Historical Aspects in an Apology for Poetry

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Tahmina Nigar Moon Course Lecturer: Md. Mizanur Rahman Registration No: 2009236005 ENG 313—English Critical Theory 3rd Year 1st Semester Department of English May15, 2012 Historical Aspects of Poetry in Sir Philip Sydney’s An Apology for Poetry Introduction: The topic for which I am assigned is “Historical Aspects of Poetry on Sir Philip Sydney’s An Apology for Poetry”. In my paper I will portray the similarities and dissimilarities between history and poetry and the logical arguments by Sir Philip Sydney in defense of poetry which ultimately proves how poetry surpasses history in its magnanimity. Aims and Objectives: 1. To prove the supremacy of poetry over history; 2. To portray Sydney’s defense against the attacks made by other writers and philosophers; and 3. To deliver my own opinion concerning Sydney as well as other’s criticism on historical aspects of poetry. Literature Review: In The Art of English Poesy George Puttenham said that poets were the first historiographer. Because it was the poet who with his so gallant and harmonious accent first registered the lives and noble deeds of princes and of the great monarchs of the world and all other memorable incidents of time. In An Apology for Poetry Sir Philip Sidney also bears a remarkable resemblance to that of George Puttenham by placing the poets in an honorable position of being the first writers. Sydney claims that no history can show any writer without poets who first delivered their knowledge to posterity with enchanting accents and became the fathers of learning. My opinion in this context is also quite similar to them. There’s no way to deny the truth that poets enriched all brunches of knowledge including history. The noblest nations and languages were first enlightened by poetry which served as a nurse to increase their knowledge and gradually enabled them to adopt
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