write about the summary of the poem prothalamion by Edmund Spencer?

 

Summary of the poem Prothalamion:

                The poem “Prothalamion” it’s a spousal verse.  The word Prothalamion we can divide two parts ‘pro’ which means before, "thalamion" which means wedding.  All over the word has a meaning a song which is sung before the wedding.

                The poem has some mythological characters, and we can say it’s a auto-biographical poem because he says about his some personal incidents of himself.  Then he had made some comparisons in this poem.

                Theme of the poem is celebration of marriage around the river thames.

                The poet writes the poem to honour the double marriage which  is going to happen in the London.  The poet sets the poem around the river thames each and every incidents were happened around the river.

                In the I stanza, poet says it’s a fine and clam day, the breezes were blowing softly and gentle with pleasant smell.  This breezy wind less the sun’s heat.  Spencer says he was very disappointed so that he need some relief for his mind so he takes walk along the river thames.  Reason of his disappointment is he expected high post and rewards from Queen’s Court’s but it didn’t happen.  It made him worry.  In that river side there were many flowers with multicolour.  While he seeing the flowers he thought that these beautiful flowers were very fit to in the hand of beautiful brides and bridegrooms.  Then he ended the 1^st stanza with a line Thames run softly and sweetly until he end the poem.  He requesting the thames to run softly till he ended the poem.

                In the 2^nd stanza, the poet says about the beauty of nymphs which were all mythological characters they look like beautiful creatures their hair was greenish, their hands were very soft and smooth fingers, they were collected the flowers which were prim roses, tulips, and multicoloured beautiful flowers.  They carry that in their baskets.  The nymphs might be divine spirits and watery spirits.  Then he ended 2^nd stanza to requesting Thames run softly until he ended the poem.

                In the 3rd stanza, he poet says about nymphs amazed about the two swans.  The nymphs they looked the two swans swimming in the river “Lee” which was tributary river of Thames.  The two swans were very purer like mount pindus.  The swans whiteness made river shy because waves of its won’t pollute the beauty of swans.  Then he ended with line he requesting the thames run softly until he ended the poem. 

                In the 4^th stanza the poet says about swans beauty, the nymphs were very wondered about the swans, swans in the river look a like divine creatures.  They like chariot in skies.  They were very bright.  Then he ended the fourth stanza, thames run softly until he ended the poem.

                In the 5^th stanza, the poet says that, two nymphs were made garland for swans spread the flowers upon them.  That time the river looks like mythological river ‘pineaus’ which flows through the valley Thessaly, the surface of river looks like floor of bridal champer.  And the nymphs were made wreathe with the beautiful flowers.  And the one nymph sung the bridal song.  Then the poet ask the river thames to run softly and smoothly.

                In the 6^th stanza, the poet says about the bridal song, the song is about blessing the marriage couples.  They should lead a happy life with peace and prosperity and their generation will be blessed with Venus and Cupid (God of love).  Then the poet ask the river to run softly and smoothly.

                In the 7^th stanza, the poet says that other nymphs of the group gather and sung the chorus, and many birds cheering up the two swans.  At that time the swans were looking very bright like “Cynthia” moon goddess.  Then he ask the river thames to run softly and smoothly until he end the poem.

            In the 8^th stanza, the poet said about his past life, the two swans were reached London by swimming in the river, London it’s a city where Spencer born and his family lived.   But now, his family didn’t live there.  His family was very famous with the name “Spencer Althrope”.  He remembered that the tower which was occupied by Templar knights and then its owned by students of law.  There was a big palace near the tower once upon a time Earl of Leicester.  Leicester who was a patron of the poet.  He felt that after the Leicester there were nobody to help him.  But he don’t want to spoil the occasion mood, so that he turned his view to wedding atmosphere.  Then the poet ask the river thames to run softly and smoothly until he ended the song.

                In the 9^th stanza, he says about Earl of Essex, he make many achievements for England and Queen Elizabeth.  He was very bold and brave.  Then he ask the river thames to run softly until he ended the poem.

                In the 10^th stanza, the poet said about marriage couples, Lord Essex came out from the mansion he was look like “Hespar” (bright evening star).  Then among courtiers, two handsome young knights were there, they are, Henry Gilford and William Peter.  They had skills and talents, they handsome too.  They were qualified to marry a beautiful princess, they walk along the river side of Thames.  They seems like twin sons of Jupiter and Leda.  Knights walk with majesty like wise “castor” and “pollux” who were the twin sons of Jupiter and Leda.  At that time the beautiful white swans changed in to two brides they are Lady Katherine and Lady Elizabeth.  They joined to the knights as their bridegrooms.

                        The poet conclude the poem he says very soon the beautiful marriage function is going to happen in London.  That happiness will be spread all over the places.  Then he ended the poem a line he requesting the thames to run softly until he ended the poem.

                          Thus so far we have seen about summary of the poem "Prothalamion" by Edmund Spencer.