critical analysis of 1st 30 paragraphs of an apology for poetry or defence of poesy which include introduction of philip sydney, theme, summary, literary devices and key points of paragraphs with textual examples.

1. An Apology Of
Poetry
Critical analysis
Paragraph 1-30

2. Group 1
Shua e Zahra bsf1700265
Mahnam bsf1700720
Anam Mustafa bsf1700606
Nimra habib bsf1700661
Kainat asim bsf1700630
Aysha Nabila bsf1700435

3. Shua e Zahra
bsf1700265
Paragraph 1-4

4. Philip Sidney
• 30 November 1554 - 17 October 1586
• Neoclassical writer(era nestled between renaissance and romantic)
• Versatile genius, soldier, courtier, scholar
• Prominent figure of Elizabethan age
• Jewel of Queen Elizabeth’s crown
• Ripest statesman of his age

5. Major works
• Arcadia (long prose romance)
• The Lady of May(relating to Queen Elizabeth I)
• Astrophel and Stella (journey of a man and woman who are
experiencing love)
• Apology for Poetry (Literary Criticism)

6. Synopsis of I section
• Define poetry
• Teacher of all sciences
• Found among all civilization
• Roman’s use vates for both poets and prophets
• Poetry with reference of Aristotle
• Sidney’s definition :
“A representing, counterfeiting or figuring-forth to speak
metaphorically, a speaking picture- with the end, to teach and delight.”

7. Kinds of poetry
• Religious
• Philosophical
• Initiative and creative

8. Paragraph 1
 Themes
• Horse riding
• Self-love (self love is better than any gilding to make that seem gorgeous wherein
ourselves be parties)
 Literary devices
• Paradox: (master of war and ornaments of peace,speedy goers and strong
abiders)

9. • Juxtaposition (comparison of two different ideas, characters or objects)
• Humor (to have wished myself a horse)
• Symbolism ( horseriding symbolizes status)
• References (Edward Watton, John Pietro Pugliano)
• Allusions (historical i.e Emperor’s court)

10. Analysis
• Begins with anecdote act as exordium/introduction
• First person writing (author own perspective Or point of view)
• Horse riding related to aristocracy
• Does not take Pugliano in too serious way

11. Paragraph 2
 Themes
• Defence of poetry
 Literary devices
• Humor(slipped into title of poet)
• strong adjective (pitiful defense of poor poetry)
• Archaic language (followeth, hath)
• Allusion (mythological i.e. Muses)

12. Analysis
• Pitifull defence of poor poetry ironic
• Defend poetry for his own sake

13. Paragraph 3
 Themes
• Light giver
 Literary devices
• Personification
1. first nurse whose milk by little and little enabled them to feed afterwards of
tougher
Knowledge
Strong adjective
2. Charming sweetness the wild untamed wits to an admiration of knowledge

14. 3. Stony and beastly people
• Allusions
1. Mythological i.e Vipers,Orpheus,Linus,Amphion
2.
Historical(Musaeus,Homer,Hesiod,Thebes,Dante,Gower,Chaucer,Boccace,Petrar
ch)
• References (Hedgehog,Livius Andronicus,Ennius)
• Archaic (hath,nay)

15. Analysis
• Education involved memorizing of many poems
• Probably has nursery rhyme in mind
• Priority in literary and intellectual history
• First form of literature and instruction

16. Paragraph 4
Themes
• Poetry in philosophy
Literary devices
• Allusions
1. Historical (Thales, Empedocles, Permenides, Pythagoras, Phocylides, Solon,
Plato)
2. Mythological (Apollo’s garden)

17. References
1. Historical i.e Athens
2. Inter textual i.e Gyge’s Ring
• Archaic (standeth)
• Strong vocabulary (burgresses)
• strong adjective (delicacy of walk)

18. Analysis
• Distinct separation of literature is modern phenomena
• best classical authors, regardless of topic, used poetic
techniques in their writing.

