Sir Philip Sidney has been a prominent figure of the Elizabethan age as an English

poet and scholar.He embarks on the journey for the defence of poetry in several of
his prominent works to be called a literary patron.
It is his finest achievements in the world of literature that has made successive
poets after him regard Sidney to be the greatest Elizabethan sonneteer after
Shakespeare.The finesse in his work lies in the style of writing which is melodious
and picturesque rather than artificial and ornamental.

Sidney's defense was a significant contribution to the genre of literary criticism.

A Defence of Poesie is one of the most important contribution to literary theory
written in English during the Renaissance. Sidney advocates a place for poetry
within the framework of an aristocratic state, while showing concern for both
literary and national identity. When Stephen Gosson in 1579 published the book The
School of Abuse which attacked poets and actors while simultaneously questioned the
morality of their fictitious works,Philip Sidney volunteered to present his own
opinions on this very subject.Gosson offers what is in essence an attack on
imaginative literature while Sidney in An Apology for Poetry provides an argument
in the favour of fiction-making.Although he does not name Gosson anywhere, he
rebuts a lot of his points from The School of Abuse.The prime emphasis is laid on
the practical application and cultural importance of poetry, not just historically
but also for the times to come.
Many times throughout the writing he adopts the opinions and thoughts of many Greek
and Roman philosophers, including that of Plato.Poesy,is an art of imitation, for
so Aristotle terms it in his word mimēsis, that is to say, a representing,
counterfeiting, or figuring forth; to speak metaphorically, a speaking picture,
with this end,—to teach and delight.Sidney writes, “There is no art delivered to
mankind that hath not the works of nature for his principal object , without which
they could not consist, and on which they so depend, as they become actors and
players, as it were, of what nature will have set forth.” He claims that poetry
could not exist without nature as inspiration and because nature is a direct result
of God’s creativity, poetry has a certain sense of divinity that cannot be
ignored.In contrast to Gosson,Sidney proposes that poets are not limited by the
rules of reality and this absence of limitation provides room for unlimited
imagination.How he describes poets to be in control of themselves, unaffected by
the outside influences also hints at his adoption of the sense of individualism,
birthed during the Renaissance.
While comparing poetry to Philosophy and History,he claims poets to have the best
traits of Philosophers and Historians combined.While historians are trapped in the
past,philospohers dedicate all their time to the future thus forgetting about the
present.In his argument he recognises poetry to be an artistic perspective combined
of both.
His response to the charges against poetry by Plato as well as Gosson contribute to
English literary criticism.Sidney addresses the accusations that poets are liars or
falsifiers by claiming someone cannot lie if they never attempt to tell the truth
in the first place.
His main points and arguments speak of his rationality .
Sidney argued that poetry calls men to action and nobility. This idea even
influenced later authors like PERCY SHELLY, SAMUEL COLERIDGE, AND WILLIAM
WORDSWORTH.Furthermore,his gifts to his contemporaries were his respect for
tradition and willingness to experiment.

CONCLUSION:
Sidney used his defense to claim that poetry has more of a place in society than
other sciences and writing styles. This essay has stood the test of time because
while he makes valid arguments in a methodical and well-organized way, he also
infuses the piece with humor that makes it an easy read. Poetry is an important
part of the world and should not be dismissed because of the feelings of society at
any given time.