Love Through the Ages Pre-1900 Anthology Context Flashcards
Thomas Wyatt, Who so list to hount I knowe where is an hynde
PETRARCHAN
Thomas Wyatt’s father was a privy counsellor to both Henry VII and Henry VIII, Thomas Wyatt was also in the court of Henry VIII.
Originally he held minor roles serving the king, and in doing these roles he was noticed by Henry and ended up in the king’s favour.
It was also at this time that Wyatt became acquainted with Anne Boleyn, the king’s mistress and soon-to-be wife.
Anne was tried with adultery and though Wyatt was not one of the four men accused, he was also imprisoned.
William Shakespeare, Sonnet 116
PETRARCHAN
Though Wyatt introduced the sonnet, Shakespeare became the most famous practitioner.
Shakespeare tells the story using characters of whom the poems are addressed to: the poet; the fair youth; the dark lady; and the rival poet.
The sonnet form didn’t become widely popular in England until the 1590s, and almost all Renaissance sonnet sequences were narrated by a male passionately in love with a female, Shakespeare wanted to defy these stereotypes. Rather than depicting a desperate unrequited love, he painted a steady relationship between two that reciprocate the love they have for one another. Rather than a doomed ship, Shakespeare describes images of safe, responsible navigation in order to depict what stable happiness might look like.
John Donne, The Flea
METAPHYSICAL
John Donne also presents us with a melodramatic persona who is determined to engage in sexual relations with his beloved before they marry. However, alongside the drama Donne’s poem is full of innuendo and ribald comedy. His dramatic tone only serves to amplify the humour.
Sonnets became popular in England in the 1590s after Sir Philip Sidney’s ‘Astrophil and Stella’ in 1590.
Love poetry became the most exciting and prestigious kind of poetry.
Draws on a tradition of ‘flea’ poetry that dates back to the Roman poet Ovid.
Playful argument that implies virginity to be unimportant (at the time it is likely considered the most important- Elizabeth I)
Andrew Marvell, To His Coy Mistress
METAPHYSICAL
Andrew Marvell was an associate of John Donne and used logic and reason in his poetry to form an argument
- Carpe Diem attitude
Marvell lived through the English civil war fought between Royalists and Parliamentarians (1642-1651) over religious freedoms and the governance of England, Scotland and Ireland; the Parliamentarians won.
This resulted in the English Interregnum (a period when normal government is suspended, especially between successive reigns or regimes), which was a very uncertain time. This denotes the period between the execution of Charles I (1649) and the beginning of Charles II’s reign (1660); a period of no monarch.
- time of Oliver Cromwell
Marvell’s political beliefs at the time were unclear; some of his poems demonstrated a royalist attitude, whilst others portrayed Charles I as incompetent and praised Oliver Cromwell.
- used his travelling experience as a factor in favour of his argument
He kept his true allegiance a secret, managing to win the favour of both Parliamentarians and Royalists and managed to escape any punishment under the restoration of the monarchy after having worked for Cromwell, retaining his place of MP for Hull under both governments.
Marvell wrote satirical poetry about the monarchy, which was so dangerous that it could not be published during his lifetime. Works were published either anonymously or posthumously, and one such work got the printer imprisoned and a reward established for the identification of the author.
- second generation of metaphysical poets
CAVALIER POETRY
The Cavalier poets were a group of men in the court of King Charles I who wrote poetry to be read at court, mainly to entertain men.
Originally the term ‘Cavalier’ meant mounted solider or knight, attributed to poets as an insult, suggesting they were ‘roistering gallants’ (boisterous would-be-heroes). However, it was claimed by those who supported Charles I.
Cavalier poetry was witty, focused on love, beauty and sex and portrayed a Carpe Diem attitude (much like the metaphysical poets).
- The poetry was well received amongst the patriarchal male audience to which it was performed.
Richard Lovelace, The Scrutiny
CAVALIER
Born into a wealthy military family as the first of 8 children.
His father was honoured by King James I with knighthood, and Lovelace would continue this tradition of loyalty to the crown.
At 16, he was appointed ‘Gentleman Wayter Extraordinary’ to the king, an honorary position.
Studied at Oxford and earned his degree at 18.
During the conflict between King and parliament, he was chosen by the royalists to go to the House of Commons in order to demand the restoration of the king’s absolute authority; he was imprisoned. When released, he returned to the king’s service.
He spent some time abroad and was imprisoned again, but by the time he was released, the king had been executed.
The final years of his life were spent relatively unknown, his fortune exhausted on behalf of the king and he died in 1658 from unknown causes.
Lovelace was known as the embodiment of a Cavalier poet, he was considered attractive and charming which made him a popular addition to the court of King James I and Queen Henrietta.
The most amiable and beautiful person that ever eye beheld; a person also of innate modesty, virtue and courtly deportment, which made him then, but especially after, when he retired to the great city, much admired and adored by the female sex”~ Anthony Wood, contemporary.
Lovelace wrote poetry in college to raise his reputation as a Cavalier, he also used it as a pastime during his time imprisoned and abroad; he wrote over 200 poems.
n college he tried to portray himself as a social connoisseur rather than a scholar; he wrote to praise friends, give advice, define a relationship, articulate the precise amount of attention a man owes a woman, celebrate beauty and to persuade to love.
THE RESTORATION
In 1660 Charles II returned from 19 years of exile and the monarchy was restored.
Theatres reopened after being closed, Puritanism lost momentum and bawdy ‘Restoration comedy’ became recognised as a genre. Women were allowed to perform as professional actresses on stage for the first time.
Charles II was known as the Merry Monarch, referencing his hedonistic, lively court and the general relief felt with the return to normality after more than 10 years under rule of Oliver Cromwell and the Puritans. Charles had no legitimate children, but recognised more than a dozen illegitimate offspring from various mistresses.
John Wilmot, A Song (Absent from thee)
rarely met his father, but inherited his title. His father had been a loyal servant to the exiled king, so John too inherited the kings goodwill.
He was the embodiment of the new era; became infamous for his wild behaviour and was celebrated for his poetry.
Andrew Marvell described him as “the best English satirist”.
His life was split between domesticity in the countryside and a disruptive existence at court; his behaviour led to a reputation of “wickedest man in England”.
Unusually for the time, he was an atheist who put little value on morality.
He died aged 33 from effects of venereal disease and alcoholism.
He was reported to have renounced his atheism and liberalism on his deathbed.