19. Mahnam
(bsf1700720)
Paragraph no 6 to 10

20. Paragraph 5
Main Theme
History representative of poetry
Literary Devices
 Historical reference Herodotus
 Mythological References Muses
 Satire long narration put in the mouth of greats
kings and captains
 Strong Vocabulary usurped, denied,

21. Analysis
The Nine Greek Muses
● Calliope, the Muse of epic poetry
● Clio, the Muse of history
● Erato, the Muse of lyric poetry
● Euterpe, the Muse of music
● Melpomene, the Muse of tragedy
● Polyhymnia, the Muse of sacred poetry
● Terpsichore, the Muse of dance and chorus
● Thalia, the Muse of comedy and idyllic poetry
● Urania, the Muse of astronomy

22. Analysis
1. Classical authors, regardless of topic, use poetic techniques in writing .
2. The great historians, such as Herodotus, “either stole or usurped” from
poetry
● description of human emotions,
● the details of historical events
● the orations

23. Paragraph no. 6
Main Theme
● Poetry’s superiority over philosophy and history
● Importance of poets
Literary Devices
● Symbolism passport of poetry, fruit of knowledge
● Archaic language flouristeth, goeth
● Historical reference Anglo-Saxon. Danes, Areyto, bard
● Complex syntax clauses are connected with commas
● Strong Adjectives hard dull, sweet delights, softened, sharpened

24. Analysis
● Sidney travelled across Europe and had personal experience too is indicated by
examples
○ Turkey
○ Ireland
○ Indians
● Poets are important figures in these societies either they (societies) are educated or
not
● Areytos, Taino language word by Spanish colonizers to describe a dance and religious
song for praising their gods
● Bard is a composer and recite heroic poetry
● Some of whom refers to Edward 1 in Thomas Gray's poem The Bard

25. Paragraph no. 7
Main Theme
● Vates - prophets
● Arguments from Traditions
Literary Devices
● Mythological References Delpho and Sibylla's prophecies
● Simile as much as diviner
● Historical reference vaticinium, vaticinari, Albinus
● Inter-textual reference Virgil’s lines
● Name for poetry scorned skills, heart-ravishing
knowledge
● Archaic language cometh, serveth

26. Analysis 7
● Names given to poetry now the scorned skill
● Roman called poets as vates explains that Sidney puts great values on
etymology
● He mentions the various cultural practices that linked poetry and
prophecy, such as the sortes Virgilianae.
● Sibylla's prophecies were made by goddess and as Sidney was a
Renaissance poet, there were female poets in the Renaissance. But
Sidney does seem to have a male poet in mind.

27. Paragraph no.8
Main Theme
Prophecy in a poetic manner
Literary Devices
● Religious reference /Biblical Reference David's Psalms
● Historical reference Hebricians
● Personification prosopopoeias
● Archaic language deserveth
● Symbolism everlasting beauty
● Strong Vocabulary reasonableness,
beasts’joyfulness,
hill’s leaping, heavenly poesy

28. Analysis 8
The concept that religious verses are also in form of poetry Sidney gave
example of
● David's Psalms
○ 150 poetic hyms
○ In form and style it is poetic
○ Metaphor and simile use in Psalms
● Link between poetry and religious virtues because modern critiques of
poetry were that they corrupts the morals of their audience.

29. Paragraph no. 9
Main Theme
Connection btw Poetry and Nature
Literary Devices
● Historical reference: poiein, Greek
● Inter-textual reference: therein, and thou shalt not err
● Archaic language: hath, seeth,doth,standeth,saith,thou,err,shalth
Complex Syntax

30. Analysis 9
● Turning to Greek, Sidney notes that in Greek a poet is called poietes.
, which literally means “maker.”
● Sidney’s faith in etymology. Here, translating the Greek word poietes.
● Sidney feels that this is a very good name, because, while all other
arts have to do with “the works of nature”

31. Paragraph no. 10
Main Theme
Poetry as nature's imitation
Literary Devices
● Allusions: heroes, demi-gods, cyclops,
chimera,furies
● Symbolism: her world- nature
● Strong Vocabulary: vigour, tapestry, divers
● Archaic language: doth, bringeth, goeth
● Strong Adjectives: sweet smelling flowers, pleasent rivers,
fruitful trees, much loves earth, brazen,
golden

32. Analysis 10
Poet as an imitator Sidney says that poet has ability to create a new world
Sidney makes the extremely bold claim that the poet “goeth hand in hand”
with nature as an equal—and so that the poet in a way rivals God on earth.
The poet creates a perfect, “golden” world.

