Sidney's The Defence of Poesy and Selected Renaissance Literary Criticism

by Philip Sidney, Gavin Alexander (Introduction), Various

Out of the intellectual ferment of the English Renaissance came a number of outstanding critical works that sought to define and defend the role of literature in society and to comment on the craft of writing. Foremost among these is Sir Philip Sidney�'s �The Defence of Poesy,� an eloquent argument for fiction as a means of inspiring its readers to virtuous action. George Puttenham�s The Art of English Poesy� is an entertaining examination of poetry, verse form, and rhetoric, while Samuel Daniel�s �A Defence of Rhyme� considers the practice of versification and praises the English literary tradition. Along with pieces by such writers as Sir John Harrington, Francis Bacon, and Ben Jonson, these works reveal the emergence of key critical ideas and approaches, and celebrate the possibilities of the English language.

Genres: Nonfiction, Poetry, Classics, Literary Criticism, Renaissance, 16th Century, Essays

544 pages, Paperback

First published June 29, 2004

About the author

Sir Philip Sidney was an English poet, courtier and soldier, and is remembered as one of the most prominent literary figures of the Elizabethan Age.

Reviews

[Roman Clodia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This contains almost the whole of George Puttenham's 'The Art of English Poesy' which is difficult to get hold of at a reasonable price, but the collection as a whole is both stimulating and well put together.

Sidney's 'Defence' is also here in its entirety, and while it's also available in the Oxford Sidney The Major Works, it takes on added nuances when placed against the other writings on writing in this volume.

Alexander's introduction and notes are illuminating and succinct, and the bibliography is helpful - a very useful volume for any students of Renaissance poetry.

[Biblio Curious · Rating 5 out of 5]

The star of this book is Sidney's A Defence of Poetry. All around it are:

The Art of English Poesy By George Puttenham (1589)
A Defence of Rhyme By Samuel Daniel (1589)
And Selected Passages from:
Certain Notes of Instruction (1575) By George Gascoigne
The Garden of Eloquence (1577; 1593) By Henry Peacham
A Discourse of English Poetry (1586) By William Webbe
A Brief Apology of Poetry (1591) by Sir John Harington

And a few others including:
Samuel Daniel, Thomas Campion, Francis Bacon, Michael Drayton, Sir William Alexander, Ben Johnson (A Fit of Rhyme against Rhyme & Horace, His Art of Poetry)

Sidney's Defence is always wonderful to read. It's so densely packed with references to political figures, poets, writers, historians that most of it's dusty as can be. What draws me in is Sidney's amazing craftsmanship for writing. He uses words with as much finesse as the greatest painters. This beautiful writing makes his ideas gleam out from between all these injected facts. My first reading of it, I was taken in by his sheer power of wit & melodrama. My second reading, I was astounded by the intelligence involved in including so many references to support his ideas.

I bought this because of that 1st read of Sidney's Defence way back when. So, after reading his Defence the 2nd time, I was sure delighted to discover this whole new genre of poets writing about the art of crafting poetry. This Penguin edition doesn't include Shelley's widely famous, A Defence of Poetry simply because it's too recent (being a romantic and all) But it does contain surprisingly witty & intelligent other works.

George Puttenham's Art of English Poesy is essentially a mini non-fiction novel with it's flash length chapters. Each chapter is assigned to a specific subject about poetry, poets and the people who loath them. This makes it a delight to read or to quickly flip through when in a hot debate about how poetry will save humanity & you need a reference to defend your case.

Samuel Daniel uses a poetic form to argue that music can teach us & learning has value. A quote:
"O blessed letters, that combine one
in all ages past, and make one live with all!" (180-182)

or

"How many thousands never heard the name
Of Sidney, or of Spencer, or their books?" (431-432)

[May · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this as part of my 3rd Year English Degree. I found it really hard to comprehend at first. It was only about halfway through that I started to understand his arguments and appreciate his quizzical and almost conversational writing style. It gave a really good insight into ideas on Poetry in renaissance England. Not my usual cup of tea but certainly not as bad as expected.

[Tim Vander Meulen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection is a wonderful beginning to the study of the art of literature. Whereas I skipped over George Puttenham and Samuel Daniel and the notes on rhetoric and English versification, I enjoyed what was said by the authors about the importance of poesy in the face of opposition. It is interesting to see how poets were criticized back in the Sixteenth Century as much as they are today. But here we get the wise words of learned writers in defense of their craft. I especially appreciate what was brought out by Sir Phillip Sydney that poesy is an art that is meant to “not only teach and move to a truth, but teach and move to the most high and excellent truth.” As a Christian, he had an understanding of the connection between God’s moral law and the art of stories. He also gives praise to the heroical, “which is not only a kind, but the best and most accomplished kind of poetry. For as the image of each action stirreth and instructeth the mind, so the lofty image of such worthies most inflameth the mind with desire to be worthy, and informs with counsel how to be worthy.” Sir John Harington likewise explains how poesy’s sole purpose is for instruction and pleasure. These are the most important things to take away from this collection of essays, and I will remember them in my own reading, writing, and literary criticism.

[Pol · Rating 4 out of 5]

20/10/2017—This edition is remarkably well annotated; the footnotes glossing foreign idioms and explaining difficult words is a nice touch. As for Sidney's essay itself, now I get some idea of the Renaissance platonism Martin Battestin went on at length about (without explaining much) in The Providence of Wit. Though made in earnest, I feel some of the arguments are not very strong, but that's my 21st century sensibilities speaking of course. Much I have to learn about Renaissance literary history, but this is a nice beginner's glimpse into one corner of the literary scene in Elizabethan England.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I only read this as part of a widwer exploration into the 'Olde song of Percy and Duglas' but I would like to revisit Sidney's discussion of the literary landscape of the time

[Katheryn Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely collection, with useful notes and a brilliant introduction. Surprisingly readable.

[Amara Mughal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is poetry a lie ?

[Marcos Augusto · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Defence of Poesie, literary criticism by Sir Philip Sidney, written about 1582 and published posthumously in 1595. Considered the finest work of Elizabethan literary criticism, Sidney’s elegant essay suggests that literature is a better teacher than history or philosophy, and it masterfully refutes Plato’s infamous decision to ban poets from the state in his Republic. Sidney composed his eloquent defense of imaginative literature against charges of time-wasting, prevarication, and allurement to vice. Writing before England’s great age of poetry and drama—too early to include William Shakespeare, for example, in his criticism—he therefore finds English literature sadly wanting.

[David Withun · Rating 3 out of 5]

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[Lise · Rating 3 out of 5]

A defence of the role of literature in society.