Art and Criticism in the Poetry of Sir Walter Raleigh
During the 16th century Western civilization, Europe had beenactively involved with the Age of Discovery, where Christopher Columbusdiscovered the 'New World,' or the Americas. Because of stiff competitionamong other European nations, Britain seized the opportunity to inhabit andcolonize America. Sir Walter Raleigh, English adventurer and writer,became one of Queen Elizabeth's knights who were given the privilege ofbeing one of the primary leaders that will facilitate over Britain'scolonies in the New World (Microsoft Encarta 2002). However, Sir Walter Raleigh's role as an explorer for Britain is alsoillustrated through the early works of prose, categorized under the earlyworks of American literature. As a writer, Sir Walter Raleigh composedworks of prose and poetry, which often depict the society he lives induring the Age of Discovery. In particular, Sir Wal
If church and court reply/ Then give them both thelie. ter Raleigh's poetrywas characteristically literary forms that reflect the historical andsocial dynamics of 16th century Western society, specifically American andEnglish societies (where Raleigh has been exposed to these societies). In sum, through the depictionof social and historical themes coupled with artistic techniques in poetry,Raleigh was able to inform his audience about the inequalities that aboundin their society. Raleigh indeed captures the essence of British poetryas a form of art, but even becomes more effective when he talks aboutinequalities in the society, making him an effective literary writer thatreflects the social realities of his time (Raleigh, 1999:1-2, Lawson-Pebbles, 1998, & Goucher University, 2003). Tell men of high condition/ That manage the estate/ Their purpose isambition/ Their practice only hate. " The prevailing themes common among these poems aresocial stratification and religion in British society, which Raleighcriticizes as being rigidly conservative yet blatantly corrupt andhypocrite (during this time, 1595, Raleigh had fallen out of QueenElizabeth's confidence). Although Raleigh is an English writer, his literary works areincorporated in both American and British literature, two societies whichRaleigh became a part of.
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