IGNOU MEG-1 Block 2 Unit 11:
IGNOU MEG-1 Block-2 Undertaking A Study of Spenser
Unit 11: Epithalamion and Prothalamion
Nuptial songs
Both the wedding poems deal with the celebration of marriage
The term literally means 'at the bridal chamber', and earlier referred to the song sung in celebration of the bride's wedding night, literally at her bridal chamber. 'Prothalamion' is a term invented by Spenser, in order to differentiate his poem by that name from his own and earlier written bridal song, but the meaning remains essentially unchanged, with the prefix 'pro-' (or prior to) standing in for 'epi-' (or outside of). Written in 1594.
Differences:
While Spenser's own epithalamion carries elements of this eroticism, the Prothalamion is a qualitatively different poem, almost completely devoid of eroticism, and in fact, actually, little more than a thinly disguised complaint poem
significant and far-reaching differences in treatment, style and intent.
Where the Epithalamion is exuberantly sensual and consistent throughout its length in its themes, the Prothalamion is shorter, more pensive, and almost sedate in its pace.
The later poem makes no attempt to elaborate on the wedding, or the festivities that follow, or the wedding night, as did the Epithalamion.
instead it confines itself to describing the bridal procession down the river Thames, leading up to Essex house where the wedding will be solemnised,
The refrain, such as it is, shows far less variation than in the Epithalamion, rendering the poem somewhat stilted and wooden.
Epithalamion:
The poem is in 24 stanzas, representing the hours of the day, with a total of 365 long lines of five feet or more (in prosodic terms), representing the days of the year
The poem draws together the universal and the temporal, the idea of a love that is divine and transcendental with a more earthy, sensual love.
Epithalamion described the wedding day itself and the events leading to it, and also celebrated the sexual union of the married couple. In this sense, it was usually also an erotic poem or song.
Refrain: 'The woods shall answer me and my Echo ring.'
refrain itself I change qualitatively from stanza 17 onward, when it becomes negative: 'The woods no more shall answer, nor your echo ring.'matches the number of hours of daylight and dark, respectively
The poem begins with the traditional invocation to the muses.
Pastoral Setting
Christian ideas and beliefs and local folklore
1 - The first is from stanza 1 to stanza 8, which set out the poems purpose, its means of accomplishing it and the pastoral setting of the event;
2 - the second is from stanza 9 to stanza 13, which eulogise his beloved's beauty as she wakes up, is adjoined arid then enters the 'temple' or church for the wedding and the wedding itself:,
3 - the third is from stanza 14 to stanza 17, which are about the celebrations after the wedding and the poet-bridegroom's impatience to be alone with his bride; t
4 - stanza 18 to stanza 24, which express the poet-bridegroom's fears and anxieties and then seek the blessings of all the6ods for their union.
Prothalamion:
a Spenserian neologism written in 1596. 10 Stanzas. Short poem. Pensive, sedate paced. Pastoral setting on the bank of river thames
written on the occasion of the wedding of Elizabeth and Catherine Somerset, daughters of Edward Somerset, the Earl of Worcester, on 8 November 1596. The wedding was finalised at the Strand in London, in Essex house. Cpeiiser was once sponsored by the Earl of Essex, a relative of the Somersets
elaborate allegorical structure, in which the two brides are likened to beautiful swans that sail down the river.
This sense of unhappiness arising out of unsatisfied career prospects is repeated
Poem is as much about the poet's sense of unhappiness as it is about the wedding
Similarities:
Pastoral setting
Refrain
Invokes pagan gods to bless the couples and guard them from all ills.
Block-2 Undertaking A Study of Spenser
Epi & pro –
Epi stanza wise summary - https://www.gradesaver.com/
An epithalamion is a poem celebrating a wedding, and Edmund Spenser's famous 1595 version details his own marriage to Elizabeth Boyle, following the wedding day from dawn's invocation of Muses, through the bride's preparation and church ceremony, blending classical myths with Christian praise, to the hopeful anticipation of consummation and prayers for fertility, creating a hopeful and celebratory vision of marriage and family.
Key Elements of Spenser's "Epithalamion":
· Structure: 24 stanzas, one for each hour of the wedding day, following the progression from morning to night.
· Narrative Flow: Begins with waking the bride, invokes nymphs and gods for adornment, describes the church procession and ceremony, and ends with blessings for the couple's future children.
· Themes: Joy, chastity, love, nature's beauty, fertility, and the sacredness of marriage.
· Style: Blends classical mythology (Greek/Roman gods, nymphs) with Christian language, using figures like Hymen (god of marriage) and prayers for offspring.
· Emotional Tone: Hopeful, joyful, and celebratory, moving from public praise to private anticipation.
In essence:
Spenser's "Epithalamion" is a detailed, lyrical wedding song that elevates a personal event into a universal celebration of love, beauty, and the fruitful union of man and woman, marking the culmination of his Amoretti sonnets.
Pro stanza summary - https://shaiderenglish.
Prothalamion by Edmund Spenser is a pastoral wedding song celebrating the double marriage of two Somerset sisters, set along the River Thames, where nymphs gather flowers and adorn swans, symbolizing the brides, while Spenser praises their beauty, invokes blessings, and hopes for future prosperity for the couples and England, all under the famous refrain, "Sweet Thames, run softly, till I end my song".
Key Elements of the Poem:
· Occasion: A "preliminary nuptial song" for the weddings of Elizabeth and Katherine Somerset in 1596.
· Setting: The calm, beautiful banks of the River Thames, a symbol of English prosperity.
· Characters: The poet (Spenser), nymphs (nature spirits), two brides, and their bridegrooms.
· Imagery: Nymphs gathering flowers (violets, lilies, roses) for crowns, two white swans (representing the brides) adorned with garlands, and classical allusions (Jove, Leda).
· Themes: Celebration of marriage, nature's harmony, beauty, purity, and the hope for national prosperity linked to these unions.
· Structure: A conventional marriage song with a recurring refrain.
Summary of Events:
1. Setting the Scene: Spenser describes a beautiful, calm day on the Thames.
2. Nymphs & Flowers: He sees nymphs collecting flowers to make bridal garlands.
3. The Swans: Two beautiful white swans appear, representing the brides, and are adorned with flowers.
4. Blessings: The nymphs lead the swans to their awaiting grooms, and Spenser offers blessings for love and happiness, invoking gods like Cupid and Venus.
5. London & Essex: The scene moves to London, praising the Earl of Essex (whose home is nearby) and connecting the weddings to England's glory.
6. Conclusion: The poet finishes his song, hoping the Thames flows gently until his praise is complete.
Diff & similarity in epi & pro – my notes
Sonnet 34,67,77 –summary – my notes + Spenser's Amoretti Sonnets 34, 67, and 77 depict phases in his courtship: Sonnet 34 shows the beloved's broken promise (a cloudy, disappointing day), Sonnet 67 uses a hunting metaphor (the poet as hunter, the lady as deer, leading to surrender), and Sonnet 77 celebrates the consummation of love, treating it like a delicious, tangible feast for the senses. These sonnets, part of the Amoretti cycle, chronicle the poet's journey from frustration and pursuit to joyful union with his beloved, Elizabeth Boyle, using rich natural and allegorical imagery.
You explain very well but I am confuse about this qetion which I have mentioned in below please give me ans what should I write about time
ReplyDeleteAnalyse the use of time and temporality in spenser's epithalamion and prothalamion