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Sweet Warrior When Shall I Have Peace With You by Edmund Spenser's Whole Summary

english for nbu sem 2

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1K views2 pages

Sweet Warrior When Shall I Have Peace With You by Edmund Spenser's Whole Summary

english for nbu sem 2

Uploaded by

souravroy35467
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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"Sweet Warrior, When Shall I Have Peace with You" is a sonnet from Edmund Spenser's sonnet

sequence "Amoretti." In this sonnet, Spenser uses the extended metaphor of a warrior to describe
the conflict between the speaker and his beloved, as well as his longing for reconciliation and peace.

### Summary:

**Lines 1-4**:

The sonnet opens with the speaker addressing his beloved as a "sweet warrior." He questions when
he will finally have peace with her. The speaker laments that, despite his sincere love and efforts to
win her favor, she continues to resist him, causing him great emotional turmoil.

**Lines 5-8**:

The speaker describes his beloved's resistance as a "war" she wages against him. He portrays himself
as a suffering lover, weary from the constant battle of trying to gain her affection. The imagery of war
underscores the intensity of his emotions and the struggle he faces in seeking her love.

**Lines 9-12**:

The speaker pleads for mercy, asking his beloved to end the conflict and allow him some respite. He
acknowledges her power over him and admits that he is entirely at her mercy. The use of military
imagery continues, with the speaker portraying himself as a conquered soldier seeking peace from
his victorious opponent.

**Lines 13-14**:

In the final couplet, the speaker expresses his hope that his beloved will eventually relent and grant
him the peace he desires. He wishes for an end to the strife and for the beginning of a harmonious
relationship, where love can flourish without the constant battle.

### Themes:

1. **Love as a Battle**:

- The sonnet uses the metaphor of war to depict the struggles and conflicts inherent in romantic
relationships. The speaker's pursuit of his beloved is portrayed as a battle, with emotional wounds
and a longing for a truce.

2. **Yearning for Reconciliation**:


- The speaker's desire for peace and reconciliation is central to the poem. He longs for an end to
the conflict and for mutual understanding and love to prevail.

3. **Power Dynamics in Love**:

- The poem explores the power dynamics between the speaker and his beloved. The beloved is
depicted as a warrior with the power to grant or withhold peace, while the speaker is portrayed as
vulnerable and pleading for mercy.

### Conclusion:

"Sweet Warrior, When Shall I Have Peace with You" by Edmund Spenser is a poignant exploration of
the conflicts and power struggles in romantic relationships. Through the extended metaphor of war,
Spenser conveys the speaker's emotional turmoil and his earnest desire for reconciliation and
harmonious love. The sonnet captures the intensity of love's struggles and the hope for eventual
peace and mutual affection.

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