Who was Sir Philip Sidney?

Sir Philip Sidney (1554-1586) was an English poet, scholar, soldier, and courtier, who wrote some of the most influential poetry of the Elizabethan Era. He was also noted as the ideal Elizabethan courtier.

What were Sir Philip Sidney's major works?

Sir Philip Sidney's major works include his pastoral poem 'Arcadia', his sonnet sequence 'Astrophel and Stella', and his critical essay 'The Defense of Poetry'. All of these works were published posthumously but became wildly popular in the 1590s.

How did Sir Philip Sidney die?

Sir Philip Sidney was mortally wounded while leading a charge against the Spanish at the Battle of Zutphen and died 26 days later on 17 October 1586.

Philip Sidney: The Gentleman-Poet of Elizabethan England

Definition

Sir Philip Sidney (1554-1586) was an English poet, scholar, soldier, and courtier, one of the most prominent figures at the court of Queen Elizabeth I of England (r. 1558-1603). During his lifetime, he was revered as the ideal Elizabethan gentleman and was viewed as a beacon of hope for Protestants in Europe, who dreamt of English involvement in a Protestant League. After his untimely battlefield death at the age of 31, his poems were published and became wildly popular, influencing the development of literature during the English Renaissance. His works include the pastoral poem Arcadia, the sonnet cycle Astrophel and Stella, and the essay The Defense of Poetry.

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