Sonnets on English Dramatic Poets (1590-1650): Christopher Marlowe

By Algernon Charles Swinburne

Sonnet
    Crowned, girdled, garbed and shod with light and fire,     Son first-born of the morning, sovereign star!     Soul nearest ours of all, that wert most far,     Most far off in the abysm of time, thy lyre     Hung highest above the dawn-enkindled quire     Where all ye sang together, all that are,     And all the starry songs behind thy car     Rang sequence, all our souls acclaim thee sire.     If all the pens that ever poets held     Had fed the feeling of their masters thoughts,     And as with rush of hurtling chariots     The flight of all their spirits were impelled     Toward one great end, thy glory, nay, not then,     Not yet mightst thou be praised enough of men.

Share & Analyze This Poem

Spread the beauty of poetry or dive deeper into analysis

Analyze This Poem

Discover the literary devices, structure, and deeper meaning

Copy to Clipboard

Save this poem for personal use or sharing offline

Share the Love of Poetry
More Poems
More Sonnets
Daily Poem

Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This poem is a glorious tribute to an entity of great light and power, possibly denoting a celestial figure, perhaps the sun or a star. The themes of reverence, adulation, and insignificance of human efforts in the face of such grandeur are predominant. The tone is one of awe and humility, coupled with a sense of wonderment and celebration of this celestial entity's majesty.

The structure of the poem follows a clear, rhymed pattern, which contributes to its overall musicality and rhythm. The poet employs metaphoric language and vivid imagery, "Crowned, girdled, garbed and shod with light and fire," to describe the resplendent qualities of the celestial figure. Notable literary devices include personification, as the star is given human-like qualities, such as being referred to as "sire", and hyperbole, as in the lines, "If all the pens that ever poets held...Not yet mightst thou be praised enough of men," emphasizing the insignificance of human efforts to fully capture or extol its magnificence. The poem thus paints a striking picture of the celestial figure's incomparable grandeur, and humanity's humble place in the cosmic scheme.

Understanding the Sonnet

The sonnet is one of the most enduring and celebrated forms of poetry, known for its strict structure and profound themes. With a history spanning centuries, sonnets have been used to explore love, beauty, politics, and mortality, all within the confines of just 14 lines.

Sonnets are characterized by their precise form and rhyme scheme, which vary depending on the type of sonnet. Here’s a closer look:

  • Shakespearean (English) Sonnet: Composed of three quatrains followed by a final couplet, with a rhyme scheme of ABABCDCDEFEFGG. This form often builds a complex argument or narrative, culminating in a powerful closing statement.
  • Petrarchan (Italian) Sonnet: Divided into an octave (eight lines) and a sestet (six lines), with a typical rhyme scheme of ABBAABBA for the octave, followed by various patterns in the sestet such as CDECDE or CDCDCD. The octave usually presents a problem, with the sestet providing a resolution.
  • Meter: Sonnets are traditionally written in iambic pentameter, which gives the poem a rhythmic and melodic quality that enhances its emotional impact.

The sonnet’s enduring appeal lies in its ability to condense complex emotions and ideas into a small but potent package, making it a favorite form for poets seeking to explore profound themes with precision and elegance.