16th century poetry 2024-2025

By: Mustafa Naseer

The 16th century

affected art and literature. Henry VII's reign (starting in 1485) restored stability, reduced baronial
power, and supported the rise of a wealthy new class, helping England regain its strength and
connect with the Renaissance.

The Renaissance is divided into three stages

1- The beginning of the Renaissance (1516 - 1558) .

2- The flourishing of the Renaissance (1558 - 1603) and is called the Elizabethan era.

3- The beginning of the Renaissance (1603 - 1625) and it is called the Jacobean era.

The Elizabethan and Jacobean Ages : (1558-1625) are known as The Age of Shakespeare,
a golden era of English literature. It was a time of peace, prosperity, stability, and exploration,
marked by significant cultural and literary growth. John Milton described England during this
period as a powerful nation awakening to its full potential.

Political Peace and Stability

Elizabeth brilliantly framed and followed the policy of balance and moderation

both inside and outside the country.

Social Development

It was an age of great social contentment. The rapid rise of industrial towns gave

employment to thousands. Increasing trade and commerce enriched England. The

wealthy were taxed to support the poor.

Religious Tolerance

During Elizabeth's reign, England experienced religious tolerance and peace. Upon her
accession, the nation was divided: the north was Catholic, the south Protestant, Scotland
followed the Reformation, and Ireland maintained its traditional religion.

Sense and Feeling of Patriotism

It was an age of patriotism. Queen Elizabeth loved England ardently and she made her court
one of the most brilliant courts in Europe. The splendour of her court dazzled the eyes of the
people. Her moderate policies did much to increase her popularity and prestige.

Discovery, Exploration and Expansion

This is the most remarkable epoch for the expansion of both mental and geographical
horizons. It was an age of great thought and great action.

ELIZABETHAN POETRY One of the literary historians called Elizabethan age as a nest of
singing birds about the composition of poetry in this period There were many poets who
contributed to develop this form of literature, and it reached the peak of its development.
The poets not only adopted and innovated the forms of poetry It reflects the spirit of
conquest and self-glorification, humanism and vigorous imagination, emotional depth and
passionate intensity. Thematically, the following main divisions of poetry existed during this
period:

1. Love Poetry: Characterized by romance, imagination, and youthful energy.

2. Pastoral Poetry: Focuses on the lives of shepherds and idealizes country life, often
contrasting it with court or city life.
3. Patriotic Poetry: Marked by a strong sense of patriotism, a key feature of Elizabethan
poetry.
4. Philosophical Poetry: Reflects a period of both action and contemplation.
Shakespeare’s tragedies express national life, while poets like Brooke explored
themes such as human learning, war, monarchy, and religion.
5. Satirical Poetry: Emerged towards the end of Elizabeth's reign, following the decline
of youthful vigor, adventure, and exploration.
 Poetic Devices

1. Simile: is a comparison between two things with (as) or (like).

Examples: The day was as hot as the sun

He could swim like a fish.
2. Metaphor: comparison between two things without the use of like or as.
3.Hyperbole (exaggerating statement): a statement that represents something as better or
worse than it really is.
4. Personification (giving something a human quality)
Examples: The breeze kissed my cheek.
5. Alliteration is the repeating of consonant sounds right next to each other .
Examples: The chilling cold almost chopped him apart .
6. Assonance: repetition of vowel sounds in specific sentences.
Examples: The morning was cold with a bold statement
7.Allusion:an indirect reference something outside of the poem.
Examples: to “All Overgrown by Cunning Moss" by Emily Dickinson
All overgrown by cunning moss,
All interspersed with weed,
The little cage of "Currer Bell"
In quiet "Haworth" laid.

8.Rhyme: The repetition of similar or identical sounds at the end of two.

