Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Sonnets on English Dramatic Poets: 14. James Shirley" is a sonnet written by Algernon Charles Swinburne, a Victorian poet, critic, and playwright. The sonnet was first published in 1875 as part of Swinburne's collection of sonnets on English dramatic poets. Swinburne is known for his innovative poetry, which often explored taboo subjects such as sexuality, sadomasochism, and atheism.

Context:

The sonnet was written during the Victorian era, a period of great cultural, social, and technological change in Britain. The Victorian era was characterized by a resurgence of interest in Shakespeare and the other English dramatists of the Elizabethan and Jacobean eras. Swinburne was a key figure in this movement, and his sonnets on English dramatic poets were part of a broader effort to revive interest in the works of these earlier writers.

Content:

The sonnet focuses on James Shirley, a contemporary of John Ford and Philip Massinger, who is best known for his plays "The Lady of Pleasure" and "The Cardinal." The sonnet celebrates Shirley's contribution to the line of English poets, describing him as one among the many men whose eyes saw Shakespeare's day star and whose souls abode in sight of his great light that fills our skies. Swinburne notes that Shirley saw the line of English poets grow, and like a ripe seed cast abroad, he sowed new life, new growth, whereof their praise is so.

Form:

The sonnet follows the traditional form of a Shakespearean sonnet, with 14 lines written in iambic pentameter and a rhyme scheme of abab cdcd efef gg. The sonnet is structured around two quatrains and a sestet, with a volta or turn in the ninth line, where the poem shifts from describing Shirley's place in the line of English poets to praising his contribution to their growth and development.

Poetic Elements:

Swinburne uses a range of poetic techniques and devices in the sonnet, including alliteration, assonance, and metaphor. For example, in the second line, he uses alliteration to emphasize the importance of the earlier poets in making the beauty of the world more bright: "Made all the beauty of the world more bright." In the third line, he uses metaphor to describe their day as "sublime," lending its life to ours. Swinburne also uses imagery to describe Shirley's contribution to the growth of the line of English poets, casting him as a "ripe seed cast abroad" that sowed new life and new growth.

Summary:

The sonnet is a testament to Swinburne's love for English poetry and his desire to revive interest in the works of the Elizabethan and Jacobean dramatists. His use of poetic techniques and devices, such as alliteration, metaphor, and imagery, contribute to the aesthetic and emotional impact of the poem, emphasizing the importance of Shirley's contribution to the growth and development of the line of English poets. Overall, the sonnet is a significant contribution to the ongoing conversation about the value and relevance of these earlier works to contemporary readers.

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