Astrophil and Stella (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: Sir Philip Sidney
- First Published: 1591
- Type of Work: Poetry
- Type of Plot: Love
- Time of Work: Sixteenth century
- Setting: England
- Genres: Poetry, Lyric sequence, Sonnet
- Subjects: Love or romance, Marriage, England or English people, Sixteenth century, Renaissance, Knights or knighthood, Nobility, Royal courts or courtiers, Chivalry, Stars
- Locales: England
Characters Discussed
Astrophil, the young lover in whose voice the sonnets and songs are cast. Although Stella is married and he describes her as virtuous, he still pursues her, begging her to love him. Whether the sonnets express the true feelings of their author, Sir Philip Sidney, the character of Astrophil clearly is meant to represent him. The last syllable of “Astrophil” echoes the name “Philip”; sonnet 30 identifies Astrophil’s father as the governor of Ireland, the post Sidney’s father held; and sonnet 65 describes Astrophil’s coat of arms, which matches...
[The entire page is 788 words long]
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