by yelling “warm.” His uncomfortable chill is overcome by his glee. The boy was “never with lack/ of joy.” Riley reveals his half envy at the “graceless barefoot and his track.” It seems that Riley covets the carefree innocence and unencumbered delight the boy experiences in his experience with nature. He ends with an unconventional portrayal of the boy’s stubbed toenail “knocked back/ like unto the clasp of an old pocketbook.” Riley captures nature’s enchantment and the way it can thrill carefree youth.
Friday, February 4, 2011
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