The Elizabethan Era is characterized by many things. The list below gives you the most prominent characteristics of poetry from this time period.
1. The period has the great variety of almost unlimited creative force; it includes works of many kinds in both verse and prose, and ranges in spirit from the loftiest Platonic idealism or the most delightful romance to the level of very repulsive realism.
2. It was mainly dominated, however, by the spirit of romance.
3. It was full also of the spirit of dramatic action, as befitted an age whose restless enterprise was eagerly extending itself to every quarter of the globe.
4. In style it often exhibits romantic luxuriance, which sometimes takes the form of elaborate affectations of which the favorite 'conceit' is only the most apparent.
5. It was in part a period of experimentation, when the proper material and limits of literary forms were being determined, oftentimes by means of false starts and grandiose failures. In particular, many efforts were made to give prolonged poetical treatment to many subjects essentially prosaic, for example to systems of theological or scientific thought, or to the geography of all England.
6. It continued to be largely influenced by the literature of Italy, and to a less degree by those of France and Spain.
7. The literary spirit was all-pervasive, and the authors were men (not yet women) of almost every class, from distinguished courtiers, like Ralegh and Sidney, to the company of hack writers, who starved in garrets and hung about the outskirts of the bustling taverns.
( courtesey of classiclit.com)
After reviewing this criteria use one of the two poems, " The Power of Music" or "The Merry Beggars" and describe how they fit into the Elizabethan Era. Use the links below to read either poem. Be sure to note the stylized structure of the poems in regard to the recent blog on postmodernism.
"The Power of Music"
http://www.poetry-archive.com/f/the_power_of_music.html
"The Merry Beggars"
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-merry-beggars/
posted by Jessie, Margaret, and Christiana
Even in a world where we are busy going are separate directions, simple pastimes or hobbies like music bring us together. This was even the case centuries ago during periods like the Elizabethan Era, as shown by John Fletcher. This Era is marked by dramatics and creativity and romance, all of which are shown through “The Power of Music”. Using allusions to the God “Orpheus with his lute made trees” as well as personification when saying “Even the billows of the seas/Hung their heads” to bow, Fletcher shows the characteristics of the time periods writing. It is important to note that the poem follows a structured rhyme scheme unlike the poems of the postmodern era that we have read, showing the dramatic creativity with limitations. The romantic theme comes to play in this poem through its relation to nature and its description of “plants and flowers”, “sun and showers”, and referring “sweet music” to “art”. The Elizabethan Era, like all eras, left a bold impact on the society of that time period with its notable focus on romanticism.
ReplyDeleteRomanticism at it's best within the Elizabethan Era, appears playful and free in, "The Merry Beggars," by Richard Brome. He uses birds to depict his theory of unrestrained love because they have no sense of physical attachment or bind to a physical home. The home, however, is with each other, "from bush to bush," and, "tree to tree," their home is the world. Their calls of love are a simple, "cuckcoo," and a, "jug, jug, jug," as the male calls to his mate, and she returns the favor. Brome's creativity flourishes as he depicts a love so pure an free in animals, but the bond is just as strong. He encourages lovers to, "come away," from the burdens and challenges, "why do [they] stay." They are completely free from the restrains of, "debt or rent," that encompasses the adult human lifestyle, but hey stay because nothing else matters, except the love. Thus, making everything surrounding love obsolete, overshadowed by the effects of the beauty of love's entirety.
ReplyDeleteIn the poem, "The Merry Beggars" by Richard Brome, dramatic action is revealed by the symbolism of lovers calling to one another as the birds "chirp a note." As the male "cuckoo[s]" to his lover, she sends him a "jug jug jug" through the air" in her sweetness." This dramatic action of lover's calling to one another is also furthered by the intense romance of the Elizabethan Era. This is seen in the "taste of delight" that the birds feel for one another, as they decide that although they coax one another to "come away", "when all the world's our own before us," they realize that "from bush to bush: from tree to tree" it does not matter where they are located as long as they are there together to relish in their "kingdom" of love. Therefore, it is seen that the presence of romance is strong throughout the poem, thus relating it to a work of the Elizabethan Era.
ReplyDelete@Allsion- good attention to the details of the poem and how they connect to history and style of the Elizabethean era
ReplyDelete@Jessica- you explained very well how Brome's theory is illustrated in his poem, especially his use of the birds as a symbol for people in love, free from society's brands
@Ciara- the Elizabethean era really was a period full of passion and romance. Brome does take a dramatic point of view through the use of the mating birds
In the poem "The Power of Music" by John Fletcher, the ideas and themes of the Elizabethan Era are prevalent. The idea of unlimited creativity is shown through the rhyme pattern. There is no constant pattern through out the poem making it opposite of the poetry from the postmodernist era. John Fletcher does not follow the instructions for a typical sonnet or AB AB poem. Another Elizabethan theme is the spirit of romance and the connection to Italy. The "suns and showers" and "a lasting spring" relate to the spirit of romance because spring starts the beginning of new life not only in the natural world but in the human world. The warm feeling given off by the poem gives a sense of spring and the large pastures of poppies that cover the Italian country side. The connection to nature in this poem almost makes it part of the modernist era but the spirit of romance and time period keep it in the Elizabethan era.