33. Anam Mustafa
bsf1700606
Paragraph 11-15

34. Paragraph 11
 Theme: Creation
 Literary devices:
 Inter textual reference Theagenes,Pylades,Orlando,Xenophon’s Cyrus, Virgil’s Aeneas
 Allusions
• Historical Cyrus
• Religious Adam
 Strong vocabulary fore conceit, valiant, artificer
 Archaic language hath,seventh,forth,stadeth,knoweth,worketh,keepth,maketh
 Simile Lover as in Theagenes, friend as in Pylades, Prince as in
Xenophon’s Cyprus
Analysis:
– The poet is most like God in being able to make people perfect.
– Sidney isolates the work of poet not in writing of verse, but in the imagination.

35. Paragraph 12
 Theme: Proposition
 Literary devices:
 Strong vocabulary palpable, commendation, barred.
 Analysis
Sidney moves into second formal section called proposition, in which a definition is
proposed.

36. Paragraph 13
 Theme: Defining poetry
 Literary devices:
 Allusions
Historical Aristotle
 Metaphor speaking picture
 Archaic language termeth, poesy
 Analysis
Sidney’s definition is uncontroversial.
He is influenced by Arsitotle.
The act of poet is essentially creative rather than bound by nature.

37. Paragraph 14
 Theme: (kinds)Religious poetry
 Literary devices:
 Allusions
• Biblical Holy God, David, Psalms, Solomon
• Religious St.James counsel, Muses and Deborah
 Historical references Orpheus, Amphion, Homer, Job, Emanuel Tremellius and
Franciscus Junius
Analysis
Sidney moves towards the division section of the poetry and he is making clear that the
oldest form of poetry is religious and therefore cannot be criticized. Such poetry is free from
imagination.

38. Paragraph 15
 Theme: Philosophical poetry
 Literary devices:
 Historical reference Tyrtaeus, Phocylides, Cato, Lucretius, Virgil’s
Georgics, Manillus, Pontanus Lucan
 Metaphor sweetly uttered knowledge
 Analysis
Philosophical poetry includes moral, natural, astronomical or historical contexts. And it
attempts to communicate the truth of things as they actually are. It’s purpose is full of sweet
knowledge and free from delight.

39. Nimrah Habib
(bsf1700661)
Paragraph no. 16 to 20

40. Paragraph no. 16
 THEME: Purpose of Imaginative poet
 ANALYSIS
1)Philosophers takes not free course of his own invention.
2)Poetry not only teaches but also moves the people to use it in real life.
3)Painter painted Lucretia more beautiful
to show virtue here he uses historical allusion.
• Poetic imagination.
Cyrus was a just empror. This is imagination of poet.

41. Paragraph no. 17
 THEME: Types of poetry and its properties
 ANALYSIS:
Eight kinds of poetry
1. Heroic
2. Lyric
3. Tragic
4. Comic
5. Satiric
6. Iambic
7. Elegiac
8. Pastoral

42. • IMPORTANT POINTS
1) VERSES are not important.
2) Many poets wrote without verses
3) Like THEAGENES and CHARICLEA by Heliodorus.
4) versing not make a poet.
5) Senate of poets choose verses as their manner.
6) Poetry gives dignity to syllables
• Symbolism: Dignity to syllables

43. Paragraph no. 18
 Theme: Importance of poetry.
 ANALYSIS
1) Poetry enriches our memory.
2) Poetry enables us for judgment.
3) Astronomer gives us knowledge of stars.
4) Poetry gives us delight and pleasure.
In this Philip Sidney uses persuasive style.

44. • Personal pronoun:
• In this Philip Sidney used personal pronoun(I)
• Symbolism
• Horsemanship and prince these words shows aristocratic class.
• MYTHICAL ALLUSION
• Demi-gods word use in it.

45. Paragraph no. 19
 Theme: Moral philosophers and their works.
 Analysis
1) Moral philosophers go with definition, divisions and distinctions.
2) They teach what is virtue ,its causes and effects.
Stronge adjective:
In this passage Sidney use the phrase (ENEMY OF VIRTUE).

