Sir Phillip Sidney Sonnet 31, By John Coakley, Jared Silva and Conner Lonergan

Sir Philip Sidney Sir Philip Sidney was an English poet and soldier born in 1554. He was most famous for his sonnets, and “The Countess of Pembroke’s Arcadia” Sidney is well known as one of the most influential writers of the Elizabethan age.

Background Information Sidney's Astrophel and Stella ("Starlover and Star") was begun probably around 1576, during his courtship with Penelope Devereaux. The name derives from the two Greek words, 'aster' (star) and 'phil' (lover), and the Latin word 'stella' meaning star. Astrophel and Stella, which includes 108 sonnets and 11 songs, is the first in the long line of Elizabethan sonnet cycles. Most of the sonnets are influenced by Petrarchan conventions — the dejected lover laments the coldness of his beloved lady towards him, even though he is so true of love and her neglect causes him so much anguish. http://www.shmoop.com/with-how-sad- steps/summary.html (link to complete sequence)

Structure The poem is a 14 line sonnet. Contrary to most sonnets of the time period, Sidney writes in the Italian form rather than the English/Shakespearean form. Italian sonnets are split into two sections: The Octave (First 8 lines) and the Sestet (Final 6 lines) adding to the standard total of 14 lines. Most sonnets that are in the Italian form are written about unattainable love, and Sonnet 31 is a perfect example. The rhyme scheme is abba abba cdcd ee. This scheme is neither Shakespearean, Spenserian, or (truly) Petrachan, but it has qualities of all three.

Literary Devices Apostrophe - to directly address something that is dead or inanimate. Personification - to give human-life qualities to an inanimate or dead object. "With how sad steps, O Moon“ Synecdoche - to use a part of something to describe the whole. "Sure, if that long-with-love-acquainted eyes“ Metonymy - to use something closely related in place of what is actually meant. "Are beauties there as proud as here they be?"

Sonnet XXXI With how sad steps, O Moon, thou climb'st the skies! A How silently, and with how wan a face! B What, may it be that even in heavenly place B That busy archer his sharp arrows tries? A Sure, if that long with love-acquainted eyes A Can judge of love, thou feel'st a lover's case; B I read it in thy looks; thy languisht grace B To me that feel the like, thy state descries. A Then, even of fellowship, O Moon, tell me, C Is constant love deemed there but want of wit? D Are beauties there as proud as here they be? C Do they above love to be loved, and yet D Those lovers scorn whom that love doth possess? E Do they call virtue there, ungratefulness? E

An Explanation/Paraphrase of Sonnet 31 Imagine a guy staring at the moon. Here's what he says to it: "Hey, Moon, you're looking a little pale there, and you're moving kind of slowly. Is everything okay? It seems to me that you're in love, and it's causing you a lot of pain. I can tell by the way you're moving, and I should know, I feel it too. Hey, just out of curiosity, are the female planets and stars as mean as female women can be? Do they think 'constant love' is a total joke? Do they think being in love is a way of being totally ungrateful? It kind of feels like that. That's how they are down here. Just saying." Line by Line Analysis

Another Analysis/Explication of Sonnet 31 Lines 1-2: The speaker, Astrophel, sets the scene by talking to the moon at night about his troubles and sadness. Lines 3-4: The speaker asks if Cupid, the "busy archer", can hit his arrows to the moon, relying on the old convention that his arrows make those struck fall in love. Lines 5-6 Astophel states that the moon must be able to understand his sadness, because he has been looking down at forlorn lovers forever. Lines 7-8 The speaker projects his emotions on the moon, and compares the "grace" of the moon moving through the night sky to the moon's sympathy it must have on Astrophel.

Another Analysis/Explication of Sonnet 31 Lines 9-10 Astrophel asks the moon if his personal situation appears any better from the moon's view in the sky. He also asks if devotion and adoration of a woman are viewed as 'unintelligence' and 'lack of wit' on the moon, as it is on Earth. This alludes to the idea that Astrophel was rejected by a woman due to his undying affection towards her. Line 11: Astrophel describes the woman in his life as being confident and haughty, and references that the woman is almost proud that she has the 'upper hand' in the situation. Lines 12-13: Astrophel asks if women on the moon both desire love, and yet, when it is received, throw it away, as they do on Earth. This question, along with the previous questions, give the reader an idea into the situation that Astrophel is experiencing himself, as he is not asking the moon the questions out of pure curiosity, but is asking them out of sadness and heartbreak. Line 14: Astrophel reverses the questioning. Instead of questioning the woman's motives, he instead questions his own actions. He implies that he believes that his love interest may actually be exhibiting good virtue, while he instead views it as ungratefulness in love. With this line, the speaker questions his own understanding and perception of the situation.

Theme The central purpose of Sonnet 31 is to express Astrophel's heartbreak over a romantic relationship. The author accomplishes this purpose by having Astrophel question the behavior of women on the moon in comparison to their behavior on Earth. By creating a dark, quiet, and almost depressing scene, Sidney is able to help the reader visualize and sympathize with Astrophel's desperation. The constant questioning of women's motives on the moon helps the reader to identify with the situation by including personal experiences within the questions. Overall, Sidney successfully sheds light on Astrophel's heartbreaking romance by placing him in a dark and lonely setting and using apostrophe to address the moon in a way which corresponds with Astrophel's own situation.