What do the speakers have in common in the sonnets "Whoso List to Hunt" by Sir Thomas Wyatt and "Sonnet 30" by Edmund Spenser? How are they different? Consider the focus of the speaker in each work.
Both speakers in "Whoso List to Hunt" by Sir Thomas Wyatt and "Sonnet 30" by Edmund Spenser are dealing with the theme of unrequited love and the emotions it evokes. They both express a strong desire for a woman who is unattainable or not reciprocating their love.
However, the focus of the speakers in each work differs slightly. In "Whoso List to Hunt," the speaker uses a hunting metaphor to describe his pursuit of the woman. He compares her to a deer that is being chased by other hunters and warns that whoever wants to try to win her heart should be aware of the dangers and difficulties that come with it. The speaker feels a sense of frustration and resignation as he recognizes that his pursuit is futile.
On the other hand, the speaker in "Sonnet 30" by Edmund Spenser focuses more on the emotional turmoil caused by unrequited love. He describes how his heart is filled with sadness, pain, and suffering due to his unfulfilled desires. He longs for the woman's love and attention but is constantly plagued by feelings of rejection and hopelessness.
Overall, while both speakers in the two sonnets share common themes of unrequited love and its emotional impact, the speakers differ in their approaches and perspectives. The speaker in "Whoso List to Hunt" is more resigned and warns others of the challenges involved in pursuing the woman, while the speaker in "Sonnet 30" is more introspective and explores the emotional turmoil he experiences because of his unrequited love.
shorten
Both speakers in "Whoso List to Hunt" by Sir Thomas Wyatt and "Sonnet 30" by Edmund Spenser explore the theme of unrequited love and the emotions it evokes. However, the speakers differ in their focus. The speaker in "Whoso List to Hunt" uses a hunting metaphor to describe his pursuit of an unattainable woman, expressing resignation and frustration. In contrast, the speaker in "Sonnet 30" delves into the emotional turmoil caused by unrequited love, expressing sadness, pain, and hopelessness.
To determine what the speakers have in common and how they are different in the sonnets "Whoso List to Hunt" by Sir Thomas Wyatt and "Sonnet 30" by Edmund Spenser, we need to analyze the focus of each speaker in the respective works.
First, let's discuss the similarities between the two speakers. In both sonnets, the speakers express their desire for something or someone they cannot fully attain or possess. In "Whoso List to Hunt," the speaker portrays his pursuit of a deer that he cannot catch, which is often interpreted as a metaphor for his unrequited love for a noblewoman, usually believed to be Anne Boleyn. Similarly, "Sonnet 30" by Edmund Spenser presents a speaker who yearns for a deep emotional connection with an unattainable lover, often believed to be the poet's own unrequited love for a woman named Rosalind.
Both speakers share a certain sense of longing and frustration in their pursuits, as they are aware of the impossibility of their desires. Their circumstances seem to lead them to feel trapped or powerless, unable to win the love they seek. This shared theme of unfulfilled desire and a sense of longing is one commonality between the speakers in these two sonnets.
Now, let's explore their differences in focus. In "Whoso List to Hunt," the speaker devotes his attention primarily to the object of his desire, the elusive deer or Anne Boleyn. The speaker describes the deer as wearing a collar with the inscription "Noli me tangere" ("Do not touch me"), which signifies the woman's inaccessibility due to her noble status or another factor. The speaker acknowledges that chasing after her is ultimately futile and warns others against seeking her as well.
On the other hand, in "Sonnet 30," the attention of the speaker shifts more towards introspection. He reflects on his own emotional state and the impact of his unrequited love. The speaker highlights his own feelings of despair and suggests that his unfulfilled desire has caused him pain and suffering. He compares his emotional turmoil to a ship struggling against rough seas, emphasizing the internal struggle he experiences in his pursuit of love.
In summary, the speakers in both "Whoso List to Hunt" and "Sonnet 30" share the theme of unfulfilled desire and a sense of longing. However, while the former focuses more on the desired object and the futility of pursuing it, the latter emphasizes the speaker's internal emotional turmoil and the impact of unrequited love on his own well-being.