"The Silent Lover" by Sydni Tabele

Sir Walter Raleigh

18tabeles — 2018-01-08 13:21:09 UTC

-English writer and adventurer, who fought against French Huguenots, studied at Oxford, was knighted, and became Captain of the Queen's Guard.
-Early supporter of colonizing North America, but the Queen forbid him to leave her service
-Founded the colony of "Virginia" in North America in honor of the virgin Queen Elizabeth
-Raleigh married one of the Queen's maids, Bessy Throckmorton, which threw the Queen into a jealous rage, and the couple was imprisioned for a short time.
-Was accused of treason by King James I; was imprisoned and eventually put to death.

Citations

18tabeles — 2018-01-08 13:22:33 UTC

"Sir Walter Ralegh to the Queen - The Poem" Critical Guide to Poetry for Students Ed. Philip K. Jason. eNotes.com, Inc. 2002 eNotes.com 9 Jan, 2018
Timmons, Greg. “Walter Raleigh.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 7 Nov. 2016, www.biography.com/people/walter-raleigh-9450901.

Poem

18plumleym — 2018-01-08 13:24:29 UTC

Passions are likened best to floods and streams:
The shallow murmur, but the deep are dumb;
So, when affections yield discourse, it seems
The bottom is but shallow whence they come.
They that are rich in words, in words discover
That they are poor in that which makes a lover.

Wrong not, sweet empress of my heart,
The merit of true passion,
With thinking that he feels no smart,
That sues for no compassion;

Since, if my plaints serve not to approve
The conquest of thy beauty,
It comes not from defect of love,
But from excess of duty.

For, knowing that I sue to serve
A saint of such perfection,
As all desire, but none deserve,
A place in her affection,

I rather choose to want relief
Than venture the revealing;
Where glory recommends the grief,
Despair distrusts the healing.

Thus those desires that aim too high
For any mortal lover,
When reason cannot make them die
Discretion doth them cover.

Yet, when discretion doth bereave
The plaints that they should utter,
Then thy discretion may perceive
That silence is a suitor.

Silence in love bewrays more woe
Than words, though ne’er so witty:
A beggar that is dumb, you know,
May challenge double pity.

Then wrong not, dearest to my heart
My true, though secret, passion:
He smarteth most that hides his smart,
And sues for no compassion.

18plumleym — 2018-01-08 13:29:56 UTC

Overall Theme of the Poem

18tabeles — 2018-01-08 13:32:05 UTC

The overall theme is the idea of a forbidden love or a secretive love. Raleigh cannot confess to whom he loves due to the inert nature of his relationship with Elizabeth. When they speak "it seems/ The bottom is but shallow whence they come" (Raleigh lines 3-4). Raleigh also fears he might not be the best suitor for Elizabeth due to his "excess of duty" (line 14). All of the restraints cause him clear distress, but Raleigh accepts the predicament he is in as he finally claims "I rather choose to want relief/ Than venture the revealing" (lines 19-20). The theme is forbidden love.

18tabeles — 2018-01-08 13:43:22 UTC

18tabeles — 2018-01-08 13:44:22 UTC

18tabeles — 2018-01-08 13:49:04 UTC

Criticism

18clementsb — 2018-01-09 02:53:38 UTC

In the criticism cited, the poem is viewed as a reply to Queen Elizabeth due to Raleigh's "lack of affection or passion" (enotes.com). According to Enotes.com Raleigh's poem is used to prove " his love is indeed true and unwavering despite his poetic silence" (enotes.com). This particular critic brings up the idea of pressure for Raleigh to write from Elizabeth, which only justifies his anxious nature towards her because of his feelings. Enotes.com also mentions what Raleigh is really trying to say. He doesn't want Elizabeth to feel as if he is being cold towards her, so he gives an analogy on passion. As summarized by Enotes.com, "His initial image compares human passions to “floods and streams” to argue that shallow passions, like shallow streams, “murmur,” while deep passions, like deep floods of water, remain silent because of their natures (enotes.com). Sir Walter Raleigh wanted Elizabeth to know that his love for her was true out of all of the suitors because he was the last spoken suitor. Raleigh wanted Elizabeth to love him for his passionate and quiet nature.

Video

18tabeles — 2018-01-10 12:26:13 UTC

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3429265/Michelle-Keegan-unrecognisable-porcelain-skin-flame-red-hair-takes-throne-Queen-Elizabeth-hilarious-new-history-skit.html