46. Paragraph no. 20
 Theme: Comparison btw historians and philosopher
ANALYSIS
1)Historians talk about past.
2)Philosophers talk about disputative virtue.
3)Historian talks about battles .
Historical allusion: By writing the name of places where battles took place
like Maratho, Pharsalia, Poitier and Agincourt.
Historian told himself a light here he is using symbolism.

47. Kainat Asim
(bsf1700630)
Paragraph no. 21 to 25

48. Paragraph no. 21
 Theme: Poet vs. historian and moral philosopher
• Analysis:
i. Poet highest title in the school of learning.
ii. Poetry the elevated form of all arts.
 Literary devices:
• Alliteration:
e.g: best breed it deserve the best commendation.

49.  Archaic language Old English language
e.g: standeth, seemeth etc
 Other languages words:
• Jus Law (Latin word)
• Formidine Poecanae , Virtutis amore Portuguese language

50. Paragraph no. 22
 Theme: Philosopher vs. historian
 Analysis:
i. Philosopher Perception of general things
ii. Historian Particular truth of things
iii. History Less fruitful than Philosophy
 Literary devices:
• Alliteration: e.g: but both not having both do both
• Archaic language: halt, hath, standeth, doth

51. Paragraph no. 23
 Theme: Importance of Poetry
 Analysis:
• Poetry The bright light of enlightenment
 Literary devices:
i. Metaphor Speaking picture of poesy
ii. Use of Adjective peerless
iii. Archaic language

52. Paragraph no. 24
 Theme: Arousal of emotions through characters
 Analysis:
• Characters synonymous with certain emotions
 Literary devices:
• Mythical Allusions:
a. Ulysses symbolizes love for country
b. Nisus and Euryalus synonymous with friendship
c. Oedipus synonymous with remorse
d. Medea synonymous with bittersweet revenge

53. Paragraph no. 25
 Theme: Poetry vs. Philosophy
 Analysis:
• Philosopher teaches obscurely
• Poet teaches through feigned images
 Literary devices:
• Sidney used Personal Pronoun (I)
• References:
a. Cyrus in Xenophon b. Aeneas in Virgil

54. Ayesha Nabila
Bsf1700435
Paragraph 26-30

55. Paragraph no.26
 THEME: Teaching of Morality
 Literary devices
• Biblical References: Dives and Lazars
• Lost child
• Personal pronoun: I see…. :;;
 Analysis
• Christ was a moral teacher
• Teaches morality through short stories
• The main purpose of these stories is to teach morality ,not historical act

56. Paragraph no.27
 Theme
• Philosophy for philosopher and Poetry for all
 Literary Devices
• Archaic Language: teacheth,
• Metaphor :poet is a food for tenderest stomchs
• Adjective : dumb speakers
• Inter textual reference : aesop’s tales

57.  Analysis
• Philosophy teaches abstract
• Poetry is simple and clear
• Poetry can easily be understood by uncultivated mind
Example :Lullaby is also a form of poetry

58. Paragraph no.28-29
 Theme
• Poetry vs. History
 Literary Devices
• Archaic Language;Bringeth,poesy,dealth
• Allusion: Aristotle
• Historical Allusion: Alicibiades

59.  Analysis
• Poetry is imagination
• History is reality
• Poetry is universal
• As Chaucer’s characters either Knight or Merchant all are universal
• History is particular
• Poetry is more philosophical then philosophy and more serious the history

60. Paragraph no.30
 Theme
• Poet and painter
 Literary Devices
 Inter textual reference: cyrus in xenophone , Aeneas in Virgil
Historical reference : Vespasian’s picture

61.  Analysis
• Creative painter is like a right poet ,instead of simply giving a picture of
reality he adds something different in his painting
Example:candia
• Poet describes things in ideal way to teach virtue
Example: cyrus in xenophone,

62. • Critical comments of shelly on Sidney An Apology For Poetry
shelley writes in Defence that while "ethical science arranges the elements
which poetry has created" and leads to a moral civil life, poetry acts in a
way that "awakens and enlarges the mind itself by rendering it the
receptacle of a thousand unapprehend combinations of thought".

63. Thank you!