Many scholars give Wyatt & Surrey credit for transforming English poetry. This is evident as they used forms that had not been seen regularly in English poetry before. What else differentiates their poetry, in terms of narration, themes or other elements. from other works that we have read for class? Could this be due to the cultural changes occurring at the time that these poems were written?
ENGL 201 | British Literature to 1800
Myra Seaman | Fall 2012
Many of the works we’ve read from before the Renaissance are full of action with themes of power, glory and duty. Wyatt and Surrey’s works, in contrast, focus less on events and more on self-reflection and eloquence. For example, Wyatt’s second sonnet has been interpreted as a lament for the execution of his friend Cromwell but we can’t be sure because he focuses on expressing his feelings rather than the reasoning behind them. Surrey also focuses on eloquent descriptions rather than action. In this way, both Wyatt and Surrey’s works mirror the individualistic movement of literature during the Renaissance.
These works are occurring during the transition to the Renaissance period. Literature was changing with the times, moving towards individualism. I agree with Carly in that the depictions focus more on feelings than on actions.
In the time of Sir Thomas Wyatt, he was witnessing the turmoil of Henry VIII’s rule, including his marriage to five of his six wives. Wyatt’s poems do not outwardly oppose Henry’s rule, but do carry hidden messages. The writing of this time reflected more thought than action.
Most of the works we have read prior to this have involved story telling and epic tales of heros or heroins. These stories shared elements of romance, soul searching, triumph, or tragedy. However, these ideas were often narrated through the action of characters. The sonnets of Wyatt and Surrey also have similar elements but express them through contemplative introspection. This does reflect the changing times. The poems are focused more on the narrator than the situation or story and reflect the pain and turmoil experienced during the renaissance due to tyrannical monarchies.
I agree that the tone of Surrey and Wyatt is more of introspection than of medieval action. The text states that the English were fully invested in the arts by Henry VIII’s reign. I think the movement away from knights and battlefield heros toward the longings of a poet really illustrates this. It is the thinking man who is now the hero and it seems that this makes the hero a little more accessible. Surrey’s “So Cruel Prison How Could Betide” reads like the more familiar courtly poems during his remembrances only to be followed by his disillusion and sorrow. The juxtaposition is compelling.
Yes! These cultural changes most definitely effected the style of writing. I agree with Mimi. The writing is more introspective, and has more emotional detail. The reader is able to have a sort of sympathy or a connection with the authors, which makes reading these more interesting because that they can feel this connection.
I agree with the above mention shifts in theme etc. of Wyatt and Surrey’s works, and it seems to me from the biographies of the two men that they were both in the right place at the right time (except, of course, working for the unpredictable King Henry toward the ends of their lives). They were both born into wealthy, powerful, privileged families, and given every opportunity, including many chances to travel abroad. Being well educated at young ages, they were already primed to make the most of these travels, becoming well versed in writing styles previously unknown to British literature.
It seems to me that, even among the wealthy, this type of travel, at least for pleasure, was not commonplace.
Both of their collections of compositions are striking in the sheer variety of literary styles, many of which are quite formal in structure.
I agree with everyone, that Wyatt and Surrey’s works are thematically different from previous works. The uprising of sonnets during this time period are not only different in structure, but also in their themes. While previous works we’ve studied often focus on the plot of the story, and when stylistic are often song or story-based, the sonnets of Wyatt and Surrey differ through the presence of emotion being a strong thematic element. This new focus on emotion surely opened the doors for sonnets like those of Shakespeare, as well as the presence of Romanticism in later poetry (1800’s). This shift in writing as seen in Wyatt and Surrey allows a stronger connection with the writing itself, and that of the author, which inturn increased the value of the author’s perspective and work.
Wyatt and Surrey can be seen as different because, rather than paying attention to the actions, they focus more on the emotion. The poems are focused more on the narrator and the struggle within. By doing this, Wyatt and Surrey really mirror the idea of the individualistic movement of the Renaissance era. Also, the movement away from an action hero as the protagonist is another sign of the Renaissance. The action hero is replaced with the poet longing for affection.
Throughout the past semester, we have been reading literature works that have revolved around heroism and power. In the transition to the Renaissance period, literature was changing. In Wyatt & Surrey’s poetry, there is a movement towards self-reflection and individualism. Their focus is more on feelings and descriptions rather than reasoning and action. The poems focus is on the narrator rather than the story itself and the descriptions/actions that go along with a story. I agree with the students above who have said that the writing is more introspective with more emotion involved.