ReplyDeleteIn John Fletcher's poem, "The Power of Music", the Elizabethean era can be observed in poem's romantic feel that Fletcher directs toward his subject. Fletcher is very affectionate and emotional," In sweet music is such art" which gives the reader the impression that Fletcher has a positive attitude towards music. This affection and emotion also surges through the closing lines, "Everything that heard him play, Even the billows of the sea, Hung their heads, and then lay by" which gives the reader a surge of emotions because Fletcher personifies objects that are not real, causing the poem to rely on emotion rather than realistic thoughts, which is a major characteristic of romance. In addition, The poem can be characterized as Elizabethean because not only is John Fletcher a male, which was a common trait, but his poetry is free from restriction of structure.
ReplyDeleteTo start I would like to say I really enjoyed the poem "The Power of Music".
ReplyDelete"The Power of Music" by John Fletcher fits perfectly into the Elizabethan style of poetry for many reasons. First John Fletcher is a male poet and not a woman, which would have been unheard of during that time period. Secondly the author portrays a romantic characteristic of this poem through the diction and the plot of the novel. By using phrases like "Hung their heads, and then lay by./In sweet music is such art" he distinguishes his diction as romantic by relatiing it to his love for music and the arts. He does this by using lush words and personifying nature. The plot also consists of romanticism by the drama of his meloncholy ending to the poem. This poem shows Elizabethan traits through its structure. Postmodern poems ( which are opposite of Elizabethan poems) have no structure and lack a form, and while Elizabethan structures do not follow the previous formats, they create their own structure that adds to the romantic notion. Like in the poem, John Flectcher uses an AABCCB form, which is not commonly seen and unique.
Richard Brome exemplifies the Elizabethan style of literature and poetry in his poem "The Merry Beggars." Brome uses incredibly eloquent language to convey his message to the reader, making the poem flowery and romantic in the process. The cheerful, carefree nature of the birds at the beginning of the poem shows the free-spiritedness of the Elizabethan writing while at the same time stays within guidelines of the time with its distinct rhyming pattern. While it cannot be classified as an Elizabethan sonnet, the previously stated rhyme scheme within Brome's poem keeps it somewhat within guidelines of what was allowed at the time. The romantic, happy, carefree nature of the poem is also evident when Brome says that "We have no debt or rent to pay" and that there are "No bargains or accounts to make." These rebellious acts, along with the charge to take advantage of "...all the world..before us" further describe the restless enterprise that occurred during the Elizabethan age.
ReplyDelete@HaleySims- I liked how you connected romanticism with a closeness to nature. You also suggested that spring and the new life it brings with it is a romantic notion that contributes to the poem fitting into the Elizabethan era. Very insightful!
ReplyDelete@alex mertes- I like how you picked up on the writer's affectionate and emotional attitude toward music and his art of poetry. I also enjoyed your comment that "Fletcher personifies objects that are not real, causing the poem to rely on emotion rather than realistic thoughts". Great Job!
@lindsay- I liked how you pointed out that Fletcher's own love for music and the arts contributed to the romanticism of the poem. Also I'm glad you enjoyed the poem. Great Job!
@dan.wilson- Way to pick up on the relentless enterprise characteristic of the Elizabethan era that influenced the poem. I'm glad you branched out from the rest of the blog posts and mentioned a different facet of elizabethan poetry. Go Dan!
The Elizabethan era was one of the most diverse in literary history. It was an era that included all types of poems from all types of ethnic origins and influences, written by all different types of poets. In spite of each poem's uniqueness, they all shared common traits. Richard Brome's "The Merry Beggars" is the epitome of an Elizabethan poem. "The Merry Beggars" does not fit a prior form of poetry, but it does have structure. Each stanza is made up of four couplets, and then a group of three lines that rhyme. This openness of form and style was very common and popular in the era. In addition, the subject of the poem did not have to fit in a specific category. Elizabethan poems did not have to meet the requirement of being about love, nature, or emotion. They simply had to be about whatever the poet felt like expressing. Brome is careful to follow this tradition - "The Merry Beggars" is about a group of free-spirited bohemians going off to play. Finally, Elizabethan poems were exaggerated, humorous, and almost luxurious. Brome's dramatic nature and propensity for excess are evident throughout the poem. He encourages his friends to "Come away!" and that the world is their "kingdom and court." The end result is a slightly sarcastic, cheerful, and free-form poem.
