Sir Thomas Wyatt and Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, stand as pivotal figures in the history of English poetry, marking the transition from medieval to Renaissance influences. Their works, deeply rooted in the humanistic traditions of their time, ushered in the Elizabethan era's golden age of poetry. Both poets drew inspiration from Italian and French literature, aiming to demonstrate the elegance and flexibility of the English language through their innovative use of various poetic forms.

Wyatt and Surrey: Pioneers of English Versification

Educated in the humanistic tradition, Wyatt and Surrey were profoundly influenced by the lyric poetry of the Italians and French. Their work introduced several continental verse forms, such as the sonnet, ottava rima, terza rima, and the rondeau to English poetry. They sought to illustrate that English, much like the languages of their European counterparts, could convey refined and courtly sentiments. While many of their lyrics are based on Petrarchan conventions, featuring the cold and dismissive lady and her despairing lover, their sonnets often serve as translations or close adaptations of Petrarch’s own works.

The Bridge Between Eras

Although Wyatt and Surrey are often viewed as forerunners of Elizabethan poetry, a closer examination reveals distinct differences from their successors like Sidney and Spenser. Whereas typical Elizabethan poetry indulges in rich language and imagery, the works of Wyatt and Surrey exhibit a directness and simplicity reminiscent of Chaucer and his contemporaries. In essence, they act as a bridge between the medieval world and the burgeoning Renaissance.

Sir Thomas Wyatt: Voice of Emotion and Satire

For many modern readers, Wyatt's poetry presents a more compelling experience than Surrey’s. Despite less polished meters, Wyatt's rugged style reveals a human voice that is both dramatic and emotionally resonant, akin to the later works of John Donne. His sonnets often employ powerful paradoxes and monosyllabic lines to convey personal emotion, evident in potent expressions like "I find no peace, and all my war is done."

Wyatt's satires target the materialism and folly of his times, adapting Italian and classical models while maintaining direct diction. Through poems like “Of the mean and sure estate,” Wyatt critiques the quest for wealth and power, using a beast fable that echoes Chaucer and Langland. A recurrent theme is the ultimate futility of man's pursuits, highlighted in his candid and at times scathing critique of court life, where he denounces its hypocrisy and deceit.

Charming Lyrics and Satires

Wyatt's lyrical prowess shines most in his short, melodious verses designed for courtly audiences. His lyrics reveal a seamless fluency absent in some of his sonnets, adeptly capturing the melancholy and wit of unrequited love. Verses such as “Forget not yet the tried intent” exemplify Wyatt's ability to evoke emotional depth through simplicity.

Through varied meters and tones, Wyatt’s lyrics explore the sorrows of love unreciprocated. His work, “They flee from me that sometime did me seek,” vividly depicts the transience and fickleness of human affection, blending imagery of nature with reflections on personal loss.

The Literary Innovations of Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey

Surrey's contributions to English poetry lie in his formal innovations and his mastery over meter. His adaptation of the Italian blank verse in translating Vergil’s AENEID was a significant advance, laying groundwork for the narrative poetry of Marlowe and Shakespeare. Though his lines lack the dramatic flair of his successors, Surrey’s efforts in crafting a smooth, unrhymed iambic pentameter were a milestone.

Surrey also modified the Italian sonnet form, simplifying its complex rhyme scheme into a form that closely resembles the Shakespearian sonnet we recognize today. His sensitivity to the natural world distinguishes his sonnets, infusing...