Astrophil and Stella | Marvell's Selected Poems Notes

SidneyandMarvell… Topic Sidney… Marvell… Love Thebeloved Exaltsherphysical beauty● S9● S12● S22 Exaltsherphysical beauty● TFS● Gallery Exaltsherspiritual charms● S12 Exaltsherspiritual charms● TFS Presentsherpower, ingratitudeand‘cruelty’● S8● S12● S26● S31 Presentsherpower, ingratitudeand‘cruelty’● DTM● Gallery● LittleTC Presentshertimelessbeauty● S9● S13 Recognisestheinexorablemarchof time● THCM● YL Fallinginlove Presentshisinnocent hopeof requital● S1 Presentshisinnocent hopeof requital● TMS● TUL Strugglestoresist thebeloved’scharms● S2 Strugglestoresist thebeloved’scharms● TFS Strugglestowinthebeloved’sheart● S12 Strugglestowinthebeloved’sheart● TUL Chartsthelossof innocence● S16 Chartsthelossof innocence● DTM● TMS Presentstheimpossibilityof requital● S12● S31 Presentstheimpossibilityof requital● TDOL● TUL● DTM Conditionofthelover Affirmshispainandsuffering● Prometheus(S14)● Cupid’sarrows(S14, S20, S31)● Heat andburning(S9, S25)● Death(S2, S7)● Poison(S16)● Windlass(S21) Affirmshispainandsuffering● Prometheus(TUL)● Cupid’sarrows(TUL)● Heat andburning(DTM)● Death(DTM)● Scythe(DTM)● Crushing(LittleTC) Reflectshisdisorientation● S21● S23 Reflectshisdisorientation● TMTGW● TMS

Reflectstheparadoxical coexistenceofhopeanddespair● S6● S18● S19 Reflectstheparadoxical coexistenceofhopeanddespair● TFS● TUL● Gallery Responses Laudsandimmortalisesthelover’sennoblingconstancy● S7 Laudsandimmortalisesthelover’sennoblingconstancy● TUL Rejoicesinsufferinganddefeat● S2● S18● S19 Findshonourortranscendent connectionindespair● TDOL● TMS Makesaestheticpleasurefrompain● S1● S2 Makesaestheticpleasurefrompain● TUL Wallowsindespair● S23● S31 Urgesacarpediemconsummation● THCM● YL Spirituality/ Religion Conventionalteaching Acknowledgestherightful supremacyofspiritual pursuits● S5 Affirmstherightful supremacyofspiritual pursuits● DRSCP Difficulties Presentstheweaknessof theflesh● S4● S10 Presentstheweaknessof theflesh● DSB● DRSCP● DOD● Coronet Acknowledgesthelimitationsof mortalperception● S25 Acknowledgesthelimitationsof mortalperception● E&T Presentsthepainful conflict betweenman’shalves● S4● S10● S25 Presentsthepainful conflict betweenman’shalves● DSB Responses AffirmstheequallynecessarytruthoflovingStella● S5● S21 Recognisestheinexorablestruggleof thecompositemanonearth● DSB Reconcilesman’scompetingdesiresthroughStella● S4● S10● S14● S25 Attains‘resolve’ throughdisciplineandGod’sstrength● DRSCP● DOD

Urgesprofusereligiouspenitence● E&T● Coronet Rewardsthefaithful struggleagainsttemptationinheaven● DRSCP● DOD Writing Aims Attemptstobeautifypain● S2 Attemptstobeautifypain● TUL Attemptstoimmortaliselovers● S7 Attemptstoimmortaliselovers● TUL● Gallery Attemptstowinthebeloved’saffections● S1 AttemptstoglorifyGod● Coronet Attemptsacarpediempersuasion● THCM● YL Difficulties Acknowledgestheeffort andstruggle● S1 Acknowledgestheeffort andcare● Coronet Criticisesitsinsincereembellishment● S3● S15 Mocksitshyperbolicproclamations● THCM Criticisesothers’ pursuit of pride● S15 Acknowledgesthesinful contaminationof pride● Coronet Responses Turnstosimple, sincereexpression● S1● S3● S6● S28 Turnstorealisticdepictionsof mortality● THCM Turnstosincere, penitential devotion● Coronet PoliticsandtheWorld Conventionalunderstandings Acknowledgesthehonourderivedfromworldlysuccess● S18● S19● S21 Acknowledgesthehonourderivedfromworldlysuccess● Bilbrough Affirmsthehonourderivedfromdignityindefeat● S7 Affirmsthehonourderivedfromdignityindefeat● Cromwell

