Sidney’s reasons for the superiority

~~~~~~~~~~~
Sidney’s reasons
for the superiority of poetry to history
=========
1. Definition and function of poetry:
~~~~~~~~~~
Function of poetry
is an
act of imitation, a representation, a
speaking picture, with the aim of
instructing and delighting. Poetry moves
man to virtuous action as it conveys
universal lessons in a delightful manner.
Poetry has the transporting power and
hence teaches more perfectly than
History and Philosophy.
~~~~~~~
2. Superiority to History and Philosophy:
~~~~~~~
Poetry is superior to all the other
branches of sciences, as poetry serves
true knowledge which is self knowledge.
In this respect, poetry is superior to
Philosophy and History. Philosophy deals
with abstract percepts which cannot be
understood by the young, and History
deals with concrete facts from which the
readers may have difficulty to derive
universal truths. Poetry combines both
these advantages, and presents universal
truths like philosophy through concrete
examples like History.
~~~~~~~~
3. Sidney’s views on Rhyme ~~~~~~~
Rhyme is
not the essence of poetry, and poetry is
not mere rhyming and versification. It is
used to polish speech . Rhyme regulates
verbal harmony and imparts order and
proportion ; moreover it adds a sensuous
and emotional quality to poetry and also
is an aid to memory.
~~~~~~~~
4. Different kinds of Poetry:
~~~~~~~
Religious
poetry, Philosophical Poetry and The
Right Kind of Poetry. This last kind of
poetry can be further subdivided into:

#Heroic : heroic and moral goodness is
portrayed, about heroic men in action,
inspires men to noble action
~~~~~~~
#Lyric: praise of men and God; enkindles
virtue and courage
~~~~~~
#Tragic: reveals wickedness of men and
shows their downfall, brings out the
uncertainty of life
~~~~~``
#Comic: ridicules the common errors;
effective in warning men of such follies
~~~~~~
#Satire: laughs folly out of court
Elegiac poetry: arouses sympathy for the
suffering and miserable
~~~~~~
#Pastoral: arouses sympathy and
admiration for simple life
~~~~~~~~
5. Sidney’s reply to the charges against
poetry:
~~~~~~~~
Charges
Poetry is useless and a waste of time,
there are more fruitful knowledge a man
may spend his efforts on. Reply: Poetry is
conducive to virtuous action and this has
been amply demonstrated.
Poetry is the mother of lies. Reply: the
poet affirms nothing, and therefore he
never lies. Poetry does not deal with
what is, but what should or should not
be, so there is no question of lying.
Poetry has a corrupting influence,
makes men effeminate and fills men’s
minds with pestilent desires. Reply: Love
is not bad for it shows an appreciation of
Beauty. Many martial men have admired
poets. Poetry has always moved men to
heroic action.
Plato banished poets from the Republic.
`~~~~~~~
#Reply: Plato was not against poetry, but
the abuse of poetry. Plato himself was a
born poet and a large part of his
dialogues is poetic. In fact he talks of
Poetry as divine inspiration.
~~~~~~~~~
6. Reasons for the general decline of
Poetry and Drama:
~~~~~~~~
a) Peaceful years have bred a tame and
sluggish generation devoid of the spirits
necessary for poetic creation
b) Genius
was lacking in the age
c) widespread
ignorance of poetic art
~~~~~~~~
7) Faults of contemporary tragedy:
~~~~~~
The
Senecan drama and the Aristotelian
percepts were the basis of Sidney’s
criticism.
Condemns the tragedy of his age for
the incongruous mingling of the comic
and the tragic, and the violation of the
unities. Praises only ‘Gorbuduc’
The ideal tragedy should be imitation
of a noble action which stirs ‘admiration
and commiseration’, and teaches the
uncertainty of the world.
~~~~~~~~
8) Faults of contemporary comedy:
~~~~~~~
condemns the contemporary farcical
comedy, and is in favour of a more
intellectual comedy. He distinguishes
between laughter and delight, and says
that delight is permanent while laughter
is merely scornful tickling. He points out
that comedy should not portray painful
deformity and things evil and vicious, for
these may cause laughter but cannot give
delight. The proper materials of comedy
are the weaknesses, follies and foibles of
mankind.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
9) Contemporary love poetry is
degenerate, cold and unmoving. Its style
is ornate and not suitable for the
expression of passions.
~~~~~~~~~~~
10) Diction of contemporary poets:
~~~~~~~~
use
far-fetched words and images, fon=d of
pun and word play, write in ornate
pompous style which confuses the
reader, their work neither convince nor
persuade.
English versification:
a) the English
language is superior to other continental
languages because it fits both the
classical and contemporary system of
versification
b) they have the caesura or
the breathing space in the middle which
the French and the Italian do not have
c)
English is capable of three kinds of
rhyme.