Mae Lilibeth P.

Escoro BS METE – V

Sonnet 75
Edmund Spenser

I. Brief Background about Poet

Edmund Spenser was born between 1552 and 1553, and died in 1599. He was an English poet.
Spenser’s best known work is The Faerie Queene, an epic poem that celebrates the Tudor dynasty
and Elizabeth I. Spenser was deeply influenced by Irish faerie mythology. With the Faerie Queene,
he intended to build an English national literature, following the examples of the great epic writers
(such as Homer and Virgil). The Faerie Queene is one of the longest poems in the English
language and it originated the Spenserian sonnet form. The Faerie Queene’s first books (1-3) were
published in 1590 and the rest of the books (4-6) in 1595. The poem can be read in a literal level,
but also in a fantastical allegorical level.

Moreover, Edmund Spenser is considered to be one of the greatest English poets of all time. He
wanted to create poetry that was strictly English, and he had Chaucer as his main inspiration and
reference. Between 1579 and 1580, Spenser got directly involved in Sir Philip Sidney’s literary
circle. This set him on the literary course that he pursued throughout the rest of his life. Around
that time, Spenser wrote The Shepheardes Calender, his first major poetic work. The Shepheardes
Calender is a cycle of pastorals that are greatly influenced by Virgil’s Eclogues. He used archaic
spelling to relate his work with medieval literature and, particularly, Chaucer’s works. In
1591, Complaints, Containing Sundrie Small Poemes of the Worlds Vanitie was published, and
some years later, in 1595, Amoretti and Epithalamion was published.

II. Summary

In summary, Spenser tells us that he wrote his beloved’s name on the beach one day, but the waves
came in and washed the name away. He wrote his beloved’s name out a second time, but again the
tide came in and obliterated it, as if deliberately targeting the poet’s efforts (‘pains’) with its
destructive waves.

Spenser’s beloved chastises him for his hubris and arrogance in seeking to immortalize her in this
way, when she is but a woman, and only mortal. Her body will itself decay one day, much as her
name has disappeared from the sand; her ‘name’, as in all memory of her, will be wiped out, just
as her (literal) name has been erased from the shore.

Spenser responds to his beloved, arguing that whilst it is truer that less beautiful and fine things
are mortal and will perish, someone as beautiful as she is deserves to live forever – not literally,
but through lasting fame. Her name will live on thanks to his writing. My poetry, he concludes in
the final four lines, will immortalize your rare qualities, and write your name in the heavens; so
that in the afterlife together we will have a richer life, because I have praised your name so.

III. Analysis of the Elements

a. Rhythmic pattern

Óne dăy/ Ĭ wróte/ hĕr name/ ŭpón/ thĕ stránd, iambic pentameter
Bŭt cáme/ thĕ wáves/ ănd wáshed/ ĭt á/wăy: iambic pentameter
Ăgáin/ Ĭ wróte/ ĭt wíth/ ă sé/cŏnd hánd, iambic pentameter
Bŭt cáme/ thĕ tíde/, ănd máde/ my páins/ hĭs préy. iambic pentameter

b. Rhyme scheme

One day I wrote her name upon the strand, a

But came the waves and washed it away b
Again I wrote it with a second hand, a
But came the tide, and made my pains his prey. b

Vain man, said she, that doest in vain assay, b

A mortal thing so to immortalize. c
 For I myself shall like to this decay, b
And eek my name be wiped out likewise. c

Not so, quod I, let baser things devise c

To die in dust, but you shall live by fame: d
My verse your virtues rare shall eternize, c
And in the heavens write your glorious name, d

Where when as death shall all the world subdue, e

Our love shall live, and later life renew. e

c. Imagery

One day I wrote her name upon the strand visual imagery
But came the waves and washed it a way auditory imagery
Again I wrote it with a second hand visual imagery
But came the tide, and made my pains his prey. visual imagery

d. Figurative Language

But came the tide, and made my pains his prey Personification

A mortal thing so to immortalize Assonance

But came the waves and washed it a way

Vain man, said she, that doest in vain assay

To die in dust, but you shall live by fame

My verse your virtues rare shall eternize

Where when as death shall all the world subdue

Our love shall live, and later life renew

And in the heavens write your glorious name Hyperbole

e. Tone

The tone of the poem, or the lyrical voice, is optimistic and romantic. Even though his
lover told him that she will perish in time, he is hopeful that she will be eternalize
forever by writing his love for her.

f. Theme

The theme of the poem is immortal and love. The lyrical voice wants to immortalize
his lover by putting her essence into his writings.

g. Symbol

Tide, waves – time

Verse – his love for her in words
Name – existence, memory