ReplyDeleteIn John Fletcher’s “The Power of Music” Elizabethan themes are apparent. To start, the rhyme scheme is unique to poetry of the time (AABCCB form). Also, romantic elements are found throughout the poem. Fletcher says, “In sweet music is such art / Killing care and grief of heart.” He also tells how Orpheus plays his “lute” and makes the “trees” and “mountain-tops…bow” depicting a whimsical air to the poem. Fletcher’s diction tells the reader he has a positive view of nature as he describes it as “sweet” and the “plants and flowers…sprung” from the earth into a “lasting spring.” The whimsical spirit of the poem, as well as its romantic description of nature, classifies it as a poem of the Elizabethan era.
ReplyDeleteIn "The Power of Music" by John Fletcher elements of the Elizabethan era are very present. The form and pattern of rhyming is not free-verse however there is no particular rhyming patern, which is a major creative characteristic of the era. The poem could also be considered romantic through the connections with nature when he says, "To his music plants and flowers Ever sprung; as sun and showers
ReplyDeleteThere had made a lasting spring. He also says,
"In sweet music is such art, Killing care and grief of heart Fall asleep, or, hearing, die", and in this it is the heart break and sense of hopeless-romantic feeling that coincide with the Elizabethan Era. Also the fact that a man wrote this poem is also another characteristic of the era because only men were accomplished writers in this day and time. This poem is the epitome of Elizabethan poetry.
The “Merry Beggars” exemplifies Elizabethan poetry at its best. Brome utilizes the bird as a prime element to show the nature of love. Love can be unpredictable just like the birds always traveling from “bush to bush” and “tree to tree”. You never know exactly when the bird is going to fly away or where it is going to land. It is a mystery. This is furthered in his use of the song the birds sing. Why is it that only one other bird loves another bird’s song? This furthers the power of love. The idea that everyone is meant for someone is prevalent in this idea. “Cuckoo he cries” this cry settles with the mate and she responds, “Jug, Jug, Jug”. It is almost as if they are speaking a language only the two soul mates can understand. This enhances the free spirit of love. Love chooses the two that belong together and through special ways such as language and actions it works is course. The “Merry Beggars” shows the ways of love in a complete Elizabethan style poem.
ReplyDeleteIt was during the Elizabethan age that England felt the complete effect of the Renaissance. There occurred a revival of the old and classical literature of Greece and Rome and this was manifested in the poetry of the age. An allusion to the greek poet Orpheus appears in the first line of “The Power of Music”. The Elizabethan age was characterized by an extreme spirit of adventure, aestheticism and materialism which became the characteristic features of Elizabethan poetry. The spirit deals with nature, an adventurous aspect of the poem. The love and emotion in “killing care and grief of heart” shows the prominent romantic tone in the poem. The poem is filled with dramatic imagery from bowing mountain tops to billows of the sea hanging their heads, once again another characteristic of Elizabethan poetry.
ReplyDeleteThe Elizabethan Era is “mainly dominated by romance.” In Richard Brome’s poem, “The Merry Beggars,” there is quite a bit of romance, despite the light-hearted nature of the poem. In the poem, which is concretely written about birds, one can see the playfulness of a sweet relationship metaphorically within the poem. In fact, brome paints the picture of a loving, carefree, very flirtatious relationship. The Elizabethan Era also is well-known for its creative spirit. The fact that Brome uses birds to represent the relationship he is talking about allows the poem to fit in even more with the Elizabethan Era because it offers a creative edge. In the poem, Brome writes, “But above all the nightingale, Who in her sweetness strives t'outdo, The loudness of the hoarse cuckoo.” This part of the poem suggests a very flirtatious interaction. By using “sweetness strives t’outdo” he offers the image of a very light-hearted competition. He goes on to mention in the next stanza debt, rent, bargains, and accounts. He then proceeds to play them off like they are no big deal, suggesting love under the best and worst conditions. This creatively, romantic poem clearly belongs in the Elizabethan Era.
ReplyDelete@Erin - I liked your description of Elizabethan poetry as "almost luxurious". Very interesting. Good Job!
ReplyDelete@Virginia Cox - Good Job. I'm glad you picked up on the whimsical tone of the poem.
@sarah bass-I liked how you picked up on the sense of hopeless romanticism. Great Job!
@Ray- Very well written! Good attention to how the bird is a symbol of love
ReplyDelete@Emily- I love how you tied the poem into the actual history and development of the Elizabethan era, especially with the connection to classical literature. Good job!
@Brooks- I agree that this poem is very light- hearted and that it fits very well into the deeply romantic Era. Great response!