Affirmsthehonourderivedfromhumilityandpublicservice● Cromwell● Bilbrough Difficulties Presentsloveasadistractionfromworldlyaccomplishment● S18● S19● S21 Presentsthesocietalcostofdestruction● Cromwell Presentsthepersonalcostof‘indefatigability’● S23 Presentsthepersonalcostof‘indefatigability’● Cromwell Revealsthepropensityforprideandingratitude● S3● S15● S24 Revealsthepropensityforpride● Coronet Responses RedefinestheloveofStellaasaworthypursuit● S18● S19● S21● S27● S30 Revealsrestandreposetobetherewardsofachievement● Cromwell● Bilbrough Nature Responses PresentsStellaastheperfectunionofnatureandartifice● S7● S9● S11 Remindsusnottoforgetthepowerofnaturalcreation…● TMAG …evenaswepursuethebeautyofartifice● Garden EvidenceforCommonArguments Argument Sidney Marvell Sonnet/Line Quote Poem/Line Quote LOVE ElevationoftheMistress Themistress’s S7(7-8) Petrarchanelevationtothesun, THCM(13-18) Incrementalescalationoftheblazon,

superlativebeauty visualbrilliancy:“Thosebravegleams…they,sun-like,shouldmoredazzlethandelight?” withtimeusedasameasureofbeauty:“Anhundredyears…Twohundred…Thirtythousand…Anage…” S8(9) Chiasmusthatemphasisesherdazzling,fairbeauty:“Whosefairskin,beamyeyes,likemorningsunonsnow” S9(1-8) Blazonreferencesgemsandpreciousstone:“alabaster”,“gold”,“porphyr”,“pearl”,“marble” S9(10-11) Nowomanisbetterinbeauty,andnomanisworthyofsuchbeauty:“Nothingsuchwhichdareclaimfromthoselightsthenameof‘best’” S9(12) Touchstone,referencingStella’sblackeyesbutalsohighlightingtheirstatusastheverystandardofpurityandworth:“Oftouchtheyare” S13(11) Blazonicdiction,withherbeautymeritinghonourabledisplay:“rosesgulesareborneinsilverfield” S9(13) FrompersonifiedBeautydirectly,with“mine”constitutingtheverysource,andrecollectingtheblazoniclistofpreciousminerals:“WhichCupid’sselffromBeauty’sminediddraw” S22(14) Juxtapositionagain,andbeautifulimageoftendertreatment:“TheSun,whichothersburned,didherbutkiss” Themistress’sdualcharm,bothphysicalandspiritual S12(1-8) Incrementalescalationfromherphysicalcharmsandsensualappealstohersweetnatureandvirtue:“locks”,“lips”,“breath”,“breast”to“grace”,“words”,“voice” TFS(5-6) Parallelismemphasisingthedualcharmofherphysicalandspiritualappeal:“shewithhereyesmyheartdoesbind,shewithhervoicemightcaptivatemymind” TFS(15-18) Thedualcharmsofanenchantingvoiceanddazzlingbeauty,andanavalwarfaremetaphor:“Allresistanceagainstherisvain…allmyforcesneedsmustbeundone,shehavinggainedboththewindandsun”

Themistress’ssuperlativeworth S19(9,11) Absolute,andthephysicalelevationofheight:“Shepassallthings…[Astrophil]lookstotheskies” S24(10) Gentleliquidalliterationconnectinglovewithlife,ofwhichStellaisitsmostvaluableartefact:“Therichestgemofloveandlife” Themistressasafineemblemassociatedwiththedivine S13(9-10) Chiasmus:“onhiscrestthereliesStella’sfairhair,herfacehemakeshisshield” Gallery(18-22) CloraassociatedwiththedivineAurora,celestialchoiranddivineprovision:“Aurorainthedawn…allthemorningchoirdoessing,andmannafalls”● Considerthemellifluousqualityofthelongvowelsounds! S4(13) “Thatshrinesinfleshsotrueadeity” Gallery(33-40) CloraassociatedwithVenus,withtheseabringingofferings:“thousit’stafloatlikeVenus…amassofambergrisitbears…convoytheperfumetothesmell” S25(9-11) “Virtue…tookStella’sshape…Virtue’sgreatbeautyinthatfaceIprove” S26(10-11) Stellaelevatedtoagreatcause,andacelestialplaceontheGreatChain:“Andknowgreatcausesgreateffectsprocure,andknowthosebodieshighreignonthelow” S28(6) Stellameritsaroyaltitleandpropercapitalisation:“PrincessofBeauty” S27(13-14) Connectedbyrhyme,metaphorofheight,deifyingassociationsof“grace”:“whilethoughttohighestplacebendsallhispowers,evenuntoStella’sgrace” Themistressovermasteringhigherforces(e.g.Love,Virtue,Reason,thedivine) S4(14) “Virtue,thouthyselfshaltbeinlove” LittleTC(12-14) Notetheplosivealliterationandwarmetaphors:“ThewantonLoveshallonedayfear,and,underhercommandsevere,seehisbowbrokeandensignstorn” S10(13-14) “Reason,thoukneeled’st,andoffered’st”,“goodreasonhertolove” DTM(17-18,23-24) Juliana’spower/crueltysurpassescelestialentities:“thesuncouldneverraise,norDogStarsoinflamethedays…notJuly…Juliana’sscorching

beams”● Infact,she’scalleda“higherbeauty”! S12(12) Love’sprematurerejoicinginhavingconqueredherheartisrebuffed:“‘Victory,thisfairdayallisours!Ono,herheartissuchacitadel” S13(14) StelladefeatsthedivineloversofJupiter(Ganymede)andMars(Venus):“Thefirst,thusmatched,werescarcelygentlemen” S22(7-9) Juxtaposition,martialdiction,andaglorious,fearlessfacingofthe‘foe’ofthesun:“Fromthatfoe’swoundstheirtenderskinstohide.Stellaalonewithfaceunarmedmarched…” S22(14) Juxtapositionagain