Sir Philip Sidney`s An Apology for Poetry, also known as The Defence of Poesy, was written in 1579-80). It has at least one great claim to fame: it is the first work of «literary criticism» in English. Sidney`s essay is an «apology» or defense of the art of poetry, but Sidney was inspired to write it for a very specific reason. Let`s take a closer look at this revolutionary defense of the poetry of a true Renaissance man. They hereby affirm that before poets began to be in the prize, our nation placed the joy of its heart on deeds and not on imagination; Better to do things that are worth writing down than to write things that are suitable to do. Which it was before its time. I think Sphinx can hardly say; For no memory is so old that it has the primacy of poetry. And it is certain that the nation of Albion, in our simplest comfort, has never been without poetry. Marrying, this argument, although directed against poetry, is actually a chain against all learning – or bookishing, as they usually call it. Sidney describes poetry as the creation of a distinct reality. The romantic notion as seen in Wordsworth is that poetry privileges perception, imagination and modes of understanding. Wordsworth tries to return to nature for moments he calmly remembers. Sidney, like Shelley and Wordsworth, sees the poet as separate from society.
For Sidney, the poet is not bound by any submission. He saw art as synonymous with «competence,» a profession that had to be learned or developed, and nature as the objective and empirical world. The poet can invent, and so, in fact, another nature grows. Therein lies the heroic, whose name, I think, should deter all slanderers. For by what imagination can one designate a language to speak ill of what brings no less champions than Achilles, Cyrus, Aeneas, Turnus Tydeus, Rinaldo? which not only teaches and moves towards a truth, but teaches and moves towards the highest and most exquisite truth; that makes generosity and justice shine through all foggy fears and foggy desires; Who, if the words of Plato and Tully are true, that he who could see virtue would be wonderfully delighted by the love of its beauty, this man exposes it so as not to despise it in his festive dress for the eye of all who condescend until they know it. But if something is said to defend soft poetry, everything is compatible with the maintenance of the heroic, which is not only a kind, but the best and most accomplished kind of poetry. For just as the image of every action moves and instructs the mind, so the sublime image of such dignity most inflames the mind with the desire to be worthy, and informs by advice how to be worthy. Let Aeneas be carried only in the tablet of your memory, as he himself reigns in the ruin of his country; in the preservation of his elderly father and the continuation of his religious ceremonies; by obeying God`s command to leave Dido, when not only all passionate goodness, but even human consideration for virtuous gratitude would have desired others from him; as in storms, as in storms, as in sports, as in war, as in peace, as a refugee, as victorious, as besieged, as besieged, as for foreigners, as for allies, as for enemies, as for his own; finally, as in his inner self and as in his outer government; and I think that in a spirit most tinged with a biased humor, it will be found fruitful in excellence – yes, as Horace, Melius Chrysippo and Crantore say [better than Chrysippus and Crantor (famous philosophers) – editor`s note].
But I really imagine that with these poetic whips, it happens as with good women who are often sick, but in faith, they cannot say where. Thus, the name poetry is contemptible to them, but neither its cause nor its effect, nor the sum which contains it, nor the peculiarities which descend from it, give a quick hold on their praise. Sidney`s A Defence of Poetry is partly a response to Stephen Gosson`s School of Abuse. Gosson was a Puritan, and his School of Abuse was a polemical pamphlet claiming that poets mislead people and preach immorality. Given Sidney`s penchant for poetry – he wrote one of the first (but not quite the first) sequence of substantial sonnets in English – it`s no surprise that the author of Astrophil and Stella jumps to defend poetry. Gosson even dedicated his pamphlet to Sidney without Sidney`s permission, which is a sure way to provoke a strong reaction from someone. Sidney writes An Apology for Poetry in the form of a speech to the defense court, and so it`s like a trial in structure. Descriptive discourse and the idea that poetry creates its own reality are crucial to its defense.
Sidney uses forensic rhetoric as a tool to argue that poetry not only conveys a distinct reality, but has a long and venerable history and does not lie. It is inherently justifiable to encourage readers to act virtuously. Sidney argues that poetry is superior when you consider that it combines the best sections of philosophy and history into authentic, enjoyable, and memorable examples. All these examples sometimes educate readers and listeners about morality and righteousness without even knowing it. Sidney considers poetry to be the most fruitful form of knowledge and thus to be the «monarch of all branches of learning.» Sidney glorifies poetry and places it above philosophy and history and above sciences such as astronomy and geometry. He goes to the extreme when he says: «I deny again and completely that, having arisen from the earth, there is a knowledge more fruitful than poetry.» Sidney also addresses the role of the English language, claiming that it is a vehicle worthy of poetry. As the language of the people (it was even the official language of the English court since the early fifteenth century), English is perfect for an art as democratic as poetry – a form that Sidney believes should both delight and educate its readers and viewers. We have almost no other kind of poetry, except that lyrical kind of songs and sonnets which, Lord, when he gave us such good spirits that they could be used, and with as heavenly fruits, both private and public, singing the praises of immortal beauty, the immortal goodness of that God who gives us hands to write, and the spirit! – whose words we want but which do not matter; of which we could not envisage anything, but we should always have new opportunities emerging. Because poets were the first to bring knowledge to humanity, Sidney believes that poets were also the first philosophers and thinkers. Sidney also talks about how we have paid tribute to poets in the past.
The Romans call poets «vates,» which means «soothsayer, seer, or prophet.» They claimed that good poetry could predict their fate. The Romans also believed that souls were guided by verses, such as those of Virgil. On the whole, the Romans regarded poetry as a divine force. Correct poetry imitates, delights and teaches and moves the mind for good. Among whom moral philosophers stand out as the main challengers; that I see coming towards me with sullen sincerity, as if they could not bear vice in the light of day; dressed coarsely to show outwardly their contempt for external things; with books in their hands against glory, on which they have put their names; speak skillfully against subtlety; and angry at every man in whom they see the evil fault of anger.