Come live with me and be my love, A

And we will all the pleasures prove, A
That Valleys, groves, hills, and fields, B
Woods, or steepy mountain yields. B
9.Enjambment: continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line.
Examples: Shakespeare's "Sonnet 116" Four of the first eight lines of this sonnet by
Shakespeare are enjambed.
10. Conceit: When the writer indulges in metaphor for simile.
Examples:
John Donne's "The Flea", which compares a flea to a microcosm of the world.
11. Allegory: It is giving a story that creates shadows of the real story.
12.Apostrophe: is a poetic device where the writer addresses a person or thing that isn’t
present with an exclamation.
Example: “O stranger of the future!
13.Pun: is a play on words, using multiple meanings or similar sounds to make a joke.
Example:
What but design of darkness to appall?
– If design govern in a thing so small.
the poet is questioning the “design of darkness,”
14.Repetition: The process of repeating certain words or phrases.
Refrain= a repeated sentence at the end of the stanza.
Anaphora= a repeated sentence at the beginning of the stanza.
Example:
“Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
15. Antithesis: is a literary device that refers to the juxtaposition of two opposing elements
through the parallel grammatical structure.
Examples:
“To heav'n above, and to their Prince below,”
“E'en Atheists out of envy own a God”
16.Symbolism: Poets employ symbolism to communicate underlying ideas.
Examples:
Red rose to symbolize love or passion
17.Euphemism: is the act of replacing a term that can offend.
Examples:
"In a better place", "pass away", "meet your maker" instead of "to die"
18. Synecdoche: using a part of something to refer to the whole, or vice versa.
Examples: Shakespeare’s use of “Denmark” to refer to the King of Denmark in “Hamlet”
19.Oxymoron: links two opposing ideas at once.
20. Onomatopoeia: onomatopoeia can be termed as the creation of a word describing its
sound.

Summary of Key Historical Figures, Concepts, and Literary Terms:

Henry VIII (1491-1547):

• King of England from 1509 until his death in 1547.

• Known for his six marriages and for separating the Church of England from the
Roman Catholic Church.
• Established himself as the Supreme Head of the Church of England and led the
Dissolution of the Monasteries.
• Led military campaigns against France and the Holy Roman Empire.
• Reigned as a key figure in the Tudor Dynasty.

Elizabeth I (1533-1603):

• Queen of England and Ireland from 1558 until her death.

• Daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, often called "The Virgin Queen" due to her
childlessness.
• Founded the Church of England, cementing Protestantism.
• Known for her political acumen, reliance on advisors like William Cecil, and
moderate religious policies.
• Famous for defeating the Spanish Armada in 1588, boosting national pride.
• Her reign saw a golden age of English drama, led by Shakespeare and Marlowe.
Renaissance:

• A cultural period marking the end of the Middle Ages, beginning in Italy in the 14th
century, and reaching England in the late 15th century.
• Emphasized humanism, individual intellect, and exploration, contrasting with the
medieval focus on faith and collective life.
• It influenced art, science, philosophy, and literature, reshaping European thought.

Protestant Reformation:

• A religious movement initiated by Martin Luther in 1517, criticizing Catholic

practices such as the selling of indulgences.
• Led to the creation of Protestant denominations, including Lutheran and Calvinist
traditions.
• It significantly impacted England, especially under Henry VIII (politically) and
Elizabeth I (religiously), resulting in the Church of England's independence from
Rome.

Humanism:

• A philosophical movement that emphasized human dignity, reason, and the potential
for improvement, rejecting the medieval view of humanity as inherently flawed.
• Humanists believed in the perfectibility of human nature through education.

Carpe Diem:

• A Latin phrase meaning "seize the day," often used in poetry to encourage living in the
moment and enjoying life's pleasures.

Literary Terms:

1. Couplet: Two lines of poetry with the same rhyme and meter, often forming a
complete thought.
2. Lyric Poetry: Poems expressing the poet's personal emotions or feelings.
3. Sonnet: A 14-line poem with various forms, including:
 a. Petrarchan Sonnet: Divided into an octave (8 lines) and a sestet (6 lines), with
the octave presenting a problem or theme and the sestet offering a resolution
or reflection.
b. Shakespearean Sonnet: Composed of three quatrains (4 lines each) and a
final rhymed couplet, with the couplet providing a concluding thought.
c. Spenserian Sonnet: Similar to the Shakespearean but with interlocking
rhyme schemes (abab bcbc cdcd ee).
4. Octave: The first eight lines of a sonnet, often setting up a theme or problem.
5. Sestet: The last six lines of a sonnet, usually resolving or reflecting on the issue raised
in the octave.
6. Quatrain: A four-line stanza, typically with alternating rhymes.
7. Stanza: A group of lines in a poem, similar to a paragraph in prose, often with
recurring rhyme or rhythm patterns.

Advice from Mustafa Naseer

A- Read
B- Search
C- Be silent
Good luck