Philip Sidney: An Apology for Poetry

Philip Sidney's Defense of Poetry

• Philip Sidney's "An Apology for Poetry" is a work of literary criticism that defends poetry against attacks made on it by the puritan, Stephen Gosson.
• The essay was written in approximately 1580 and published in 1595, after Sidney's death.

Structure and Rhetoric

• Sidney employs forensic rhetoric as a tool to make his argument, using the structure of classical oration with its conventional divisions such as exordium and peroratio.
• He uses metaphor and allegory to conceal and reveal his position, for instance, using horsemanship as imagery and analogy to substantiate his vision of the transformational power of poetry.

Sidney's Defense of Poetry

• Sidney argues that poetry is a superior means of communication that combines the liveliness of history with the ethical focus of philosophy.
• He believes poetry has the power to reproduce an ideal golden world, not just the brazen world.
• Sidney contends that poetry teaches virtue by example as well as by precept (a blend of abstract and concrete), making it a more effective means of rousing readers to virtuous action.

Charges Against Poetry and Sidney's Responses

• The charges against poetry include:
  • Poetry is the waste of time
  • Poetry is the mother of lies
  • It is the nurse of abuse
  • Plato banished poets from his ideal world
• Sidney responds to these charges by arguing that poetry is the source of knowledge and a civilizing force.

Sidney's Theory of Poetry

• Sidney defines poetry as an art of imitation for a specific purpose, namely to teach and delight.
• He believes poetry has a higher moral purpose, aiming to create an ideal world where good is rewarded and evil is punished.
• According to Sidney, poetry holds a superior position to philosophy and history as it teaches virtue by example as well as by precept.

Epic Poetry

• Sidney regards epic poetry as the best form, as it portrays heroic deeds and inspires people to become courageous and patriotic.

Biographical Notes on Philip Sidney

• Philip Sidney was an English poet, courtier, scholar, and soldier born on November 30, 1554, and died on October 17, 1586.
• His works include "Astrophel and Stella", "The Defence of Poesy" (also known as "An Apology for Poetry"), and "The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia".
• Sidney was educated at Shrewsbury and Christ Church, Oxford, and was the eldest son of Sir Henry Sidney and Lady Mary Dudley.