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Charges of Poetry
Sidney’s defence of poetry against these charges
Sidney’s views on the antiquity of poetry or classical norms
Sidney’s classification of poetry
Definition of poetry
Poetry superior to history and philosophy etc.
FOUR CHIEF OBJECTIONS TO POETRY:-
1. Its uselessness
2. Its falsehood
3. Its corrupting effect
4. Plato’s condemnation of poetry.
Sidney’s reactions to these objections:-
oPoetry is the noblest of kind of learning because it teaches us virtue and moves our
minds to pursue virtuous action.
oA poet can never be a liar since his business is not at all to affirm---reference on
astronomer, geometrician and physician.
oIt is not poetry but a man’s wit that abuses poetry.
oReacting Plato’s charge, Sidney opines that Plato’s comment is only misinterpreted
and that Plato himself is the most poetical philosopher.
Sidney’s views on Antiquity of poetry or classical norms or Universality
Philosophical Poetry
e.g., works of Cato, Lucretius, Virgil, Lucan etc.
Sidney said:- “Poetry is supreme in all the branches of learning, and the highest
honour must go to the poet.”
Reasons:-
(i) The philosophers teach by precept, the historians by example, but the poet is
endowed with both these powers
(ii) The philosophers teach abstract things in an obscure manner. The historians can
imagine only the past things. But the poet is well-understood in spite of his fresh
imaginations and also becoming well-versed in all times.
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